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T2F,
formerly “The Second Floor” is the first project of
PeaceNiche. A community space for open dialogue, T2F
provides citizens with a platform for social change through
rich cultural activities, public discourse, and advocacy
using progressive ideas and the new media. PeaceNiche, a
not-for-profit NGO, registered under the Societies Act of
1860, is committed to becoming a vibrant centre of
Pakistan’s developing civil society. As part of
our ongoing commitment to creative expression and discourse,
we are delighted to announce the launch of Faraar, a new
media and art gallery for artists, photographers and
graphic designers.
T2F Café
Since its relocation,
T2F's café offerings have been expanded and new
items are added to the menu frequently. Almost
everything is 'made from scratch'.
Our coffee is freshly
brewed, our sandwiches and wraps are delicious, and
we bake sweet and savory treats every day. The
ingredients used in creating our menu items are
handpicked, fresh and mostly local. By buying local
we are ensuring freshness, supporting the local
grocer, and reducing our carbon footprint. Some of
the most popular items include Cappuccino, Chocolate
Cupcakes, Baked Crisps, Granola and the Cheese
Twists.
There has also been an
addition of ‘Fresh Baked Goodies’ to the menu such
as cupcakes, banana bread, cookies and other
delicious goodies that are baked fresh at the café
daily. Our goal is to provide you with the freshest
possible foods at affordable prices. Coming soon to
our menu: Salads, soups and more fresh baked
goodies. Good food is not a privilege, it is a right
and we hope that you will come by to enjoy our food
and support our cause!
The café
also includes an off-beat selection of books and magazines for
browsing, as well as board games and puzzles. Wi-Fi is free
and there are lots of power outlets for your laptop using
convenience.
Raison
d'être
PeaceNiche
was born out of a desire to enact transformational change in
urban Pakistani society. At one end of the spectrum,
capitalism is booming and the new religion is consumerism.
Those interested in the betterment of lives tend to focus on
feeding the needy, educating the poor, and building
hospitals. PeaceNiche wishes to focus on the issue of
Intellectual Poverty Alleviation without which no form of
social change is likely to take root or prosper. Political
will is largely absent in the middle and upper classes owing
to a variety of reasons, ranging from apathy to
disillusionment. Young people, who are touted as future
leaders lack awareness, access to role models, and the
desire to move out of their comfort zone. It is essential,
if our society is to move forward in any meaningful manner,
that the youth and middle classes be engaged and shaken out
of a dangerous state of lethargy.
PeaceNiche
has its eyes set on the urban city dweller who has had
little or no access to culture, including art, music,
literature, and film and certainly no platform for creative
expression and discourse. By sensitizing the urban elite and
middle classes to global issues that affect humanity,
through lectures, discussions, talks, and new media
interventions, PeaceNiche aims to build political will,
thought leadership, and a genuine desire to make a
difference.
PeaceNiche
is a social entrepreneurship project that blends the best of
business practice with the non-profit urge to make meaning
rather than focusing purely on the bottom line.
Our key
drivers are:
•
Intellectual Poverty Alleviation™
• Providing a platform for dialogue, discourse, and creative
expression
• Social change through the arts
• Development of a vibrant community of civic-minded
citizens
• Advocacy and action (Human Rights, Peace & Justice,
Education, Civic Responsibility, Environment,
Entrepreneurship, Technology)
• Early Childhood Education
• Youth engagement
The
PeaceNiche Board
PeaceNiche
is governed by a group of visionary individuals, including
writers, poets, activists, musicians, designers, bankers,
educators, and doctors. Key members include Sabeen Mahmud,
Seema Malik, Ghazala Aziz, Ameena Saiyid, Asif Farrukhi,
Arshad Mahmud, Zaheer Kidvai, Zafar Masud, Mahenaz Mahmud,
and Nuzhat Kidvai.
T2F
Events and Projects
Since its
inception on May 15th 2007, PeaceNiche, through its first
project, T2F, has hosted over 170 events such as poetry
readings, talks, discussions, film screenings, theatre
performances, activist art, photo, and design exhibitions,
and music sessions. The "Science Ka Adda" series, chaired by
Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy provides a platform for debate and
discussion about science and how it impacts our lives. It is
now a popular monthly feature and enables citizens to
interact with scientists and researchers in a comfortable,
informal setting. "In Their Own Voice" is also a monthly
series that features published writers and poets who read
from their own work, providing insights into politics,
language, womens' issues, and a range of pertinent subjects.
T2F's
independent bookshop features 500+ titles specially culled
from a range of genres including cult fiction, politics,
poetry, gender, women's issues, science fiction, art,
design, photography, development, and graphic novels. A
wonderful selection of contemporary Urdu novels and poetry
provide access to content that is not easily accessible.
T2F also features a gallery space that provides a platform
to emerging artists, photographers, designers, multimedia
artists, and film-makers to showcase their talents.
Thought-provoking and challenging themes are encouraged in
media that traditional art galleries don't support.
One of our
advocacy projects is citizen activism against the E-Crime
Bill 2007, amongst the most draconian laws yet to emanate
from the Government. T2F is working with a group of
activists to spread awareness via blogs, websites, Facebook,
YouTube, print media, television, and radio, with the key
aim of having the Bill redrafted before it is enacted as a
law. Another project involves a support booklet for young
people and parents on gender diversity.
Personalities such as Pervez Hoodbhoy, Ardeshir Cowasjee,
Ayesha Siddiqa, Justice Retired Javid Iqbal, Dr.
Atta-ur-Rahman, Attiya Dawood, Sehba Sarwar, Zeeshan Sahil,
Khalid Ahmed, Musadiq Sanwal, Dr. Saad Shafqat, Wajid Jawad,
Tina Sani, Asif Farrukhi, Sara Suleri, David Barsamian,
Arshad Mahmud, Uzma Aslam Khan, Muneer A. Malik, Sheema
Kermani, Intizar Hussain, Shuja Nawaz, Zehra Nigah, Mohammad
Hanif, Salima Hashmi, Kamila Shamsie, Adil Najam, Ruhi Hamid,
Jacqueline Novogratz, Rasa Chughtai, Shandana Minhas,
Muneeze Shamsie, Madeeha Gauhar, Sania Saeed, Alice Albinia,
Beena Sarwar, Salman Hameed, Fahmida Riaz, and Basharat
Peer, have delivered talks, renditions, and readings at T2F.
The informality of the space and the non-conventional, yet
tightly managed approach to events ensure intense audience
interaction and engagement with speakers.
Media
T2F's
events and activities are regularly covered by the print
media, television, and radio, including DAWN, DAWN NEWS,
Geo, TV One, Radio 1 FM 91, The Friday Times, Newsline,
Womens’ Own, GT, Herald, The Daily Times, The News, and the
Urdu daily paper, Roznama Aaj Kal.
Partners
PeaceNiche
works with and collaborates with a range of partners
including The Oxford University Press, Liberty Books,
Paramount Books, Intel Youth Network, Teachers' Resource
Centre, Maxcom, Radio 1 FM 91, Tehelka, South Asia
Foundation, Nukta Art, South Asia Citizens Wire, and Drik
Bangladesh.
Outreach
T2F reaches
its stakeholders through an opt-in e-mail list, the T2F
website and blog, Facebook, Twitter, opt-in SMS alerts,
Danka, media coverage, and word-of-mouth. As part of our
commitment to the environment and to spending our money
wisely, information is sent out electronically.
Next
Steps
To broaden
its impact, PeaceNiche aims to set up an independent
publishing house, teach eastern classical music and
appreciation, extend its arts program by working with
children, develop an Urdu poetry archive, build a performing
arts space, develop a podcasting channel on the Internet to
broadcast opinions without impediment, produce short films
tackling human rights, and youth apathy issues, organize a
global lecture series, work on photography and film projects
with children in underprivileged communities, and link up
with international NGOs and civil society groups.
Liberty
Books now at T2F!
“I find
television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the
set, I go into the other room and read a book.”
Groucho Marx
T2F and Liberty Books have teamed up to bring you an
eclectic, hand-picked selection of books covering a range of
categories and genres. We also have an excellent collection
of Urdu books and low-priced bargain books.
We'll
get by with a little help from our friends!
Come and have a coffee at T2F, and while you are here, swap
a story, play a game of chess or Boggle, share an idea,
read, blow your own trumpet (or any other instrument you
bring along), check out our funky murals, and make your own
art on our bathroom blackboard.
PeaceNiche is committed to cultural and intellectual poverty
alleviation. As a not-for-profit NGO, we count on the
generosity of our supporters to enable us to continue our
work. Each penny we make is used to enhance our cultural and
educational programming, initiate new projects, and meet
operating costs.
By purchasing coffee, food, books, t-shirts, and artwork
from us, you will make an invaluable contribution to the
sustainability of PeaceNiche. |
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