Urdu language, culture event
Lahore :September 03: THE first time a programme was organised to promote Urdu language and Pakistani culture in the USA by the Allama Iqbal Community Centre, New York, a 15-day learning opportunity to school students to improve their Urdu language skills and understanding of Pakistani culture.
It is “the Little Pakistan” area of Brooklyn and has one of the largest Urdu-speaking populations in USA. Eighty five school students benefited from the programme and people at large took keen interest. Initially, the programme was designed and approved by the US government for 60 participants but due to the interest of people, the organisers had to increase the number of students.
Allama Iqbal-Startalk Urdu programme Director Shahid Hameed Khan, who has a great urge to promote Pakistan and its culture in the USA, told The News that Allama Iqbal-Startalk Urdu programme helped students improve their Urdu proficiency and cultural knowledge through an engaging curriculum that integrated Pakistan-related content knowledge and also raised awareness of social issues, affecting Pakistani children. It was need of the hour to initiate such programmes because the coming generation should have a connection with their culture and native language, he added.
He admired and appreciated the efforts of his team who worked with a total dedication to make this programme a success story, especially Tony Codaro, a Native American, who loved Pakistan and Urdu and working with utmost dedication to promote it. He also thanked Allama Iqbal Community Centre Chairman Malik Nasir Awan and the New York University’s administration who worked hard for approval and execution of the programme.
Shahid said that in addition to covering fun topics such as the daily lives of Pakistani children and popular games, the programme also addressed important social issues such as female education and child labour. He said the topics were covered in a sensitive manner that aimed to increase students’ sense of community and their awareness of how assistance could be offered to those in need.
The programme was based on the theme “Growing Together through Friendship and Service”. It is pertinent to mention that Allam Iqbal Community Centre New York is working efficiently to promote the teachings of Allama Iqbal in that part of the world as well.The news.
