ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) is all set to hold a month-long summer camp for children (6-12 years age group) in Sindhi and Pashto languages from July 12 to August 11 at the Heritage Museum in scenic Shakarparian.
Announcing details, Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed said that they were planning to organise the second summer camp in Sindhi and Pashto languages after tremendous success of the first summer camp in Balochi and Wakhi languages held last year.
“The objective is to create ownership among children regarding Pakistan’s languages and cultural heritage, provide them an orientation about regional languages and indigenous folk cultures and re-affirm our identity of being multi-cultural and pluralistic country,” she said.
Explaining role of the Lok Virsa, she said that the mandate of this institute was to preserve, document and promote cultural heritage which includes both tangible and intangible heritage. “The earlier focus had been more on the first two aspects. “Our emphasis is on the promotion of folk heritage in a way that is relevant to people of all ages and background and to provide more meaning, depth and rootedness in life.”
The promotion of folk heritage will also create more space for expressing diversity within the culture, asserting cultural autonomy and dignity and could contribute towards being a stronger democracy and a stronger nation, she said. Broadly the camp will provide basic knowledge to the children about Sindhi and Pashto languages.
She said that the children would learn about poetry, music, crafts and festivals of both these communities. “They (children) will learn about 15 sentences and additional vocabulary. They will also avail an opportunity to interact with master artisans in various craft fields, story tellers, folk artistes and folk musicians and get hands on learning from them in a very creative and meaningful manner.”
During the last week of the summer camp, the children will be taken for a brief study visit to the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum, Pakistan Monument Museum, Pakistan Museum of Natural History and other important cultural places. The summer camp will eventually conclude with a prestigious colourful ceremony and distribution of certificates to the participants.
