DHAHRAN, 4 March 2004 — It was a night for good deeds and fun at the International Schools Group (ISG) Dhahran High School’s annual art show and dinner. The event featured an art sale and charity auction, the proceeds of which went to support the school’s home building program administered through the organization Habitat for Humanity International.
“This is the third art show held in support of Habitat for Humanity,” said Abeera Atique, art teacher, Dhahran High School (DHS). “We held many art shows over the years but then three years ago we hit upon the idea to auction the students’ artwork to raise money for charity. In past years, through the auction we raised thousands of riyals which has been used to build homes for the poor.”
The students’ participation in the auction was completely voluntary. Some students merely exhibited their artwork at the show. Others allowed their art to be sold. It was a personal choice and it was one that often is not made easily.
“As an artist myself, I know how hard it can be to let go of a painting that you really love,” said Atique. “Of course to make the most profit for the charity we need to auction off the best work the students have done. In some way, creating a painting is like giving birth. So it’s a significant action for the students to donate their most beloved drawings and paintings to the auction.”
One hundred twenty students contributed 167 drawings and paintings which had been created over the past year. In addition, the students had to work for three days to mount the exhibition, working straight through the last night till morning in order to finish on time. Atique especially wanted to commend the four students with the best work in the show. They were Malak Nasser, Mehreen Maqsood, Hisham Raafat and Tamar Zadigran.
“I get quite a bit of satisfaction from my art,” said 16-year-old DHS student Mehreen Maqsood. “It allows me to express myself and to have fun, too. I think that art will always be my hobby, even later in life.”
It is not only the students who receive satisfaction from their artwork. Atique, an accomplished artist, never thought she would become an art teacher. Now she can’t imagine being isolated from young artists. Atique has participated in 20 art exhibitions herself and in Summer 2003 her talent was recognized by Pakistan’s National Council of Arts. But her own artwork is no longer the focus of her career.
“The school’s annual show is the high point of my year and it gives the students enormous confidence to be able to put on such an event,” Atique said “I have learned that the greatest feeling of accomplishment comes from watching the talents of my students develop. After we have everything in place for the show and I stand back viewing all the wonderful artwork before me, I feel humble and excited at the same time.”
The art show and auction subsidized the school’s upcoming effort in Sri Lanka where the students will help to build several houses with the charity, Habitat for Humanity. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Habitat has built more than 150,000 houses around the world, providing more than 750,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.
DHS has a Habitat for Humanity Club that works throughout the year to raise funds for the home building project. Next week, 21 DHS students, four teachers and one parent will travel to Watalla, Sri Lanka where they will work to build three or four houses alongside the future owners of the homes. The school will also donate funds to construct other homes in the community.
“Working with Habitat for Humanity gives our students an opportunity to experience life among the less fortunate,” said DHS chemistry teacher and Habitat volunteer Bernie Reeves. “We also hope it will help them see that by joining together we can make a positive difference in our world.”
