Enabling Teachers to Use Activity Based Learning through Visual Arts for Social Cohesion and Peace

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

The Little Art arranged a capacity building training workshop with school teachers in Faisalabad from 23-25 August 2021, on themes of peace, democracy and rights. The three day training workshop was part of ArtBeat project, aimed for teachers in low-income schools to acquire skills of activity based learning using visual arts.
Through this project, The Little Art enables the teachers, how to engage children on peace, and learning different skills that relates to them to promote social inclusion. It is also noted that in some cases, children might not be able to afford to buy basic art materials in such schools. The project provides Art Kits containing art materials for children so no child is left behind to creatively express themselves and take part in the national exhibitions of ArtBeat.
The Little Art’s “ArtBeat” is a national competition for children to submit painting and drawings. It is also the largest such even in Pakistan which is running now since past 11 years and keep growing every year.
With the support of Australia Aid and Australian High Commission Islamabad, TLA undertakes a National level Visual Art project for children and youth to raise awareness on Peace, Democracy and Human Rights. The first workshop was organized one of the project school “Umul Maddaris Model School” in Faisalabad and On the last day of capacity building training, H.E. Australia High Commissioner Ambassador Mr. Dr. Geoffrey Shaw visited the school in Faisalabad. H.E. Ambassador was amazed to see the immediate implementation of the set of activities with the children by teachers learned from the capacity building training. H.E talked to the teachers, gave certificates to the participating teachers of the training workshop and handed over the Art Kits to the school principal.
In the concluding ceremony, ArtBeat call to submit artworks was also announced. The Little Art will collect artworks from across Pakistan, from public to private schools, and select some of the best to be a part of an exhibition. Exhibition will be held in Islamabad and also a digital exhibition will be online on Google Cultural Institute.
ArtBeat – National Child Art Competition and Exhibitions was initiated in 2012 with a vision to promote visual culture, understanding of issues among children and youth from their own perspective, celebrate children as artists and present children’s view as a point of discourse for adults and community. It’s a National level competition of visual arts (painting and drawing) on the themes of Peace, Democracy and Human rights for children and young people.
The Little Art is a registered non-profit arts education organization, which carries a mission to establish arts in Pakistan as a major facilitator for children and young people to realize and achieve their dreams; through innovative arts education projects and creative learning opportunities. We use the medium of art to promote positive social values through innovative learning opportunities among children and young people, specially marginalized and from low-income backgrounds.