Team Alohomora's
Art Fair Event
Team Alohomora’s “Amplifying Untold Stories” Art Fair Competition & Exhibition successfully brought together over 90 participants for a day of creative expression and social awareness. This activity, designed to combat harmful ideologies and promote inclusion, showcased student artwork alongside educational materials and impactful activities. The event kicked off with a Town Hall Assembly fostering dialogue about youth empowerment from diverse backgrounds in digital media literacy and the role of art in promoting accurate representation of different social and religious group. A powerful youth theatre performance tackled the root causes of discrimination and hate, prevailing against religious minorities while the Art Exhibition provided a safe space for artistic exploration. Students engaged with the artwork, experienced live painting exercise, receiving explanations behind the concepts and sharing their learning’s to solidify the impact of the event
Guest Speakers
Prof. Dr Uzma Ashiq
Chairperson, Department of Social Work, University of the Punjab(PU)
Ms Sarosh Tariq
Associate Professor & Head of Fine Arts Department Govt. Graduate College for Women Gulberg Lahore
Dr Aliya Khalid
Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, PU
Dr. Sonia Omer
Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, PU
Mr Muhammad Arshad Abbasi
Assistant Professor & Focal Person Department of Social PU
Mr. Hassan Raza
Senior Programme Manager, HIVE Pakistan
Ms Uzma Munir Rana
Coordinator & Lecturer Fine Arts Department Govt.
Ms Mahnoor Ali
MPhill Gold Medalist Gender Studies & Peace Activist
Activities
Town Hall Assembly
This interactive session kicked off the Art Fair with a focus on empowering young voices. Moderated by Team Alohomora, the assembly featured high-level faculty members, youth activists, and relevant stakeholders. Discussions centered around the challenges and opportunities for youth participation in shaping the digital media landscape. Participants explored strategies to promote positive online behavior, including critical thinking regarding social media content, accurate representation of marginalized communities, and constructive communication practices. The assembly highlighted the power of art as a tool for peaceful expression and understanding, encouraging its use to challenge harmful social narratives, bridge divides,
Youth Theatre Performance
A powerful 10-minute play presented by a youth group from the University of the Punjab’s Institute for Social and Cultural Studies brought the issue of discrimination against religious minorities to life. The performance tackled the root causes of hate and exclusion by showcasing discriminatory practices and stereotypes. Through their performance, the young actors emphasized the importance of treating minorities with equality and respect in everyday life. By portraying positive behaviors, the play encouraged young people to actively promote peace and harmony within their communities.
Art Exhibition
Team Alohomora curated a captivating Art Exhibition showcasing a collection of inspiring student artworks. These works aimed to counter harmful ideologies that fuel hatred and exclusion, offering a platform for artistic expression that fostered creativity and inclusion. The exhibition went beyond simply displaying the artwork, incorporating relevant educational materials to provide a deeper context and understanding of the social issues explored. This culminated in a published art book featuring the best submissions, ensuring a lasting impact and a platform for future reference and inspiration.
Live Painting Competition
Adding a dynamic element to the Art Fair, a live painting competition provided a platform for 20 students from the Fine Arts Department of Government Graduate College for Women, Gulberg. Under the supervision of their department coordinator, these students tackled pre-decided thematic areas promoting social cohesion and accurate representation of minorities. They had a dedicated space within the Social Work department to create their artworks throughout the event. Following the competition, the completed pieces were displayed alongside the curated artwork for all participants to interact with and learn about the artists’ concepts and ideas. This facilitated deeper engagement with the social themes explored throughout the Art Fair.
Impact
The “Amplifying Untold Stories” Art Fair exceeded expectations, leaving a lasting impact on participants, fostering positive change, and building valuable partnerships.
Here’s a closer look at the key outcomes
Youth Empowerment
The event successfully brought together over 90 diverse youth voices, providing them with a platform to discuss critical social issues and explore solutions. This empowered them to become agents of change in their communities.
Combating Hate Speech
Through open dialogue, theatrical performances, and thought-provoking artwork, the Art Fair raised awareness about the dangers of hate speech and discrimination against religious minorities. Participants gained valuable knowledge and skills to counter hate speech online and promote tolerance in their daily lives.
Increased Awareness
Feedback from attendees highlighted a significant increase in awareness about the importance of critical thinking, accurate representation, and positive online behavior. Participants gained valuable insights into fostering peace and harmony through creative expression and constructive dialogue.
Strategic Partnerships
Team Alohomora established strong partnerships with the Department of Social Work at the University of the Punjab and the Fine Arts Department at Government Graduate College for Women, Gulberg. These partnerships will pave the way for future collaborative initiatives aimed at promoting social inclusion and positive youth engagement.
Promoting Interfaith Harmony
The event fostered a sense of understanding and respect for diverse religious backgrounds. By showcasing the power of art as a tool for social awareness, it encouraged participants to actively promote interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence.
Feedback
Uzma Asif, Student SWD
Saad Hussain, Student SWD
Komal Essa, SWD student
Upcoming Activities
01 - Art Booklet
02 - Ethical Guidebook on Faith Based Reporting and media ecology and ethics
Impact Stories
Subhash Chandar
Zanaya Chaudhary
I believe that discrimination knows no bounds; it affects transgender individuals who belong to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and other religions. We need to raise our voices together to prevent hate and discrimination and promote the message of unity, acceptance, and harmony.
Our Partners
FAQ
Team Alohomora is dedicated to fostering harmony through meaningful interfaith dialogue. We create spaces where diverse beliefs are understood and respected, and advocate for policies that embrace religious diversity, promoting a society where everyone can freely express their beliefs.
Team Alohomora champions policies that embrace religious diversity, working towards creating an environment where individuals of all faiths can coexist peacefully. We engage in meaningful dialogue, conduct awareness campaigns, and collaborate with like-minded organizations to promote understanding and respect for diverse beliefs.
Our vision is one where mutual understanding transcends differences. We aim to contribute to a society built on respect, acceptance, and the celebration of diverse beliefs. Join us in unlocking a future where individuals from all backgrounds can coexist in harmony, freely expressing their unique perspectives.
