Fortnightly Show- Taiwan Foundation Democracy- 2019
The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy in collaboration with Interactive Resource Centre (IRC) aimed to
- To develop a virtual digital narrative aimed at creating awareness regarding civic education in Pakistan.
- To instigate greater political knowledge and discourse within the Pakistani youth.
IRC initiated a series of episodes within the youth-oriented show on Maati TV, The Fortnightly Show. The three episodes, Ep 2 – Ep 4, target civic education within the country.
The episodes can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ3Gqyx7aT4&list=PL4UN4yzL1-_hPBXNRLdSPCACbFWsuvEv_
3-Day Event in collaboration with World Movement for Democracy- 2018
This event geared towards the formation of a collective vision for the desired future of representative democracy, civic engagement and independent media. In total, 30 participants attended the event. IRC employed a combination of digital media and theatrical exercises to facilitate the discussion.
Peace Building through Creative Expression- DAI- 2016
IRC has partnered with DAI under it’s “exploring peace through creative expression”. The aim of this project is to reclaim spaces for creative expression and critical thinking in order to combat extremist ideology through the use of various art based communication techniques. IRC oriented 300 university students.
Strengthening Democracy Campaign- CWS- 2011
The strengthening democracy campaign with its implementing partner, Church World Service (CWS) addresses issues of social and economic development and ensures meaningful participation of the minority groups in the political process. The issues faced by these communities were documented and presented to the masses through documentaries and social mediums.
ActionAid Project- Theatre Trainings- 2004
IRC in collaboration with action aid aimed to employ interactive theatre for the purpose of initiating a debate on social issues, which need to be addressed at the grass root level. Two interactive theatre training workshops took place and two advanced training workshops for 60 theater activists from four development areas of action aid and rural areas. They presented ten stage theater performances on social issues of their choice. IRC organised a three day theater festival with the aim of giving confidence to theater activists presenting. The research and development cell portion of the project developed material, translated material into urdu, on interactive theatre, training modules and an opinion survey. One selected group/person was sent abroad for experience sharing and theatre training. Six theatre groups were trained and they gave a total of 60 theatrical performances. Which were recorded and then distributed. There was also one training that took place in Islamabad which was highly appreciated by a minister from the women’s ministry. Additionally there was a four day theatre training workshop in Layyah.
Social Transformation through Interactive Theatre- CRS- WEPP- 2003
This is an initiative to help WEPP partner organizations of CRS-Pakistan in particular to strengthen their community mobilization skills through raising critical awareness leading to some activism for a positive social change at the grassroots level.
Goal: The goal of the project is “to enable the NGO activists to use theatre skills for mobilization of people (men and women) for raising their voices and undertaking collective actions against social evils like violence of women, early child marriages, human rights, gender equality and sectarianism for peace etc.
Project Components:
Theatre Training Workshops
Translation of material related to Interactive theatre
Website Development
IRC has trained three NGO theatre groups comprising 31 members
Support to Electoral Process- EU Delegation- DHRP- 2002
In close collaboration with the EU delegation in Pakistan this project aimed to reestablish
people’s confidence in the democreatic process and to increase people’s participation in the general election. Training sessions, seminars, forums, dialogues, and theatre performances and face to face activities were conducted in the rural areas of four provinces.
Democractic Rights and Citizen’s Education Program (Phase II)- 2002
The main objectives of the Interactive Theatre Component of the DRCEP program were to promote more meaningful communication or dialogue, demystify complex issues by using theatre for their presentation, and promote democratic principles of tolerance of dissent. The IRC engaged 3 theatre groups who performed in 19 districts.
Democractic Rights and Citizen’s Education Program (Phase I)- People’s Assemblies on the Devolution of Power- 2000-2001
During the period of december 2000 to august 2001, IRC organized twelve theatre training and two follow up workshops. The training workshops involved partner organization groups. Trainees were exposed to confidence building, inhibition breaking , voice movement, and character projection techniques.
Themes were the caste system, and the detrimental influence of saints, and other underlying prejudices and biases that hinder an enabling environment for marginalized candidates, and the political empowerment of the masses.