It is always heartening to see various initiatives being taken to celebrate women who are making waves in various fields.
empowerment
It is always heartening to see various initiatives being taken to celebrate women who are making waves in various fields. Wondering what we are talking about? Well, recently WOW - Women of the World festival came to Karachi, Pakistan through a partnership between the British Council in Pakistan and London’s Southbank Centre, in collaboration with L’Oreal Pakistan. This was the first ever full scale WOW festival in South Asia that was held in Karachi. It attracted over 9000 visitors who took part in various activities throughout the day.
For those who don’t know about WOW, it was launched in 2011 in London on the centenary of International Women’s Day by Jude Kelly, Artistic Director of Southbank Centre, London. WOW is now a global movement of festivals for everyone that celebrates women and girls and looks at the obstacles that prevent them from achieving their full potential. And the great part is that it is the largest women’s festival in the world with 15 WOWs across five different continents.
According to Sumbul Khan, Director Arts, British Council, Pakistan, “WOW is part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion and in particular to the women of Pakistan who go from strength to strength in overcoming odds in their daily lives, politics, education and creative disciplines The objective of the event is to mobilise people, especially women, through a series of sessions.”
At the occasion Musharaf Hai of L’Oreal Pakistan said, “This festival is a great platform for women from all walks of life to come together and discuss issues that concern them. We are pleased to partner and support such platforms which enable the Pakistani women to communicate and overcome personal and professional obstacles in order to bring out their entrepreneurial spirit and craft.”
The packed audience heard from over 70 incredible women including Founder of Women’s Action Forum (WAF) Nighat Saeed Khan, politician and National Assembly member Kishwer Zehra, founder of Mukhtaran Mai Welfare Organization, Mukhtaran Mai, feminist and writer Ghausia Salam, Musharaf Hai, CEO L’Oreal, anti-FGM campaigner Nimco Ali, comedian Shaista Aziz, Southbank Centre Artistic Director and Founder of WOW Jude Kelly CBE and many more.
Around 9000 women and men, girls and boys took part in different activities including featured talks, debates, performances, gigs, free music, a marketplace, events for young people, speed-mentoring, workshops, and networking opportunities.
All in all the WOW festival was a great opportunity for women from all walks of life to come together and foster a sense of community.
