THERE LIVES FEW STORIES BEHIND THE BAR

This publication is one of the most unique collection of the experiences earned by Nida Shams –Founder of World Comics Network-Pakistan, during several workshops conducted by her in the country .This anthology is a result of a month long workshop conducted in Karachi Women’s Jail encompassing   their unique individual experiences in jail some humorous, some gloomy .Given comics in this anthology speak of the lives of women prisoners in Karachi women jail in their own language. However it was not as simple to take pen and paper in jail and motivate inmates to share their painful stories and then ask them to make comics on the same. These women were mothers, daughters and sisters but not a free citizen and lodged here for several months and even years.  We had participants of every age and even children of these inmates too took part in it.

While the work on this book was going on few of them were released from the jail but not everyone was so lucky. This workshop helped them to tell their part of the story in the form of these comics. However we are not reproducing them as an authentic statement to be used for their trial but these are simple individual voices and must be read only in that light.

There lives a few stories behind the bar- which are documented in comics form here to let the outside world understand the plight of these women. This 36- page black and white comics anthology in Urdu (having English translation) has been authored by Nida Shams.

These black and white lines are powerful examples of self-expression and in recent years grassroots comics has been successful in reaching to the people who need it the most.

If you need a copy please mail at – nida.shams@gmail.com

ROLE OF MEDIA IN RELIGIOUS HARMONY

World Comics Network through Grassroots comics has unleashed two most important and integral facets of human life –media and religion. This workshop was organized in Karachi  by World Comics Network-Pakistan, in collaboration with Human Rights Commission of Pakistan(HRCP). Conducted by trainer Azmeena Alidina this workshop opened doors to a new medium, for acknowledging people’s opinion, not only for the NGO workers who participated but also for participants who were professional media people.

It’s human tendency to associate one’s identity with one’s religion. However the human life in today’s arena is surrounded to and fro by media. It wouldn’t be wrong if we say that media has become  part and parcel of human life.  Thus it also shapes our perceptions and presumptions about religion, not only just ours but also that of others. All these participants belonging to different religion and different age group, interestingly ranging from 8 to 60 actively engaged themselves with this topic. This became more evident when they reflected their views distinctly on the topic during the orientation by a very senior journalist of Pakistan, Ghazi Salahuddin.

All the participants had different opinion. Some supported media giving examples of how it has been of use to them. The others presented a complete contradictory view tagging media as being biased and posing news without actually getting into the skin of reality. Most of the time people are too busy to explore the different sides of any incident and whatever media posits becomes reality for them. Thus media’s negligence in exploring the true nature of reality tends to hamper the perception of people especially in issues as sensitive as religion. Through different comics came up these perceptions.

All the participants were so excited that they decided upon to use the medium more and more in their organizations work. Sir John, one of the participants, cherished this art so much that even after having a fractured hand he drew his comics from one hand and actively participated in each session. All participants, was it the 8 year old child or the 60 year old aged participant drew their ideas through this simple and interesting art of comics making and came over their inhibition of both drawing and expressing their ideas freely .

This workshop was conducted in a political volatile situation in Pakistan. However the efforts of our comics trainer Azmeena and the HRCP team bore fruit in the end when all the comics came out successfully.  HRCP is also planning to form an anthology of these comics very soon.

TOLERANCE – RAWADARI : second comics anthology of Pakistan is available now.

This book is a compilation of wall-poster comics drawn by ordinary people. These comics were produced during a three-day grassroots comics workshop organized by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and World Comics Network – Pakistan (WCN–P) in Karachi.

The theme for the workshop was the need for tolerance. This was a most appropriate issue for a group activity involving people from diverse backgrounds, religions and different age groups. The workshop was held in the belief that knowing more about others can help reduce mistrust and break stereotypical conceptions, as well as promote tolerance and respect for others.

These objectives may sound serious and one could say it is not a child’s play. But we believe that one can find simple solutions for complex problems.

At the workshop we tried to communicate through simple story telling. Participants from different religious background and age group shared their personal stories on the issue of tolerance. Each one of them made comics on their personal experience while following different faiths.

The book was compiled by Ms. Nida Shams, founder WCN-P and has foreword by Mr. I.A. Rehman, Secretary-General HRCP. Published by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Nida Shams

Karachi, Pakistan

nida.shams@gmail.com

Comics by Shakeela Samoon and Nabil-un-Nisa in Farozan Magazine - Sep issue

Comics by Afsheen Iqbal and Rusksana Hasan in Farozan Magazine - Aug issue

Coming up .....new trainings, booklets and lots more

Comics Journalism - 6 months Diploma Course

http://www.comicsjournalism.com/

Those who wants to apply for diploma course, do write to us an email for details. (email id available at website)

Comics Journalist: Azmeena Alidina, Karachi (Pakistan)

Just click on Video

2-Day Master Trainers Workshop - Karachi

Being a Girl in Karachi - Grassroots Comics Workshop

The second workshop of the series 'Being a Girl in Karachi' was organised successfully on 14th july 2011 at Mauripur when Karachi city was burning. Hats off to Ms.Pauline John who conducted this workshop and all the girls who participated bravely. Workshop was organsied in collaboration with Future in our Hands.

Coming up comics news from Mirpurkhas, Maripur and lots more.....

COMICS POWER stall at "Jago or Jagao session" 31st July - Arts Council Karachi

Comics allow freedom of expression - THE NEWS

A three-day comic workshop on tolerance came to an end on Friday as participants drew black and white strips, narrating their stories and highlighting certain issues. Read more...

Tolerance!

A 3-Day Grassroots comics workshop was organized by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in collaboration with World Comics Network. Training was held from 20-22 July from 20-22 July 2011at Karachi office of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

The 30 participants of the workshop hailed from Muslim, Hindu and Christian communities. They were students, teachers and activists.

The objective of workshop was to inculcate importance of ‘Tolerance’ in Pakistani society. To enhance communication between different communities grassroots comics workshops can provide opportunities to promote dialogue, tolerance and peaceful co-existence in the society.

During three days, participants successfully made comics wall posters on their stories with a message of ‘Tolerance’. Workshop was successfully concluded with the exhibitions of comics wall poster and certificate distribution.

Farozaan-July

Farozaan ( july issue) magazine on environment- Comics by Noor Jahan from Kashmir and Rmsha from Kakapeer.

Comics Power- A tool for Democracy by Sidra Rizvi

I first met Nida Shams when I signed up for the Grassroots Comics workshop held in my university last year. Little did i know that this workshop will change my life completely. I always been horrible at drawing, and i always wanted to draw, Comics Power, gave me the opportunity to draw all the while expressing myself. For more

EACH ONE TEACH ONE WEEK

Please join us where ever you are, whoever you are!
Each one of us can help someone to tell their story in COMICS.
Once it is ready please do upload your comics (and picture too, if possible) at "Comics Power" facebook group.

Waiting for your 4-panel comics !!!

Being a Girl in Karachi - Grassroots Comics Workshop

World Comics Network has organised several grassroots comics workshop on women issues and now we are organsing another round of workshops on the theme ‘Being a Girl in Karachi’. These workshops are attending by girls of Karachi. What it means to be a girl in Karachi and how they deal with daily life issues. Participants are making comics wall posters on their real life incident.

Comics Training at Beauty Parlour!

Geeta, Asha and Pauline after attending a comics workshop at Maripur (Karachi) got inspired by the idea of Grassroots Comics. Recently all three came together and organised a comics workshop at Geeta's Beauty Parlour. Congratulations All three of you !!!!

Farozan June 2011: Comics on World Environment Day, 'Forests: Nature at Your Service' by Shabana Shamim and M.Alam Keerio

Girls depict harassment through comics - THE NEWS

Here is the link - THE NEWS

Aman Ki Asha - The News

Here is the link COMICS BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE

Review Session & ToT with Youth Group- 3rd April 2011

Panah !

World Comics Network - Pakistan conducted a 4 day grassroots comics workshop at the Panah shelter home from 15 - 18 March in Karachi. Around 30 homeless women living in the shelter home participated in the workshop most of them being illiterate. Wall poster comics were made on their personal life stories which included issues like early marriages, child labour, forced marriages, child abuse and divorces. The workshop was conducted by Nida Shams, Azmeena Alidina and a new set of trainers including Tehmina Qureshi, Sidra Ghufran, Nasrah Rabab and Basma Siddiqui .

Future in Our Hands !

Comics Power reached Maripur, Karachi ! 3-day Grassroots Comics workshop organized by Future in Our Hands Pakistan in collaboration with World Comics Network – Pakistan and Participatory Village Development Programme (PVDP) from 23- 25 March, 2011. Workshop was attended by 34 young participants.