Multicultural education: Summer camp concludes on high note

Lok Virsa’s month long programme ends with colourful ceremony

ISLAMABAD: A month-long summer camp for children in Balochi and Wakhi languages concluded at a closing ceremony at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology (Heritage Museum) in Shakarparian.

The camp, which opened on July 27, was organised by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) with the aim of promoting the nation’s diversity.

“Lok Virsa always tries to bring new innovations to its programs and projects so that they can attract the attention of all classes of our society. This was a one-month camp focusing on Balochi and Wakhi languages. Children learnt some vocabulary and a lot about the culture and languages of the Balochi and Wakhi community” said Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed.

Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid was th echief guest at the occasion, and distributed certificates among the participating children.

“[The] summer camp was actually an effort to sow the seeds of a pluralistic society among the youth of Pakistan, for which Dr Fouzia Saeed deserves great commendation,” the minister said.

The camp aimed to provide an orientation to children about the language, poetry, crafts, music and festivals of the Baloch and Wakhan communities. The intention was to create ownership among children of the country’s languages and cultural heritage, reaffirming the nation’s multi-cultural and pluralistic identity.

Apart from classes, the 22 children at the camp also visited different museums and explored the beauty and richness of the nation’s culture and heritage.

The ceremony showcased colourful performances by participating children and multi-media presentations based on activities carried out by the children during the summer camp.

Children brought local dishes to the ceremony, to give a taste of their indigenous foods.

A large number of people from different walks of life including educationists, students, families and parents of the participating children attended the event.

The venue was decorated with traditional motifs from Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2015.