0
0
Interactive Resource Centre (IRC) launched the project titled “Empowering Religious Minorities of Pakistan through Digital Storytelling” on February 13, 2020, in Lahore.
The event was one of its types as a diverse pool of youth belonging to different religious backgrounds including Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism, and Islam were provided with a platform to create a dialogue between each other. The event was highly interactive as leader participants from the three minority communities were given the opportunity to address the audience about their respective communities and the contributions they have made for Pakistan over the past sixty years. Other participants also shared their interests and experiences as a minority in the country.
More than fifty people, including members of academicians, civil society and media persons attended the event. “I have honestly never been in a room that has the minority groups in the majority number and interacting with them has been such a refreshing experience,” said Ayesha Ali, a sociology student.
The chief guest for the event was Mr. Sabir Nazar, a painter, and cartoonist by profession, who has worked with distinguished news outlets over the years such as Friday Times, Pakistan Today, etc. He emphasized on the importance of imagery and its importance of being a universal language everyone understands. “We are all equal citizens under the Constitution of Pakistan.”, said Nazar, “I am glad to see that such opportunities are available for the youth of our minority communities as well.”
Under the given project, which is being supported by USAID Ambassador’s Fund Grant Program, IRC will build capacities of thirty youths – 10 each from Hindu, Christian and Sikh communities of Pakistan – on citizen journalism. After that, 12 of these 30 youths will be given extensive training on documentary film production and social media advocacy. These beneficiaries will then produce 6 web episodes titled ‘Hum Bhe Pakistani Hain’, in collaboration with the IRC team, which will be disseminated through a nationwide communication campaign. The campaign aims at creating greater acceptability for religious minorities in Pakistan and to promote the narrative of equal citizenship.
Interactive Resource Centre (IRC) is a nonprofit info media organization striving to promote empowerment and social development among the marginalized members of the society through art-based development and media advocacy.
