Children’s literature festival from 21st

LAHORE:The annual children’s literature festival is back in Lahore at the Children Library Complex (CLC), a purpose built facility of the Punjab School Education Department from January 21 to 23.

This is the 64th Children’s Literature Festival (CLF) and 7th Teacher’s Literature Festival (TLF) since November 2011 when CLF was first launched in Lahore at the same venue. The CLF is a flagship programme of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) founded by Baela Jamil, CEO of ITA and co-founded by Ameena Saiyid, an icon in publishing and promoting love of learning. The annual CLF will be held on January 21st, 22nd along with one day Teachers’ Literature Festival (TLF) on January 23. The three-day event bearing the theme of its Tarana “Hamein Kitab Chahiyeh’ written by Zehra Nigah is packed with over 100 sessions, and 125 resource persons and 26 Institutional partners. Ali Noor, Ali Hamza, and Rakae Rahman Jamil will rock the CLF concert on 21 January at 3:00 pm. The success and continuity of CLFs is attributable to scores of authors, poets, actors, artists, performers, education experts, renowned celebrities, and new age scientists who are core partners of this unique “qabeela”/tribe of cutting edge humanists giving back to society through this vibrant platform in Pakistan.

The three-day festival will be structured around several parallel sessions from 9:00 -4:00 pm with workshops, performances, theatre, plenary sessions, books and activity stalls including mobile libraries, catering not only to children but also teachers and parents from all school systems and backgrounds. There will be marches by children on each day on the Right to Education and Climate Justice calling attention to urgent emergencies. The last day of the festival will be dedicated to teachers. The Teacher’s Literature Festival (TLF) packed with lively professional development sessions for teachers /educators from 9 -2:30 pm (Jan 23rd). The 64th CLF will promote love for reading and the 4 Cs, critical thinking; communication, creativity and collaboration committed to the principle that children and all human beings learn with multiple intelligences and all senses to become lifelong learners.

The CLF inauguration will be colorful and inclusive with performances/readings by children from the Govt. Special Schools, young authors Harsukh and Sanjan Nagar students. CLF Awards 2019-2020 would be given to eminent resource persons and partners who have supported the movement since 2011.

These learning giants include Amjad Islam Amjad, Arfa Syeda Zehra, Syeda Basarat Kazim/Alif Laila Book Bus Society, Bina Jawad, Shehrezade Alam, Fauzia Minallah, Mariam Khokhar of the CLC, School Education Dept. Peter Jacob, Maham Ali among others.