I Am Karachi: Arts Council to host 7-day youth festival in March
Last year’s event had attracted more than 15,000 young men and women, claim organisers.
The festival will have competitions on photography, drama, painting, singing, debate, quizzes and essay-writing in both English and Urdu. STOCK IMAGE
KARACHI:
A seven-day youth festival will be taking place at the Arts Council of Pakistan starting March 1, the organisers announced on Thursday.
Part of the ‘I Am Karachi’ peace campaign, the festival hopes to mobilise the youth into coming up with ways to improve the city. Arts Council secretary Ahmed Shah shared these details at a press conference on Thursday.
“Last year’s festival was a big success,” he claimed. “Nearly 15,000 young men and women from all over Karachi participated in the activities that were divided into eight different categories,” he added.
Such activities will boost the morale of the young people of the city who are living a tensed life here, said Shah. “Music, literature, painting and photography are considered as extra-curricular activities in Pakistan but they are an integral part of the educational system in the West,” he pointed out.
The festival will have competitions on photography, drama, painting, singing, debate, quizzes and essay-writing in both English and Urdu. The attendees will be divided into two groups and the winners of each category can win a grant, he added. The top three participants of each category will also receive cash prizes while all the contestants will receive certificates of participation. A panel of judges will be making the decision. A peace conference, titled ‘Youth Peace Conference’ will also be a part of this festival.
Zain Ahmed, a member of the ‘I Am Karachi’ campaign, said the prime aim of these kinds of events and drives is to give hope of happiness to the already disturbed youth. “I hope the civil society of Karachi will take part in this festival and will make it a huge success,” he said.
‘My Karachi Youth Festival’ project director Dr Fauzia Khan pointed out that the festival is free for all. “People, within the age groups of 15 to 29 years, can participate in this festival by filling out the registration forms that are available on the Arts Council website.” She also announced that several trainers will also give free training to the participants and will help our youth to enhance their skills.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2015.
A seven-day youth festival will be taking place at the Arts Council of Pakistan starting March 1, the organisers announced on Thursday.
Part of the ‘I Am Karachi’ peace campaign, the festival hopes to mobilise the youth into coming up with ways to improve the city. Arts Council secretary Ahmed Shah shared these details at a press conference on Thursday.
“Last year’s festival was a big success,” he claimed. “Nearly 15,000 young men and women from all over Karachi participated in the activities that were divided into eight different categories,” he added.
Such activities will boost the morale of the young people of the city who are living a tensed life here, said Shah. “Music, literature, painting and photography are considered as extra-curricular activities in Pakistan but they are an integral part of the educational system in the West,” he pointed out.
The festival will have competitions on photography, drama, painting, singing, debate, quizzes and essay-writing in both English and Urdu. The attendees will be divided into two groups and the winners of each category can win a grant, he added. The top three participants of each category will also receive cash prizes while all the contestants will receive certificates of participation. A panel of judges will be making the decision. A peace conference, titled ‘Youth Peace Conference’ will also be a part of this festival.
Zain Ahmed, a member of the ‘I Am Karachi’ campaign, said the prime aim of these kinds of events and drives is to give hope of happiness to the already disturbed youth. “I hope the civil society of Karachi will take part in this festival and will make it a huge success,” he said.
‘My Karachi Youth Festival’ project director Dr Fauzia Khan pointed out that the festival is free for all. “People, within the age groups of 15 to 29 years, can participate in this festival by filling out the registration forms that are available on the Arts Council website.” She also announced that several trainers will also give free training to the participants and will help our youth to enhance their skills.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2015.