Network's New Website Launched!

World Comics Network in new avatar_now online. Please check our new website !!

www.worldcomics.net

Syndicated Strip Service in Pakistan

World Comics introduced a two-pager section on Grassroots Comics in Farozaan Magazine. This was part of its recently launched syndicated strip service in Pakistan. Farozaan is the only monthly Urdu magazine focused on environmental issues in Pakistan and is being distributed in more than 30 towns of the country.

Raising voice with comics

Read review on Bolti Lakeerain in "The News" - 15/06/10

Bolti Lakeerain : An indigenous comic book is now available at The Second Floor (T2F), Karachi - Pakistan

Bolti Lakeerain : An indigenous comic book

If you think comics is just western art focused on superheroes, you should change your perception now. A new comic book titled 'Bolti Lakeerain' has hit the market now. Completely indigenous creation and you can call it a book for the people by the people.

This is the collection of some of the numerous comics gathered together during the last five years. These are not merely ink lines sketched on paper aimlessly but each one narrates a story with a significant meaning behind it. These comics are created by the common people living in distinct places; e.g. from Kakapeer to Kashmir in Pakistan. In these comics they narrate real stories of their day today life.

These are the stories, that were narrated to us during the workshops, helped to open debate in the society on several social issues. People who attended the workshop are of the view that this skill has got immense significance in their lives as a unique means to express themselves. This method is so interesting, easy and effective that just with the help of two A-4 sized paper and pen it makes each one of them capable to bring out their perils and plights. Simplicity is in the core of each story and the same echoes in comics they create. Their lifestyle, culture and their verbal relation to the people living in the community- each line they draw cover every aspects of their life.

These workshops were organised in villages, cities, schools, universities in collaboration with different organizations to impart the skill of comics making to the people living in that area and to equip them with the art of self expression. Some of the comics are created by those who cannot even read or write but they successfully expressed themselves through pictures. The editors of the book say, “we are printing only few among the numerous comics. The purpose of compiling this book is to spread the thoughts of common people to masses. Book has a foreword by Dr. Muhammad Ali Siddiqui.

The book was compiled by Nida Shams and Sharad Sharma who has trained several common people in South Asia in this kind of communication methodology.

Published by World Comics Network, which is a collective of cartoonists, media persons and grassroots activists. World Comics promotes comics as a communication tool and as mode of self-expression in remote and difficult areas South Asia and other countries.

Nida Shams

Karachi, Pakistan

The books are priced at Rs. 200 inside Pakistan and South Asia and $15 outside South Asia.

email to order book

nida.shams@gmail.com

Hyderabad, Sindh - May 2010

Agahi – Human Development Organization and World Comics Network – Pakistan organized a Training of Trainers Workshop on Grassroots Comics in Hyderabad from 21 – 23 May 2010. Youth group, theater artists and activists of Sindh attended the workshop.

From the Land of the Sufis - May 2010, Makli - Sindh

A Three-day training was organized in Makli, Thatta for Field-based Teachers’ on Environmental Education & Grassroots Comics as a Teaching-Learning Tool. The workshop was conducted by Muhammad Zafar Khan and Nida Shams, World Comics Network - Pakistan and organized by Indus for All Programme, WWF – Pakistan from 11 – 13 May 2010. 24 teachers from different parts of the Sindh attended this workshop enthusiastically and made amazing stories on environmental issues of their region.

COMICS FOR BEHAVIORAL CHANGE - April 2010, Rawalpindi

The Four-day Training of Trainers Workshop on Grassroots Comics “COMICS FOR BEHAVIORAL CHANGE” was held in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The workshop was organized by Insan Foundation Trust and conducted by Nida Shams, World Comics Network – Pakistan held from 19 -22 April 2010. 12 participants attended workshop from Peshawar, Charsadda, Karak, Rajanpur, Chakwal, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

COMICS POWER FOR YOUTH - March 2010, University of Karachi

22nd – 26th March - A Training of Trainers workshop for Mass Communication Students was organized at University of Karachi, Pakistan conducted by Nida Shams

Comics Workshop with Balidya Town Schools - 17 & 18 March 2010, Karachi

A grassroots comics workshop was organized from 17 – 18 March 2010 at City District Government School of Balidya Town, Karachi. Workshop was conducted by Nida Shams from World Comics Network – Pakistan and Abida Naz and attended by 40 students and teachers. Participants produced wall poster comics on social issues of the country.

7th March, 2010

7th March - A Comics Exhibition of South Asia on International Woman's Day Celebration was organized at Press Club, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

Coming up....

World Comics celebrated International Women's Day, Another grassroots comics workshop for government school of Karachi and much more on comics power....

People's Comics Exhibition at Nature Carnival on 7th March 2010, Karachi.

New Trainers

World Comics Network - Pakistan organized a Training of Trainers workshop on grassroots comics for school teachers and activists on 28th February 2010 in Karachi.

Comics power reached government schools!

Abida Naz has conducted a Grassroots Comics Workshop at her school (City District Government Karachi, School) in Madina colony, Karachi. Abida was one of the participants of the Comics workshop organized for government schoolteachers last month by MAWCD and World Comics Network - Pakistan. She successfully trained 13 teachers and fantastic wall posters on water issues were produced in 2 days. She is now planning to train more teachers and students and also preparing an exhibition for World Water Day.

World Comics Network - Pakistan

World Comics Network – Pakistan has recently formed a core team and had its first meeting in Karachi on 21^st Feb 2010 at Arts council Karachi. There were 6 core team members present in the meeting including Hyderabad and Karachi-Sindh.

Everybody shared their experiences on grassroots comics and willing to promote this communication tool in Pakistan. Members supported the idea of volunteerism and ensured their availability in future regarding any kind of support and cooperation. It was great to see their interest and enthusiasm towards grassroots comics.

Teachers Training

No one expected from Government school teachers that they would convey their ideas in comics someday. Recently a group of 23 tried their hand in comics. These teachers made attractive comics on water and learned the art of drawing comics in a three-day grassroots comics workshop. The workshop was organised in collaboration with Mass Awareness for Water Conservation and Development (MAWCD) by World Comics network-Pakistan in Karachi.

Comics Power - 2010

Coming up...Comics workshop in Karachi with School Teachers....

COMICS FOR CHANGE - a grassroots comics workshop in Kashmir

Nida Shams (World Comics Network -Pakistan) has conducted a Comics Workshop in Bagh, Kashmir for women. This video tells more about the workshop...

Video: Comics Activists without Borders

25th November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

“Who’s Offence”

Ahmed, as a male has all the right to date with a girl but puts all restrictions on his sister. One day, when she is going out to fetch water, Ahmed warns her not to talk to anyone otherwise she had to face the repercussions. While on her way back, she stops to tell the way to a stranger. One of the villagers happens to see that and informs it to Ahmed by distorting all the facts. Infuriated at that, Ahmed attacks his sister and kills her in the name of ‘honour’.

Story and Art by Asim Sindhi, Pakistan.

Coming up...COMICS FOR CHANGE - a grassroots comics workshop in Kashmir

"Finally he found the way"

NEWSLETTER WITH COMICS
"Tolaram's" comics published in recent issue of Indus Institute of Research and Education quaterly newsletter. Comics titled "Finally he found the way" depicts the food security issue in more dramatic manner. He lives in Mirpurkhas, Sindh region of Pakistan.

Coming up.....Tolaram's Story from Mirpurkhas, Delhi Workshop and lots more.Thanks for visiting

World Environment Day 2009

An exhibition of comics on environment was organised on 5th June at Wetland centre of Karachi to mark the World Environment Day 2009.Exhibition was organized by WWF –Pakistan and World Comics with the help of students and teachers. Wallposter Comics were displayed on the event which was originally made out of photocopy on A-3 size paper. These comics were produced by students and teachers during a three day Comics workshop. Certificates were distributed to the participants by HSBC CEO and Director WWF – Pakistan

Catching the stories in fishermen's village

World Comics and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF - Pakistan) organized a 3 day Comics workshop from 19-21 May 2009 at Wetland Centre, Karachi. The workshop was conducted by Nida Shams, representing World Comics in Pakistan.

Participants were from various walks of life like students, teachers and community mobilizers of Kakapeer community schools (Kakapeer is a fishermen village located at Sandspit beach in Karachi). These nineteen participants came up with wonderful stories on their day-to-day life problems like water, electricity, bomb blasts and strikes. Most of the children made comics on their real life stories. Teachers took keen interest in the training and found this tool useful for teaching purposes. Now children are planning to train their friends in summer vacations!