The Children’s Literature Festival is back in Karachi in collaboration with Karachi Youth Initiative, Dawood Public School, The Dawood Foundation, OLPERS, Canadian High Commission of Pakistan, Oxford University Press, Open Society Foundation, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi and the government of Sindh.
From 26th-28th February, the third mega CLF Karachi will take place at the Dawood Public School, bringing children and literature together for an extraordinary learning experience once again. Looking at the huge successes of CLFs held around Pakistan since 2011, various actors, performers, renowned writers, and education experts are eagerly waiting to attend the festival and contribute to the lifelong learning of their children.
The three-day festival will be structured around numerous sessions, programmes, workshops and performances throughout the day for not only children but also teachers and parents. The last day of the festival will be dedicated to teachers and will be the sixth Teacher’s Literature Festival being held in Pakistan till date. With hope to enhancing critical thinking in our new generation, the CLF will create a platform for all stakeholders in the system to learn and discuss the importance of literature for their children.
Speaking at the press conference, CEO of CLF Maham Ali revealed the names of Zoe Viccaji, Samina Ahmed, Hina Khawaja Bayat, Sania Saeed, Sidra Iqbal, Afshan Ahmad, Tina Sani as celebrity guests at the festival. Nisar Khuro, Sheema Kermani, Zobaida Jalal, Afshan Ahmad, Khaled Anam, Amra Alam, Rumana Husain, Hamida Khuhro, Zubeida Mustafa will also participate in the event. This time, the CLF is also hosting award winning author and storyteller from Canada, Rukhsana Khan, who is being supported by the Canadian High Commission and has been conducting different workshops in schools in Islamabad and Karachi.
Speaking at the occasion, Sabrina Dawood, CEO of The Dawood Foundation and trustee of Dawood Public School, said: “The Dawood Foundation is proud to host the third mega Children’s Literature Festival at Dawood Public School. Our collaboration with CLF resonates of our commitment to promote education across all strata of society.”
Asfandyar Khan, Programme Development Officer from Karachi Youth Initiative (KYI) said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for children to be able to learn how to express themselves freely. The institutions like CLF will continue to emphasise the need for investing in our children and future.”
Others who addressed the press conference included Founder of CLF Baela Raza Jamil, Managing Director Oxford University Press, co-founder of CLF Ameena Saiyid and children’s author, Rukhsana Khan.