Daily Times

It is with great excitement that the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) and Children’s Literature Festival (CLF) announce the first CLF to be held in the culturally-rich area of the ancient Walled City of Lahore from the 8th to 10th of December, 2017.

Two full days of stimulating literary and art activities await children from all over Lahore from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. amidst the heritage sites of Delhi Gate. As befits the venue, the overarching theme for this year is celebrating peace, heritage and 70 Years of Pakistan – Opening the Gates of the Walled City, Lahore.

‘I am happy to collaborate with CLF for this year’s event. We are holding such an event for the first time inside Walled City and I am sure it will be an interesting experience for all who attend it. We have tried to blend history and literature together so that the younger generation learns history and heritage in an interesting and interactive manner. I think these kinds of activities are important for us to organize so that people especially the younger lot comes close to heritage and culture.’ – Kamran Lashari

Children’s Literature Festival is a social movement that was started in 2011 in response to dismal findings about decreasing interest in reading habits and lack of creative expression and critical thinking outside exams amongst schoolchildren in Pakistan. By remaining a non-ticketed event, CLF has established itself as an equalizer in providing children and teachers from all schooling systems with a platform to explore the world of imagination beyond textbooks. Till date, 42 Children’s Literature Festivals have been held across the country, reaching over 1 million children and teachers all over the country including remote geographies and conflict areas.

Children’s Literature Festival is a social movement founded by Baela Raza Jamil of Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aagahi (ITA) and co-founded by Ameena Saiyid of the Oxford University Press in collaboration with several private and public organizations. Today it is a not for profit independent Section 42 Company with 6 directors and a company secretary. CLF is the first ever national level systematic movement of its kind that has an outreach presence across Pakistan.

CLF’s goal is to expand the culture of reading for creativity, imagination and multi-sensory stimulation beyond textbooks and tests. In other words, it provides a unique platform that drives the interest of children towards the joy of reading, self-expression and critical thinking. It is a social movement, triggered by low learning levels confined to just textbooks and tests.

By designating the Walled City as the venue, CLF and WCLA aim to celebrate and highlight the cultural treasure trove of our country while providing the school children of the Walled City with an avenue for expressing their creativity in a fun and interactive environment. The CLF-Walled City intends to bring together children from all parts of the city and promote young talent and simultaneously start a discussion on the interaction between cultural preservation and the youth in a globalized world.

‘CLF was visualised as a public service to promote quality learning and critical thinking. This year, with the support of the WCLA, we have been able to engage a larger number of children and schools, particularly within the Walled City itself. The Walled City of Lahore is a treasure trove of heritage, culture and talent-and our pre-CLF activities have reinforced this. CLF has always been associated with a heritage strand, and the community schools’ enthusiasm in embracing the idea of making children the real ambassadors of this social movement is heartening. We are hopeful that with the help of partners such as the WCLA, CLF will become an annual event.’ – Baela Raza Jamil

With the Shahi Guzargah Route leading from Delhi Gate to Wazir Khan Mosque chosen as the venue, along with the Shahi Hamam, courtyard of the Sabeel wali Gali, the Government Girls High School and the Wazir Khan Mosque Pandal (amphitheatre) as designated spaces for various sessions on literature and the performance arts, the people behind the movement call on you for your support in taking this unique social movement forward in reviving interest in literature and creative expression amongst the youth.

Published in Daily Times, November 21^st 2017.