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MISCELLANEA: Nature carnival
In order to spread environment awareness in students, particularly in private, English medium, schools of Karachi WWF holds educational and competitive events every year with new themes for them to work on. Here they can discuss, design three-dimensional models and answer questions from visitors in carnivals like the one held at the PAF Museum recently.
Such programmes aim to target young minds at a grass-root level to help better the environment and reduce the perils of pollution in water, soil, sea, and air.
The themes this year were: the importance of habitats, deserts Tasman Spirit, Wild animals of Pakistan, blind dolphin of the Indus and the snow leopard.
It surprised me, pleasantly though, that the information gathered by students was thorough, in some instances touching the level of professional know-how. I questioned several students and was delighted to learn that the home-work was flawless and the children boasted of a great deal of self-confidence models were made with precision, and portrayed details that were rarely seen at other such carnivals. Most textbooks are full of errors, but to my utter surprise none of these errors were found in the work of the children who displayed the flawless models with great pride. On inquiring how this was possible, it was found that the teachers gathered the information through the Internet and passed this knowledge to the children.
It was a delight to watch, youngsters eager to answer questions without hesitation. Obviously, the teachers had tutored them well. The PAF school students had painted snakes on their faces, one dressed to simulate snake skins; the headgear evolved like a coiled snake projecting its head in the air. A young snake charmer dressed with befitting dress and flute played the ‘snaketune’, at which children danced and slithered like a cobra. The crowd was thrilled and appreciated the performance wholeheartedly. The message was to protect snakes as they had reached the critical level and would become extinct if proper measures were not taken; they were playing useful role as friends by reducing agricultural pests (rats destroy about 25 per cent of the crops in Pakistan), they pleaded.
But the star performance was given by the students and a teacher of Falcon House School. The teacher led a melodious chorus on conservation of nature synchronized by students with music from the organ that she played. The children first sang in English and without missing a beat or rhythm switched over smoothly to the translation in Urdu in the same tune. Besides this, they staged a lively monkey show. A clown strutted on stilts, amusing children by humorous tet-e-tet. Every participating school displayed models, charts, messages on environment, perils of pollution oil spill and exhibited excellent three dimension models to depict the themes. The models on habitat destruction, deserts, Tasman Spirit, deforestation, snow leopard, wild animals of Pakistan were very good and the standard was higher than items displayed in previous nature carnivals. Cups shields and certificates were awarded to the winners, which were:
Wild animals of Pakistan
1. Beaconhouse School System, Clifton Branch, 2. St. Michael’s Convent School, 3. City Government School.
Snow Leopard and Habitat:
1. Falcohouse Grammar School Campus 8, 2. The City School PAF Chapter, 3. Falconhouse Grammar School?
Deforestation and its importance
1. The City School Prep, PECHS, 2. Falconhouse Grammar School Campus 3 3. Edenhouse School.
Desert Life
1. St. Patrick’s School 2. Nayab Public School, 3. The City School Prep PECHS.
Karachi Oil Spill and its impact
1. Beaconlight Academy 2. Falconhouse Grammar School Campus 1. 3. Generation School
Overall presentation of stalls, in order of merit:
1. Falconhouse Grammar School Campus I 2. Beaconhouse School System, Clayton Branch 3. Beaconlight Academy.
FM radio held a live quiz programme on nature, environmental pollution, wild animals, etc. with lively music.
There were flaws, of course, not of a serious nature but they’re being pointed out so that they may not be repeated in the future. Several schools displayed wild animals that are not found in Pakistan such as lion, tiger, rhinoceros, giraffes, zebras, chimpanzees, rattle snake, orang utan, elephants and the like. A leopard was invariably labelled as cheetah. If they make two sections of wild animals in general, these animals, must be represented, but when it is about Pakistan, only correct names and models must be shown. Tortoises were shown as turtles (A tortoise lives on land and will drown in water — any water).
Such programmes will also be held in Lahore and Islamabad in the near future.
Young Mastermind
While watching “Mastermind India” and “University Challenge” on BBC World, ever wondered where Pakistan comes in the picture with similar competitions? Nowhere! But not anymore. The Asian Management Institute/IQRA University organized a “Young Mastermind” Competition, which spanned for months in the effort to select and crown a Young Mastermind amongst 200 plus students from all over Karachi.
In the first round, the participants sat for a written test in English, Mathematics, IQ and General Knowledge. The top 50 scorers in that test qualified for the next round, which was group discussion. The participants were divided into groups and each was given a different topic to have an open discussion in front of a panel of judges. The 10 people selected, qualified for the grand finale which was held in the Defence View Campus of the Iqra University. All 10 participants had been given a wide range of topics such as science, technology, current affairs, etc. on which they were to be questioned.
On the final day, each of the ten participants was called on the stage in front of a panel of 10 judges. First, they had to give an introductory speech, outlining their plans for the future. Thereafter, each of the judges asked the participant a question relating to the topics given. All participants were to be judged on the relevancy of their answers, debating qualities as well as personality and grooming.
In the end, Madiha Saeed of DHA Degree College for Women was awarded the title of “Young Mastermind.” Ayesha Zehra Ali of Foundation Public School A’Level was given the second position while the third place went to Unaiza Ahsan, also of Foundation Public School A’Level. All the ten participants received some very lavish prizes sponsored by LG and National Foods. Hafsa Ahsan
Essay competition
To commemorate the International Women’s Day and to express solidarity with the women’s cause, the Karachi Chapter of Uks research, Resource and Publication Centre has announced an Essay competition for school children. The topic for this competition is: “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” (Aurtoon key Huqooq Insani Huqooq Hein).
All school going children between 12-16 years are eligible to participate in this competition through their schools. Entries can be submitted in English or Urdu and should not exceed 1,500 words. These must be original and submission of published material will not be accepted. The last date to send your entries is February 26. There will be three prizes each of Rs3,000, Rs2,000 and Rs1,000 for the first, second and third position holders in both the languages. Prizes and certificates will be given out to the winners on March 8. Send your entries to the following address:
Essay Competition for Women’s Day
Uks-Research, Resource and Publications Centre on Women and Media, Karachi Chapter, P.O. Box 12277, Karachi
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