The 9th edition of Jashn e Rekhta, held on the 13th, 14th, and 15th, earlier this month at JLN Stadium, blended with Urdu literature, prose and poetry, glamour, and luminaries, unfolded a gateway for Miles2Smile to help the marginalized section of the world.
Miles2Smile, through its initiative Sabaat, organized its stall at the grounds of JLN Stadium, with products stitched, crafted, painted, and designed mostly by the women survivors of the Delhi pogrom working at the heart of Sabaat: its stitching center. Alongside this, Miles2Smile, through Sabaat, collaborated with a Palestinian artist, Kholoud, to stand in solidarity with Palestine and help its citizens who have been subjected to an onslaught for more than a year now.
The aim of the organization through initiatives like Rekhta stall is to support the survivors of communal violence and empower marginalized women in a dignified manner. The money the organization earns from these initiatives goes directly to the survivors. Likewise, the aim to collaborate with Palestinian artists is to support the survivors financially and stand in solidarity.
“The primary purpose of setting up a stall at Rekhta is to provide a platform for the art goods created by women survivors of hate and violence. It not only promotes our flagship initiative, Khattati, but also helps in selling the items produced at the Sabaat Centre,” Said Aasif Mujtaba, Founder & Director, Miles2Smile
From vibrant coffee mugs to chic tote bags, the stall had everything needed to suit the tune of Urdu and more, but with a purpose. “The purpose behind this stall is to help the marginalized people; the profit of these goods will go to the women survivors of communal violence, and the proceeds from the Palestinian products, like mugs, tote bags, stamps, fridge magnets, and more, will directly go to Palestine,” Mujtaba said.
“It was an honor to represent Sabaat at Rekhta this year, not for profit but to amplify the voices of those we support and showcase their resilience. Many of the products we sold were crafted by the women survivors who work with us, reflecting their strength and creativity,” said Samreen Jawed, Director, Sabaat
“This year, we sold Palestinian merchandise in solidarity, collaborating with Palestinian artists and directing all profits to support those affected by the crisis. Jashn e Rekhta provided a platform to raise awareness and celebrate creativity. As the director of Sabaat, I was honored to showcase the work of the women we support and highlight our mission of empowerment and global solidarity,” she added
Calligraphy being a major ingredient in Miles2Smile’s creative work facet, the organization dedicated a section of the stall to the artist who, under its awning, made an artistic masterpiece on all three days.
These artists—Mohd Shahbaz, Sana Saifi, Dawood Alam, and Mariya Shoaib—under the guidance of Hafiz. Mohd. Waseem, who epitomizes Urdu and Arabic calligraphy with forty-plus years of experience with the Delhi Urdu Academy, added colors to the events of the audience. From writing words using Arabic calligraphy to making paintings on the spot, they stole the hearts.
What next became the epicenter of captivation for the audience was the keychain designed by Khuload. “This is one of the most beautiful, meaningful, and elegant Palestinian keychains I’ve ever seen,” said Shifa, one of the customers of the keychain.
“We are pleased to have decided to give the entire money generated from the sale of keychains to Kholoud,” said Mujtaba, responding to the customers.
Take a sneak peek into our previous Rekhta wok click here: https://blog.miles2smile.org/rekhta-2023-selling-merchandise-to-raise-relief-funds-for-palestine/ and https://blog.miles2smile.org/rekhta-2023-selling-merchandise-to-raise-relief-funds-for-palestine/
One skill at a time
The stall showcased around a dozen merchandise items, thoughtfully designed by Miles2Smile’s teams. From wall posters and paintings to calligraphy, lamps, badges, and Palestinian art, each piece represented a meaning, a purpose.
Khushi Yaseen, a volunteer who participated at Miles2Smile’s Rekhta stall for the first time, described the three-day event as a “wholesome experience, filled with learning and fun.”
Driven by the commitment to create lasting societal change, Miles2Smile and Sabaat continuously seek and implement innovative solutions. To bring forth their creativity, Miles2Smile through Sabaat is all set to launch these products at the Rekhta stall on their online store. Grab yours today by clicking on the link https://alsabaat.com/
Empowering Women, Building Futures Beyond Rekhta
The ‘Sabaat’ initiative is one of Miles2Smile’s efforts to empower women, especially those who have endured hardship, including survivors of the Northeast Delhi Pogrom 2020 and other underprivileged women.
Through the Stitching Centre, Miles2Smile offers a variety of courses designed to meet the needs of underprivileged women. These courses provide vocational skills such as stitching, tailoring, nail art, and more. Its goal is to help these women stay aligned with society by equipping them with essential skills. The organisation also conducts training workshops to ensure they learn with ease.
In addition, the organisation offers training in entrepreneurship development, personality development, small business accounting, financial literacy, soft skills, and health & hygiene. Women who complete the training at the center will have the opportunity to contribute to various projects within the organization, such as producing garments for sale or assisting in the production of goods for other NGOs or businesses.
Walk with Palestine
In solidarity with Palestine, Sabaat’s online store offers exclusive products, with all proceeds directly supporting Palestine financially.We aim to make a difference in the world through our small but impactful initiatives.
Learn Skills at Hunar Academy
Miles2Smile Foundation has proudly announced the launch of its ‘Hunar Academy,’ a new initiative designed to empower young girls and boys from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. At the heart of this program are ‘Skill Building’ and ‘Empowerment,’ as the academy aims to equip these youth with in-demand skills while providing the necessary resources to help them succeed in their careers. The academy will serve as a vital link between education and employment, paving the way for a skilled and future-ready generation from underprivileged communities.
Hunar Academy will offer free or low-cost, tech-enabled, skill-based courses to its students, along with guidance for competitive exams. This initiative is not just about education but about ensuring that young people acquire the skills they need to thrive in today’s job market. The foundation’s focus on cultivating young leaders and changemakers in their communities has led to the creation of a diverse range of courses designed to provide practical skills and open doors to entrepreneurial opportunities. Through this transformative effort, Miles2Smile is committed to shaping the future of these young individuals and empowering them to make a lasting impact on their communities.
Aim of Hunar Academy
Unlock the potential of every student by promoting skills, rights, and opportunities for underprivileged girls and boys. Contribute to Miles2Smile’s vision of creating a more economically and socially equitable future for all.
At our Skill Development Center, we are committed to creating a future where individuals from all backgrounds have equal access to quality education and training, enabling them to realize their full potential and succeed in an ever-changing world. Our goal is to serve as a catalyst for both personal and professional growth, promoting a culture of lifelong learning and continuous skill development.
To see how we celebrate the achivements of our students click here https://blog.miles2smile.org/miles2smile-and-hunar-academy-celebrate-the-graduation-of-their-calligraphers/
We aim to foster an inclusive and innovative learning environment that not only equips individuals with practical skills but also cultivates creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability. Our vision is to establish ourselves as a center of excellence in skill development, recognized for producing highly skilled, socially responsible individuals who will make meaningful contributions to the global workforce.
To learn about our comprehensive workshops click here: https://blog.miles2smile.org/khattati-jamia/
Vision of Hunar Academy
Hunar’s vision is to enhance the employability of youth by providing them with industry-relevant skills, achieved through ongoing collaboration with industry experts to develop a dynamic and up-to-date curriculum.
To know about our amazing creative ideas of creating and crafting click here: https://blog.miles2smile.org/craft-sell-and-earn-with-papers-an-initiative-of-hunar-academy/
Key initiatives include:
- Delivering Public and Private Sector Initiatives: Hunar aims to make these initiatives accessible to underprivileged students, offering them valuable opportunities for skill development.
- Facilitating Scholarships and Educational Loans: Hunar acts as a bridge for underprivileged students, securing scholarships and educational loans through NGO partnerships and CSR initiatives to support their skilling and upskilling needs.
- Bridging the Employability Gap: Hunar works to close the significant gap in youth employability by implementing targeted upskilling programs and strengthening the capacity of Skill Development Centers.
- Collaborating with Colleges: Hunar partners with colleges to incorporate Skill Development, Design Thinking, and Innovation into their course curricula, adding value and preparing students for the challenges of the future workforce.
Calligraphy with Khattai
With Khattati, Miles2Smile seeks to fulfill two essential human desires: ‘Creation’ and ‘Compassion.’ The initiative was born from a deep creative yearning to turn artistic expression into something meaningful. Through designing, painting, and selling exquisite works of Arabic calligraphy, the program aims to raise funds for the foundation’s orphan and Hifz programs, directly benefiting underserved communities.
Launched on December 2, 2022, Khattati was conceived to promote applied arts and calligraphy through hands-on training and workshops, with the goal of fostering greater awareness and appreciation of this ancient art form. On its launch day, a stall showcasing calligraphy artworks was set up at Rekhta Bazar, where the stall was met with widespread acclaim from visitors, highlighting the global appeal of calligraphy.
Click here to see our work https://blog.miles2smile.org/miles2smile-launches-khattati-an-initiative-to-promote-calligraphy-in-urdu-arabic-languages/
Khattati offers a welcoming and comfortable environment for all participants, whether seasoned artists or beginners, to refine their skills. Each student will be provided with all necessary tools and materials to create their own unique works of art.
Under the guidance of Mr. Waseem Khan, a retired chief calligrapher from the Delhi Urdu Academy, and two other expert lettering artists, participants will learn the nuances of using the pen to create stunning calligraphic effects. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a complete novice, the Khattati program offers an opportunity to acquire new skills that can enhance your artistic journey.
Miles2Smile wishes happiness and joy to everyone
To know more about Miles2Smile click https://miles2smile.org/ , Sabaat click https://alsabaat.com/, and about Hunar click https://hunaracademy.com/
