Category: Education

Lahore (Qasim Ali)

The Little Art, distinguished organization dedicated to empowering children and youth through arts, is proud to announce its latest venture: a pioneering international project focusing on art for children and youth worldwide. This initiative aims to harness the innate curiosity and creativity of young minds, utilizing accessible mediums in art, design, and technology to foster a deeper understanding of and engagement with climate change issues.

The primary objective of this project is to instigate profound reflection among young people regarding their consumption habits. By encouraging individual actions that are both meaningful and environmentally responsible, The Little Art aims to inspire positive change within the context of planetary boundaries.

The Little Art’s foray into international collaborations is not unprecedented. From 2010 to 2017, the organization served as a consultant to the Government of Sharjah, playing an instrumental role in establishing FUNN – Sharjah Media Arts Organization for Children and Youth. This initiative led to the inception of the region’s inaugural and now largest children’s film festival, the Sharjah International Film Festival, which has since become a cornerstone in the cultural landscape of the UAE.

Even amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, The Little Art continued to thrive, adapting its programs to the virtual realm. In Pakistan, the organization hosted the Lahore International Children’s Film Festival, drawing a staggering attendance of 600,000 children from all corners of the nation. Additionally, a national visual arts showcase, highlighting the creativity of children and youth, was also unveiled. Simultaneously, in New Zealand and Qatar, The Little Art introduced ArtBeat, an online national competition in 2021, offering children the opportunity to unleash their creativity from the safety of their homes, further fortifying the organization’s commitment to artistic inclusivity.

Leveraging its wealth of experience in international projects, The Little Art now sets its sights on a bold new venture: an arts and climate change project for children and youth. Encouraging artistic expressions in painting, design, photography, and digital art, the project will feature both online showcases and physical exhibitions, spanning various cities across the globe.

“The Little Art is able to create a great body of work in the past 17 years, from festivals and projects ranges in film, visual arts and theatre and performing arts for children and youth. We are using our extensive experience of arts and cultural management to create a global impact now, and putting Pakistan on global arts and culture map, specially for children and youth. Our expansion to New Zealand will also help Pakistan’s arts scene to grow.” Shoaib Iqbal of The Little Art said.

The Little Art invites children and youth from all walks of life to partake in this transformative initiative, fostering a collective commitment to address the pressing issue of climate change through the universal language of art.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)

The project “Evidence Generation and Design of ‘Non-Formal Education to Job Placement’ programme for Out-of-School Adolescents (OOSA) of Punjab,” marked a significant milestone with its successful completion. The project was a collaborative effort between Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) and UNICEF, with technical support from Oxford Policy Management (OPM) and Akhuwat. The partnership harnessed collective expertise to conceptualize an innovative, evidence-based programme to integrate accelerated learning, skills training and labour market linkages. This created a model to offer a cost-effective, hybrid solution whereby accelerated learning is integrated with skills development and linked with sustainable income generating and self-employment opportunities for out-of-school adolescents.

Over 9,500 out-of-school adolescents aged between 9 and 19 from six districts in Punjab, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur, shared insights for the accelerated learning programme design as part of a comprehensive household survey.

The survey also identified households with out-of-school adolescent boys and girls who would be willing to register for an accelerated learning and skills development programme. In the pursuit of evidence generation, in partnership with other partners, PSDF actively contributed to the strategic development of a labour market linkage plan. PSDF engaged over 200 delivery partners and labour market stakeholders, fostering collaboration with Non-Formal Education partners, skills development partners and potential employers. This blueprint was designed to establish connections between the out-of-school adolescents and a diverse range of employment and self-employment opportunities.

The collaboration between UNICEF, PSDF, Akhuwat and OPM demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in effectively addressing intricate social challenges.

“Programmes like this underscore our commitment to skills education and economic empowerment and also lay the groundwork for future endeavours aimed at transforming lives through such initiatives at every level,” shared PSDF’s Chief Operating Offer, Akbar Bosan upon the pilot programme’s completion. “Connecting accelerated learning with skills development and opportunities for job placement in one programme is quite unique in Pakistan and could help disadvantaged adolescent girls and boys bridge the gap from learning to earning”,” said Ellen van Kalmthout, Chief of Education, UNICEF Pakistan.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

KalPay, along with Taleem Finance Company Limited, has entered into a tripartite agreement with LUMS to provide students the opportunity to manage their semester fees through convenient instalment plans. The agreement will enable students to study now and pay later with the ease of interest-free monthly instalments, which are customizable as per their needs.

KalPay, founded by Mr. Hassan, is a fintechstartup that collaborates with a diverse range of e-commerce merchants, offering buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions to its clients. In parallel with its e-commerce expansion, KalPay has introduced new ventures, including KalPayRasayi and KalPayTaleem, extending its BNPL services for the purchase of productive assets like smartphones and fee payments for education and skill development services.  The KalPay co-founders were also recently featured in the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia List 2023.

Mr. Shershah Hassan, LUMS alumnus (BSc 2020), Founder and CEO KalPay, highlighted, “At KalPay, we believe in the power of education and are committed to helping students pursue their dreams without financial barriers. This collaboration exemplifies our dedication to supporting the next generation of leaders and innovators.”

Mr. Kamran Azim, CEO, Taleem Finance Company Limited, commented, “One of the primary challenges that all segments of our country face is the unavailability of easy access to educational financing. We have a duty towards our future generations to make quality education accessible for all.”

LUMS is a not-for-profit university with up to 35% of students availing financial support. The University actively conducts annual outreach covering 145 villages, towns, and cities across Pakistan in the search of brilliant talent, inducting students with a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. These collective efforts are directed to ensure LUMS continues to offer a transformational experience that not only changes the student lives but also creates a wider impact within their community.

In the near future, KalPay and Taleem Finance Company Limited will continue working together to broaden the scope of their collaboration across other educational institutions and help build the foundation of a financially prosperous nation.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) KalPay, along with Taleem Finance Company Limited, has entered into a tripartite agreement with LUMS to provide students the opportunity to manage their semester fees through convenient instalment plans. The agreement will enable students to study now and pay later with the ease of interest-free monthly instalments, which are customizable as per their needs.

KalPay, founded by Mr. Hassan, is a fintech startup that collaborates with a diverse range of e-commerce merchants, offering buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions to its clients. In parallel with its e-commerce expansion, KalPay has introduced new ventures, including KalPay Rasayi and KalPay Taleem, extending its BNPL services for the purchase of productive assets like smartphones and fee payments for education and skill development services.  The KalPay co-founders were also recently featured in the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia List 2023.

Mr. Shershah Hassan, LUMS alumnus (BSc 2020), Founder and CEO KalPay, highlighted, “At KalPay, we believe in the power of education and are committed to helping students pursue their dreams without financial barriers. This collaboration exemplifies our dedication to supporting the next generation of leaders and innovators.”

Mr. Kamran Azim, CEO, Taleem Finance Company Limited, commented, “One of the primary challenges that all segments of our country face is the unavailability of easy access to educational financing. We have a duty towards our future generations to make quality education accessible for all.”

LUMS is a not-for-profit university with up to 35% of students availing financial support. The University actively conducts annual outreach covering 145 villages, towns, and cities across Pakistan in the search of brilliant talent, inducting students with a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. These collective efforts are directed to ensure LUMS continues to offer a transformational experience that not only changes the student lives but also creates a wider impact within their community.

In the near future, KalPay and Taleem Finance Company Limited will continue working together to broaden the scope of their collaboration across other educational institutions and help build the foundation of a financially prosperous nation.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at the Aga Khan University (AKU) recently hosted a roundtable discussion to address the details of the newly launched faculty and celebrate its inaugural batch of students, who have embarked on an inspiring journey to pursue their academic and career aspirations.

Professor Stephen Lyon, Inaugural Dean, Faculty of Arts & Sciences also addressed the panel and said, “AKU’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences aims to provide a well-rounded education that not only imparts knowledge but also nurtures critical thinking and better engagement and understanding of the environment and the society. The department’s alumni are poised to become the leaders, innovators, and change-makers of tomorrow.”

Dr Lyon also noted that access to a world-class teaching setup enables the FAS undergraduates to get a larger perspective of their chosen fields and prepares them to confidently secure jobs across highly competitive job markets.

Dr Anjum Halai, Vice Provost of AKU, while sharing her vision for the Faculty said, “The Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Aga Khan University is not just an educational institution; it’s a gateway to a world of possibilities. With its diverse programs, world-class facilities, and promising future prospects, the FAS has brought a variety of international-standard courses and a globally-acknowledged teaching faculty to Pakistan.”

She also added that the students have been selected through a rigorous admission process to ensure the selection of the most talented and dedicated students from all over Pakistan.

By 2027, the department aims to enrol up to four hundred students at full capacity. To provide students from all backgrounds an equal opportunity to access quality education, FAS also offers financial support to deserving students.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Patakha Pictures, spearheaded by two-time Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, has announced a mentorship program, Frame by Frame, for emerging filmmakers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its Newly Merged Districts, namely Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan and Khyber Districts. The program aims to equip the youth with the materials and training they can use to create their own short documentary films.

Patakha Pictures was launched to empower and support a new generation of storytellers from Pakistan. By providing mentorship and funding, the Patakha Pictures’ programs encourage the youth to create short documentary films that shed light on important issues and resonate with the wider audience. With three successful cycles of such programs already under its belt, and one currently underway, this will be the fifth of its kind to be launched. This is also the first program to be offered specifically for youth in the Newly Merged Districts, namely Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan and Khyber Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is open to both men and women.

For the Frame by Frame program, for which applications will open on 15^th October, 10 filmmakers from Newly Merged Districts will be paired with 10 filmmakers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to create 10 short documentaries. As part of the mentorship process, Patakha Pictures will bring one international and one Pakistani mentor on board to nurture and develop the program fellows’ storytelling skills, enabling them to pique the interest of local and international audiences.

“As a filmmaker myself, I’ve seen the lack of representation for voices from the Newly Merged Districts in our mainstream media. That’s why this mentorship and funding grant cycle from Patakha Pictures is absolutely critical, since we want to provide a vital platform for 10 aspiring filmmakers from these districts paired with 10 filmmakers from the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to share their stories in their own words and on their home ground. Our exceptional mentors will of course be offering essential support and guidance throughout the year-long filmmaking process as our final selected fellows complete their films,” said Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Founder Patakha Pictures.

Interested filmmakers (all genders), between the ages of 18 and 29, domiciled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its Newly Merged Districts, namely Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan and Khyber Districts are welcome to apply for this program at:

https://patakhapictures.com/index.php/frame-by-frame/

Applications are open from 15^th October to 5^th November and workshops will commence in November 2023.

The program is scheduled to begin in November 2023 until October 2024 with online workshops at least twice a month. The workshops will combine sessions with our international and Pakistani mentors and occasional in-person check-ins with the teams. Mentorship sessions will include, but not be limited to, storytelling, developing narratives, character development, direction, sound designing, and editing, followed by a celebratory closing event in Karachi to officially launch the completed films in October 2024.

AKU’s Brain and Mind Institute joins hands with Synapse – Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, NAPA and British Asian Trust to promote mental health positivity.

Synapse – Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), British Asian Trust, and Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute (BMI)

To tackle mental health challenges and empower the youth of Pakistan, Synapse Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, the National Academy of Performing Arts, the British Asian Trust, and AKU’s Brain and Mind Institute joined hands to create a positive and enriching experience for all to celebrate mental health and prioritize wellbeing through positive behaviours, self-care, understanding mental health as a basic human right, its impact on our holistic health and wellbeing through panel discussions, poem segments, policy dialogues, fireside chats with fun and recreational activities that included art therapy, meditation, informative short films, storytelling and creative expression walls.

Jashn e Nur: Celebrating the Light Within, is a one-of-its-kind event dedicated to promoting mental wellness and advocating mental health as a universal human right for all, regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status, culture, ethnicity, and religion.

The event was organized to provide a transformative experience for youth, to celebrate their inner light, empowering them to express themselves without the fear of social rejection and stigmas associated with mental ill-health. Resources on holistic well-being were also provided.

Approximately 20 million people in Pakistan experience some form of mental health condition. In relation to this, adolescent mental disorders is also of significant concern, and the reported prevalence rate in Pakistan is 35%, significantly higher than the global prevalence rate of 10-20%.

Additionally, this mental health festival organized by Synapse, Pakistan Neuroscience Institute with the National Academy of Performing Arts, British Asian Trust, and AKU’s Brain and Mind Institute, symbolized their vision, commitment and values of prioritizing and advocating brain and mental health for all in Pakistan, especially for its adolescents and youth.

In her opening remarks, Ms Falak Madhani, Implementation Scientist at BMI, said, “If the right to mental health is universal, it is the responsibility of the scientific community in Pakistan to develop locally meaningful and acceptable models of building wellness and resilience to prevent poor mental health. We have spent too long adopting Western models that may not suit the diverse cultural nuances of Pakistan’s population.”

Ms Madhani also moderated the Design to Impact: Climate Change, storytelling and Mental Health Panel discussion that consisted of experienced professionals, namely Ms Namra Khalid, Mr Ahmed, Mian, Ms Nusser Sayeed, and Dr Sana Siddiqui.

Mr Junaid Zuberi shared the vision of NAPA and its commitment to incorporate wellness in the design of society, followed by Ms Rabia Nizami, who was the keynote speaker who shared her insights on Youth Mental Health from a human rights perspective, with a fireside chat thereafter by Mr Adeel Azhar. The Youth Circle of Synapse presented a Slam Poetry section, and Dr Ayesha Mian moderated the segment of A Story of Small Changes that featured Ms Tahera Hasan, Mr Omar Shahid Hamid, Ms Rumana Husain and Ms Shaiyanne Malik.

Dr Ayesha Mian said, “The idea of focusing on mental health and wellness, rather than on illness, is to take the discourse upstream towards the social determinants and involve all stakeholders in this discussion. With more than 10% of our population affected by mental health disorders, it is imperative that we focus on large-scale, policy-level solutions. Innovative and disruptive ideas and programs must be promoted that focus on scalable impact. Awareness campaigns that thoughtfully break the stigma and challenge stereotypes would shift the narrative towards prevention and primary-level interventions. A bold national mental health policy is essential, one that courageously and creatively incorporates mental health as a core element in social, government, development, education, health, economic and corporate sectors.”

The festival included fun, engaging activities and stalls in the NAPA courtyard. The audience was also introduced to various ways of practising physical and mental wellness in the form of Trauma Release Exercise (TRE) session, art therapy session, meditation and sound healing, There was a film screening by Taskeen and BMI, Art displays by Ms Ayesha Shariff, creative expression wall where the audience expressed themselves with comments, artwork, poetry and prose, and Food stalls.

The success of “Jashn e Nur” was not possible without the generous support of our sponsors and collaborators. We are proud to have Tapal Tea Pvt. LTD, British Asian Trust, Friends of Synapse, Alfalah Investment, and Pakistan Stock Exchange as key sponsors who share our vision and commitment to mental health advocacy. The festival was well supported by our collaborators, who are making an impact through their relentless efforts for a community where mental health is at the centre of the design. Organizations like Savaira, Center of Inclusive Care, Parindey, Karwan-e-Hayat, Go Read.pk, Taleem o agahi, Aahung, Zindagi Trust, The Garage School, Trauma Release and Wellness Center, Autism Spectrum Disorder Welfare Trust, The Learning Tree, Sabeen Mehmud Foundation, Taskeen, Orange Tree Foundation, Aunty Tashi, showcased the work they are doing and the impact they are making in the space of wellness in the community.

Jashn-e-Nur reminded us that taking care of our mental health is equally important as our physical health, where celebrating and accepting one’s persona is the foundation of positive mental health.  

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)

In a move set to reshape the educational landscape, Beaconhouse and Beaconhouse National University (BNU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to foster the exchange of knowledge and best practices, while promoting seamless mobility of faculty, staff, and students between the two institutions. This partnership offers students of both organisations increased and even more diverse educational and professional opportunities.

The MoU was signed by Vice Chancellor of BNU, Dr Moeed Yusuf, and Chief Operating Officer Beaconhouse, Mr Ali Ahmad Khan. Under the partnership, Beaconhouse school counsellors will benefit from bespoke training sessions on psychometric testing. BNU will also coordinate other tailored training programmes, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and various well-being initiatives for these counsellors, while BNU’s School of Education will provide assessment and other teacher education.

SparkTank by Beaconhouse, Pakistan’s first business incubator for 10-19-year olds, will benefit from BNU’s support in organising entrepreneurial boot camps, providing mentoring for incubation, and supporting E-Tech Labs in relevant disciplines. Beaconhouse, in turn, will enable access to its campuses for BNU’s admissions and outreach activities.

Both parties have agreed to collaborate on joint research and development (R&D) initiatives, exploring opportunities to submit grant proposals. Both institutions will also open doors for internship placements, welcoming students from the other’s campus, and will jointly promote co-curricular and sporting events while encouraging student participation in these events.

Beaconhouse has always prioritised cultivating a positive environment for its students and faculty that supports their development beyond the classroom. This new collaboration underscores that commitment, and is a significant leap forward in enriching the educational experience in alignment with Beaconhouse’s core objectives. The partnership promises to usher in transformative changes in education, opportunity and professional excellence across both institutions.

Four Days Digital Art festival is bringing 45 artists from 14 countries to Lahore for a 4-day long festival at 9 venues across the city.

Lahore (Qasim Ali)  The vibrant city of Lahore will be bustling with creativity, innovation, and technology as it hosts the Four Days Lahore Digital Arts Festival starting this week.The event is poised to be a confluence of digital artists, tech enthusiasts, and forward-thinking audiences from around the globe.

The Four Days Festival, which is implemented by The Little Art will run from 12 to 15 October 2023, and aims to explore the dynamic intersection of art and technology, with an ambition to honour and expand the dialogues around art accessibility in Pakistan and South Asia. Event Highlights: Digital Art Exhibitions: 74 digital artists from 14 countries will showcase their cutting-edge work, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling and interactivity. Interactive Installations: The festival grounds will feature immersive digital installations, allowing attendees to experience art in new and innovative ways at 9 venues across the city.

These exhibitions will open on all 9 venues including Aangun – Center for Learning and Culture, Beaconhouse National University, Daftarkhwan Downtown, HAAM Gallery, Institute of Art and Culture, Lahore Museum, National College of Arts, Numaish Gah and The Colony at inaugural day on 12th October.

Conference: MikroPOM is an international conference that is hosted in Pakistan, in collaboration with Beaconhouse National University. MikroPOM Lahore is part of the festival and centres its attention towards the multifaceted aspects of technology in the city. The conference will be held at Beaconhouse National University and have various sessions, aims to discuss the development, deployment, regulation, and perception of technology within society, contributing to a profound impact on our swiftly evolving technological landscape. MikroPOM Lahore is designed by Morten Søndergaard from Aalborg University Denmark, Najam Ul Assar from Lahore Digital Arts Festival and Rohma Khan from Beaconhouse National University, Pakistan.

The project is advised by Rashid Rana, and the exhibition component is curated by Aarish Sardar. Guest Speakers: Renowned international figures from the world of digital arts and technology will be sharing their insights and experiences, offering a chance for the attendees to be inspired and enlightened. Some of the world leading artists such as Christa Sommerer (Austria), Laurent Mignonneau (France), and Stefano Fake (Italy) will also grace the conference. “I am excited to bring MikroPOM to Lahore to connect the talented digital artists and have their opinions expressed.

The digital art world is expanding, and it seems like a right time to be in Lahore.” Morten Søndergaard, curator of the MikroPOM. “Art and technology converge not just to celebrate, but to explore boundless possibilities that know no borders; and in Lahore, we revel in these limitless horizons.” – Shoaib Iqbal, Festival Director The conversations around around art and technology can only strengthen our concepts and ideas and examine the grassroot challenges.

The festival also serves as a launchpad for our extensive research report, which will be made public. Najam Ul Assar, Festival Founding Curator. This year, the festival is supported by the EUNIC (EU National Institutes of Culture) Cluster Fund to produce an ambitious program of activities including a research report and an international conference.

The project is also supported by EUNIC Cluster – Pakistan members, including Austria, France, Germany, Italy and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the Czech Republic, Germany and the Goethe Institute, as well as the Delegation of the European Union.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir)

Beaconhouse School System recently held the 5th Beaconhouse National College Fair (BNCF) from 2^nd to 5^th October in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, which was marked as one of the biggest and most prominent college fairs in Pakistan.

The 3-day event took place at the Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi on 2^nd October, at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad on 4^th October, and at the Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore on 5^th October. The fair attracted an impressive turnout of over 10,000 students and hosted more than 50 universities from 12 countries including the UK, USA, Canada, Turkey, UAE, China, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

Amongst the prominent universities in attendance were Queen Mary University of London, University of Essex, University of Lincoln, City University of Hong Kong, Brunel University London, Bradford University, University of Waterloo, Arizona State University, LUMS, NUST, and others.

The annual BNCF gives students a unique platform to interact directly with university representatives from around the world. They are given the opportunity to explore university programmes, and understand campus life. They are also able discuss vital aspects of their academic journey, such as admissions procedures and scholarship opportunities. This first hand exposure to prospective universities equips students with insights that are specific to their individual queries and empowers them to make informed decisions.

Over the years, Beaconhouse has proven itself to be more than just an educational institution. Its continuous dedication to offering students valuable resources and experiences underscores its commitment to holistic education and its emphasis on giving students the tools they need to succeed throughout their educational journey and beyond.