Funkor Child Art Centre is a part of Initiative for Rural & Sustainable Development (IRSD) a registered (Reg:RS/ICT/145,dated Islamabad 1992 Societies ACT), private non- profit , non political voluntary organization. Funkor uses the medium of art and books to extend children’s outlook and awareness of the concepts of environment and heritage protection, human rights, equality, tolerance and peace. Funkor is committed to promoting art among children and generating healthy and creative activities for children from a broad spectrum of society.

Art and book reading is a luxury not many children can afford in Pakistan.  Art activities and book reading sessions are non-existent in schools for the children from the lower income group. A minority of privileged children going to private schools have art as a subject and functional libraries, but for the majority of children belonging to the under privileged sections of society art is a luxury they cannot afford and going to libraries is a rarity. Funkor Childart Center  was founded in Islamabad, in 2002  by artist and children’s writer Fauzia Minallah , to organize workshops and events for children who rarely get a chance of experiencing the joy of painting and book reading. Initially it was called Children’s Art Center and later on renamed as Funkor Childart Center.

Funkor has been a dedicated advocate of children’s right to art and books. Through art and books Funkor promotes International Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the United Nations in 1990. Funkor has  cooperated with many national and international organizations around the world . Funkor is made up of an urdu word fun meaning art and kor a pushtu word meaning house, in other words an art house for children.

Mission

To organize workshops and events for children who rarely get a chance of experiencing the joy of painting and book reading. This is done in collaboration with different NGO’s and Government departments. Funkor particularly reaches out to ‘Children in Crises’ and generates art workshops and  book reading sessions  in schools for the under-privileged, children belonging to minority marginalised groups living in katchi Abadis ( Shanty Towns),  refugee and relief camps and centers for Special Children.

• To promote awareness through Art and books
• To use Art and Books in promoting diversity and respect for different cultures, religions and races.
• To use Art and Books in  encouraging children to appreciate and respect Nature.

About Fauzia Aziz Minallah - The Founder of Funkor Child Art Center

Board

	Helga Ahmad, is the Chairperson of Initiative for Rural and Sustainable Development. She is a nationally recognized environmentalist and social worker who was awarded the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal by the Ministry of Women Affairs. Her work for the environment was featured in the ‘Green Pioneers’ a book published by the UNDP.
	An educationist by profession Seemi  Haq served as Head in prestigious institutes of Islamabad. She   worked with the Girl Guide Association on Income Generation schemes particularly in the field of recycling for the handicap girls and rural women of Northern areas.
	Amna Paracha is a corporate Lawyer and  a partner at Khan & Paracha law firm. Her educational qualifications include M.A. Journalism, University of Punjab; M.A. Comparative Literature . University of Nice, France;  LL.B., Sindh Muslim Law College, Karachi
	Sara Mahmood has 30 years experience of working as an English language expert with different organisations such as the British Council, USAID etc. She has a degree IN English language from Oxford University. She was born in Wales but lives in Pakistan for the past 25 years.
	Ghazala Minallah has 13 years experience as a law teacher at different educational institutions of Islamabad. She has an L.L.B[Hons] degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She is a well known human rights activist.