The British Council in Pakistan and the British Deputy High Commission in partnership with SEED Ventures organised a Commonwealth Big Lunch at the British Council Library in Karachi to celebrate the Commonwealth community and build connections through food.
The chief guest at the Commonwealth Big Lunch was British Deputy High Commissioner Elin Burns, said a press release issued on Monday.
The event was also attended by the British deputy head of mission, Mark Rakestraw, members from media and the business community, as well as by O and A Level students from five schools in Karachi that were connected with social enterprise mentors working in various different fields.
The focus of the lunch was to provide the students with an opportunity to learn more about social entrepreneurship and inspire them to become change agents by encouraging innovation and creative thinking to overcome the social and economic challenges in Pakistan. SEED Ventures also shared a presentation on the Prince’s Trust International initiative, Enterprise Challenge Pakistan, which is managed by SEED Ventures in Pakistan.
The initiative is about instilling entrepreneurship in schoolchildren amongst 28 cities in Pakistan to encourage innovation and create livelihoods at a very young age. The runner-up winner of the Commonwealth Class Story Writing Competition, Hira Tanveer Siddiqui, read her story. Her story is a colourful and detailed story of traditional and cultural celebrations in Pakistan. The story relates to the youth who have ever lost something they treasure.
The gathering in Karachi is one of many Commonwealth Big Lunches happening across the 53 Commonwealth nations from 12 March -- Commonwealth Day -- until Sunday, April 22.
Launched by the Eden Project in partnership with the UK government, thousands of people from across the Commonwealth are coming together to celebrate, discover and share their Commonwealth links, stories and experiences with one another over a shared meal.
Lunches are being held ahead of and during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018. Unfolding over five days, leaders and foreign ministers from up to 53 countries and over 2,000 delegates will gather in London and Windsor, UK, from April 16 to 20 to discuss and agree how to work together to address shared global challenges.
British Deputy High Commissioner Elin Burns said: “We are delighted to hold our own Commonwealth Big Lunch in Karachi that has given us an opportunity to teach young students the importance of social entrepreneurship. Commonwealth Big Lunches are about celebrating being part of the Commonwealth, encouraging people to come together and making new connections. Sixty per cent of the Commonwealth population is under the age of 30, and I am delighted we have the opportunity to engage with inspiring young Pakistanis.
“I am proud of the fact that Pakistan and the UK share such a strong connection. I would like to see this connection grow even stronger in the years to come, as the next generation come of age.”
Commonwealth Big Lunches were inspired by and build on the Eden Project’s annual Big Lunch, which launched in 2009 as a way to connect people with their communities over a shared meal. The Big Lunch has since seen millions of people get together, including for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Big Lunch will take place later this year on Sunday, June 3, in the UK.