Designing for coalescence
Friday, August 9, 2024
A design framework to support shared stakeholder agency
in Pakistan’s craft for empowerment system
by
Dr Gwendolyne Kulick was a volunteer in the TK project since 2004
and also a helper at the doll stand in the Ethnology Museum in Berlin .
until 2017. She was a professor at the BNU in Lahore and
since 2015 a professor at the University of Cairo.
In her doctoral thesis she also dealt with the doll project in TKD.
Important passages from the dissertation are listed in the appendix,
e.g. who said what and why.
Read the thesis here
Labels: Dr Gwendolyne Kulick, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Farzana Zahoor, Joachim Polzer
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:20 AM,
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Sustainability requires inclusiveness ...
Monday, October 24, 2022
Handicraft is the keyword!
Examples from the three doll-making projects.
Labels: Cultura e V Nauen, DGFK e V Berlin, ElCampoMirando, Farzana Zahoor, HAATC, Senta Siller, Stella Pachon, Thatta Kedona, Theresa Lum
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:05 AM,
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A study tour - BNU students in Thatta Ghulamka
Friday, October 27, 2017
A large group of students from BNU (Beaconhouse National University) visited the village Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka in district Okara on 24 October 2017. This study tour was headed by the Associate Professor Aarish Ali Sardar, who is currently teaching in the Dept. of Visual Communication Design at School of Visual Art & Design of Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan.
These students wanted to closely study the handicrafts project “Thatta Kedona”, which was initiated back in 1993 by the German designer Dr. Senta Siller and her husband Dr. Norbert Pintsch.
Read more »Labels: Aamir Rafique, Amjad Ali, Beaconhouse National University, Farooq Ahmad, Farzana Zahoor, Norbert Pintsch, Senta Siller, TGD, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:15 AM,
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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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Pakistani Handicrafts
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
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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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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Life is back in Dolls Village
Monday, March 30, 2015
Spring brings three things in the Dolls Village (Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka): budding flowers in kitchen gardens, students, researchers and foreign volunteers in the Women Art Centre and Showroom at the village. This time Dr Senta Siller and Dr Norbert Pintsch were also together in the village. Resul: the life was back in the village.
As per our standard operating procedure, all the guests are taken to Women Art Center where they are welcomed by Farooq Ahmed, the Director TTTC and Farzana Zahoor of Women Art Center; both of them from the village NGO AFA.
This time students from University of Punjab were in the village. Farooq briefed them on the history of the AFA and also gave an overview of activities that happen in the village round the year. He also threw light on AFA efforts in the field of environment protection and appropriate technology application.
Farzana Zahoor told about Handicrafts, Dolls and toys that are produced in the village and how they reach in international fairs and museums across the world.
Guests were also given a guided tour of the showroom in the WAC and also taken to Basic health Unit and two government schools in the village.
Labels: Faqooq Ahmed, Farzana Zahoor, Farzana Zahoor Dr Senta Siller, SES, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:30 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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