Living in harmony: Students ‘face off ’ for tolerance

200 youngsters attend multidisciplinary camp in Swat.

MINGORA:

Around 200 school, college and university students from across Swat are participating in a week-long multidisciplinary camp to promote tolerance through visual and performing arts.

The activity, which kicked off on Wednesday, is called the Face Off camp. Islamabad’s Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts Chairman Jamal Shah said the camp aims to promote tolerance, respect for diversity, freedom of expression, freewill, peace and cohesion in society.

“The camp will engage the youth of the area to make them understand the impact of intolerance and eliminate it through different disciplines of art,” Shah said.

Elaborating on the objective, he said the exercise would create clarity among the participants and help them become informed decision makers. Both girls and boys are taking keen interest in the camp, he added.



Rahmania Aman, a young art deco lecturer, was at the camp to learn the intricate skill of wood carving. “Swati wood-carving is unique and learning it will be a great addition to my skill set,” she told The Express Tribune.

Some of the younger students, like third-grader Sudais, were busy learning to paint. “I am mixing colours and will continue to learn painting,” she said.

The music and theater classes were also teeming with youngsters.

“Since childhood, I have been fond of acting and my dream has come true. When I heard about Face Off, I came here and am now part of a team of many actors,” said 10th grade student Mohammad Karim. He said acting has improved his confidence to face an audience.

Artists from Afghanistan also attended the camp and helped train the youth. “Engaging them in different forms of art is the best way to take communities towards sustainable peace,” said Hamdullah Arbab, a renowned artist from across the border. “The youth will understand peace in the true sense and this will further promote tolerance.”

The camp started on November 17 and will continue till November 24.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2014.