Beaconhouse National University was honored with the MacJannet Prize Honorable Mention Award

Share this story:

Beaconhouse National University (BNU) was honored with the MacJannet Prize Honorable Mention Award by The Talloires Network (TN), at the launch of Pakistan Chapter of The Talloires Network (PCTN) at NUST, Islamabad on July 01, 2013. Mr. Robert M. Hollister, Executive Director, TN presented the award to Mr. Rehman Younas, a BNU student representative, and Mr. Zaeem Yaqoob Khan, Director Student Affairs and External Relations, BNU. Also present at the occasion were Federal
Minister for Planning and Development, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Dr. Javed Laghari, Mr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, a TN Steering Committee member, Rector NUST Engr. M. Asghar and Vice Chancellors, dignitaries, academics and students of leading Pakistani and American universities.
It is pertinent to note that BNU was the only Pakistani university and one of the five universities around the globe, which were chosen for the honor on account of their outstanding civic and community engagement initiatives by The Talloires Netwrok in 2013.

The prize was awarded to BNU’s Humnawa, a project by the faculty and students of the Departments of Visual Communication Design, Textile Design and Jewelry and Accessory Design under Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design. BNU had joined hands with Sungi Development Foundation and Bunyad Foundation in 2010 to mobilize a team of thirteen BNU students of Textiles and Jewelry and Accessory departments to conduct a customized training program in skills and product development for 200 women in Alipur, a district in Southern Punjab. The main objective of this project was to create an opportunity for the community to form connections with mainstream fashion, textile and accessory designers, entrepreneurs and industry for future collaborations.

The program created sustainable empowerment for the members of 8 communities in Muzzafargarh and the surrounding areas. The program informed artisans about their rights, and provided product exhibitions in Lahore and Islamabad, which aimed to elevate artisan confidence and earnings. After completion of the Humanwa, the beneficiaries were able to continue their income generating activity without support from the outside.