Australia supports Pakistan to develop its potential through education and training opportunities and strengthened links between the people of both countries
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani students were led on a journey of flight and imagination by a visiting team from Australia called ‘The Paper Pilots’ as part of Australia Day in Spring 2016 celebration.
The event was celebrated in major cities of Pakistan by involving children in ‘The Paper Pilots’ workshops to strengthen ties between the people of both countries
“Pakistan’s large youth population is the country’s future and Australia is helping Pakistan develop its potential through education and training opportunities and strengthened links between the people of both countries,” said Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson in her address at a workshop held by Australian Embassy on their project ‘Paper Pilots’.
Australia’s Paper Pilots, Dylan Parker and James Norton, lead more than 700 school children in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad on a journey of flight as part of the Australian High Commissioner’s Australia Day in spring 2016 – engaging youth celebrations from April 11 to 18.
Children also enjoyed watching the hit Australian family film Paper Planes – inspired by The Paper Pilots. “We have had so much fun in every city and enjoyed the enthusiasm and happiness that each and every child brought to these events” said the Australia’s Paper Pilots team.
Pakistan is the first country outside Australia in which the Paper Pilots held workshops. The team visited young entrepreneurs and students at Quaid-e-Azam Library Lahore, Plan9 – PITB’s Tech Incubator, Iqra University (Islamabad Campus), Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, The Nest I/O, Deaf Reach and cricketers at the National Cricket Academy.
Dylan and James founded ‘The Paper Pilots’ in 2008 to educate and inspire students across Australia by using the simple concept of paper planes to teach students about the science of flight and encourage them to develop problem-solving skills to design the paper planes. The duo inspired the 2015 award winning Australian family film Paper Planes directed by Robert Connolly, which also showcased on the occasion.
Australia’s New South Wales State parliamentarian Mehreen Faruqi – the first Pakistani-Australian to be elected to public office and her party’s spokeswoman on the status of women and youth – is also in Pakistan to reach out to women and youth parliamentarian caucuses as part of the celebrations. She participated in panel discussions with members of Pakistan’s Youth Parliament and Australia Awards alumni to explore the role of youth in development and global governance.
In Lahore, Youth Revolution Clan (YRC) joined Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson and NSW state parliamentarian and Pakistani Australian Dr. Mehreen Faruqi in celebrating Australia Day in Spring 2016. Youth leaders discussed opportunities and challenges for youth and shared their experiences of a recent visit to Melbourne for workshops with Cultural Infusion, an Australian social enterprise working with schools and youth to promote cultural harmony and diversity.
Australia Day in Spring is a representational function hosted by Australian High Commission every year to strengthen people o people links.
Photo courtesy: Australia in Pakistan Facebook page