Dolls Village

Living happily ever after

2012-01-27T08:34:00.000+05:00

Tags: Marriage, Customes, Culture, Society, Relationship

Pakistan is a land of thousand faces, a country simply overflowing with cultural richness. Whatever the preferences, a wedding in Pakistan is good display of customs, traditions, many of which are heavily influenced by foreign customs. Marriage is an important social celebration and people participate with passion and enthusiasm. The rites are imbued with a certain sentiment appeal.

Demographically, Pakistan is divided in rural hinterland and urban areas. Common among marriages in rural and urban areas are Mangnee, Mayoon, Mehndi, Nikah, Valima and living happily ever after. But the way these colorful rituals are performed greatly vary.

Rural areas of Pakistan still remain a largely conservative society, where many young people shy away when it comes to marriages. Exceptions apart, arranged marriages are a cornerstone of rural society. It remains the responsibility of parents and marriages are mostly among people within the same tribe, caste, community, family or locality.

This is what happens in rural areas with some minor changes from place to place: After initial understanding and covert messages between families of prospective spouses, the boy's relatives visit the girl's family and offer the proposal, on formal acceptance the "mangni" (engagement) takes place, marriage date is fixed, groom, with friends and relatives goes to the house of the bride in the form of barat (marriage procession) where the nikah (social contact) is performed. The consent of the bride and the groom to the marriage (ijab and qabool) in the presence of at least two witnesses is obtained to solemnize the contract as per the commandment of divine Islam. Guests are served with sumptuous food (notwithstanding what the law of the land says about the feast). Groom brings home his the bride. This is followed by Walima. Life goes on . . .

Moreover, on the arrival of barat, the dowry is displayed for every one to see and at the same place groom's female relatives show what they have gifted (jewellery and clothing) to the bride. Both sides glorify the gifts. Paradoxically, in Punjab, a night earlier than the marriage date, groom visits homes of his friends and relatives where he is offered money. Other gifts mostly in the form of money (salami) or garlands made of currency notes are presented when groom gets ready for going to bride's home. Customarily, groom dresses up in attire presented to him by one of his sisters and in return, he gives to his sister(s) what she demands. There are no marriage halls and the congregations take place in homes and or community centres (called Daras). There are no caterers. Local tradesmen prepare food and serve.

As per the available statistics, divorce rate in the rustic areas is comparatively lower. The core join family system is still in tact and that is one of the reasons for low divorce rate. At the other hand, marriages at very young age, consanguineous marriages, marriages without consent of the partners and cross marriages are common.

There is not much of a variation in the core marriage ceremonies in urban areas, only the way they are performed differ. In the cities, the assertive sons and daughters of an educated middle-class are finding new ways of meeting their match. Although many still have arranged marriages, it is no longer unheard of for couples to marry after having fallen in love or meting over the Internet or in a TV show. Court marriages are also not very uncommon.

Difference in thinking between modern urban elites and traditional rural families is reflected in marriages in many ways. Norms in the urban society have changed over the years and they are on the constant move. Vulnerable to satellite TV, Internet, higher education and affluence, urban population is open and highly receptive to the waves of modernity. Unlike in the past, the selection of marriage partners now is done from the groups that are similar in social characteristics. In present times, urbanites are now most likely to marry individuals who are in similar social group, educational attainment and social class.

Another interesting pattern that is now visible is the strong influence of the western society, which has now trickled down its norms to our youth who have proudly inculcated them into being 'ours'. People in urban areas are slowly but surely moving towards the conjugal family system from our traditional and inherited consanguine system. Twenty years ago the scenario in Pakistani cities was quite the contrary.

Families in urban areas are strongly influenced by the environment and by technology in particular. To take a historic overview, as Pakistani society industrialized some 25 years ago, families lost their old patterns and received changed values. This resulted among other things, in smaller families in urban areas of Pakistan. In addition many of the functions, once attributed to the families became the responsibilities of other institutions and individuals. It was because of the shift to a more formal societal structure that romantic love is replaced by economic and social reasons as a factor influencing the choice of a marriage partner. The role of women has also changed as the family is losing control over the destinies of its female members.

Matchmaking by the third party is a preferred way now. This has given rise to match making business. Interested people are asked to provide details of eligible sons and daughters, as well as their requirements from a spouse and matchmakers do rest of he job. Marriages take place at marriage halls and hotels instead of homes. Dowry, usually, is sent to the bride's home before the marriage.

The affluence and wealth makes a large difference in weeding ceremonies, in rural as well as urban areas. The more people have, the more elaborate are the rituals. But spirit everywhere remains the same.

The Toy Village

2012-01-24T09:02:00.000+05:00

Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka - The Toy Village - is the name of the village in Punjab, about which a lot has been written, about its unique and special concept, Thatta Kedona is the name under which the handicraft products of the village and institutions connected to it within and outside the country are marketed.

The agricultural activity in the village is not sufficient and therefore it is necessary to provide opportunities for additional income in the villages. This can be done by promoting the traditional culture and its conversion into handicrafts. The approach must always be understood in its totality and implemented properly.

The income generated through agriculture may be minimal, it may in fact be just sufficient to meets the needs of basic food and simple shelter, but the cost of living in the village is definitely cheaper than the city; the push into the cities enables only the least of the migrants the promised benefits. The steadily increasing productivity of the urban industrial work place ruins not only the rural work place, but specially the life in the city; industrial production and global economics require increase in consumer base and destruction of resources, - in totality therefore not a great concept for the future.

“Thatta Kedona” does not exist with the help of donations or charity of the city dwellers, who may derive satisfaction from a good deed, -this is not compatible with the concept of Help Towards Self-Help: Donations and Alms help only superficially and encourage dependence, -a danger, which was already recognized by the founder of Pakistan and who warned against it.

The city culture is international and the problems in the cities worldwide similar, the traditional culture of diverse regions is something special and needs to be protected and supported, - Thatta Kedona is a metaphor for a change in the way of thinking: The future lies in the countryside!

Arfa Software Technology Park

2012-01-22T13:47:00.000+05:00

It is sorrowful day for all of us. Arfa Karim Randhawa, the world's youngest Microsoft Certified Professional, a brilliant and outstanding young mind and a source of pride for Pakistanis all over the world, is no more with us. Her young life burnt, as her grieved father said, as a brilliant but brief flame of fire, and all her youthful aspirations were vanquished by the cruel hand of fate. It is our belief to bow to the will of Allah.. I have resolved that the dreams of this daughter of ours to do something for the nation will be translated into reality. I have decided to rename Lahore Technology Park as Arfa Software Technology Park, Lahore in her memory.

join Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

2012-01-22T04:00:00.002+05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Anyone who join Walgreens Prescription Savings Club become entitled to savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications, discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies and bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services.

Risk free Walgreens Prescription Savings Club membership is easy way to save as well as have peace of mind. I suggest you join the club and discover how Walgreens helps you meet the day today needs. Explore their information rich site to learn what all they are offering and how best. I have bookmarked the site for my own use and am following them on Twitter and Facebook. It is good to stay updated with Walgreens services.

Geek girls

2012-01-21T10:40:00.000+05:00

The Internet is not only changing male female ratio in workforce giving female population more choices to work

What has female work choices to do with geeking. A lot! First, let us see the origin of term geek and establish why geek girls and not the geek boys. Tom Ziegler researched the origin and changing usage of the term geek and quoted this in geek.com feature, "It appears that "geek" outstrips "nerd" by almost 400 years! Seems Mr. Alexander Barclay back in England wrote the following in 1570: He is a foole, a sotte, and a geke also which choseth ... the worst [way] and most of ieoperdie [jeopardy]. Why, old Willy used it in Twelfth Night, Scene I, as Malvolio says to Olivia: Why have you suffer'd me to be imprison'd, kept in a dark house, visited by the Priest, And made the most notorious gecke and gull That e're invention play'd on?

Word geek is derived from geck or gek or geke. In its original meaning, "geek referred to a foolish, inept, or clumsy, single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept or a carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken." As per MS Word 2000 UK Dictionary geek is a synonym of nerd, weed and bore. Eric Raymond describes "computer geek" as "one who eats (computer) bugs for a living." But that was in the past.

All these definitions and meanings are outdated. "It was during dot com boom (1999-2000) that the usage of the term changed to positive," wrote Tom Ziegler. Geek after steady transition now refers to keen and expert users of personal computers and the Internet, in an upbeat sense, notwithstanding the gender.

It is no more demeaning in any sense. Gleaning through the use of term in IT publications and online material I have mirrored a new definition for a female geek by changing and removing ill suited parts and disregarding anecdotes, humorous stories, photographs and cartoons still found on the World Wide Web and in some IT journals. Geek girls are simply skilled females with a purpose. They are comfortable, having no computer or Internet phobia or gender consideration while using them. They may be going for career in any of the fields related to IT or merely using them for communication or entertainment. They find work satisfaction and motivations achieving and creating any thing online.

This, in any sense, is not a gender fight nor is the intention to address gender equality and rights issues. The intent here is to see why female population is less represented in computer fields and how they can be brought at the acceptable level basing on the merit. A woman pilot is called pilot and not a girl pilot, female driving a car is called driver and not a woman driver and girl cook is called cook not a girl cook. Why limit computing skills to gender? Yet another unfounded stereotype! It is not understood as to how the term geek girl has come up instead of simply a geek in the first instance. IT environment, computers or for that matter other machines are neutral. They cannot ascertain genders of the users. Moreover, IT should be taken as a tool that needs to be adapted rather than redefining the terms of gender. Any one keen about use of computer technologies should be described as geek and not necessarily geek girl or a geek boy. Ideally, there should not be any gender bias when it comes to assigning role and status to girls working in IT?

Wide gap very much exists in head counts when it comes to notable role models like computer science teachers or computer engineers or those using computers and the Internet for communication and but it is not due to technology aversions or any computer phobias. How the female can achieve the skill level that shows in workplaces and normal life? The answer to this question has its roots in social, cultural, historic and economic factors. Parents here buy computers for boys. Girls still use their "brothers' computers" when they have finished. Girls simply cannot use services in cyber cafes due to ill repute those public places have earned. Ironically, the developers write gaming and other software targeting male users. Generally speaking, more websites are of the interest for male as compared to other half of the population. Parental endorsement, opportunities and the Web contents set the attitude of female. All this has to change if the female population is to be taken along in this much hyped information revolution.

Despite the constraints and chauvinism of the sort, there are already female who have a strong interest in the field (call then geeks if you must). They are as good geeks as their male counterparts. More than just a career or a meaningful interest, geeking is becoming a way of life for girls; even cool. "It's chic to be geek..." But here one has to look beyond the stereotypical profiles of women in our society to find them. The male female ratio in undergraduate and postgraduate level courses in IT institutions is improving. Girls pursuing business degrees (MPAs, MBAs) are also taking more IT courses to further their computer skills. But female will be seen in high profile positions in corporate Pakistan and in native IT hubs when this breed joins the workforce and when corporate Pakistan starts realizing their presence as beneficial in many ways.

Faiza, an MBA from Karachi University who runs his father's Gas Filling Station and carries a laptop says, "In this day and age geek is a geek whether girl or a boy. The term refers to computer skills and fascination and not the femininity or masculinity. It is not at all a negative term and no one should feel insulted by it, rather it is a descriptive word."

Perceptions are changing and girls in our society are now more willing to work harder to achieve goals and face the greater demands of hard work; they need it. Most are able to exercise choices and are combining values, which are at once traditional and modern, taking along family and career. Now one can see marked trend towards working, creativity, and personal fulfillment in females. "More and more girls are seeing their future into IT and a positive attitude towards using information and communication technologies to their advantage is developing," says teacher in the University of the Punjab Dr. Shahida Jehan.

The changing attitude is preparing a corps of girls skilled in IT changing as the computers are growing to be more commonplace in our society and women and young girls see their male family members achieving more and more things online. Let the word geek spread.

Relatrd: 4 Tips For Understanding "Girl Geeks"

Doll Makers

2012-01-07T09:23:00.000+05:00

The idea behind the Dolls of the World took birth in Pakistan when Thatta Kedona - a self help project - started in small Punjab village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka in Pakistan and NGO Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama (AeFeA) was registered in 1999. The rest is history as they say.

AeFeA has grown multidimensional over time. Now AeFeA cooperates with six local NGOs all over Pakistan from Karachi to Hunza and in many countries around the globe. In Pakistan, the project also enjoys cooperation of prestigious educational institutions – Bahaud Din Zakriya University Multan, Indus Valley School for Art and Architecture, Karachi, School of Visual Art, Lahore, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi – interested in heritage, culture and or agriculture.
Women from other countries heard about the success of the project in Pakistan through DGFK newsletters and other media channels as well as through word of mouth (mostly from diplomatic corps housewives) and invited Dr. Senta Siller - Mother of Dolls - to start similar projects in their countries. In Cameroon, three independent NGOs -- Akwatinnighah (1998), Akaanhong (2002) and Center of Appropriate Technology in (2001) are working where over 90 persons are involved in handicrafts and appropriate technology with support from Bamenda University of Science Technology, Bamenda.

Tanto Mejor Por La Paz, Saboya is working in Colombia in cooperation with four independent local NGOs or similar organizations since 1999. Over 60 persons are busy in handicraft with collaboration from Dept of Environment Technology National University in Bogate and AeFeA.
Besides, AeFeA has networked with International Dolls Museum Flateyri and University of Reykjavik in Iceland and Benaki Museum Greece. In UAE-Dubai, AeFeA is participating in Global Village Expo every year since 2001. In Germany, besides most German senior experts coming to Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka, Dolls of the World project has support from Institute for Planning and Consulting, Potsdam.

This international community of like minded people has come a long way. Sky is their limit.

Tags: Networking, Doll Makers, Thatta Kedona, Dr. Senta Siller

Dr. Senta Siller at Gross Behnitz

2011-12-07T08:46:00.000+05:00

Dr. Senta Siller – mother of dolls and moving spirit soul of Thatta Kedona – did not come to Pakistan this year. Friends Thatta kedona and readers here were wondering where is Dr. Senta Siller?

As usual, Dr. Senta Siller has a lot on her hands. She has been winding up Pakistan House Potsdam that was founded by her in 2001. Pakistan House is closing down and Gross Behnitz, another international project is starting.

Along with winding up of Pakistan House, Dr. Senta Siller has been training a group of women in handicrafts and making clothing for Gross Behnitz project. Dr. Senta Siller will start the next training course from Gross Behnitz. During this period, she with other volunteers has also managed 30 bazaar days in ethnological museums in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Stay tuned, more will come on Pakistan House and Gross Behnitz project?

The Dolls Project

2011-12-02T10:36:00.000+05:00

Proof of this is found in the escavations in South America, the Subcontinent, Japan, Italy, Greece, and other sites all over the world. Made out of sa number pof materials like wood, wax, clay, cloth etc. They were not only a toy but used also as religious symbols and cult items for example as miniaturized images of persons.

Even today they are used by many people as fetish. Today, the experts are not sure what was the first purpose of the dolls; as a toy, out of which the cult figure developed or the cult figure which became a toy. Over and above toys with educational value, dolls are realistic documentation of past and present times and therefore important source of our knowledge about the games, life, living and work conditions and economy. They are important cultural carriers.

Dr Senta Siller established different projects in Pakistan, Cameroun, Columbia, etc in which small but long-term progress was made towards development of rural areas, help towards self-sustained development, discouragement of urbanization by way of income generating projects in the rural areas through production of certain types of handicraft items.
Dolls are manufactured here lovingly and clothed in traditional dresses and accessories. Fabric design and types of clothing are revived and take an important place in daily life.

Dolls from Pakistan

The women project established by Dr Siller in 1993 in the pakistani province of Punjab, which has in the meanwhile also added a men centre, has 120 women members and it is generating income. The women here work not on full-time basis but in a traditional way so that family and field work is not compromised and festivals of different types, common in villages, can be celebrated as usual. The village Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka has about 1200 residents. The villagers established the NGO Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama in 1991, which co-operates with the DGFK e.V. (German Society for Promotion of Culture). The Anjuman itself co-operates with six further projects in the country.

Dolls from Cameroun

Three co-operatives (Akwatinuighah, Akaankang, HandiCraft CAT) are functioning since 1998 in Bamenda, the capital of the North-West Provinz in Cameroun, which is located near the border to Nigeria. Also this NGO co-operates with the DGFK, Germany. Bamenda has about 60000 residents living on seven hills, who speak eight different languages. Apart from the men of CAT, over 100 women manufacture a variety of handicrafts.

Dolls from Columbia

Thatta Kedona Pottery

2011-11-30T22:41:00.000+05:00

Related: The slide show

Link Love

2011-11-30T22:21:00.002+05:00

Social media for business at Logic is Variable

Bridges at Doodh Patti

Pottry at Dolls Village

Artisans at Thatta Kedona

I ask the Impossible at Light Within
Housing at SPARC

You are Invited at Fine art of Blogging

Socities at Lahore School

Rugby at World Cup Log

Dolls

2011-11-21T18:53:00.000+05:00

Working Moms

2011-11-10T08:53:00.004+05:00

Moms are all wonderful. And working moms are even more so. Mary Ellen Tribby – a CEO, mom Of 3 and best selling author, also wife, speaker, sister, daughter, business consultant, philanthropist and a good friend – is a case in point here.

Best thing is that Mary Ellen combines all roles seamlessly and tell other how this can be done through her blog Working Moms Only – one of the world’s leading newsletter and website for the empowerment of the working mom; which is a good read not only for working moms but for anyone. She has sound experience in the field. Previously, she had been publisher and CEO of Early to Rise where she was responsible for growing the business from $8 million in sales to $26 million in just 15 months. Even before, she served as President of Weiss Research where she led the company to $67 million in sales from $11 million in just 12 months.

Given her experience, Mary Ellen is known in the Information Publishing world as “The Money Honey.” Her first book, co-authored with Michael Masterson, Changing the Channel: 12 Easy Ways to Make Millions For Your Business hit #1 on Amazon.com within just 10 hours of its release. She is the founder of The GoodNews Kids, a foundation to house and protect homeless children. She is a board member for the Speaker, Author Networking Group and is the recipient of the 2009 BraveHeart Woman’s Marketer of the Year Award.

Mary Ellen currently lives in Boca Raton, FL with Patrick, her husband of 13 years, and their three beautiful children, Mikaela, Connor, and Delanie. You can usually find them soaking up the sun on the beach or at one of the kids’ sporting events.

Or you can find Mary Ellen at workingmomsonly.com where she discusses everything required for working moms including issues facing work at home moms.

Greek Connections

2011-11-05T13:31:00.000+05:00

Benaki Museum asked Thatta Kedona to provide Kalashi Dolls for visitors of Olympic Games last year and laid the foundation for cooperation between the two. This year the Museum has asked Thatta Kedona to provide special Greece culture design dolls. Dr. Senta Siller is designing the dolls for which bodies are prepared in the village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka and clothing in Karachi.

Benaki Museum is planning to launch a new project “Art Cave Crete”. Some of the specimens can be seen in photo stream down the sidebar.

Cleaning supplies for professionals in UK

2011-11-05T13:28:00.002+05:00

Have a look at your workplace. Is it neat and (organized)? Yes, being neat will surely impact your mood and attitude. Being clean is a visual thing, and it is also being able to do more. Organizations that pay attention on cleanliness of their work environment can achieve much more, than those where clutter is the order of the day, every day. That is why any perceptive concern will do all what is possible to have a clean look.

This remindeds me of one of the important and simple ways to keep work place clean and organized by applying 55 principle - one of the Japanese concepts for keeping our work environment clean and safe.

A key to being clean is a determining factor to what time you are most productive. I suggest you leave the cleaning to professional cleaners and concentrate on your work. This is simple and done properly can yield results. Try it out at your place, small or large, and see the results.

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Making a Difference

2011-10-21T08:46:00.000+05:00

Two volunteers Therapist Gundula (left) and Porter Monika Kuppler (right) are working in Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka, the famous Dolls Village in rural Pakistan.

Lahore International Association at TGD

2011-10-18T08:33:00.000+05:00

Love, hate

2011-10-12T08:44:00.000+05:00

Love between men and women is the foundation of a conjugal relationship. Tell us why you love your spouse? Opinions from cross section of cyber society (may be anonymous) in comment section will be brought up in the post (and comment deleted) or email.

Women
Reasons: Why I love my husband?

He is the love of my life.
He is the best person I know; very adoptive.
He has earned my trust and I know he will never leave me.
He cares and provides for me.
He sings to me constantly, making up the songs as he goes along.
He writes real songs for me and plays them on his guitar in bed.
After a fight, he always makes sure to heap loads of love on me to assure me that we are still going to be okay.
He is not too tough to cry in front of me.
He is beautifully sensitive and loving.
He needs me.
He makes up characters like the Invisible Monkeys and the Face Bug and then sicks them on me. (The Invisible Monkeys tickle and the Face Bug dances on your face and ears.)
He insists that I'm clever and compliments my work.
He buys me stuffed toys all the time. Even when I insist I have too many. He knows I don't mean it.
He always listens to me.
Every day he has some thing nice to say to me.
He always says that I am not chubby. He makes me believe that.

Reasons: Why I do not love my husband?

He does not trust me.
He has a big ego that does not let him budge.
He is selfish.
He does not brush his teeth.
He cares more for his parents then for me.
He comes home to sleep only; spends all quality time outside doing business and with friends.
He has a crush on every woman he meets.
He is adict.
He smells.
He is always comparing me with wives of others.
He is a cheat.
After 36 years of marriage, there are more things that I dislike about my husband than I like. He seems to live in his own world and I am just a part of it.
All he knows about me is that I have b****ts.
I thought he loved me but after marriage it came out that he married to get imigration papers. Now that he is settled, he is looking for even greener pastures.
My husband and me fight all the time.
He says that I have pimples on face, no lustre on it, circles round eyes.
My husband is a wonderful, charming, loving guy to every one, but when it comes to me, he can be a son of a …

Men

Reasons: Why I love my wife?

She has earned my full trust over time.
She is a wonderful person and sincere friend.
She is very caring: helps me get ready for the day, day after day.
She takes care of our home.
She is respectful to my parents.
She is easy to to talk to and participate positively and keenly.
She is very beautiful.
I always find neat home, when I come back after work.
She cooks good.
She always calls me from home to remind to take my lunch on time.
She has become my best friend over time; she listens, she shares.

Reasons: Why I do not love my wife?

She is very selfish and always thinks about herself.
She keeps telling our kids that I am not doing enough for them.
She thinks I have a lot of money hidden from her and keeps on spending recklessly.
She does not like sex. She sleeps with me only as a duty not as a passion.
She does not like my parents. (She does not like her parents either).
She keeps nagging.
She does not need me; only needs my securities in life.
She sleeps too much.
She is always complaining.
She is never thankful or happy.
My wife will not do what I tell her to do but will do things what others tell her. BTW, I have never advised her with malice; never.

Summer Camp in Hunza with Monika and Sophie Kuppler

2011-10-11T10:33:00.000+05:00

The adventure of this year’s summer school started for three women from TGD, Shama Bibi, Sarvat Bibi, and Meraj Bibi and their teachers Monika (arts and handicrafts) and Sophie Kuppler (English). Unfortunately, in the last moment three of the originally six participants had to stay at home due to family problems. After 25 hours of sitting in the car they arrived at the guesthouse in Altit, Hunza where they stayed for 18 nights. The days were filled with learning English, enhancing handicraft skills, especially in pottery and doll making, cooking, and playing games.

For learning English the women were separated into two groups. One of them already knew some English and a school book was used to enhance her reading, speaking and writing skills. The other two women did never visit a school and thus never learned to read or write. In their lessons most weight was put on being able to communicate with the volunteers coming to teach handicrafts.

Thus, under a lot of laughter the learned things were repeated and deepened while working.Of course, the 2.5 weeks did not only serve to study, but also to get to know the country and how differently people live in the country’s north and south. The happier the participants were to find very friendly and welcoming village people, some of whom quickly became friends with the women from TGD. Knowledge about handicrafts was exchanged and cooking skills tested.

Also different living styles and styles of houses were discussed with the two local friends, Sultana and Bushra.The most exciting day for sure was the day of the excursion to the Passu glacier. Never before had the women touched or seen ice in their lives, now they could even walk on it!After an exciting and instructive 2.5 weeks everybody was happy to return to their families, sad to leave the newly made friends and full of wonderful memories. The participants of the summer school would like to thank Lions Club Heilbronn, Mrs Gabi Fröhlich, Explore Pakistan, Mr Shafqat Ali, and Mr Amir Jan, who all together made this stay possible and enjoyable.

C A T

2011-10-07T10:56:00.000+05:00

Center for Appropriate Technology (CAT), is NGO based in Bamenda, Capital of North West Region in the Republic of Cameroon.

Vision of the NGO, founded in 2001, is development, presentation on exhibitions and promoting of appropriate technology. For men, do-it-yourself usage of appropriate technology gives a hope of independence from central technical infrastructure. And for women handmade dolls, dressed in traditional attires from the different provinces is a means of additional income generation in rural areas. CAT also involves children in different initiatives through Youngsters Club.

CAT has develop active cooperation with foreign NGOs like Technology Transfer and Training Centre in Pakistan, Institute for Planning and Consulting, German Society for the Development of Culture (DGFK) and Bamenda University of Science and Technology (B.U.S.T).

This blog, in addition to useful information about Cameroon (one of the most diverse African countries that is called Africa in Miniature) and its culture and people, will covers CAT initiatives and projects.

Mr Njini Victor is Programme Director and Sobe Manasse, Programme Coordinator and Assistant at CAT..

Related: Snail Farming in Cameroon

AeFeA Workshops With Monika Kuppler

2011-10-03T11:52:00.000+05:00

Monika Kuppler (on the left in upper image), one of the most dedicated volunteers that had come to TGD for the fourth time – has done a wonderful job during every visit. She conducts pottery workshop with groups of women and starts every time where she had left the previous time. That has resulted in some excellent developments; new products and enhanced skills. What is more, this time clay for pottery was procured from Harappa and Multan.

In addition, Monika had conducted another workshop with paper. Here are some of the glimpses of her work with women from TGD.

European Projects

2011-10-02T21:34:00.000+05:00

My calling choice

2011-10-01T19:01:00.003+05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

It is a must to stay connected with family, friends and business associates in this age. No one can afford to live with constant and trusted connectivity all the time. Life is so fast that one needs a trusted and good connection. With so many choices available, it is some time overwhelming sometime to choose the best.

I am heavy phone user. While looking for some best and affordable plan to stay connected with my kids, I came upon TRACFONE and was amazed to see So many features they offer. I also heard what Real TracFone customers says about the service. I explored their plans and was amazed to see what is on the offer. Best is their pay as you go online or with cards available at thousands of retail stores across the country. One year service cards give you so much more and you can claim double minutes (very lacerative feature) for the life of your TracFone, and 800 minutes, for only $119.00. What is more TracFone where you can call internationally, for the same price as any other call (call over 60 international destinations directly from your TracFone at no extra cost) and using TracFone International Neighbors program, your family and friends in Mexico or Canada can talk to you as on local number. This is a big plus.

I suggest you explore their neatly laid out site, learn about So many features they are offering and also listen to what Real TracFone customers are saying about them. This will help you make informed decision and stay connected. And this is my informed recommendation.

Dolls Galore

2011-10-01T07:45:00.000+05:00

My hair fashion statement

2011-09-30T21:01:00.009+05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TRESemmé for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The best thing I like in any female (me including) are fresh and well kept hair in style. That, in fact, defines the persona of any woman. And that is what makes me keep looking for best ways to keep my hair fresh and in shape that I need.

Looking for something new and more refreshing for my hairs online, I came upon TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo. Honestly, I was amazed to see what is on offer and what it can do for woman who is hair style and beauty conscious. Have a look at Top Hair Products for School and see for yourself. I myself learned that shaking vigorously before use and in between spray bursts give the best results. One must lift sections of dry hair and spray lightly at roots. Must spray in short bursts, holding 8-12 inches from head (mind you it is not hair spray so don’t spray like hair spray). Keep the shampoo for 1-2 minutes and use fingertips or a brush to distribute product evenly, In case of clogging, remove nozzle and rinse the nozzle under warm water, then reattach. I am glad that I leaned this simple but effective way to use dry shampoo and I am sure going to make t a standard practice for myself. Also see how Elle Fowler teaches to use TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo properly. If this doesn’t move you, what will?

Have a look and find out a full line of dry shampoos that can revive your style’s look and feel on days you skip a shampoo. Best thing is that it is uniquely formulated to absorb excess oil and remove odor, the full line of dry shampoos rejuvenates hair without a drop of water. Every renewing burst of citrus extracts infused into every product leaves hair with a clean, fresh scent. I suggest you make your own fashion statement with TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo.

Wedding seasons; again

2011-09-14T12:50:00.000+05:00

Nauman Tasleem

The wedding season has started with the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Marriage halls in the city can now be seen in business. These marriages have helped a number of businesses to come back to life after Ramadan and people associated with these businesses are getting employment once again.

Caterers, decorators, jewellers, tailors, cooks, car rentals, movie makers, photographers, florists and sellers of generators, chicken, rice and mutton are very happy because of the start of wedding season. The marriage hall owners said that their sales have increased at least by 50 percent. They said that though they had bookings in Ramadan but it was less than current bookings.

Marriage Hall Association President Mian Muhammad Ilyas, while talking to Pakistan Today, said that marriage business did not run throughout the year and stopped during three months: Ramadan, Muharram and Safar. He said that marriages increased immediately before and after these months, adding that their bookings had increased after Eid.

“I have a large number of bookings and many businesses associated with marriages are progressing by leaps and bounds,” he said adding that there were around 700 marriage halls in the city and all of them were booked these days.

The marriage halls are charging Rs 250 to Rs 700 per head from the customers. “The per head rate depends upon the quality of food, location of hall and standard of building,” Mian Ilyas said adding that wedding halls used to get supplies of food items from different people including chicken, mutton and rice sellers, who are also happy earning profit. The cooks are also very happy, as they are getting employment because of weddings. “Though, I have many orders during Ramadan but after the start of marriage season, my business has doubled,” said a cook Ali Hussain adding he was getting orders round the clock.

Besides holding function in wedding halls, people also opt for arranging function in open areas and grounds. As a result, the services of caterers and decorators are hired and their businesses flourish. “We used to charge around Rs 10,000 to 25,000 for decorating stage but it is the peak of the season therefore rates have gone up,” said a caterer and decorator, Arif Hussain.

Car rentals, which had been in troubled waters for the last some months, have now revived. “All of my vehicles are booked in advance,” said a rent-a-car dealer, Zain Arshad adding that besides the groom’s vehicle, people rented out vehicles for wedding days. He said the rate for renting out a vehicle was between Rs 1,800 to 3,500 depending upon the condition of the vehicle. A car decorator and flower seller Aziz Khan said he charged Rs 2,000 to 6,000 for decorating a car. He said that he earned enough in the nine months of the wedding season and rested the rest of the year. A tailor, Sultan Ashraf, said he had a good business during Ramadan and now weddings in the city were helping him a lot in earning profits as well.

A cloth seller in Gulberg, Talal Zafar, said a large number of people bought wedding dresses. He said a bridal dress was available between Rs 15,000 to 1,000,000 while a groom dress could be purchased between Rs 10,000 to Rs 500,000. A chicken seller Sheikh Abid Ali said he worked round the clock to meet the wedding orders. He said though his business declined slightly during Ramadan but now he was earning. “A large number of wedding halls and customers have given me advance orders,” he said adding that around 300 to 400 kg of chicken meat was being sold these days only because of weddings. A gold jeweller in Ichra, Irfan Ahmed, said that owing to high gold prices his business was slow but now it had improved.

Lock ad Security

2011-09-14T12:47:00.001+05:00

Losing keys is a bad situation and no one wants to be in such emergency. Sadly, people lose keys and do get into difficult situation every day. That is where you need a locksmith in a hurry. Imagine what can happen when your car is locked and you are stuck early in the morning when you need to reach your office for an important meeting. Or you have your documents locked inside safe that are to be signed by a party waiting in your office or worst still you arrive home from a journey and find that you have lost keys of the entire home. That is when you call Los Angeles locksmith and leave rest to them.

Businesses as well as individuals need efficient locksmith at call. I recommend you have a look at their site and see what they are offering and how can he serve you when you need. Barak Lock and Security is indeed the first to let you in – in both commercial as well residential areas as well as in case of automobiles. Have a look at locksmiths Los Angeles and see the wide array of services they offer with efficiency and expertise at affordable prices.

Best is to get familiar with the locksmith service company so that you can approach when you need in an emergency.

I am a woman, I love hip hop jewlery

2011-09-14T10:04:00.000+05:00

Fashion jewelry has taken over the world of fashion in a big way. Everyone seems to be making personal fashion statement with hip hop jewelry. Like everyone else, I am always interested in hip hop trends. In an effort to find out the latest, I was looking for fashion jewelry wholesale online when I came upon Rinadon.com - USA based wholesaler that offers a rich collection of hip hop jewelry wholesale. The collection defines western fashion trends and what people who like style are using. I liked swarovski jewelry wholesale personally the best. Some more items are on my on my wish list for as a gift to someone who is special to me. Those who are interested in latest hip hop jewelry wholesale must explore the site and see what they offer and how. Also have a look at their perfect personal accessories that can make any one stand out among the crowd.

Wholesale Rinadon.com is a leading wholesaler and distributor. People who like latest fashion trends and styles in fashion jewelry wholesale already are familiar with the neatly laid out site and look for best and latest in jewelry must see what is featured there. Explore the site and see what they offer for you. You will find the best satisfaction for any taste and style. What else, I want those Rinadon.com Resin Wave-Linked Resin Wave-Linked Necklace Sets.

Thatta Kedona

2011-09-07T09:05:00.004+05:00

Tramadol US Pharmacy

2011-09-03T10:02:00.000+05:00

This goes without saying that shopping online is much cheaper than physically going to store fronts and making a purchase. The cost of physical shopping includes cost of maintaining a store and the staff in addition to so many other over head expenses. The cost will be much lower than buying the same drug from front stores. In addition to getting cheap drug, online shopping saves hassle and time.

Medicines have become very expensive and sometime are overpriced. Many people don't realize this and continue shopping at offline pharmacies that charge bloated prices for medications that you could get at a fraction of the cost if you shopped online. Offline pharmacies know that people aren't rushing to do this though and they continue to take advantage of their customers. I suggest you try tramadoluspharmacy.com and see the difference.

Tramadol US pharmacy services online are now able to give pain sufferers the kind of cheap medication they need to get along better in their lives. There's no reason to pay more for the same medication. It's time to switch over to the online method of shopping and begin enjoying the amazing benefits of ordering Tramadol US pharmacy online services. There's no time to wait and no reason to wait either.

Tramadol is used to treat pain which human body may feel for different reasons including injury, disease, or even, mental disorder. Those who want to buy Tramadol should know all about the drug and how to use?

You may be having excruciating, agonizing and horrifying pain but wise is to buy any medicine only after consulting a medical doctor. Only a doctor is the best person to prescribe what a patient needs and how much and for how long. Self medication is always dangerous and may have bad health repercussions. Users should then take the drug exactly as advised by their doctors who know better than what is given in general literature about Tramadol given in guides and accompanying literature. It is always the best to take good care and act on the advice to avoid any serious problems later on.

Those who need the drug in a hurry must have a look at Tramadol us pharmacy and see how they save you money and keep you out of pain. That's the goal and they won't stop until they've done this for you. One shopping experience with an online pharmacy will show you just what the difference is and why you should continue to shop for tramadol online for as long as you need it.

Never Pay More Than You Need To For Cell Phone Bill

2011-08-29T05:01:00.003+05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Savvy cell phone users know that they have choices and they also know that they can save money. Some consumers have been convinced that they can get batter rates to call a friend or a business associate anywhere in the world and that is everything you need in this age of connectivity. While there are phone plans available with similar claims but the truth is that you can get best deals with Straight Talk.

At Straight Talk that they offer cell phones from best manufacturers with flexible phone plans that meet any callers requirement and the budget. Have a look and see what they are offering and how you can fell richer by cutting your phone bill to as low as half of what you are spending now.

In the communication industry, it is easier to get a new customer than it is to retain an old account. You view the video and see some of the what their old customers are saying about them. Hook, line and sinker, you can get the lowest rates for calling local or international at Straight Talk, that too without contract. And that is everything you need to live in this age of more connectivity.

Excuse me, mom too says that and you know mom knows best, always.

Love, the Many-Splendored Emotion

2011-08-25T19:08:00.001+05:00

The news about love — if anything can be said to be new when it comes to love — is that it affects us on more levels than we realized. Poets and artists have long viewed love as a prime mover, but by the beginning of the last century, scientists and philosophers were dismissing it as socially and scientifically irrelevant. Love was confined to private life, where only women and novelists and psychoanalysts were supposed to pay much attention to it. Then, a little more than half a century ago, biologists and economists and psychologists decided that love mattered after all, and began conducting experiments to determine how much.

The early science of love looks a little shocking in retrospect. Experiments meant to demonstrate that mammals attach themselves to mothers because they need love, not just food, all too often required outright torture. Researchers snatched baby creatures away from mother creatures and put them in cages to prove that life without love was a sad, diminished thing. The science of sexual attraction made use of more benign methods, but until more women entered the field and started asking different questions, the experiments tended to produce stunning affirmations of Western patriarchal stereotypes. Whatever the results, however, this work did make scientists appreciate the central importance of love for life. Love or the lack of it turned out to affect not just psyches but also bodies; not just brains and genitals but also hormones and the expression of genes; not just the well-being of individuals but also the flourishing of societies.

Today, biology is said to be powered by love. A rat will grow up fat and sassy if well-licked by its mother, nervous and underdeveloped if licked poorly or not at all. Culture is sometimes seen as an artifact of love, too, or at least of what Darwin called sexual selection. Sporting matches or music competitions, among other costly and apparently useless displays, have been reinterpreted as the human equivalent of the peacock’s tail, ways of signaling genetic excellence.

In “All About Love,” Lisa Appignanesi, who has written extensively on the history of psychoanalysis, turns her back on the ever-growing scientific literature on love, largely out of disgust with the way sociobiological theories get used to defend a conservative social order: “I’ll believe in evolutionary psychology more, perhaps, when it’s used less as an explanation for male philandering and female nesting,” she writes. What she wants to know is how we humans experience love individually, psychically — love being neither purely bodily nor purely mental but irreducibly both. In the words of the psychoanalyst Adam Phillips, it’s the “imaginative elaboration of physical functions.”

A latter-day Romantic, Appignanesi also celebrates the Byronic power of this “unruly emotion” to wreak havoc on our lives. “Rapture at bottom contains something of the asocial, the criminal, and desire may indeed be fueled by the breaking of bonds, whether of clans, families, or godly and social rules,” she writes. Love is a story we tell ourselves, if sometimes a dangerous one. The “purported facts” about love “garnered from the labs of biologists, cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists” are, to her, mainly ways of bolstering dominant social narratives. To really understand love, she argues, you have to demythologize those narratives, whether they’re fictional or factual or in that somewhere-in-between place where memoirs dwell.

You might say that Appignanesi aims to play psychoanalyst herself, listening between the lines of our culture’s semi-self-aware monologues about longing and desire. And a conscientious therapist she is, diligently assembling the “life history of love,” its arc through our lives. First comes first love: our crazed, adolescent forays into passion, when “carnal desire transports the lovers into a heightened world and everything in that world takes on powerful new meanings.” Next comes marriage, and its corollary, adultery, when the private ecstasies of love and the ungovernable nature of desire run up against the social expectation of unflagging monogamous romance. On she moves to child rearing, surely the most contested and political form of love today. Appignanesi wraps up her survey with friendship, which “catapults us out of the sphere of kin and binds us into the world of others,” she writes. Friendship is wise and calm and companionable and therefore best appreciated in old age.

To illustrate the different stages of love, Appignanesi recounts the plots of novels, poems and operas. She analyzes the popularity of cultural touchstones like the 1995 dating manual “The Rules” (its appeal betrays “a deep anxiety about appropriate modern codes”). She dissects marital narratives — “Pride and Prejudice,” "Bridget Jones's Diary" — and traces the evolution of the Cinderella narrative into high-end romantic fiction (“Jane Eyre”) and middlebrow chick lit (the “wittily exuberant” "Eat, Pray, Love"). She quotes a lot of psychoanalysts, Freud and Lacan and Donald Winnicott and Adam Phillips (an accomplished aphorist who hovers over the pages like an interrupting angel). “Why is it,” she asks, “that passionate love and loss seem to be so bound up with one another?” All later loves, she answers, stand in for that first, all-absorbing love for mother, who is inevitably left behind. To become an individuated, language-wielding “I” is to betray the “symbiotic plenitude” of infancy. Or as Appignanesi puts it, echoing Lacan: “To say ‘I am’ is already to say ‘I have lost.’ ”

Appignanesi offers up a brief history of marriage, from the Greeks through Victorianism and the sexual revolution and into the present. She outlines the literary history of love, by way of Dante and the troubadours of Provence. In her chapter on love in families, she gives the briefest of nods to the new science of epigenetics, which has shown how a mother’s experiences — the food she eats, the stress she feels — can regulate her child’s hormones and even affect his genes. But Appignanesi quickly shuts down this fascinating line of inquiry, warning that “the exponential growth in theories about early childhood is oddly coincident with the rise of feminism,” as if the science existed exclusively to perform the task of social control. She sidesteps the question of homosexuality, not just because the subject is too big but because, she explains, she aims to undermine the categories of gender and permissible versus impermissible sexuality that the very notion of homosexuality rests upon.

Appignanesi’s approach to love is aphoristic and whimsical. She loves to overturn some bit of conventional wisdom, rather than risk boring us with arguments. There is no unifying theory here, just a bewildering topography. We wander in a forest of other people’s fictions and ideas, often guided by little more than some faintly comical historical generalities. (“In the annals of love, adultery has ever played a raucous part.” )

For those of us who adore love stories — and who doesn’t? — a tour d’amour ought to be enough. That it isn’t tells you something about what it takes to write about love. Love stories, like love itself, turn less on things that are easy to summarize — situations, plots — than on the little details that give a tale or encounter its unexpected power: a gripping tone, a flash of wit, the eerily sadistic undertones of an erotic obsession. Such grace notes rarely make it into potted synopses.

No literature has fewer grace notes than scientific articles about love, of course. And yet at their best these documents have a freshness that Appignanesi’s book lacks. There’s something jolting, in the best possible sense, about science’s incessant quest to measure the unmeasurable, to give precise coordinates to knowledge that may have been common but was still vague. By now, everyone knows that you’re supposed to cuddle your infant, but who would have predicted that if you don’t, the mental health consequences may be passed down for three generations? Who would have guessed that, in the chemical sense, at least, people really may be made for each other — that the success or failure of a kiss may be due not just to feelings or technique but also to an unconscious olfactory response to your lover’s pheromones? Love cuts deep, much deeper, in some ways, than even our greatest poets have been able to describe. We are only beginning to learn how far down it goes.

Judith Shulevitz is the author of “The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time.”

From NY Times

Illustration by Andy Martin

ALL ABOUT LOVE

Anatomy of an Unruly Emotion

By Lisa Appignanesi

401 pp. W. W. Norton & Company. $28.95.

Slim9 Weight Loss

2011-07-31T12:57:00.000+05:00

Being overweight is a physical as well as social problem. No one wants to be in the problematic situation but unfortunately people are. Some gain weight due to inactivity, some due to lifestyle and some may be obsess genetically.

Given my own interest, I was looking for weight loss solutions when I came upon Slim9 and was amazed to see rapid weight loss pills – natural weight loss pill - they are offering. Best thing is that Slim9 combines a number of all-natural, herbal extracts, ranging from Green Tea, Acai Berry, Ginseng and more. Each of these ingredients has been independently shown to help increase the metabolism, reduce calorie intake, and provide energy; helping you lose weight. Whether you are getting ready for a vacation, or just want to generally manage your weight, Slim9 offers numerous benefits inclusing Reduced Calorie Intake, More Energy, Faster Metabolsim and Improved Digestive Health. I suggest, anyone having obesity problem should consider using pills weight loss and start at Slim9 and find out which works best for them.

Slim9 is an all-natural weight loss pill and dietary supplement, aimed at helping you lose weight, boost metabolism and boost energy. Using Slim9 can help you to feel more energetic, andimprove your stamina while exercising. Slim9 put together the formula of this weight loss pill, to include powerful herbal extracts, aimed at improving metabolism, regulating digestion, and much more. Slim9 is a great dietary supplement, which will help you manage and achieve your weight loss goals.

Have a look. Better still try them and enjoy life being yourself again.

Cameroon Project

2011-07-26T11:34:00.004+05:00

More is coming

Kids Activities for Work at Home Mums and Dads

2011-07-26T11:27:00.000+05:00

One of the ordeal for busy moms (also dads) has been to keep their kids engaged in healthy, learning and fun activities while they work. Given my own interest, I was looking for fun activities for kids online when I came upon 101 Kids Activities for Work at Home Mums – an eBook packed with Kids learning activities ideas about independent play activities, fun games and challenging learning exercises that will keep your children quietly entertained so you can get some work done. Engage them there and they will happily ‘allow’ you to work with much distraction.

Have a look at the neatly laid out page. Also see the sample page and it will give you an idea about how valuable this can be for any parent who are working from home and rearing children. Go through the testimonials and this too will help you to learn from what other users have been saying about the book. Buying is easy. Pay through PayPal and download.

Interested users may also have a look at calmbirth Sydney course and see what is on the offer. This course is a must before going through this one of the most fulfilling and enriching human experiences.

Income protection insurance

2011-07-19T08:57:00.000+05:00

Everyone needs income prtection. In Australia, income protection insurance provides up to 75% of your income should you become ill or injured. Income protection can help pay your mortgage, rent, and living expenses. It also offers peace of mind knowing that if something tragic was to happen, you and any loved ones would be equipped with income to cope financially. xLife compares income protection insurance Australia wide and also offers up to 20% off. I suggest you do some personal research and make informed decision to protect your ncome.

Product Impex customers services

2011-07-19T07:01:00.000+05:00

With Internet becoming one big market for everything from shopping online to business opportunities and entrepreneurship, lines between virtual world and real world are fading fast. Doing things online without any boundaries is not only fun but also a convenience. It saves time and money in more than one ways. Online shoppers can see more, compare and find good deals sitting home. That is not possible for those who go and shop on ground. How can you visit each and every store to find what are they offering? That is why it is one of the fast growing trends as the world is becoming more connected every day. Prodct Impex is a case in point here.

Explore Product Impex – a wholesales store that offers wide range of products (Garments, Aprons, Salt Products, Towels) – and you will find a new world where you will be able to do so much just with a mouse click. At Product Impex we are already trading with different American, European, Middle East markets. In addition to offering our customers competitive products with high quality and low price we answer your quires promptly, deliver as per the promises, listen to you, deal with complaints promptly. We will go an extra mile to help our customers to keep our relationship. We pride in best values and offer best customers services.

Decade of development

2011-07-18T15:46:00.000+05:00

Ten years ago Thatta Kedona project started aiming to fight poverty and to support poor women living in the countryside near Gogera in the district Okara. The products of Thatta Kedona project have earned a great reputation both inside and outside Pakistan, thanks to the voluntary efforts of designer and scientist Dr. Senta Siller. The main products are handcrafted dolls dressed in the garments of the different provinces of Pakistan and of minority groups such as the Kalashi and the Makrani.

In the past ten years there has been much talk in both national and international organizations, and in smaller circles, about supporting women living in the countryside. The key words in these discussions were 'women empowerment' 'tender training.' A lot has been written about this.

Women in the cities were encouraged but what happened in the countryside, where most of the population lives? In the village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka situated near Okara in the backwaters of Punjab, the local NGO has been successful in working practically on the small things in life and improving the situation of village women rather than leading discussions about urban culture and international theories. The pointing questions were: What can be done when a husband dies and the widow has to support their children on her own? What can be done when a wife is banished and needs to support herself and her children? What can be done, when heavy illness causes enormous difficulties in a family's well being? What can be done, when general conditions in the countryside deteriorate and lead people to migrate? What can be done to improve life in the countryside, to support the traditional culture, which is the wealth of a country and to change the socio-economic situation for the long-term?

For ten years now, practical improvements to life in the countryside have been implemented step by step by the village project, without prior spectacular theoretical announcements. Today, the arts and crafts project is one of twelve projects, in which the villagers are working together with Dr Siller and other voluntary workers.

State bodies have often praised the project and promised support - empty words as yet! A general acknowledgement of this work would not just be a good advertisement for official bodies, but they could use the village project in other parts of the country as an example of achieving step-by-step improvements in other parts of the country.

The words 'long-term effects' are always keenly used; where are the examples of long-term improvements, the illustrious development projects resulting from bilateral agreements? At present, the term 'success' is used in relation to industries and measured according to the masses. The small steps and achievements of the village project are no less relevant. They are culture-friendly and still economic. Why are they neglected by official politics? Because they are not spectacular!

The simple listing of economic enterprises along the N5 only looks at the existing facilities on 500 meters on both sides of the road. It points out the enormous developments without evaluating them. Parts of the original population living along the N5 road have moved to Lahore and have to comply with urban culture. More and more machines are used for farming, more and more tractors are driving to the sugar cane plantations and with the increase in electronic media, singing in the villages and conversations amongst villagers are disappearing.

Ways of living and the use of local materials such as clay are changing through the introduction of technology. A metal container is now exchanged with one made of plastic, clay buildings that are adjustable to the climate are being swapped for brick buildings. Now is the time to show the possibilities of the rich traditional culture and make its worth seen through its people, otherwise it will be very difficult and expensive to repair and to reduce the mistakes made by the classic industrial countries.

In the meantime worldwide urban culture is expanding and working with industrial principles. Parents send their children to school to have them educated, since this has been the right thing to do up until now, and it can't be wrong in either the present or the future. A good education calms the conscience and pays off in the form of well-designed documents and certificates: University of Lahore, College for Management, Institute for Management Sciences, Academy for Fashion and Technology, College for Information and Technology, University for Management Sciences, Institute of Education Management, and so on. How can one imagine that a well-educated person won't be able to find work later on? In the meantime one can live well from the educational funds.

These worldwide accumulations of mistakes can be discussed further at another time. It is not possible to reduce them, but looking at general perceptions of the environment can create an uncomfortable process of realization. Even areas that seem beyond these issues, such as that of the arts, are part of the, perhaps unintended, process of industrialization and its system of education and values. Whatever is taught is done so in a scientific manner, so that the skills of the past that are normally passed from father to son, are examined and taught academically as part of a curriculum.

The result can't be more than a flat generalization, which is spiced according to region and season and presented as a new discipline, maybe, institute for the acquisition of questionability and existential orientations?

Chat with friends

2011-07-18T15:15:00.002+05:00

This generation is seeing a cultural shift. There used to be different ways to meet and to know each other. Advent of the Internet and collaborative technologies has changed those ways we meet and know each other. What used to happen face to face can now be done online. The terms like friendship and being social are taking on a whole new meaning.

In this age of fast communication, most people in the world are looking for friends on the Internet. This surely is true for those who have integrated the Internet into their lives and are looking for suitable online hangouts or chat rooms. This has given birth to sites and Internet chat services. Now there are different Internet chat rooms, each with their own niche, style, features, costs and requirements.

iMeetzu.com is one of the best websites that allows you to meet and chat with strangers online, similar to Omegle and Chatroulette. However, iMeetzu.com also adds a social network so that users can save their favorite new friends. Like many others, I have been paying attention to chat sites. iMeetzu.com is a very vibrant community. Have a look who all are there. May be you find some likeminded people to hangout with. What else, look for me when you are there.

Made in Pakistan

2011-07-18T10:00:00.003+05:00

We are all so familiar with towel – basically a piece of absorbent fabric for drying or wiping. It draws moisture through direct contact, often using a blotting or a rubbing motion. Common household textile towels are made from cotton mostly or a few other materials. But cotton towels are the best.

Based on their diverse usage, there are different types of towels - bath towel, beach towel, foot towel, hand towel, Oven towel, disposable towel, show towel, sports towel, sweat towel or gym towel, flannel wash cloth, washcloth, or face cloth, wet towel , microfiber towel, cloth towel dispenser or continuous cloth towel , sanitary towel or sanitary napkin a bar towel and much more.

This hand piece of cotton is also used for purposes other than drying things. You can think of any use of this closely held personal item in any situation. That is what has made a household item. We at Product Impex specialize in all kind of towels from any material and in any size, style or color. Have a look at our display here and see what we offer and how. In addition, approach us and tell us your own unique towel requirement and we will help you with choose what suites you the best and deliver exactly what you want in your own settings.

Related: Product Impex Blog

Pakistan Handicrafts

2011-07-16T19:04:00.000+05:00

Ali Adnan Qazaibash

Are you ready to pay for platonic love?

2011-07-11T21:46:00.000+05:00

This New Year, one woman decided to take herself out of the dating game in a unique way — by searching for platonic love on Craigslist. Read the full ad and you may like to share what you think here in comment section. Are you ready to pay for platonic love?

Product Impex natural edible salt resource

2011-07-11T10:01:00.000+05:00

Salt is one of the most commonly used minerals we find in use everywhere. Saltdeposits are found in both sedimentary layers and domal deposits. One of the biggest biggest sources of salt is found in Salt Range – an extension of Himalayas in Khewra, Pakistan. That is the resource from where Product Impex gets edible salt that we offer to our clients

Khewra Salt Mines is located about 160 kilometres from Islamabad and 260 kilometres from Lahore and is one of the very popular tourist attractions.

Natural salt occurs in a Precambrian deposit in the form of an irregular dome-like structure. There are seven thick salt seams with a cumulative thickness of about 150 meters. At places the rock salt is 99% pure. Salt is transparent, white, pink, reddish to beef-color red. There are beautiful alternate bands of red and white color salt.

History has it that Salt has been excavated at Khewra since 320 BC following discovery by Alexander's troops, in an underground area of about 110 square kilometres. The main tunnel at ground level was developed in 1872 but has since been converted into a tourist resort. Khewra salt mine has estimated total of 220 million tonnes of rock salt deposits. The current production from the mine is 465,000 tons salt per annum.

Product Impex gets its edible salt from Khewra and offers in any custom packaging and weigh.

Romantic wedding rendezvous

2011-07-11T09:27:00.000+05:00

Weddings are important celebrations and people start new lives with hope, passions and enthusiasm. The beginning of a blissful life journey lays down the foundation of a lifetime relationship and a new family. Brides, in particular, go a long way to plan this romantic event. What is a better place to start your weeding preparation than Seasons - a premier event destination for weddings, showers, receptions, corporate events and banquets in Connecticut. What is more, they offer services for any type or size of your event. Ask Seasons to provide the space and the food and leave the rest to them. The can do it in the best ways.

I came upon the site while looking online for weddings CT. I suggest you explore the neatly laid out site and see what they are offering and how. Also have a look at their Restaurant, Banquet Facility, Tradition Golf, Menus, Connecticut weddings and the Gallery and it will give you the feeler of the place.

Bridal showers CT is the best at Seasons at the Tradition. In addition to the venue, they offer any menu you ask for. Browse through the menus from our restaurant, including plated and buffet meals, hors d'oeuvres, and bar packages or give your own and they will provide you exactly what you ask for. Seasons is one of the best and romantic rendezvous for tying the knot. Try them.

Shopping for kids

2011-07-09T12:08:00.001+05:00

Parenting is a very enriching human experience. It is very happy occasion to see kids growing. Parents can never forget how their kids learned to crawl, stand, take a first step and do things in life. All this is very fulfilling. Similarly shopping for growing kids is one of the most cherished activities for parents who would want their kids to have the best. No?

That is where The Pepper Kids comes in. I came upon this neatly laid out site while looking for children's furniture and was amazed to see their range of unique and stylishly designed Alligator Enterprise Furniture as well as room décor, home accessories, clothing and bedding items and one place. One of those Bumbleride strollers is already on my wish list.

All those looking for designer kids furniture products with an eclectic mix of celebrity designers to local artists including leading designer brands from around the world must start at The Pepper Kids. Explore the neatly laid out site and see what all they are offering and how. Imagery is good and seeing anything will give you a feeler of how your kid will look while using Bratt Decor Furniture. What is more, they are offering free shipping on orders above $75. Try them.

Honorary Doctor of Science

2011-07-08T08:56:00.000+05:00

Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch has been working tirelessly on Appropriate Technology in Cameroon, Pakistan and elsewhere.

I have the fortune to be familiar with Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch’s work in Technical Transfer and Training Center (TTTC) for Men in remoe Pakistani Village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka, Mud Housing Project at Lahore and also what he has been doing to promote African energy through the use of solar energy with the meaningful and active cooperation with Senior Expect Service (SES) Bonn-Germany and Society for the Advancement of Culture (DGFK) Berlin Germany as solutions to Climate Change and adaptation.

Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch has experience with no less than 133 projects since 1976 and each one of them has made a visible difference in more than one ways.

To recognize the work of Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, the Senate of the Bamenda University of Science & Technology (BUST) on the Nomination of Board of Governors of Industrial and Educational Development Company (INDECO) Ltd have conferred upon Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch the Honorary Title of Doctor of Science with all the Rights and Previleges Thereto Pertaining in Recognation of his tangible Services to the Cause of Appropriate Technology on Feb 19, 2011.

Big congratulations Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch.

Also at Logic is Variable, Doodh Patti and Light Within

When Sexes Collide

2011-07-07T11:34:00.000+05:00

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the New York Times Maureen Dowd is not new to readers of Light Within. With her sexy good looks and nonstop ability to weave words on themselves, she is said to be shy everywhere but on the page. BTW, Is she married now?

Feminism was never an old issue. Following her essay in The Times Magazine, which was adapted from her new book, "Are Men Necessary: When Sexes Collide," the author answers readers' questions on the past and future of feminism. Western and Easter societies look at feminism differently. What is your take on women opting out of the race (out of career) and future of feminism? This is not an old question. Is it?

Previous Posts: What's a Modern Girl to Do and When Sexes Collide?

Technorati Tags: Men, Women, Relationship, Feminism, Maureen Dowd

Look at my apron

2011-07-04T08:49:00.001+05:00

Aprons define the identity of any organization or an institution where they are being used. Visiting Institute of Hotel Management and Hospitality in University of Gujrat, anyone will be amazed to see students along with their teachers covered in pure white and very neat aprons. Proud young scholars are happy doing what they love and this reflects on their faces. Similarly visit any hospital and the aprons of medical and paramedical staff the will reflect the quality of service anyone can get from there. That is why there is so much emphasis on aprons.

Everyone agrees that aprons are much more than just a piece of garment, usually fastened in the back, worn over all or part of the front of the body to protect clothing. Aprons now define the corporate identity of the concern and the work. Meet the chef and he or she doesn’t have to tell you what she does? And Product Impex understand this importance attached to this piece of garment and our understanding shows in what we offer. We suggest you carry out your research before you order aprons for your staff. Ask us and we will always offer our best expert advice about the type of fabric (we offer wide choice of fabric), color, design and what you need to display on your aprons. Product Impex specializes in cotton aprons including full aprons, long aprons, short aprons, smocks and other work wear. Let Product Impex define your corporate identity.

60 Jahre Pakistan

2011-07-01T13:09:00.002+05:00

Travellers view

2011-06-28T08:53:00.000+05:00

One of the first places I came to know after settling down is a village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka near Okara. The unique claim of the village to international fame is the dolls and toys made by village women that are collectors delight all over the world. Dolls made in the village have travelled to International Dolls Museum in Amsterdam and also have been put on display in the "Themepark" at EXPO 2000 in Hannover (Germany) as one of the 767 worldwide projects - an example of thinking for 21st century. Earlier, the dolls participated in International Toy Fair in Nuremberg. These dolls show how culture goes beyond simple work of art and becomes collaboration among applied and natural sciences as well as other forces that affect our lives.

The murals are painted on the parameter mud walls in the village where doll collectors and people interested in sustainable development and rural heritage from different initiative groups come and stay as paying guests. The village folks still consider cooing crows as symbol of the arrival of the guests. Architectural competitions are held annually when best mud house is selected. The Chief Harappan Explorer Dr. Mark Kenoyer had the place on the jury in competition held last July. Two full time German volunteers, Dr Norbert Pintsch and Dr Senta Siller, and village people are working together to change the life and out look in this peaceful hamlet. Whenever I visited the village, I saw something new, something different, which the villagers do to make difference in a place where they belong.

My source of diabetic supplies

2011-06-23T05:01:00.003+05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I wish you to stay healthy and live life without any pain. The fact is that people fall sick and suffer from pain for so many known and unknown reasons. Allergies, cold and cough and digestive disorders are some of the common problems or one may simply a need to have vitamins and supplements for making up lost energy or fighting old age effects.

Given my own interest in Diabetic supplies, I was looking for some patent source online when I came upon Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products. That was the start of my wonderful experience there. Walgreens Truetest Blood Glucose Test Strips is already on my wish list. This is one of the most precise tools for self-testing and point-of-care testing of whole blood glucose. The innovative Truefill beveled tip allows for greater sampling precision.

What is more, Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products help you save on otherwise costly health care bills. Try them and you can save on over the counter medicine purchase. I suggest you explore the neatly laid out and users’ friendly site and see what they are offering and how. That will help you make informed health care decisions and, at the same time, save time and money.

One more thing that helped mark Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products for my own future use is their supports to local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™. Imagine the impact when Walgreens will contribute up to $3 million per year.

Explore the site and learn more about Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products. Also enter Walgreens Brand Sweeps Contest. Have a look at the giveaways and the official rules and enter. And yes, there is no purchase necessary to enter and win.

Woman who loves hip hop jewlery

2011-06-17T21:45:00.000+05:00

Hip hop jewelry has taken over the world of fashion in a big way. Every one seems to be be making personal fashion statement with hip hop jewelry. Like everyone else, I am always interested in hip hop trends. In an effort to fine out the latest, I was looking for fashion jewelry wholesale online when I came upon Rinadon.com - USA based wholesaler that offers a rich collection of hip hop jewelry wholesale. The collection defines western fashion trends and what people who like style are using. I liked many handbag and Twelve Crystal Shamballa personally. Some more items are on my on my wish list for as a gift to someone who is special to me. Those who are interested in latest hip hop jewelry wholesale must explore the site and see what they offer and how. Also have a look at their perfect personal accessories that can make any one stand out among the crowd.

Wholesale Rinadon.com is a leading wholesaler and distributor. People who like latest fashion trends and styles in Hip hop jewelry wholesale already are familiar with the neatly laid out site and look for best and latest in jewelry must see what is featured there. Explore the site and see what they offer for you. You will find the best satisfaction for any taste and style. Have a look and tell me who else loves Open Teardrop Casting Earrings. I do.

PayPal Alternative

2011-06-16T10:50:00.000+05:00

Look around and you will agree that world is moving towards online and paperless economy. One can already see that businesses are already accepting different options for payment. Transactions through credit card, machines and merchant accounts are not only safe for everyone involved but also convenient, fast and error free. But question is that which one is the best merchant account for your particular needs? How to choose one?

Free Merchant Account Advisor - one of the free and trusted name - is playing important role in promoting the use of Credit Card Processing, Merchant Accounts, Accept Credit Cards, Online Credit Card Processing, Merchant Credit Card Processing, PayPal Alternative, Credit Card Processing Companies, Credit Card Processing Services, Accept Credit Cards Online, Business Credit Card Processing, Merchant Accounts, High Risk Merchant Accounts and Offshore Merchant Accounts.

That is where they come in when you need to fine one of the best merchant accounts? Thanks to Free Merchant Account Advisor – a free service that helps business owners find the best merchant account out of so many that are available out there. Use the service and find out the best for your needs.

I recommend that all businesses need to have a look at the neatly laid out site and get expert advice before making a decision to Accept Credit Cards Online or to open high risk merchant accounts. See what all they are offering and how they can help you. Browse browse through their users’ friendly site. Better still let them take care of all your concerns relating electronic payments. They offer the best advice in your own unique financial position.

Pakistan’s First International Social Media Summit

2011-06-14T12:49:00.002+05:00

Project with purpose

2011-06-07T11:01:00.000+05:00

History

The MHP was initiated through SPARC (local NGO) in 2010, but it has a history, which began in 1990 in a village development project (Thatta Kedona) in the district of Okara (Gogera) in southern Punjab.

The mud construction has a long tradition (Harappa) in this region and it is still used extensively in the rural areas. However it has not developed further due to the influences of the city culture. Double storeyed mud constructions are however found very seldom. This although mud housing has many positive-construction biological properties and it is much more energy efficient than constructions of baked bricks and steel concrete.

Purpose of the Project

Purpose of the MHP is to emphasize the usefulness and importance of mud construction in city development.

Usefulness

An attempt is being made in cooperation with architecture students of PU, COMSATS, BNU, NCA and a constructor (Thekedar) from Harappa-Museum to develop solutions on the basis of a traditional mud hut, which would ultimately lead to a change in urban development strategies.

Implementation

As a start, construction was started at the premises of the Peersada Cultural Complex; the mud construction serves as accomodation for the handicraft workers.

In cooperation with SPARC and the DGFK (german NGO's), support through the SES (Senior Expert Service) in Bonn and the German embassy in Islamabad was obtained.

Current Importance

The MHP has gained additional importance due to the consequences of the recent floodings in Pakistan.

Short term aims

Help is necessary. Financial means are to be used effectively, local solutions are to be found, the daily requirements (e.g. hot water, cooking, etc.) are to be considered. Possibilities of using Appropriate Technology are to be explored.

Long term aims

The MHP should be understood as the initial flame and its aim to urgently establish a facility for experimental construction, which requires availability of suitable piece of land.

For various reasons, the implementation has to done in steps. The first steps have been taken.

40 gallon gas water heater

2011-06-07T10:57:00.002+05:00

Water heaters are essential in living spaces. As a matter of fact they are essential parts of any living or commercial building. Those who have 40 gallon gas water heater know how much hassel it is to maintain it and keep it functional every time. I was looking for a service company that can take care of water heater problems when I came upon Tankless Water Heater Solutions.

Have a look at the neatly laid out service and see what they are offering and how. In addition to installing tank style water heaters, they also install tankless water heaters. And you know that tankless water heater needs to be professionally installed for optimal energy efficiency, and no one knows tankless water heaters better than Tankless Water Heater Solutions. With state-of-the art technology and an expert plumbing staff, Tankless Water Heater Solutions have the tools to tackle any job, big or small, residential or commercial. Plus our experience and relationships with manufacturers allow us to offer all parts and labor at unbeatable prices! They also are the best for Sewer maintenance dallas.

Ask them and they will start by determining your demand, location, and application for hot water, then they we customize a system designed to fit your needs and budget. Your project will be supervised from consultation to cleanup to ensure your complete satisfaction with the process, and our plumbers will work around your schedule. That is why they are the best when it comes to anything about water heaters.

My Locksmith

2011-06-03T10:50:00.001+05:00

Everyone (businesses as well as individuals) need efficient locksmith at call on some point in time. I recommend you have a look at Virginia locksmith and see what they are offering and how can he serve you when you need. locksmiths Virginia beach is indeed the service that can let you in – in both commercial as well residential areas – when your are locked out and your keys are missing. Get familiar with neatly laid out Virginia beach locksmiths and the wide array of servicers they offer with efficiency and expertise at affordable prices.

Losing keys is a bad situation and no one wants to be in such emergency. Sadly, people lose keys and do get into difficult situation every day. That is where you need a Chesapeake locksmith. Imagine what can happen when your car is locked and you are stuck early in the morning when you need to reach your office for an important meeting. Or you have your documents locked inside safe that are to be signed by a party waiting in your office or worst still you arrive home from a journey and find that you have lost keys of the entire home. That is when you call them and leave rest to them. I suggest you be familiar with the locksmith service company so that you can approach when you need in an emergency.

Living in live music capital of the world

2011-06-01T21:13:00.000+05:00

Austin is commonly called the ‘live music capital of the world’. It’s a city for the young at heart, throbbing with life and energy. This heritage city today is home to a complex group of people – musicians, entrepreneurs, businessmen, politicians and students all blended into the Austin landscape.

While living in Austin, you may be living in a vicinity of diverse groups of yuppies, hippies, hipsters, tech geeks, cowboys, students, celebrities, and rich folks. Austin is sunny and warm months out of the year, cost of living is reasonable, tech jobs are hot, and real estate is still abundant?

Dealing in real estate in such a city demands deep knowledge of the real estate market. One needs to know the market there. Thanks Austin Real Estate that they have made home buying and selling process easy by providing a holistic, unrivaled view of the marketplace through insightfully integrated, stunningly visual and deeply informative city, area, community and property detail as well as a high-caliber, executive level service standard.

Explore the listing by HomeCity and find a house there. See thousands of aerial photographs, slideshows, virtual tours and much more that will help you make informed buying decision. They are offering a lot.

Label your stuff

2011-05-25T21:51:00.000+05:00

How do you organize your stuff? One of the best ways to organize is to label your stuff appropriately and methodically. I was looking for information on Camp Labels for our upcoming Yoga trip in the hills what I came upon Label Your Stuff – a neatly laid out site that was Label Your Stuff was founded in 2003 in Denver Colorado by two informed moms. Based on their experience and knowing how difficult it is to keep track of everything they started and now have come a long way. They have labels for almost every thing including Bag Tags.

Have a look at the uncluttered site and see what they are offering and how Kids Clothing Labels can help you keep everything organized. All Made in American Made personalized name labels for all your family's stuff come in different types (Clothing labels, waterproof stick-on labels, shoe labels, bag tags, allergy alerts and much more) to cater for any need.. Their labels are bright and easy to read. Kids love our labels for the designs, Moms love them for their practicality.

Explore the neatly laid out site and it will help you make informed decision to get organized and have every thing in order.

Gold bars and coins

2011-05-24T09:47:00.001+05:00

One of the all time best investments is gold, slow and fluctuating economies and always changing price of gold notwithstanding. While looking online for gold prices, I came upon Gold Crown Jewelers – buyers and sellers of gold coins and bars.

Given my own interest gold coins, I explored the site and was pleased to see what I was there. It is a whole mechanism working to regulate the gold prices all over the world. I suggest anyone dealing with gold in anyway must have a look at the resource rich site and see what they are offering and how. Better still call them (517-789-5454 or 734-761-5454) and get the best advice. This will help you make an informed decision to sell gold coins or buy gold bars.

What is more, Gold Crown Jewelers is also one of the best places for custom jewelry. Have a look at Also have a look at their Fashion Portfolio, Diamonds, fine watches, fine jewelry, custom jewelry and charms and chains and see what they offer and how best. One of their custom necklace is already on my wish list.

Thatta Kedona Dolls Shop

2011-05-21T11:36:00.003+05:00

Click the doll to see more.

How People Marry in Rural Pakistan

2011-05-21T10:52:00.000+05:00

Rural areas of Pakistan still remain a largely conservative society, where many young people shy away when it comes to marriages. Exceptions apart, arranged marriages are a cornerstone of rural society. It remains the responsibility of parents and marriages are mostly among people within the same tribe, caste, community, family or locality.

This is what happens in rural areas with some minor changes from place to place: After initial understanding and covert messages between families of prospective spouses, the boy's relatives visit the girl's family and offer the proposal, on formal acceptance the "mangni" (engagement) takes place, marriage date is fixed, groom, with friends and relatives goes to the house of the bride in the form of barat (marriage procession) where the nikah (social contact) is performed. The consent of the bride and the groom to the marriage (ijab and qabool) in the presence of at least two witnesses is obtained to solemnize the contract as per the commandment of divine Islam. Guests are served with sumptuous food (notwithstanding what the law of the land says about the feast). Groom brings home his the bride. This is followed by Walima. Life goes on . . .

Moreover, on the arrival of barat, the dowry is displayed for every one to see and at the same place groom's female relatives show what they have gifted (jewellery and clothing) to the bride. Both sides glorify the gifts. Paradoxically, in Punjab, a night earlier than the marriage date, groom visits homes of his friends and relatives where he is offered money. Other gifts mostly in the form of money (salami) or garlands made of currency notes are presented when groom gets ready for going to bride's home. Customarily, groom dresses up in attire presented to him by one of his sisters and in return, he gives to his sister(s) what she demands. There are no marriage halls and the congregations take place in homes and or community centres (called Daras). There are no caterers. Local tradesmen prepare food and serve.

As per the available statistics, divorce rate in the rustic areas is comparatively lower. The core join family system is still in tact and that is one of the reasons for low divorce rate. At the other hand, marriages at very young age, consanguineous marriages, marriages without consent of the partners and cross marriages are common.

There is not much of a variation in the core marriage ceremonies in urban areas, only the way they are performed differ. In the cities, the assertive sons and daughters of an educated middle-class are finding new ways of meeting their match. Although many still have arranged marriages, it is no longer unheard of for couples to marry after having fallen in love or meting over the Internet or in a TV show. Court marriages are also not very uncommon.

Difference in thinking between modern urban elites and traditional rural families is reflected in marriages in many ways. Norms in the urban society have changed over the years and they are on the constant move. Vulnerable to satellite TV, Internet, higher education and affluence, urban population is open and highly receptive to the waves of modernity. Unlike in the past, the selection of marriage partners now is done from the groups that are similar in social characteristics. In present times, urbanites are now most likely to marry individuals who are in similar social group, educational attainment and social class.

Another interesting pattern that is now visible is the strong influence of the western society, which has now trickled down its norms to our youth who have proudly inculcated them into being 'ours'. People in urban areas are slowly but surely moving towards the conjugal family system from our traditional and inherited consanguine system. Twenty years ago the scenario in Pakistani cities was quite the contrary.

Families in urban areas are strongly influenced by the environment and by technology in particular. To take a historic overview, as Pakistani society industrialised some 25 years ago, families lost their old patterns and received changed values. This resulted among other things, in smaller families in urban areas of Pakistan. In addition many of the functions, once attributed to the families became the responsibilities of other institutions and individuals. It was because of the shift to a more formal societal structure that romantic love is replaced by economic and social reasons as a factor influencing the choice of a marriage partner. The role of women has also changed as the family is losing control over the destinies of its female members.

Matchmaking by the third party is a preferred way now. This has given rise to match making business. Interested people are asked to provide details of eligible sons and daughters, as well as their requirements from a spouse and matchmakers do rest of he job. Marriages take place at marriage halls and hotels instead of homes. Dowry, usually, is sent to the bride's home before the marriage.

The affluence and wealth makes a large difference in weeding ceremonies, in rural as well as urban areas. The more people have, the more elaborate are the rituals. But spirit everywhere remains the same.

Wholesale clothing at its best

2011-05-20T13:13:00.000+05:00

With computers, the internet and E-procurement, wholesaling, jobbing, or distributing is touching new heights. In the process, it is changing the procurement practices. This also has given birth to new whole sales out lets who are catering to the needs of anyone. I was looking for whole sale clothing when I came upon resource rich site ClothingIsland.com – site where you can find wholesale clothing for men, women, plus size, boys, girls; well for everyone.

Exploring the site I was amazed to see the huge display and the choices they offer - women's clothing and apparel of all kinds ranging from wholesale jeans, wholesale tops, wholesale plus size, wholesale dress, wholesale active wear, wholesale jewelry, wholesale costume jewelry, wholesale accessories, wholesale fashion accessories, wholesale skirts, wholesale sweaters, wholesale jackets, wholesale pants, wholesale men's clothing, wholesale girl's clothing and wholesale boy's clothing. Selection of over 2,000 different items, styles, colors and sizes to choose from are the best you can find in the clothing wholesale industry. The shipping process is also seamless as you can track your order as soon as you get your order confirmation. Best thing is that they offer Free Shipping For Orders Over $1500. And to make ordering to us a lot easier, we accept all kinds of payment from credit card, PayPal, corporate and personal checks, bank wire transfer, cashier's check and money order.

That is why I recommend that whenever you need to buy whole sale clothing, stop at ClothingIsland.com first. You will need to go elsewhere.

Iced out jewelry

2011-05-20T10:13:00.000+05:00

In this age when you have time set in almost any gadget, wristwatches still do two things: they provide us with the time and help transform the look of the wearer. Wristwatches are still precious pieces of jewelry that we rely upon in modern times that provide such rich variety and purpose. I was looking for watches when I came upon Watches International and was amazed to see good collection of iced out jewelry.

In addition to watches, Wintl.com offers wholesale hip hop jewelry, high quality wholesale fashion costume jewelry, latest fashion watches, micro pave cz jewelry and wholesale stainless steel jewelry. Best I found is their wholesale micro pave pendants and classic chains available in many styles and sizes.

Imagery is good and the consumers are sure of what they are looking at. It gives you the feeler of how any watch or jewelry item will suite on your wrist or your persona. The prices are very affordable and what is more, there are enough accompanying details with each item to help you make informed buying decision. Explore the neatly laid out and very users friendly site and see what they are offering and how, better still ‘indulge’ in shopping for a watch that you can show proudly.

Hip hop jewelry

2011-05-19T18:22:00.001+05:00

Looking for fashion jewelry wholesale online, I came upon Rinadon.com - USA based wholesaler that offers a rich collection of hip hop jewelry wholesale. The collection defines western fashion trends and what people who like style are using. I liked many handbags. Some of the items are already on my on my wish list for as a gift to someone who is special to me. I suggest you explore the site and see what they offer for you. Better still try their perfect personal accessories and stand out.

Wholesale Rinadon.com is a leading wholesaler and distributor. People who like latest fashion trends and styles already are familiar with the neatly laid out site and look for best and latest in jewelry must see what is featured there.

Explore the site and see what they offer for you. You will find the best there.

Dolls of the World - Project Description

2011-05-18T09:17:00.000+05:00

Proof of this is found in the escavations in South America, the Subcontinent, Japan, Italy, Greece, and other sites all over the world. Made out of sa number pof materials like wood, wax, clay, cloth etc., they were not only a toy but used also as religious symbols and cult items for example as miniaturized images of persons.

Over and above their value as toys with educational value, dolls are realistic documentation of past and present times and therefore important source of our knowledge about the games, life, living and work conditions and economy. They are important cultural carriers.

Dr Senta Siller established different projects in Pakistan, Cameroun, Columbia, etc., in which small but long-term progress was made towards development of rural areas, help towards self-sustained development, discouragement of urbanization by way of income generating projects in the rural areas through production of certain types of handicraft items. Dolls are manufactured here lovingly and clothed in traditional dresses and accessories. Fabric design and types of clothing are revived and take an important place in daily life.

Dolls from Pakistan

Dolls from Cameroun

Dolls from Columbia

The co-operative Tantomejor was established in 1999 in Saboya and it works in the meanwhile with three other initiatives. Saboya has about 6000 residents near Chiquinquira, the capital of Departemento Boyaca, north of Bogota. Also this NGO enjoys cooperation of the DGFK. Over 100 women are engaged in the manufacture of handicraft items.

In other languages:

Thatta Kedona Summer School

2011-05-09T07:00:00.000+05:00

Sophie Kuppler

Due to the heavy rains falling all over Pakistan, this year's Thatta Kedona summer school was more adventurous than usual. Monika Kuppler (handicrafts teacher) left Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka together with her students (Shama Bibi, Razia, Nazia and Shazia Sarfraz, Sughira Rafiq and Rahina Perveen) on July 19, 2010 to meet me [Sophie Kuppler, the English teacher] in Islamabad and then continue their travel up North to Gupis.

Short of Gupis, the travel was interrupted for two days due to landslides blocking the road. As clearance work took much longer than expected, we decided to leave some baggage behind and walk across the landslides.

Arriving in Gupis, classes stated. Our daily walks through the surrounding scenic areas helped to get in contact with local women, who would invite us into their houses for tea, delicious local bread and homemade apple jam. Some would even send apricots and apples to us at place where we were staying. This interaction gave us a chance to compare local handicrafts work with work from women art center Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka.

Our days at Gupis were thus filled with studying, cooking, doing handicrafts, and playing educational games for repeating the vocabulary learned. The students were learning very fast and all were enjoying the beautiful scenery and hospitality of the local people.

A few days after the rain had started the bridge in Gupis broke and all supplies were cut off. Fortunately, the owner of the guesthouse, where we stayed, had warned us early enough for us to be able to buy enough food for the coming days. Our worries about how to travel back were quickly dispersed: the local people had built a new wooden-bridge within two days.

Once it was possible to travel again we left Gupis for Gilgit, again only taking what we could carry as the streets were broken in many places and our journey had to be continued on foot.

Once in Gilgit, we were stuck for four days as the Karakorum Highway was blocked and flights could not operate due to bad weather. During this time we continued with the English classes and handicrafts work. Finally, the road through Naran valley was re-opened and two jeeps brought us safely across Babusar pass for our onward travel to Islamabad.

Despite the challenges all had learned a lot and were very happy. We would like to thank all those, who made this year's summer school possible and enjoyable and who helped us to get safely back to our respective homes. These are especially: Lions Club Heilbronn, Mrs Gabi Fröhlich, Mr. Shah Wali (Explore Pakistan), Mr Dildar, the hotel staff in Gilgit and all our drivers. [Also here]

Related: Summer Camp 2009

Mother’s Day Flowers

2011-05-08T12:36:00.002+05:00

Royal Wedding and Pippa Middleton

2011-04-30T20:22:00.006+05:00

Pippa Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey before Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding. Is she the next Royal?

Girls rule, boys drool

2011-04-27T11:19:00.000+05:00

Girls rule, boys drool—in the Ivory Tower at least. New Census figures show that more American women than men have completed college and hold advanced degrees. It’s the first time in history that women have outnumbered men in key educational metrics, but it’s also the culmination of a decades-long trend toward better women’s education and workplace equality. Among adults over 25, women barely edge out men as holders of advanced degrees, but still lag in business, science, and engineering. For bachelor’s degrees, though, the difference is greater: The U.S. has 1.5 million more female degree-holders than male ones.

Read it at Associated Press

My ring finger is longer than the index fingre

2011-04-21T13:14:00.000+05:00

The longer a man's fourth or ring finger is compared to his index finger, the more likely he is to be judged attractive by women, according to a study released Wednesday.

The results, published in the British Royal Society's journal Biological Sciences, unveil intricate links between foetal exposure of males to hormones, the development of certain physical traits, and what turns on the opposite sex.

It also adds to a growing body of research -- conducted under the banner of evolutionary psychology -- suggesting that the drivers of human behaviour are found, more than previously suspected, in "nature" rather than "nurture."

Earlier studies had already shown that the size ratio between the fourth and second fingers, especially of the right hand, is a reliable indicator of the extent a man was exposed to testosterone while still in the womb.

The bigger the gap between a longer ring finger and a shorter index, the greater the likely impact of the hormone.

For the new study, scientists led by Camille Ferdenzi of the University of Geneva designed an experiment to find out if women are drawn to the telltale signs of high testosterone levels in men -- a symmetrical face, a deeper voice, a particular body odour -- who have this more "masculine" finger configuration.

More than 80 women university students between 18 and 34 looked at pictures of 49 similarly aged men, and were asked to evaluate them for masculinity and attractiveness.

Smaller groups of women listened to recordings of the male voices, and smelled samples of their body odour, taken from cotton pads worn under the arm for 24 hours.

"The aim was to understand what makes a man attractive," and whether at least some of those qualities "were in part conditioned by the foetal environment," Ferdenzi said in an interview.

For the visual test, the results were unambiguous. "The longer the ring finger compared to the index -- that is, the greater the exposure to testosterone -- the more attractive the face was rated," she said by phone.

"We also found that attractiveness and symmetry in the face are highly correlated."

Such a preference might have evolved to boost a female's chances of reproductive success through mating with a more virile partner, she said.

Surprisingly, however, women did not consistently tag the same men as "masculine".

Nor did their preferences for voice or odours correspond to the longer ring-finger males.

"There wasn't any relation between the 2D-4D" -- 2nd digit, 4th digit -- "ratio and the reactions of the women to odour," Ferdenzi said.

One reason, she speculated, may be that voice and body odour are more dependent on fluctuating levels of adult testosterone than on pre-natal testosterone.

The ring-index finger ratio has also proven to be a useful indicator for gauging the risk of prostate cancer, likewise tied to high levels of testosterone.

Research published in December showed that the chances of developing the disease drop by a third in men whose index finger is longer than their ring finger.

Other studies have also found a link between exposure to hormones before birth and the development of other diseases, including breast cancer and osteoarthritis. (AFP)

Oh Okara

2011-04-20T08:24:00.000+05:00

The agricultural city derives its name from a tree known as 'Okaan'. During British period once Lahore - Multan railway line was being laid, there was a jungle of Okaan at this place, hence the name. Few van (salvadora) trees - at the verge of extinction are also found in this part of the country. At the time of partition, one out of two textile mills that came as the share of Pakistan is in Okara. The city was declared district headquarters in 1982.

In 1930, Okara was famous agricultural market in the area. Presently, the Sabzi Mandi (fruit and vegetable market) handles sale of largest quantity of potatoes than any other market in the country. Muhammad Sarwar who is an arhti in Sabzi Mandi says, "Even the sheds are not being constructed.” The committee has engaged only four ill-equipped sanitary workers for cleaning the market premises. We have employed our own sweepers and watchmen". Similarly, the Grain Market (with eight gates) is also situated in the city. It does not have any drainage system and water keeps on standing in the form of ponds.

But, the city now lacks grace. Keeping the sources of pollution in view, vehicles remain the second biggest pollutants in the world. The heavy traffic on the National Highway passing through thickly populated urban areas of Okara emits poisonous smoke and the air. In addition over 29000 rickshaws, wagons, buses, and trucks registered with traffic authorities are also plying in the city.

The city situated astride the busiest national highway faces a severe pollution problem. Karachi - Peshawar main railway line also passes through the city. Besides goods' trains 24 electric powered passenger trains pass over the main line daily.

Completion of Jinnah Park was very festive for the residents of Okara but now it gives a repulsive look rather than that of a recreational place. On entering the majestic gate one realizes that the park is not being maintained. Result: polythene bags and wrappers are scattered everywhere, the grass has never been mowed, there are no flowers, and benches are broken and dusty.

A rehriwalla who sells 'Dahi Bhallay' in front of the park says, "on the average, I used to do the business worth rupees 1500/- per day when the park was newly completed and all the lantern shaped lights were illuminating but now my sale has reduced to mere four to five hundred rupees a day. No body comes here after the last light".

Socially Okara is not very lively place. People (who can afford) go to Lahore to celebrate the 'seasons'. Yet it is the only district headquarters in Punjab to have its own Arts Council. As per the law the Arts Councils are supposed to be in divisional Headquarters and Okara falls under Lahore division, thanks to one of the ex Chief Ministers Punjab who belongs to the area.

"All the great issues of small city remain unresolved and limited public resources are being sanctioned for mere show, without any love for the land, "says a social activist Zulfiqar Bajwa. " There is no single authority to oversee the growth of the city having excellent rail and road links with the rest of the country and ideally suited for live stock production and agronomic industries, "he says.

Thatta Kedona Paper Cut Frames

2011-04-18T22:11:00.002+05:00

With Thatta Kedona

2011-04-11T15:04:00.001+05:00

A lot is happening at the Thatta Ghulamka Dgeroka – the dolls village - this season. Dr. Norbert Pintsch is in the Village and busy in creating awareness about the eco friendly and rural based low cost project among youth. Students from LUMS have already visited the Village and spent a useful day there rediscovering the rural culture and mixing up with village folks there learning about rural culture and life style there. Students from other universities are also planning to visit the village and spend time there. At the same time, Ammir Rafiuq was there for distribution of books among students of the two government schools in the village. Shakeel is busy in finalizing kite project while Mud Hut another location in Lahore is coming up. Thatta TV Radio is recording interviews with guests that will be on air later this season.

On the uneven bars

2011-04-07T09:18:00.000+05:00

Giulia Steingruber of Switzerland performs on the uneven bars at the Women's Qualification of the Artistic Gymnastics European Championships. [AP]

Mud Housing Project

2011-04-06T08:14:00.000+05:00

Peersada brothers with Tikedar (contractor) Iqbal from Harappa

Years ago, SPARC had taken up the initiative to refresh the importance of mud as construction material and to sensitize the general public in this respect. Currently, the Mud Housing Project is being implemented by SPARC in Lahore.

Mud is not a construction material of the past; only steel, concrete and bricks have pushed back such useful construction material, (this is a story in itself.) Considering the enormous costs of cooling and heating the current form of buildings, it becomes quite clear that mud is environmentally friendly, energy efficient and biologically far superior than any other construction material.

In order to realize the initiative, SPARC was successful in arranging foreign support as well as a local architect, who is working since the year 2000 in South Western Punjab, and together with DGFK (German Society for the Advancement of Culture, Berlin), it has been giving prizes under the Preservation of Cutural Heritage program for the best maintained Mud House, Brick House and the most interesting Design.

Now in the realization phase of the initiative, it was important to gather financial and organizational support as well as participants open to new ideas, which was made easier through provision of land by the Peerzada Group near their cultural complex. The planned mud rooms are to be used by the handicraft workers as sleeping quarters in the night while they work in Workshops during the day.

Example of appropriate technology (solar cooker) will also be available for demonstration purpose and in order to be independant of the public technical infrastructure.

This combination was also greeted by the universities Punjab University, COMSATS and BNU, who find it useful for involvement of students in practical projects like construction and physical measurements that are part of the Mud Housing Project.

Generally speaking, the Mud Housing Project comes at a time of extreme flooding misery around the River Indus and therefore unintended becomes current in its own right. There are, however no demonstrated examples of the concept, which can contribute to experience and which can be adjusted for example for usage in the crisis regions.

The initiative described above is small, but it has a large potential: Help in the Indus Basin flood hit areas is of course a priority, but the construction methods in the urban areas are to be examined closely in terms of energy consumption. Mud housing is normally ground floor construction, but there are also interesting mud house examples in double story construction. A project of experimental construction is therefore required for a more exact evaluation and experimentation of this and other aspects of mud housing.

Related: Mud Housing Project

Celebrating 18 years of traditions

2011-04-01T16:18:00.007+05:00

I am glad to be a small part of beautiful tradition of one child one tree being practices by Thatta Kedona in remote Punjab village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka (aka Dolls' Village) located at the bank of River Ravi near Gogera. The NGO AFA presents one fruit tree on the birth of a baby and one flower tree on a wedding. Results: almost every household in Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka has a fruit and flower tree in their yards (in addition to their own kitchen garden). And it looks so good; refreshing.

This year the beautiful ceremony of handing over fruit and flower trees and celebration of 18 years of tradition was held in BHU on March 25, 2011. Here are some of the images of the event. Everyone missed Dr. Senta Siller, the originator of the tradition, who could come due to her engagements in Germany. Thanks to Dr. Norbert Pintsch who is still carrying on the work and traditions in the village.[X-posted from Light Within]

Related: One baby one tree 2010

Danger of every extra inch on your waistline!

2011-03-28T11:56:00.001+05:00

Every extra inch on your waistline raises the odds of bowel cancer even if the rest of your body is trim, doctors have warned. The dangers of a pot belly or 'muffin top' were highlighted by a large-scale review of studies into Britain's second biggest cancer killer. Crucially for the millions battling to contain middle-age spread, it found that you don't need to be overweight for a generous waistline to cause problems. Read how an extra inch on the waist is a cancer risk.

Related: Weight watchers to have a look at Look at Nutrisystem promotion coupons, discount coupons for DietToGo, deals on Medifast diet using a coupon code, and savings deals for Bistro MD meal replacement program.

Future lies in rural areas

2011-03-28T10:59:00.001+05:00

“Future lies in rural areas,” Dr. Norbert Pintsch

Human beings like other organisms, have always polluted their environment with the byproducts of their action. As an organism man creates waste. As a social creature, he removes things from his environment and adds residue to it. So long as population density has been low on the planet, the environment was able to accommodate these alterations. Now with the world population about 8.5 billion people and increasing by 220,000 each day, the concentration of population in cities and resulting deterioration of environment is sounding alarms. The situation is urban Pakistan is worst.

The process of economic development over last 58 years has brought number of changes. One of the most critical dimensions of the process is urbanization of rural society. As the development has taken place primarily from agricultural to industrial economy, large scale rural to urban migration has taken place, changing the face of our cities as well as villages. The concentration of more and more people into urban areas is regarded as one of the major environmental threat today. The process is expected to escalate in Pakistan though many of our cities have already reached the point where further population concentration (by natural birth or migration) may jeopardize the delivery of basic civic services to all.

Urbanization process has effected all parts of country: villages, towns and cities in one-way or the other. The intensity of impact is most critical in the larger cities. Karachi, Lahore, Faislabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sarghoda, Gujrat and Peshawar are suffering from environmental degradation and quantifiable deficiencies in basic civic services. The civic bodies are badly failing to manage these problems.

Solid waste management has become one of the serious urban nightmares in Pakistan. The municipalities equipped with centuries old and outdated methods inefficiently lift only 60 percent of the municipal waste generated in our cities. In the absence of professionalism and proper waste disposal systems, most of the garbage lifted from the cities is crudely dumped in open spaces nearby. These dumps attract mosquitoes, rats, cockroaches, houseflies, ticks flees as well as stray dogs and birds like vultures and crows. Carried by the vectors, bacterium thriving in rotten and moist garbage is spreading all sorts of diseases. Other 40 percent waste is simply not picked up and keeps rotting in streets or illegal filth depots inside the cities. As the society prospers, its trash -- mainly hazardous plastic, metals packaging and pathogenic non-biodegradable rubbish -- is growing exponentially.

Karachi the mega city with population estimated over 11 millions, alone is generating 6000 tons of waster per day. Solid waste management department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is trying to keep the city clean with fleet of vehicles and an army of sweepers in its roll. Result: “The effects of environmental degradation due to the waste left inside Karachi are slowly poisoning the city”, notes an epidemiologist.

Sewerage systems only in portions of the cities are crumbling. Apart from being old they were basically designed for lesser population without catering for the future growth. Remaining population depends for waste disposal on septic tanks, soak pits or over flows into open drain. As a result of improper disposal of human waste (in many areas there is no disposal) from the housing environment a large number of children are suffering from or are vulnerable to the attacks of different diseases. The effluents from industrial units and tanneries working unchecked in the residential areas -- with high concentration of pollutants are adding to the problems. Kasur, Multan and Sialkot are typical examples of the case in point.

One major problems of urbanization in Pakistan is the eating up of green and open spaces -- so important for ecological balance -- by concrete structures of ever expanding cities. Only 25 years back Lahore and Faislabad had several patches of agricultural land. Today, there is no arable land with in the limits of these cities. In Peshawar 2700 hectares of agricultural land were lost between 1965 and 1985. Multan had many mango orchards (Ram jis Bagh, Abidanwalla Bagh, Qasim Bagh, Langhe Khan Bagh, Hazori Bagh, Dewanwalla Bagh and Mirza Jan Bagh) inside the city. They all have been converted into plazas and industrial units. There is no open space in cities as small as Mandi Baha Ud Din that was declared district headquarters only in 1993.

The fresh water supply in our cities is dwindling as the cities are expanding. Access to the clean water is available to about 77 percent of the urban population. Only 30 percent have the luxury of piped water supply and the rest are being served by stand posts or public taps. Per capita water consumption in urban areas in bare minimum to sustain human life. Even the (finite) subsoil water reserves are decreasing due to high pumping rate. In most of the cities water pipe lines run next to the sewer lines there for, contaminating the drinking water.

Air governs the quality of our environment. The air in our cities is so polluted that it can be smelled and seen everywhere. When the wind is still, the fumes of vehicles, industrial concerns, smoke from garbage piles put of fire as well as airborne particles to dirt and pollen can be seen hung about any city. Only in Lahore 800,000 vehicles are responsible (apart form the noise pollution) for contaminating the environment by emitting poisonous gasses. Breathing has become a health hazard in soot-choked cities like Gujranwala where tar coal drums, electric wires and old tyres are burnt inside the residential areas in order to separate the iron.

There is an acute shortage of houses in the cities and the real estate prices are skyrocketing. The demand for the land is growing and the supply is limited. Since the land is essential for urban growth, devising equitable and efficient land development policies is one of the major challenges facing planners and policy makers, who do not seem to be aware of the seriousness of the problem. The number of slum and katchi abadi dwellers is on the increase.

In the typical city street, the road is potholed by PTCL or WASA excavations, electric generators and transformers carry a dangerous web of cable overhead. Shops encroach onto the roadways. Vendors have covered the open drains and advertisements and ugly looking neon signs are covering every available surface.

Historic buildings disappear without regret and even the protected monuments are suffering from vandalism. The roads are full of illegal speed breakers, all different in sizes and shapes. The old trees are being cut without a second thought. There is no body to oversee the overall growth of cities and to coordinate the work of city development agencies.

It is ideal if the human beings are dispersed evenly around the countryside. But people have been coming to cities for better economic and educational opportunities and better quality of life. It is about time that policy makers should think hard and plant to check the current demographic trend. This can be done, though it has yet not started to begin in Pakistan.

This is one of the reasons why one can believe that future lies in rural areas.

Rampant Teenage Sexting Is Tearing America Apart

2011-03-28T10:28:00.000+05:00

An article in New York Times explores a particular case in Washington state involving a young woman named Margarite who sent a naked picture to her boyfriend, who sent it to this other girl, who sent it to everyone, and like a case of crabs in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, soon everyone had it. The boy and girl involved in sending the text faced legal consequences, it was a giant mess, feelings were hurt, parents got involved, emotions ran high, tears were shed, lives were ruined. Just another day at the races.

Read how Rampant Teenage Sexting Is Tearing America Apart

Pride of Thatta Kedona

2011-03-27T14:12:00.000+05:00

By Jyoti Kalsi, Gulf News Report

Authentic Shahi Haleem from the famous Kausar restaurant in Karachi, a variety of delicious sweets, hand-embroidered salwar suits and shawls, trendy leather jackets and handbags, traditional handmade shoes, glittering jewellery, intricately carved wooden furniture, beautiful carpets and entertainment by well known performers — you can get all this and more at the Pakistan pavilion in Global Village.

The façade of this pavilion is modelled on the Baba E Khyber Fort in Peshawar, while the interior is a recreation of a typical Peshawari bazaar with over 80 stalls offering a taste of Pakistani culture, cuisine and creativity. While all the people managing the stalls and the items on sale are Pakistani, visitors will be surprised to find a German manning a stall here. Roman Laube is a media designer from Berlin and is spending his annual vacation as a volunteer for an NGO called Thatta Kedona. He has flown down to Dubai especially to help manage the organisation's stall at the pavilion.

"Kedona means ‘toy' in Punjabi and this began as a self-help project for women in a small village called Thatta Ghulam in Pakistan's Punjab province. It was established in 1993 by a German social worker. The project began with five women and now we have over 120 women working with us.

The money raised from worldwide sales of our products has been used to build a healthcare centre, a school, a deep borewell and training centres for young boys and girls in the village. We are grateful to the organisers of the Pakistan pavilion for giving us this space and we hope that visitors to the Global Village will support us whole-heartedly," said Laube.

The colourful stall has an array of products hand-made by the women. These include dolls in the traditional attire of different areas of Pakistan, embroidered dresses, cards, bookmarks,
beaded key rings, finger puppets, jewellery including necklaces with miniature doll pendants, block-printed bedcovers and Christmas decorations.

Also on display are beautiful hand-painted tinsheet miniature cycles, rickshaws and trucks made by young men from the village. The goods range in price from Dh3 to Dh200.

Female cabbie in Pakistan

2011-03-21T10:54:00.000+05:00

From New York to Islamabad female cabbies are still news anywhere. And in Pakistan female cabbie is ground-breaking.

Remember how the New York Hack - blog by female New York cabbie – created waves before it died just after her fat book Hack off duty deal. Then we saw a book by a Pakistani cabbie titled For Hire. Cabbies always have interesting stuff to tell.

But Zahida Kazmi, a brave woman who have opted to drive taxi in Islamabad to support her family of six children - is by far only example in Pakistan as per my knowledge. She bought a yellow can on easy installments by a government scheme in 90's [when Pakistan was a little different and more tolerant] and started driving to pick the passengers.

Generally speaking, women in Pakistani society are perceived working as a teacher, nurse, salesperson or politicians but to deviate from the norm takes a lot of courage. To become a cabbie - a profession meant for the rough and tough and not the dainty - is hard but Zahida Kazmi took on the challenge. For a woman to enter the realm of men can pose a serious challenge to their monopoly. By becoming a cabdriver she is fighting the odds for nine years now. She has travelled all over the Pakistan and passengers feel much happy and comfortable to travel with her. “I am old now and I get tired. It's hard for me to drive all the time but what can I do, says Zahida Kazmi. [Posted from here]

Are you on Facebook to get attention?

2011-03-19T17:58:00.000+05:00

A study on how people use social networking websites such as Facebook confirms what many of us suspected. Women who post loads of photos of themselves on their sites are conveying some strong personal characteristics, according to new research. These women are more likely to base their self-worth on appearance and use social networking to compete for attention.

The study involved 311 men and women with an average age of 23. In order to better understand aspects of social networking behavior, the researchers looked at the amount of time subjects spent managing profiles, the number of photos they shared, the size of their online networks and how promiscuous they were in terms of “friending” behavior. The participants completed a questionnaire designed to measure self worth and were asked about their typical behaviors on Facebook.

There were differences between women and men. Overall, the results suggest that, compared with men, females identify more strongly with their image and appearance and use Facebook to compete for attention, said the lead author of the study, Michael A. Stefanone, an assistant professor of communications at the University of Buffalo.

The women who had the largest social networks and posted more photos of themselves were more highly vested in their appearance.

“The results suggest persistent differences in the behavior of men and women that result from a cultural focus on female image and appearance,” Stefanone said in a news release. “[I]t is disappointing to me that in the year 2011 so many young women continue to assert their self worth via their physical appearance — in this case, by posting photos of themselves on Facebook as a form of advertisement. Perhaps this reflects the distorted value pegged to women’s looks throughout the popular culture and in reality programming from ‘The Bachelor’ to ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians.’ ”

The authors also speculated that posting a lot of photos of oneself in the company of other people “may serve to communicate the importance of particular relationships because these bonds may provide security regarding ones appearance and self worth.”

The people who tended to base their self worth on things like academic competence, family love and support, and being a virtuous or moral person spent less time online and showed less interest in attention-seeking through social media. (Via}

University of Gujrat Convocation 2011

2011-03-17T12:56:00.000+05:00

The University of Gujrat Second Convocation 2011

The University of Gujrat Second Convocation 2010

Mud Hut - Thatta Ghulmaka Dheroka

2011-03-15T11:49:00.000+05:00

Quit smoking now

2011-03-15T10:27:00.000+05:00

Blinds online

2011-03-13T10:48:00.000+05:00

Window blinds and curtains can change the look of living spaces. Personally, I love blinds because they create an absolutely new atmosphere. Looking for stylish and trendy blinds online, I came upon Web-Blinds – neatly laid out site that displays a wide range of blinds. I was amazed to know that every single blind from web-blinds can be customised to your exact requirements. Have a look at the site to learn about the features that you can customise. Best thing is that installation instructions come with all of our blinds. You can also ask for free advice. Explore the neatly laid out and resource rich site and see what they are offering and how. Better still try them now and make a choice from the best collection of blinds. Call on 0845 604 9611 if you live in the UK or 1890 995 009 if you live in Ireland. Try them and change the look of your living spaces.

Thatta Kecona Dolls House

2011-03-10T08:48:00.000+05:00

Thatta Kedona Dolls House

Pakistan House Potsdam, Germany

2011-03-09T16:07:00.000+05:00

Ruksana Hussain of AeFeA from TGD has visited several institutions in Berlin (art workshop, friendship center / special bilingual nursery, center for special education). Here she is shown standing in front of Punjab Gate / Pakistan House Potsdam. She participated in an event at Landgut Borsig - project where the village women produced the prototype for Mr and Mrs Borsig from 1866; the dolls made are a Pakistan-Greek-German production.

The embroidery effect

2011-03-08T08:09:00.000+05:00

Thanks to Polly and Me

Seal of Excellence

2011-03-07T21:06:00.000+05:00

Coveted UNESCO award “Seal of Excellence 2007” was conferred upon Women Art Center of AFA in Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka. In Islamabad, an International Jury selected the dolls project on September 12-13, 2007. This is how a small village project won the award!

“Thatta Kedona” is quite different in nature as compared to other NGO's or similar institutions: Help and support is provided to the people within the countryside, because “if the villagers earn some money, they are not forced to move to the cities, which are already overburdened with many problems”.

The agricultural activity in the village is not sufficient and therefore it is necessary to provide opportunities for additional income in the villages. This can be done by promoting the traditional culture and its conversion into handicrafts. The approach must always be understood in its totality and implemented properly.

The income generated through agriculture may be minimal, it may infact be just sufficient to meets the needs of basic food and simple shelter, but the cost of living in the village is definitely cheaper than the city; the push into the cities enables only the least of the migrants the promised benefits. The steadily increasing productivity of the urban industrial work place ruins not only the rural work place, but specially the life in the city; industrial production and global economics require increase in consumer base and destruction of resources, - in totality therefore not a great concept for the future.

“Thatta Kedona” propagates instead of a a mild effort rather Help Towards Self-Help, “Thatta Kedona” is not an instrument for development and financing of individual family interests nor is it an attemp at religious, political or educational infiltration !

“Thatta Kedona” does not exist with the help of donations or charity of the city dwellers, who may derive satisfaction from a good deed, -this is not compatible with the concept of Help Towards Self-Help: Donations and Alms help only superficially and encourage dependence, -a danger, which was already recognized by the founder of Pakistan and who warned against it.

In the so often propagated Global World, it is of much importance within a state to support Self-Help efforts on one hand to direct the population according to the available resources. If this does not happen, the increasing consumer behaviour kills the initiatives, which becomes known not in the beginning but at a much later stage, when reforms become impossible to implement.

The city culture is international and the problems in the cities worldwide similar, the traditional culture of diverse regions is something special and needs to be protected and supported, - Thatta Kedona is a metaphore for a change in the way of thinking: The future lies in the countryside!

Extraordinary Women

2011-03-07T20:57:00.000+05:00

They are heads of state and heads of household, angry protesters in the city square and sly iconoclasts in remote villages. With a fiery new energy, women are building schools, starting businesses, fighting corruption, harnessing new technologies and breaking down old prejudices. Whenever a woman or girl gains control of her destiny, the local standard of living goes up and the values of human rights spread. So this year, and every year, Newsweek and The Daily Beast will honor local heroes, and the growing network of powerful women who support their efforts. Explore here.

You don’t need an occasion to present a ring

2011-03-06T21:23:00.001+05:00

I love rings and readers here know about my passion for rings. For me, rings and bands are not only pieces of jewelry but also a symbol that is used to show love and association with others on different occasions. Rings are used on countless occasions and for diverse purposes. Given the emotional value attached with rings, every one goes a long way to chose Engagements Rings, Anniversary Rings or Bands.

Those who are looking for rings must start at 25karats.com – online extension of a standard retail store that offers wide range of diamond jewelry. I explored 25karat.com Engagement Rings section and was amazed to see the dazzling display that caters for any occasion. Users have a great choice there. Best thing is that ask 25karats.com and the will customize any of their jewelry the way you want. They can also replicate your old jewelry or help you with a custom design. Similarly, 25karats.com has a huge collection of lovely Wedding Bands including handmade wedding bands that will suite any beautiful wrist. Personally, I picked up an idea to gift one of those bands to someone.

There are enough details to make an informed shopping decision. They offer different options for payment including PayPal for safe secure shopping experience. Have a look, better still buy a ring or a band and give it to someone.

On a personal note, you don’t need an occasion to present a ring to some one special to you. Go ahead and make an occasion by presenting a ring instead.

Alumni Homecomming 2011

2011-03-06T09:50:00.001+05:00

Lahore School Alumni Meet Up, also at Khabarmana, Lahore School, Logic is Variable

Dolls Village Pottery Workshop

2011-03-05T08:36:00.000+05:00

Monika Kuppler conducted workshops for dolls pottery for new students in Women Art Center. Here are some of the pieces thatwere produced during workshop.

Color galore

2011-02-28T21:46:00.002+05:00

Photograph by Michael Schmidt: Three Mandarin ducks sit in formation on a handrail at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. It was amazing to experience. The Mandarin duck is a medium-size perching duck, closely related to the North American wood duck. Referred to by the Chinese as Yuan-yang, they are frequently featured in Oriental art and are regarded as a symbol of conjugal affection and fidelity.

Dolls Makers of TGD

2011-02-24T10:00:00.003+05:00

Tag: Doll Makers, Dolls, Dolls of the World

The cluster of mud and brick houses in the plains of Punjab, Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka (TGD) looks like a typical Pakistani village about 80 kilometers away from Lahore and 40 kilometers from Indus civilization ruins in Harappa. There is no gas or telephone in the village. No asphalt roads lead to it. Even the electricity is the recent phenomenon. Yet it is different, the beautiful dolls and other handicrafts made by the village women are collectors, delight all over the world. Influences from Indus civilization from near by Harappa and modern techniques brought by the German volunteers can be seen in the village together.

The dolls made in the village are on display in international doll museum in Iceland, prestigious galleries and showrooms in Pakistan and abroad. TGD village doll project was one of the 767 worldwide projects presented in the “Themepark” at expo 2000 in Hannover (Germany) as an example of thinking of twenty first century. Earlier, the dolls from Pakistan participated in international toy fair in Nuremberg. These dolls show how culture goes beyond simple work of art and becomes collaboration among applied and natural sciences as well as other forces that affect our lives.

How all this started? A Pakistan studying in Germany, Amjad Ali who is a native of village TGD invited his German teachers Dr. Senta Siller to visit his village back home. Dr. Senta Siller (and Dr. Norbert Pinstch) came to the village where she was presented a doll made by a local woman. She was impressed by the doll and liked the natural and simple village life. She decided to work for the village, established NGO Anjumane-e-Falah-e-Aama and started community based Woman Art center in TGD in 1992. The aim of this center is to involve local womenfolk in productive, creative and healthy income generating activities. She created awareness and built confidence among the women specially the young girls of the village and asked them to make dolls and toys on self-help biases that she is now marketing all over the world. The village and its residents are benefiting in the process.

Some people live and make difference in the lives of others. Born in 1935 in Vienna (Austria), Senta Siller took refuge in Germany following the Second World War. After graduating from school of arts in Berlin Senta Siller knew that she has found her métier in designing and illustrations. As a designer she worked form exhibitions, fairs, designing children cloths, toys and books illustration and also ran a textile company. She has done masters in Archaeology, Philosophy, Education and doctorate in the history of arts. Civil servant appointed for life she has been given different awards including “bundesverdienstkreuz”- the highest order of merit of Federal Republic of Germany as recognition of her dedicated services to humanity. She is a member of German Society for Advancement of Culture (DGFK). This year, she was nominated for Livelihood Achievement Award that is considered only second to Nobel Prize.

When women’s initiative groups read about Pakistani dolls in the newsletters of DGFK, they invited Dr. Senta Siller to start similar projects and to train women in doll and toy making in Cameroon and Colombia. She started her voluntary work to train multiplictors in both the countries in 1997. The expatriates booked dolls in advance and other support in marketing came form volunteering ladies of the German community in the respective capitals. Presently, Dr. Senta Siller is networking among the women activities in all these countries.

Dolls from Pakistan in authentic attires of the specific tribes, communities and areas tempt tourists and diplomats. They collect these dolls as a souvenir of the time hey spent in Pakistan. “During last seven years, the Pakistani dolls have traveled in suitcases of our client to 40 different countries. They (dolls) sit in the ambassadors’ residences not only in Islamabad, but accompany them to the next and second next posting. I have met TGD dolls in the Japanese ambassadors home in Jakarta and also in the German embassy in Damascus,” tells Dr. Senta Siller with pride and pleasure. “Part of the artists go where ever the dolls go,” says a young artist. Each doll has a small plate attached carrying the name of the doll maker.

Doll making is one of the oldest and popular fold art in Pakistan. Simple stuffed dolls are made for children particularly in rural areas where people are still striving fro the attainment of basic needs. The main difference of previous doll making and the modern techniques taught by Dr. Senta is that she has introduced variety in size and shapes and dresses them in colorful costumes with attentions to details. This has resulted in high quality soft toys to cater to demands of the gift market.

Dr. Senta has not only moved the women of area but also raised a spacious and simple building for the Women Art Center with the help of different donors. She even managed solar energy system -- probably the first in Punjab -- for the Center before the village was connected to national electric grid.

Now there are as many as 120 women from the age of 24 to 40 working in the center, making dolls dressed in regional (Punjabi, Sindhi, Pathan, Balochi, Kashmiri and Kalash) embroider costumes, miniatures, hand knitted shawls and many more items and earning their living. They are making their own lives better and strengthening their families. “They (the women) are moving towards true equality and independence “ says a doll maker who has twelve year of schooling married in this village and working in the Center Dr. Senta Siller is already planning to expand its working to neighboring villages.

Technical Transfer and Training Center (TTTC) for men has also been established in TGD under the supervision of another German volunteer project director Dr. Norbert Pinstch – an architect who is involved in the project since its inception. The men center has become meeting point of university professors and students who visit here regularly. TTTC is now concentrating on improved agricultural techniques and other suitable jobs for men. Norbert has experience with no less than 133 projects since 1976.

Village TGD is changing. The relative prosperity has beginning to show. Villagers are putting their children, particularly the girls in school. The Woman Art Center is also playing a part in the well being of the villagers. The Center has provided furniture and other equipment to the primary school in village and opened a well equipped health care center. An annual quality of life competition is held in the village when best houses are selected in three different categories.

Dolls made by village women in TGD are not only the most important products but are also our ambassadors. So much is happening in villages. Besides carpenters, blacksmiths and tailors in the village are profitably involved in production for the TTTC for men.

This seems to be one of the unique and best self help project any where in Pakistan.

Dress that suits every shape and size

2011-02-24T08:50:00.000+05:00

Its draped front, three-quarter sleeves, longish length, cinched waist and clever ruching means it solves any problem even the most self-conscious woman can come up with. From Mail

Ground to Map

2011-02-24T08:12:00.000+05:00

Rural Development

2011-02-22T10:11:00.001+05:00

Ideas and Work on

Sustainable Rural Development in Punjab

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs is sustainable. It contains within it two key concepts: the concept of "needs", in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and the future needs.

Ironically, term Sustainable Development is not understood in its true sense. It is being used to warn the society about short term and short sighted success only or to keep the priority of the status-quo or the economic-viability instead.

Basic Error

The development of the early industrialized nations paved the way for prosperity. That happened rather quickly and was successful in spite of the basic error; it was limited in scope to western civilizations alone. Increasing difficulties in creating the politico-economic relationship made it necessary to expand the system to more and more regions while passing the error to other regions. Result: in context of the complexity, speed and uniformity, more populous regions are at a disadvantage where poor people start believing that they are in competition for a better life.

Demography

Majority of population still lives in rural areas despite fast growing trend of urbanization. Dichotomy of the rural population is the contradiction between its humility to be able to cultivate and sustain their living independently on one side and the inferiority complex towards the urban population on the other, which is exploited by the urban people on the basis of so called improvements in their standards and quality of life. In fact, it is not the rural folks that needs the urbanites but it is other way round. Like developed countries need the developing countries. This is the subject for another intellectual discussion in itself.

Cultural Conflict

Life in cities has lead to basic changes in social structure; sizes of the family, behavior, needs and wants as well as lifestyle have changed over time. One knows about these irreversible changes only when it is too late to take corrective measures and revert back. In the meantime, basic errors keep multiplying with each problem speeding up the change. What is more, the short term success often hides the real problems.

The city cultures look towards modern time measures (more energy, wider roads, higher buildings and better education) to solve the problems. But industrially emphasized education is not in a position to address the basic issues and find independent answers for which multiplicity and time are important preconditions.

Any NGO in rural areas have to build up on the roots of traditional culture because that is where lie the strength, power and uniqueness of durable and comfortable existence instead of moving to urban areas only adding to chronic problems there.

Doll Village

Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka (TGD), internationally famous as the Doll Village, is a small hamlet in the backwaters of Punjab. Residents of the TGD lead simple rustic life. This in part is due to the location and tedious approach to the village. This shows that it is not infra structure which is helpful to a local NGO but the intentional separation from outer influences that allows NGO members and village community to grow together slowly.

The slow pace is expressed in the day to day and step by step developments of the NGO. That is why NGO Anjuman-e-Falah-e-e-Aama (AeFeA) stands in sharp contrast to the usual help methods and common NGO projects in which success is measured in quantities and industrial approach - concepts not suitable for the development in rural areas.

Villagers and NGO

The village life has always been characterized through limited social contacts in all the cultures. The tasks to be carried out have been regulated through centuries of conditioning. The NGOs established today, in contrast, are a result of developments of the early industrialized societies of the nineteenth century.

NGO work can be a success provided social infra-structure is available. This needs balance between too much and too little of the task distribution. Which is why the work of any NGO with an aim of generating additional income for rural folks should begin with a careful evaluation of capabilities of the villagers? For this one has to sacrifice luxury and be physically present in rural areas and still be satisfied.

Rhythm of Rural Life

Traditional values are a basic component of an NGO. There will be no identity of NGO members without basic values. Therefore no NGO can ignore the traditional rhythm of the rural lifestyle.

In this case, traditional handicraft capabilities of the villagers were evident to AeFeA to start with. The rustic folks who live in TGD have been making stuffed dolls, embroider textiles and thematic toys since ages. AeFeA recognized the indigenous talents and proceeded to develop using non-conventional methods, time and analytical capacity. The resultant success may not be compared with the success of an industrial concern though.

Coaches

The inclusion of foreign experts (coaches) and the possibility of participation by the local members are important for the accomplishment of results by any NGO project. External experts are useful as an outside influence and to have an opportunity to witness the effects of NGO work without becoming dependent on them. This lets honorary foreign experts to be accepted as the leader of the community within the community and be viewed as an embodiment of exceptional management qualities outside, which one may learn to a very limited extent at a university.

Singular Productions

NGO totally depending upon financing from outside can not be successful according to the “theory of NGO work”. The correct relationship between the ideal and the material is of paramount importance and like commercial venture money must be earned from the market through sale of products.

NGOs in rural areas can work together and share their resources. But they must have a philosophy of their own. Production has to be compatible with the rural culture to allow traditional field work and household occupations. It can not be rigid line 9 to 5 job. Work practices have to be highly flexible; working together or individually, working from home, work sharing.

Similarly, the delivery schedules of high quality and singular products also have to be flexible. Dead lines can only met by commercial organizations with heavy investments in machines and organizational channels. The often surfacing objection is to increase the production by including other villages. This shows the widely spread way of thinking. There are over ten thousand villages in Punjab alone and one cannot copy the idea blindly. Capabilities of each community need to be analyzed first.

Quality Control

NGOs create additional income by producing total quality controlled items in limited quantities. This is essential to satisfy customers within and outside the community and whole-sellers as well as to strengthen relationship with them. Given the small production quantities, only the quality and the uniqueness of the products can make it possible. The uniqueness can be reinforced through participation in notable events.

The success of one NGO shows the way to other NGOs, not fully aware of the concept, to copy the processes. But when NGOs start thinking in masses or copying others instead of creating their own specialties they actually act like industrial undertakings: producing inter-changeable products in large quantities. In the process, price levels destroy the small manufacturers who may start thinking that they too need to produce more to earn more. If the uniqueness and quality are maintained at a level, the products can remain attractive to the buyers and the additional income can be maintained indefinitely.

Learning on the Project

As opposed to cities, long-term free education is not possible in the rural areas unless yet another dependence is acceptable. The problems emerging from such an effort are covered up in cities because the consequences of an education for the sake of education do not appear to be recognized by the decision makers. A local NGO must therefore make each manufacturing project as a learning experience. This can only happen while producing in small portions, which is not known to urbanites, who are used to thinking in terms of quantity.

Activities Abroad

An NGO must establishment fine network home and abroad to maintain its permanence and to adjust to the given situation. NGO has to function like a company to do this, of course without mass production and sales channels. This should happen with smallest of staff (and avoiding “milking” by employees) and support from outside “coaches”.

Creating a soft network of cooperation at different levels in order to be independent of the money flow is also necessary. Effort should be made to work together with similar institutions locally and abroad.

Local and international outsourcing of parts in small quantities is also possible to manufacture economically. It is however important to keep in mind the basic idea of the NGO works notwithstanding the factors like level of education, harvest time and climatic differences. Participation in special festivals, museums, international exhibitions and bazaars and active presence in different countries is to be realized with a minimum of financial expense. The eyes should be kept open all the time, because business relationships are never long lasting!

Networking

Talking of any cooperation, networking is a common magic word these days. Cooperation has a very long tradition but “networking” perhaps refers to keeping contact with each other via the Internet? In this case the city people are at an advantage unless competencies are clearly defined in a rural NGO where the payments cannot be realized as it can be done in cities. A lot of work is voluntary in case of NGOs, which members of city communities may not afford because of the high costs of living and the fast pace of life there.

The difference between smaller and a bigger organization can be best expressed in the words “Small Is Beautiful” by Schumacher, whereby a smaller venture has to be better than a larger organization. As one GM of an international concern said, “The large ones will not eat the smaller ones; rather the fast ones will eat the slow ones”. Here, the fast ones must act “wisely” and thereby more carefully.

Political and other Upheavals

NGOs in rural areas are directly effected by political upheavals in the country as well as abroad where they have sensitive business relationships. Change of governments, weapon tests, attacks on objects relating to other cultures, wars, terrorist acts and or riots have immediate effects on the NGOs. As opposed to private companies and public sector, NGOs not as flexible, hence they are more susceptible to negative effects.

Climate too has a big influence on life in rural areas. It becomes impossible to work in rural areas when temperature exceeds average values whereas city dwellers have ready solutions for improvement, which may be unrealistic when seen in context. NGOs should continue income generation uninterrupted otherwise they are destined to fail. The beneficiaries start asking themselves when the financial help is forthcoming when money flow stops due to any reason.

Cameroon, Colombia, Dubai

Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama has received invitations for sale of products from a number of countries. This is good case of effective use of modern media by small organizations. With the help of information on the Internet, various initiatives of women’s groups could be supported and similar initiatives became possible in Cameroon (in 1998) and in
Columbia (in 1999).

These organizations work in similar manner, are located more or less in rural areas, and their members are differently educated and living in completely diverse cultures. As such factors cannot be measured statistically so they are totally overlooked by industrial concerns as if they are not there.

Each women group in Pakistan, Cameroon or Columbia manufactures its dolls and handicrafts separately. The mother project functions as supplier of raw dolls, where raw dolls could be manufactured but a higher cost, which would make the product more expensive for the buyers. This is also true for others projects in Greece, Iceland and
Germany.

Independence - Whys and Hows?

Independence is gladly propagated but is not possible as such, especially to larger extents. It may only be possible in small units, the price of which is a special type of dependence, provided there is a constant vigilance and continuous review of the basic values.

Alternatives

The development of NGO projects in rural areas with a vision to generate additional income in certain regions through handicrafts is a real challenge. Given the globalization euphoria, driven by city elits and strengthened by the people migrateing from rural into urban areas who are prone to fall easy prey to the propaganda of the virtues of automation and appropriate advertising, it becomes more difficult task. But it is all the more important to show alternatives when every one is running in the same direction.

The whole world seems to be moving in one direction. The prevailing system must collaborate, which eludes the participants, who can only judge it from a distance.

Without entering into discussion about economical, social and political tendencies, the results must lead us to describe the inefficiency of the growth-oriented economy to adjust to changes.This points out to the necessity of a behavior which needs to be corrected. Even if the change can hardly be expected from the urban world, the necessity of this change must be pointed through change in the work methods.

Choices

Human navigation system is based on the orientation towards opposites. This is how the difference between small and big, dark and light, hot and cold becomes natural to humans.

Either and or are two opposite poles with no room in between. This type of challenges may be necessary for the purpose of orientation but does not correspond to the reality in human dealings. Nature did not develop itself in this categorical way nor with such speed and without examination of the surrounding situation.

The choice should be therefore more like ‘as well as’ instead of the either and or in order to see the complexity of questions.

Notes:

1. The author has used a number of sources and information collected from colleagues for better understanding, which has not necessarily been indicated.

2. Central idea of this book is from Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch, translation by Aamir Rafique, Layout by Anees Yaqub.

3. The author appreciates the assistance of the Institute for Planning and Consulting as well as German Society for the Advancement of Culture.

The Indus Heritage

2011-02-22T09:31:00.000+05:00

The ‘Art and Craft Village’, taking place in Islamabad is a joint project of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Indus Heritage Trust (IHT) a vision that celebrates and showcases the rich cultural heritage of Pakistan. – AFP Photo Series