Written by: Saif ul Islam
Posted on: June 27, 2018 | 
| 中文
A front view of Pakistan National Council for Arts
The active agencies for women empowerment all across Pakistan intersected last Sunday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, Islamabad. SUCCESS Sakafat Mela 2018 was an event held to raise awareness regarding the socioeconomic role of rural class working women, with an exhibition of their creative products intended at promoting and encouraging them. Organized by Sakafat, in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and Sindh Union Council and Community Economic Strengthening Support (SUCCESS) Programme, the festival brought together people from across the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The event started off with the showcase of stalls from around the country. Visitors were seen purchasing indigenous cultural products including clothes, jewellery and home décor items. In particular, customers flocked to desi food stalls. Most of the exhibited work was created through rural empowerment programs such as SUCCESS, which operate under community driven development models, thus helping poor people by providing them with financial and technical assistance. As such the festival bridged a gap between the urban and rural population, while also providing a boost to the earnings of these working women.
To maximize the takeaway for the attendants and raise awareness regarding the organizational bodies of the event, a seminar on “Poverty Reduction through Women Empowerment,” was held in the afternoon. With a focus on women’s contribution to the economic stability of a household, the discussion panel included Vivien Rigler, EU’s Economic Representative to Pakistan, Shandana Khan, CEO of Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN), and Fouzia Bibi, a community activist from Local Support Organization Chira, among others. Organizational collaborations, as well as those with government of Pakistan were discussed. An inspiring highlight was Ms. Fouzia’s personal tale of transformation, from being an ordinary rural woman to becoming a renowned local activist in Chira, KPK. “Initially, women were afraid of stepping forward for their families but we instilled confidence in them. Using RSPN, we provided 793 women with loans so that they may establish their own businesses and contribute to the family income,” she narrated to an encouraging and receptive audience.
Later in the evening, it was time for a creative exploration of the highlighted issues through the stage play, ‘Roshni,’ by True Theatre. Consisting of just five characters, the play focused on the problems faced by women confined within households. The plot revolved around the young Farkhanda, whose husband Asghar doesn’t allow her to work. In her childhood, her mother faced similar limitations, and this led to their descent into further poverty. A representative of the SUCCESS Programme convinces Farkhanda that she should utilize her sewing skills for alleviation of her family, and thus begins her journey. With a cleverly written script, the witty and humorous one-liners would have the audience laughing for a minute, while the heartfelt acting would make them thoughtful the next. Along with providing entertainment, the play also conveyed subtle messages regarding the SUCCESS program.
At the conclusion of the play, Khanzada Asfandyar Khattak performed an enchanting Kathak dance. With his lithe and delicate movements, he left the audience delighted. Following his performance, a group of dancers performed the famous Pushtun Attan dance, garnering applause from the visitors for their collaborative and quick movements across the stage. This dance was preceded by a local band presenting their songs and gaining numerous fans in the process.
The event reached its culmination with the Qawali performance of the Bakhshi Brothers, who enthralled the audience through their Sufi music, such as the song Khalis Makhan. Some of the attendants swayed to the beat while those who chose not to dance, made sure to praise them through their gestures.
At its conclusion, the SUCCESS Sakafat Mela left its visitors with an experience worth revisiting. Not only did it serve as a recreational event for the locals, but it simultaneously inculcated a sense of responsibility towards promoting cultural diversity as well as women empowerment. After attending the event, we look forward to the products entering the market through the platform of SUCCESS, and hope that their work will continue to uplift poor rural families. Our best wishes are with those who work to empower the people of our country.
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