From the archive of AFA and DGFK
In 1991 the film Amjads Village (see Archive www.dgfk-archive.de ) was made by the DGFK e.V. and premiered in the Babylon Film Theater in Berlin.
A young doctor, Dr Leila, was inspired to provide basic medical care in the village between 1991 and 1993.
Between 40 and 50 patients came to her every day!
Even after her departure (she lived in the USA, New Zealand, now Australia) she financially supported the emerging BHU (Basic Health Unit), now with its own building.
She was followed by Dr Elizabeth from Melbourne (she received an Australian Order of Merit),
Dr Karola (she received a German Order of Merit), -
Three village girls traveled to Dr Ruth Pfau in Karachit to train as LHV.
The nurse Marlis from Switzerland, who also worked in the Cameroonian subsidiary project and received a medal of merit there, continued to run the BHU.
Labels: AFA, DGFK, DGFK e V Berlin, Dr Elizabeth Carew Reid, Dr Leila Masson, Dr Ruth Pfau, Dr Senta Siller, Marlis Bartkiewitz-Schmitt
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:16 PM,
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To preserve traditional cultural assets
by
Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
No matter what is conceived or initiated, - more or less quickly the thought process moves to mass thinking and mass production; The motive in the background is to be able to participate in global events.
Even if such thought processes are understandable due to the global spree, still the preservation and support of small-scale and unspectacular projects are necessary.
It is not the globalization and digitization that represents the basis for the future, but the increasingly disappearing analog, the cultural asset that has emerged at some point - similar to the arctic seed vault in Spitzergen in the area of plants and horticulture.
It is urgently needed to support the delicate shoots of such projects is urgently needed, including the preservation of the environment.
The usual commercialization of such projects is counterproductive and destructive!
Labels: AFA, Cultura e V Nauen, DGFK e V Berlin, Norbert Pintsch, Senta Siller, TGD, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:38 PM,
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On the occasion of the turn of the century
by Aaron Pinsker and Norbert Pintsch
The DGFK was founded almost fifty years ago. The practical engagement with cultures was implemented in many projects according to a model which used and demonstrated the various interdependencies in culture.
Projects emerged through initiatives, collaborations and activities, initially in Central Europe and after 1990 increasingly in other countries.
From around 2010, we started to collect results and examples into our own (DGFK) archive and assigned them to topics such as interviews, sounds, movies, slide shows, animations, books, posters, etc.
The year 2000 is a turning point in the DGFK, because at the end of 1999 analogue printing of the DGFK newsletter as well as of Indus-River, Sanaga Rivière, Rio Magdalena and Hekla was discontinued.
The reason for this was increasing digitization of media. This also led to increasing depth of the digital information, so that the DGFK established its own website, sponsored by a company, because one of our projects showed pilot character at the EXPO2000 show.
An eShop was installed for selling certain handicraft products from the projects, but ultimately it was abandoned as it did not appear to be suitable for the individually unique items.
In similar manner some websites were also removed because they were no longer necessary or technically obsolete (for example Internet radio projects). But they are stored in the archive and available to interested quarters.
The partner initiatives had their own websites, which were supplemented early on by flexible blogs:
Pakistan:
www.thattakedona.com
www.thattakedona.blogspot.com
Kamerun:
www.camcatbam.com
www.haatc.blogspot.com
Kolumbien:
www.tanto-mejor.com
www.elcampomirando.blogspot.com
Other project partners, some of them no longer active, are:
www.dolls-project.com (Groenland),
www.royalglobage.com (UAE),
ac-criti-project.com (Griechenland),
www.id-museum.com (Island).
With the help of DGFK, partner societies in other project countries were established, such as:
www.sparc-project.blogspot.com (Pakistan),
www.spocabangladesh.blosspot.com (BanglaDesh),
www.spaetcolombia.blogspot.com (Kolumbien),
www.spathcameroon.blogspot.com (Kamerun),
www.spaetcolombia.blogspot.com (Kolumbien),
www.sutolsrilanka.blogspot.com (SriLanka),
www.sodshnepal.blogspot.com (Nepal),
www.semoliceland.blogspot.com (Island),
www.spokupolonia.blogspot.com (Polen).
In the course of time, a plethora of active participants, supporters and partners entered into the projects and their names are duly collected in the DGFK archive or can be found in search engines:
www.dgfk.info
If a name (for example (Karola Groch,Werner Schroeder, Monika Kuppler, Renate Perner,Marlis Bartkiewitz-Schmitt, u.a.)) is associated with a certain activity or a certain support organization, e.g. the SES, it can be found there too.
Some friends of the DGFK have separated and put their work in the context of a company or organization (e.g. Fronzeck, Heckes, Klapper, Polzer, Sauter, Christ, Borgmann, Stober) or chosen an art platform for their efforts. We do have one person, who has selflessly devoted all her energy and efforts towards the benefit of the general public around the globe (Siller).
Labels: Aaron Pinsker, AFA, Amjad Ali, Berlin, DGFK e V, Njini King Caro, Norbert Pintsch, Omar M. Ali, Ricardo Coslez, Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 4:19 PM,
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Thatta Kedona founding members and senior German volunteers meet and discuss what to do next in the Toy Village whenever they can and wherever it is possible.
On 13 June 2019, there was one such meeting in Nauen / Gross Behnitz. Amjad Ali, the President of Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama met Dr Senta SILLER, DGFK and Dr Norbert Pintsch, FBTC, FPAC and reminisced about the past, present and future of Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama back in Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, Punjab, Pakistan.
Labels: AFA, Amjad Ali, DGFK, FBTC, FPAC, Norbert Pintsch, Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:57 PM,
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By Omar M. Ali
Spring visit of Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, in Pakistan for the purpose of keeping in touch with people (Prof Dr Noor, S A J Shirazi, Prof Aamir Rafique, Arch Ghayyoor Obaid, Calligraphy and artist Anees Yaqub, Prof Dr Amir H. Malik, Prof Dr Rubeena, a.o.) and Institutions (PU, LSE, AFA, FPAC a.o.) always beings the plathora of activities in the Dolls Village and also in Lahore. Here are glimpses of some of the activities:
Visit to the AFA project in TGD
Students of the Punjab University visited the village under the supervision of Prof Aamir Rafique.
Read more »Labels: Aamir Rafique, AFA, Amjad Ali, DGFK, Peter Hecht, Prof Dr Marnix Dressen, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Prof Dr Rubeena Ashraf, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:36 AM,
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By Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, IPC, FPAC
Notes on building in rural areas, incl. historic preservation
The protection against the wrongs of nature has always been the topic of construction.- yesterday, today and probably tomorrow!
In non-industrialized times, one used the available resources of the respective environment. Due to growing population and concentration, resources were increasingly used up and destroyed.
In the micro-area of construction, dwellings are created, in the eyes of the builders, for a long period of time. This period was reduced over the course of the century, because the rule was meant to be generational; the growing elite built its buildings for many generations - meanwhile it has been reduced to one generation.
Read more »Labels: AFA, CAT, Cultura, DGFK, FBTC, FPAC, IPC, Norbert Pintsch, TM
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:16 AM,
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Transition
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Labels: AFA, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, SES-Bonn DGFK-Berlin CULTURA-Nauen, SPARC, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:31 AM,
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Women Art Center at the village Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, district Okara in Punjab has been renamed as Senta Siller Art Center (SSAC) to honour the German lady
Dr. Senta Siller, who had initiated this center back in 1993. This decision was agreed made and announced at a meeting in the Center, which was attended by a number of village girls and women, who have worked with Dr. Senta Siller, the honourable Mother of Dolls over the decades.
Mr. Amjad Ali, the newly elected president of the local NGO “Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama” told the enthralled gathering that by renaming the center the people of the village are honouring Dr. Siller’s hard work and commitment with the village over a quarter of a century.
Dr. Siller activated the village women and resumed the tradition of making dolls. This was the beginning of a successful attempt to generate income for women living in rural areas. Initially the hand-crafted dolls and dozens of other handicrafts were offered and sold in the local market at different bazaars. Later these products were also sent abroad. She also initiated a number of health, awareness and education projects in the village.
Although Dr. Senta Maria Anna Siller celebrated her 81st birthday this November, she is still active in assisting the project “
Thatta Kedona” and selling its handicrafts at different bazaars in Germany. An artist and designer by profession, she was born in Vienna and now lives in Berlin, Germany.
She has been awarded Bundesverdienstkreuz (highest civil order of merit of the Federal Republic of Germany) and many other honours from different countries. All friends of Thatta Kedona project are wishing and hoping that Pakistan’s President will soon be announcing the Pride of Performance Award for Dr. Senta Siller’s exemplary and untiring efforts for the cause.
Given age, she is not able to fly frequently and visit the Project that she had once initiated but the people of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka will always remember her fondly and pray for her health and happiness.
Labels: Aamir Rafique, AFA, Amjad Ali, Cultura Landgut Borsig, DGFK, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, FPAC, Senta Siller Design Center, SSAC, WAC
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:48 AM,
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The dolls and handicrafts project “Thatta Kedona” from the village Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka in Okara district recently exhibited their products at a three-day handicrafts exhibition at Old Tollinton Market in Lahore. This exclusive exhibition was organised from 21st of October till 23rd of October 2016 by a non-profit company AHAN (Aik Hunar Aik Nagar), which was established back in 2007 to support rural based micro and small handicrafts enterprises.
Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama craftspeople successfully displayed colourful hand-made toys, camels, bracelets, keyrings, bookmarks and above all famous and beautiful ethnic dolls. A large number of visitors were attracted to the “Thatta Kedona” stall. Farzana Zahoor and Farooq Ahmad, who were representing the Dolls Village at the “Thatta Kedona” stall, told that they were able to sell a large number of items at the exhibition and that their participation at this exhibition was also commercially a big success.
Read more »Labels: AFA, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 5:45 PM,
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Since the beginning of the project 25 years ago when Dr Senta Siller and Dr Norbert Pintsch set their feet here, the Dolls Village (Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka) is changing at a very fast pace. Those who are familiar with the project know how the village has transformed in the past quarter century and how it stands out not only in Pakistan but also at international level.
Now the transition has gone to the wonderful new level.
Soon after his arrival in Pakistan this time, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch met with Mr Shahbaz Sharif, CM Punjab on on 30 October 2016. On the interest and instructions of CM Punjab, Okara district is taking a fresh look at the Project. Many of the senior district administrators have visited the Village and want to contribute to the uplift of the Village.
First meeting in this connection was held (on 3 October 2016) with Secretary Energy Punjab where solarization of the Village was discussed. It was agreed that work on provision of Solar Power at the household level will start soon. (Friends of the Dolls remember that Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka is already one of the first Punjab village where solar power was installed in Women Art Center building.)
On 4 October 2016, office bearers of Village NGO AFA along with Dr Norbert Pintsch and Mr Aamir Rafiq met with DCO Okara. The DCO was also forthcoming and plans to uplift the village Schools (there are two primary Schools in the village), provision of furniture for students, conversion of Village Pond into a Children Playing Park, disposal of gray water and appointment of Lady Health Worker in the village were discussed.
Next day, Dr Norbert had a meeting with Punjab Small Industries Department who promised to declare Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka as Model Artisan Village of Punjab and promised to promote the Dolls Making Skills at National and International levels. He also said that Thatta Kedona products will be displayed in Small Industries outlets through out the country.
On academic front, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch delivered a lecture at the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of the Punjab on 6 October 2016 on the topic of “City-Village-Development, between holistic models for rural areas, of the prevailing general situation, to the closed system”.
Dr Norbert Pintsch is working fast on the transition of the all NGO to the local office bearers. Hope is that locals will be able to take on the NGO work to next level without any dependence soon.
Labels: AFA, CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Dr Senta Siller, Networking, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Punjab, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:13 AM,
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The lives of the residents of this village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka changed 25 years ago, when a German art teacher took up her student Amjad's invite and visited his village. These dolls are famous all around the world.
Watch the vedio
hereLabels: AFA, Amjad Ali, Bamenda, Berlin, CAT, Cultura Landgut Borsig, DGFK, Dr Senta Siller, Nauen, Prof Dr Pintsch, Saboyá, Tanto Mejor, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:08 PM,
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Pakistan Handicrafts are very famous all over the world. They are collectors delight for those who value unique, handmade and cultural items. Thatta Kedona has played important role in providing handicrafts in the world market. Success of the project has also attracted researchers on the subject.
Recently,
Gwendolyne Kulick, an assistant professor for Designing in BNU, Lahore, since more than 10 years, is writing her PhD thesis about ‘Handicraft projects in Pakistan, their results and future.’ She has visited the TGD village project in several times with her students.
Gwendolyne Kulick with her German Professor Doktor Brigitte Wolf has also had a workshop with 16 students from universities in Lahore. Within the frame work of her research work she has had a meeting with Mrs Farzana from WAC in TGD and Dr Senta Siller from SES, as a consultant for the recent
cooperation between AFA and AFWA.
Labels: AFA, BNU, Dr Senta Siller, Farzana Zahoor, Gwendolyne Kulick, Research, SES
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:46 PM,
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AFA from Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka and AFWA from Bhara Kahu had another round of discussions to work together in order to “create awareness about upcycling and to preserve nature.”
Mr Farooq Ahmad, TTTC and Mrs Farzana Zahoor of WAC (of AFA in TGD) and Mrs Jannat, Founder and Director of AFWA and Mrs Chand, the Volunteer in AFWA met in Annemarie-Schimmel-Haus (German Cultural Centre) Lahore on March 30, 2015.
Dr Senta Siller, the Consultant for Upcycling, Handicraft and Networking and Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, the Consultant for Appropriate Technology, Communication and Information – both senior experts from SES were also present during the meetings.
While exploring new opportunities and chances for collective good, administrative subjects like accommodations for volunteers, working conditions and space, health and water were also deliberated upon.
Knowing the history of AFA and how they have changed whole community of village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka, one can rightly expect a great deal from this collaboration.
Labels: AFA, AFWA, Dr Senta Siller, Farooq Ahmed, Farzana Zahoor, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, SES, Thatta Kedona, Upcycling
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:46 PM,
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Punjab village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka has history. And its history really started when SES volunteer Dr Senta Siller and Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch first visited this village some 25 years ago.
Thanks to SES volunteers, two government schools (one for girls and the other for boys have progressed visibly. Where else young scholars like
Stephanie Walter or
Sophie Kuppler come and teach English, where else teachers from government schools are trained by the NGOs (AFA), where else annual sports days are celebrated?
Education is very close to the heart of Farooq Ahmad and Farana for AFA. One unique tradition of the NGO is to distribute books, school copies and other educational material among students right in the start of academic year.
On Friday,, March 27, 2015, stage was set
book distribution to students of two government schools. This year the support came from FPAC and SPARC-project in Lahore and through students from Punjab University.
Students of both schools look forward to this event and come in their best dresses for the occasion.
Labels: AFA, Distribution of Books, Education, FPAC, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, SES, SPARC, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:03 PM,
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Dr Senta Siller – Mother of Dolls - is not only a researcher, graphic designer, art historian turned SES volunteer but also a great builder of trust; trust in one’s own self. She creates hope. Presently, she is working to lay down the foundation of cooperation between AFA NGO from village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka and AFWA (NGO from Bhara Kahu).
Madam Janat al Firdus (AFWA), Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch (SES, SPARC, Appropriate Technology, Housing, Communication, Information), Dr Senta Siller (SES, AFA, Handicraft, Organization, Upcycling), Mr. Farooq (AFA), Men Centre, Mrs. Chand (AFWA).
In early 90s, Dr Senta Siller starting creating hope in women of Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – a small Pakistani village on the bank of the Ravi some 170 kiometers from Lahore (40 kilometres from Indus civilization ruins in Harappa). Her work of 25 years in the village has now turned the village into Dolls’ Village known all over the world. But her real achievement is that artisans of the village whom Dr Senta Siller taught traditional skills to generate some additional income are now fully empowered, aware, enlightened trainers.
When influences from Indus civilization from nearby Harappa and modern techniques brought to the village by the SES volunteers started producing results, the self help project in the Dolls’ Village expanded to other countries like Cameroon, Colombia, Iceland and Germany. In these projects handicraft is in the spot on the stage. And the projects have a cultural philosophy; education, science, agriculture, hydrogeology (drinking water project), appropriate technology, public health, economy (marketing and distribution), tourism and communication, are all in practice.
After 8 years, Dr. Senta Siller is back in Pakistan to build trust and create hope in Bhara Kahu (small village near Islamabad). Meetings are taking place to lay down the foundation of cooperation between AFA (NGO from Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka aka Dolls Village) and AFWA (NGO from Bhara Kahu).
AWFA is mainly a private school of 250 students with no sources of income where Dr Senta Siller is working to set up upcycling (recycling plus design to add value) project with the help of AFA to start with.
Trainers from Dolls’ Village and foreign volunteers (thanks to SES, Germany) will hopefully come and help train women in Bhara Kahu to produce products that can generate additional income.
I have personally seen how Dr Senta Siller has passed on the skills to women in Dolls Village step by step, and how she made them realize the importance of our culture and folklore themes. In the process handmade quality products were crafted using all indigenous material and traditional designs. Over 5 years time, I saw the Dolls’ Village women become independent. “I have great expectations from the cooperation between two NGO,” says Dr Senta Siller. Interaction between women from flat land of Central Punjab with women of Northern Punjab will have so many other benefits, added Dr Denta Siller.
"The goals of the cooperation between AFA and AWFA are self-help activities at grass roots level, empowerment of women, income generation, literacy and vocational training, says Dr. Norbert Pintsch, SES volunteer. The philosophy working behind this cooperation is "creating awareness about upcycling and preservation of nature," he added.
About the choice of village Bhara Kahu NGO for this cooperation, Dr Norbert pointed out that given the security situation in the country it is doubly difficult for foreigners to go to Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka. It will be easier for them to visit picturesque Bhara Kahu because it is half way between Muree and Islamabad.
Labels: AFA, AFWA, Dr Senta Siller, Farooq Ahmed, Farzana Zahoor, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, SES, Upcycling
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:00 PM,
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[Double click to enlarge]
Labels: AFA, Dr. Norbert Pintsch, Thatta Kedona, Volunteers
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:00 AM,
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Dr Norbert Pintsch is arriving in Pakistan on October 1, 2014. He will be followed by other veteran volunteers.
Through October, Dr Norbert Pintsch will be busy in Lahore for Housing, Cooperation with Universities and General Communication and Information Skills with
SPARC.
At the same time,
Marlis will work on natural medicine (
Moringa has grown fast) project in Basic Health Unit in Dolls Village (Thatta Ghulamka Dheroa) on the request of AFA, the village NGO.
Monika Kupler is also coming to the Village and she will work in Woman Art Center of AFA in pottery and handicraft section.
After heavy monsoon, programs includes a physical building check of the Woman Art Center building.
Students from Lahore are also expected to visit during the October activity season.
File photos from previous visits.
Labels: AFA, Dr. Norbert Pintsch, Monika Kuppler, Volunteers
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:32 PM,
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Volunteers
Dr Leila, DGFK, General Physician, New Zealand, Bettina Fiedler, DGFK, Pharmacist, Germany
Dr Elizabeth DGFK, General Physician, Australia, Dr Karola, CIDA, SES, General Physician, Germany, Rescue Nurse, Switzerland, Erika Burchard, Optician, Germany, Gundula Gomoll, Physiotherapist, Germany
Development
Originally meant to be medical service in a neglected village with 40 patients in the beginning put up ina temporary housing.
Shifting into a converted farmers house with equipments for Doctors,nurses and patients chambers as well as residentials room in upper storey for doctor and assistants.
The upper story is now also available for registered guests or tourists against payment [WC, Shower and Kitchen is available].
Once a year "One-Baby-OneTree" event takes place. A measure for improvement of micro-climate.
The school children in the village schools are treated for lice and other special insects once a year regularly.
The BHU is funded through donations. A Tambola event is organized annually to raise funds for supporting the work of the BHU.
A change is taking place due to the massive influence of industrially produced medicines; uncontrolled use of medicines is leading to various illnesses. The NGO has therefore decided to promote the use of traditional medicines (Moringa-tree, Neem Tree).
Labels: AFA, BHU, Elizabet Carew-Reid, Erika Burchard, Gundula Gomol, Karola Groch, Leila Masson, Marlies Bartkiewitz-Schmid, NGOs, Thatta Kedona, Volunteers
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:49 AM,
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Thatta Kedona has a long-term cooperation with the Perzada Cultural Complex. Since many years, Thatta Kedona has been participating in the puppet festival in Gaddafi-Stadium with a special exhibition stand of ethnological dolls made by the AFA (NGO).
Puppeteers from Perzada Compex took part in the opening ceremony of the TTTC (Men-Centre) in 1997 in Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka. In 2010, three one-room houses made of traditional materials were constructed with the support of local universities for the purpose of research in connection with the mens’ project in TGD. In 2011, like previous year, a special event regarding appropriate technology was arranged for children. In 2012, the NGO AFA invited these children to a 3-school event, with school children from Lahore, Okara and TGD.
Similar to the children’s festival at PCC, a 3-school festival has again taken place in 2013 in Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka.
Long live Thatta Kedona-Perzada Cultural Complex cooperation.
Labels: AFA, FPAC, Marlis Bartkiewitz, Monika Kuppler, Peerzada Group, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Senta Siller, SPARC, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:12 AM,
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