Status: Completed Start Date: Jan 2015 End Date: Dec 2015 Geographic Coverage: Sindh, KPK, Baluchistan, Punjab Focus Area: Peace & Governance SDG Goal: 16 Implementing Partner: SPO Funding Partner: United States Embassy
The gravest challenge Pakistan today faces is extremism which has left the society terrorized. Effective counter strategies need to be developed and adopted as to curtail the on-going carnage of country’s peaceful and moderate cultural Sufi discourse delving deep inside the foundations of the society. Tolerance and moderation with respect to religion, linguistic as well as cultural diversity; is the key towards de-radicalization in Pakistani society.
Realizing this challenge, SPO developed a replicable model of increased community engagement for supporting voices of moderation through promotion of local cultural heritage, traditional and modern art forms and other forms of creative expression. The envisioned model identified, trained and supported performing arts groups to spread messages of moderation. The model will also link these art performing groups into networks at provincial and national level, furthering the cause of moderation through promotion of enlightened cultural heritage and traditions.
Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) with the financial support of US Embassy implemented a one year project, which was targeted ‘To increase community engagement for supporting voices of moderation’.
The specific project objectives were to;
To identify and promote local cultural heritage by developing messages employing traditional and modern art forms through 40 local art performing groups.
To build capacity of art performing groups for performances enhancing and highlighting moderate cultural heritage.
To develop networks of art performing groups for sustained efforts of creating voices of moderation in the society.
The project titled “Voices of Moderation Capacity Building, Support of Local Cultural Heritage and Modern Art Forms in Pakistan” had set of various community level engagements in all four provinces of Pakistan which contributed in achieving overarching goal pf the project. Total 40 traditional and modern art performing groups in four provinces of the country were identified, assessed and trained on peace and conflict mitigation. SPO has rich history of capacity building and modules development, so three modules on peace & harmony, conflict resolution and art performance & message delivery were developed. This resulted is 160 art performing events by groups, in 4 provinces on agreed proposed themes engaging an estimated audience of 40,000 people, mainly targeting youth.
This led to formation of four provincial networks of performing arts groups, followed by National convention of performing arts groups and formation of national network. The documentary on moderation and the performing arts groups of Pakistan were also significant success of the project.
