Family Welfare Middle School Students in the Village
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka (Dolls’ Village) comes alive afresh when volunteers arrive there. Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Monika Kuppler and Marlis are in the village and so many things are happening simultaneously.
This has become a tradition that had students from different universities in Lahore (BNU, PU, UET, COMSAT, NCA, KC and PU) come to the village and show keen interest in local building constructions techniques, use of appropriate technology, village life and traditional rural culture and also interact with the villagers.
Read more »Labels: Farooq Ahmed, Farzana Zahoor, Marlis Bartkiewitz, Monika Kuppler, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Students, TGD, Volunteers
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:01 PM,
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Cooperation between AFA and AFWA
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
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.
Earlier this month, meeting between AFA and AFWA was held in picturesque Bhara Kahu, Islamabad on March 9, 2015.
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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Environment Protection with Appropriate Technology Display
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch from SES, IPC, Farooq Ahmad and Shakeel from TTTC of AFA arranged display of appropriate technology for the kids from the Lahore School (The Valley of Knowledge) and the students from the Punjab University, Lahore on their arrival in the Village. The students took keen interest in the exhibition.
Labels: Farooq Ahmed, IPC, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, SES, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:43 AM,
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Standing ovation for Dr Senta Siller
Saturday, March 14, 2015
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).
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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.
Dr Senta Siller with S A J Shirazi
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.
Cooperation between the two NGOs, guidance and expert advice by Dr. Senta Siller, Dr. Norbert Pintsch and other volunteers will go a ‘new’ long way.
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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University Students Come to TGD
Monday, April 14, 2014
Once again students from the University of the Punjab University visited the village TGD in order to obtain an impression about the life in rural area. They spent time in the building of the NGO as well as traditional mud houses.
As usual, the FPAC sponsored the purchase of books and pencils for school children at the start of the school year in the village school. The FPAC promotes education in the rural areas with emphasis on TGD as well a project for students of civil engineering, who should not only learn theoretically about mud architecture but also work actively with mud in given structures. Here are some of the images of the event:
Read more »Labels: Aamir Rafique, Farooq Ahmed, Farzana Zahoor, FPAC, Lahore, Norbert Pintsch, Punjab University, SPARC, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:01 AM,
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Use of Appropriate Technology
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Prof. Dr. Norbert / Volunteer Director along with the team (including Farooq Ahmed / Director Technology- Transfer- and Training Centre (TTTC from AFA-NGO in TGD) and Prof. Dr. Norbert / Volunteer Director, have successfully introduced a number of innovations over the years with the help of friendly volunteers. Some of them are Drop-Irrigation, Production of Electricity Tthrough Kites, Monument Protection, Experimental Constructions from mud at Peerzada Cultural Complex (PCC) and Beaconhouse National University (BNU), as well as lectures and Workshops in Abottabad and Karachi.
Cumulative result of all these innovations is already making use of appropriate technology not only possible but desirable.
Labels: Beaconhouse National University, BNU, Farooq Ahmed, Peerzada Cultural Complex, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:02 AM,
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