Thatta Kedona

Culture is a Basic Need

Thatta Kedona is more than dolls and toys
Tuesday, January 27, 2026

The special thing lies in the versatility of the project initiator

When the article "German Connection" by Asgher Javed appeared in Nation, Sunday Plus, April 27, 2008, p. 14, readers were probably unaware of the connections between the three women in the village project; among other things, Ruth Pfau had a connection to Mango-Pir near Karachi with the workshop for leprosy patients there, and Annemarie Schimmel had a connection to TGD because of the vibrant local, traditional culture.


In one case, the Ruth Pfau Basic Health Unit was created, and in the other, the Annemarie Schimmel Cultural Complex, where theater performances, film screenings, and village music concerts took place!

Senta Siller's work was not only that of a -researcher (fieldwork in the Five Provinces), -designer (dolls based on village life), -producer (marketable items), -teacher (training village women), -marketing strategist (museums at home and abroad), -networker (Schimmel-Pfau-Kenoyer-Salima Hashmi/Ex-NCA Lahore, DSFestival, Expo 2000, 2005), but she is rightly considered an anthropologist. All of this demonstrates the visibility and awareness of local village culture, bridging the gap between science and culturally informed consumption, while also creating sustainable measures for village women.

Incidentally, village dolls are housed in the Lok Virsa Museum in Islamabad, and thanks to the IWSA Prize, village toys found their way to the Children's Museum in Izmir!

It all began with the production of the film "Amjad's Village," a 24-hour glimpse into village life in TGD. An interesting article by Maqbool Malik, "Planning of a Model Village," was published in Dawn in 1994. Numerous articles by journalists have praised the project, which, through Senta Siller, has received several awards, including one from UNESCO in 2007, recognizing it as the outstanding doll project in South Asia. Ultimately, it's all on the path to UNESCO World Heritage status.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:08 AM, ,

Moringa grows fast in TGD
Friday, September 29, 2017

For the Basic Health Unit (BHU) we have organized Moringa and Neem for the villagers. It is to bring back the alternative input in medication for the villagers. BHU makes only sense, if there is more than the traditional medicine. 

The new leaders of AFA (Amjad Ali - the president and Aamir Rafique, the secretary general are now trying their best to promote local herbs n the village.

The trees planted only last year have grown so beautifully. See some of Moringa trees in the village here: 


Read more »

Labels: , ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:08 AM, ,

Dr Norbert Pintsch meets CM Punjab
Monday, October 3, 2016

Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, a senior German volunteer, called on the Chief Minister Punjab Mr Shahbaz Sharif on 30 September 2016 and discussed wide range of matters relating improvements in village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka and how the government of Punjab can help the Project in the village being run with the support of German volunteers. Dr Norbert also apprised the CM about what has been happening in the village for last 25 years since the start of the Project.


The meeting with CM Punjab has triggered a good amount of activities and a lot seems to be happening in the Village besides visit of high ranking officials of Okara District.

In addition (and as a result of CM’s interest in the Dolls Village Project), Dr Norbert Pintsch is going to meet Energy Department Punjab on 3 October where solarization/electrification of Basic Health Unit and street lighting in the village will be discussed.

On 4 October 2016, a meeting is scheduled with DCO, Okara for discussion on cleanliness of buffalo pond, drainage system, clean drinking water project, maintenance of the approach road,  and posting of more staff in village schools and Basic Health Unit.

Later on 5 October 2016, Dr Norbert Pintsch is also due to speak as guest speaker in Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan before he leaves for Germany.


Labels: , , ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:38 AM, ,

One Baby One Tree
Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Friends of Thatta Kedona already know about our beautiful tradition of "one child one tree" that is practiced in Toys Village since last decade. A-e-F-e-A presents one fruit tree on the birth of a baby and one flower tree to a newly married couple. Results: almost every household in Toys Village has a fruit and flower trees in their yards. And it looks so good. Here are some of the impressions from tree distribution ceremony in BHU.



Labels: ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:34 AM, ,

School of Home Economics in TGD
Thursday, September 11, 2014

Basic Health Unit , Guest House and School For Home Economics (Midwifery) Within the BHU established long ago and run by well trained volunteers, the NGO AeFeA intends as part of a new project to use the upper portion more as Guest House and the entire unit as a School for Home Economics (Midwifery).

The purpose of this change is to make movement and implement new ideas and possibilities.

Kitchen garden, Drinking Water, Herbs and Spices, - these terms are not totally unknown and have been partially handled in the past in the BHU, however not in the planned form (and soon in practice).

Labels:

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:38 AM, ,

Recent Developments in the Basic Health Unit (BHU) AFA Thatta Ghulamla Dhiroka
Monday, April 14, 2014

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: , , , , , , , , , ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:49 AM, ,

Spring Comes to Thatta Kedona
Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Prof. Norbert Pintsch arrives in Pakistan this morning (April 1, 2014). He will be followed by Marlis Bartkiewitz. With the arrival of foreign volunteers spring activities of A-F-A (village NGO) will start.


Dr Norbert Pintsch will toggle between Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi while he organizes traditional activities in village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka. He, along with students of different universities, will also be working building projects of SPARC.

Marlis Bartkiewitz [from SES] will be working in BHU and Kitchen Garden projects. This time Marlis is introducing herbal trees, creepers and bushes that are used for medicine. Marlis will also work in Government schools for boys and girls.

Labels: , , , , ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:17 AM, ,

Activities in BHU
Thursday, October 24, 2013


Thanks to NGO AFA that Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka is always live and something keeps happening there. If one day it has a group of students from one university the other day are some visiters interested in rural and then there are volunteers who being ‘life’ to the village life.


Dr Norbert Pintsch is organizing a lot of different things where as Monika Kuppler is busy with her Pottery students. Volunteer lady Marlis from SES is busy in Basic Health Unit. Here you can see Marlis handing over the medicine in the village school and meeting with lady health visitors in the Basic Health Unit of NGO AFA.

Labels: , ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:31 PM, ,

Annual repair and maintenance
Monday, September 2, 2013

Village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – commonly known as Dolls Village – is a center of activities that range from dolls and toys making to research and a place where large number of local and foreign volunteers come and add value.


Thatta Kedona is a project, first of its kind, in rural area where handmade quality toys are crafted using all indigenous materials and traditional designs based on cultural and folklore themes. The workmanship of the dolls and toys has acclaimed international recognition through their participation in numerous international events, exhibitions, fairs and displays. These toys are the embodiment of dreams, hopes and most of all self-reliance of the hands, which breathe a part of their own soul into them.
Read more »

Labels: , ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:00 AM, ,

One Baby One Tree
Wednesday, February 6, 2013


Readers here at Thatta Kedona are familiar with beautiful tradition of one child one tree being practice here since a decade. AFA presents one fruit tree on the birth of a baby and one flower tree on a wedding. Results: almost every household in Thatta Kedona has a fruit and flower tree in their yards. And it looks so good. 
Read more »

Labels: ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:49 AM, ,

Thatta Kedona Basic Health Unit
Wednesday, June 13, 2012


Volueteer therapist Gundula trainig workers at Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka.

Labels: ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:07 AM, ,

One Baby One Tree
Wednesday, March 28, 2012

One Baby One Tree is one of the oldest traditions of Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama - the village NGO. A flower or fruit tree is presented on the birth of a baby in the family. As a result of this simple tradition, every home in the village now has a fruit and flower trees.


The in-charge of the Basic Health Unit keeps an exact record of all babies born in the village and gives the information to the head of the NGO, who then arranges saplings from the nursery to be used in the annual event called One Baby One Tree that is held in the village each year in the BHU.


Dr. Senta Siller – the founder of the project – had conceived and initiated two programs for increasing greenery in the village homes: one for the members of the Women Art Center and the other for the BHU Baby program. In this way, a very special type of vegetation has developed in the village houses. This year also, the program could be implemented with donations and help from volunteers.

Labels: ,

posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:59 AM, ,


Popular Posts

How I Work From Home and Make Extra Money?

Why Everyone Blogs and Why You Too Should

Business {Blogging} Proposal

Subscribe by Email

Blog Roll