Thatta Kedona

17/07/2026

❤️A STORY WORTH REVISITING❤️

More than five years ago, renowned journalist Mr. Karim Islam, as a BBC Urdu correspondent, visited our village and beautifully documented the story of Thatta Kedona. Along with producing a wonderful documentary, he also wrote a detailed feature for the BBC Urdu website, capturing the spirit of our village, the dedication of our artisan women, and the vision behind this unique handicrafts initiative.

The article is enriched with remarkable photographs that preserve precious moments from our journey and showcase the talent and resilience of the women of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka.

Although several years have passed, the story remains as inspiring and relevant today as ever. It is time to revisit this beautiful article and remember how a small village’s dream reached the world.

Our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Karim Islam and BBC Urdu for preserving this chapter of Thatta Kedona’s history with such professionalism and warmth. https://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan-55526965

پہلی نظر میں یہ پنجاب کا کوئی عام سا گاؤں ہی لگتا ہے۔ اردگرد کے دوسرے دیہات کی طرح یہاں بھی ہر طرف سبزا نظر آتا ہے۔ لہلہاتے کھیتوں کے بیچ کچھ کچے پکے مکان بھی ہیں۔

09/07/2026

❤️STORY OF DECADES IN LESS THAN A MINUTE❤️

This beautiful video report by Dawn News Urdu TV may be less than a minute long, but it captures the soul of Thatta Kedona—the handicrafts and community development initiative in the small village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka.

What began as a dream has grown into a movement that empowers rural women, preserves centuries-old handicraft traditions, and transforms lives through dignity, creativity, and hope.

Sometimes, a single minute is enough to reveal what words alone cannot express.

🎥 Watch, share, and help spread the story of a village where every handcrafted piece carries a tradition, every smile reflects resilience, and every achievement is a reminder that meaningful change begins with people who dare to dream.

07/07/2026

🌷SOME STORIES DESERVE TO BE REMEMEBRED…🌷

There are moments that pass in a single day, yet remain alive in our hearts forever.

One such moment was 6 April 2026, when Dr. Senta Siller—affectionately known as The Mother of Dolls—and her husband Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch received an unforgettable welcome at the New Garden Town Campus of COTHM Lahore.

Now, these precious memories have found a permanent place in the latest edition of Hospitality Plus, the official magazine of COTHM (College of Tourism & Hotel Management), which has dedicated four beautifully designed pages to the life, work, and extraordinary legacy of this remarkable German woman.

It was Mr. Ahmad Shafiq, CEO of COTHM and a proud son of District Okara, who envisioned and organized this heartfelt tribute. Knowing how profoundly Dr. Siller’s work has transformed the lives of hundreds of rural women in Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, he created a celebration worthy of her lifelong commitment. Accompanying the German guests was Mr. Amjad Ali, President of Anjuman Falah-e-Aam (AFA), whose partnership has helped turn a dream into reality.

Every photograph in this feature tells a story—not merely of a ceremonial reception, but of a friendship between Pakistan and Germany, of compassion beyond borders, and of lives transformed through dignity, education, and meaningful work.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Mr. Ahmad Shafiq and the entire COTHM family for preserving these unforgettable moments and for paying such a magnificent tribute to Dr. Senta Siller, initiator of Thatta Kedona and recipient of Pakistan’s prestigious Sitara-e-Pakistan. It is a tribute not only to one extraordinary woman, but to every artisan whose hands weave hope into the future.

Some honors recognize achievements.

The greatest honors celebrate humanity.

04/07/2026

🧺✨WHEN A SMALL VILLAGE TELLS A BIG STORY …🌾🧺

We are deeply honoured that renowned Punjabi poet, fiction writer, and LUMS University Lahore faculty member Zahid Hassan has devoted his latest Akhbar-e-Jehan column to his visit to Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka.

In this beautifully written article, he describes the village’s culture, hospitality, handicrafts, and the inspiring community development journey of Thatta Kedona. He highlights how local artisans, especially women and girls, are preserving traditional craftsmanship while creating new opportunities for their families and community.

For us, this recognition is more than a publication—it is a voice carrying the story of a small village to readers across Pakistan and beyond.

Our heartfelt thanks to Zahid Hassan for seeing, understanding, and sharing the spirit of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka.

Read the article and discover how culture, craftsmanship, and community can transform lives. 🌾🧺✨
https://share.google/v2JF5KqE0yiXsm0On

ادب و شعر کسی بھی خطے، اس کے تہذیبی و ثقافتی عناصر سے تشکیل پاتے ہیں، تہذیب و ثقافت وہاں کے ادبی اور شعری ورثے کی نشوونما، اس کی بقا اوردنیا بھر میں اسکی تمدنی شناخت قا...

02/07/2026

🌾MORE THAN A BASKET - A TRADITION WOVEN BY HAND🧺
If you ever visit our village and share a meal with us, your fresh roti, chapati or paratha will be served in one of these colourful handmade Changairs. The artisan women and girls of Thatta Kedona dye the 100% organic raw material—usually wheat stems—and then skillfully weave these beautiful traditional bread baskets, preserving a craft that has been passed down through generations.

01/07/2026

💧 EVERY DROP MAKES A DIFFERENCE 💧

Safe drinking water is not a luxury—it is a basic human need.

These photos show three of the clean water sources serving the people of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka: two water distribution points supplied by our 406-foot-deep submersible pump—one beside the pump house and another around 300 metres away in a different part of the village—as well as a 220-foot-deep hand pump at the village primary school.

Together, they provide fresh, clean drinking water to the entire village, made possible through the generosity of our donors.

Our local NGO Anjuman Falah-e-Aama (AFA) is proud, grateful and deeply satisfied to serve the people of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka. Every contribution has been transformed into lasting benefit for the community.

🙏 Thank you to everyone who has helped turn this vision into reality. Together, we are changing lives—one drop at a time.

30/06/2026

🌷OUR VISION FOR THATTA GHULAMKA DHIROKA🌷

This map illustrates the locations of our completed, ongoing and proposed projects within the village.

Together, they form a long-term vision for education, healthcare, culture, vocational training and sustainable community development.

Some are already changing lives. Others are waiting to become reality.

Every new project begins with someone believing it can be done.

29/06/2026

💃 WHEN TRADITION MEETS AI… MAGIC HAPPENS! ✨

Meet this tiny masterpiece—just one inch (2.5 cm) tall. Handcrafted by the talented artisan girls of Thatta Kedona, every detail, from the colourful dress and jewellery to the smiling face, has been created entirely by hand. It is amazing how much beauty and craftsmanship can fit into such a miniature work of art.

Now, with the help of Artificial Intelligence, this little doll has come to life and is joyfully dancing to a Bhangra beat! 🎶

AI cannot replace the imagination, patience, and skill of the artisans—but it can open exciting new ways to tell their stories, celebrate their creations, and share them with the world.

The future becomes truly inspiring when human creativity and AI work hand in hand. ❤️

27/06/2026

🐪THERE IS A STORY BEHIND OUR CAMEL RIDER🐪

“It’s me,” the young artisan replied when Dr. Senta Siller asked who the tiny rider on the camel was.

Senta had actually encouraged the girls to stop creating new products and focus on what they already made. But one village girl arrived with something entirely unexpected: a graceful camel, handcrafted from copper wire, wrapped in woollen thread, carrying a tiny female rider.

“I wish to ride a camel,” she said, “and feel the air of freedom on my face.”

In that simple sentence lived a dream that reached far beyond the village—a longing for freedom, adventure, and possibilities.

The little camel rider became one of the most beloved creations of Thatta Kedona. It reminds us that handicrafts are more than beautiful objects; they are stories, dreams, and voices woven into every stitch, preserving the imagination and aspirations of the women who made them.

25/06/2026

🌷WHEN A VILLAGE BEGAN TO DREAM🌷

This remarkable PTV report, broadcast on International Women’s Day in 2006, captures a defining chapter in the story of Thatta Kedona. Produced by Suboohi Jamshed, the 8-minute and 45-second documentary is one of the most comprehensive television features ever made about our village handicrafts project.

The report takes viewers into the workshops and courtyards where artisan girls transformed traditional skills into beautiful handicrafts, opening new possibilities for creativity, confidence, and economic participation. Rich in authentic scenes and personal stories, it preserves moments that have become part of the project’s living history.

The documentary also features an interview with Dr. Senta Siller of Germany—artist, designer, anthropologist, and initiator of Thatta Kedona—who speaks about the vision that inspired this unique undertaking.

More than a television report, this video is a valuable historical document. For anyone wishing to understand the origins, spirit, and philosophy of Thatta Kedona, it remains essential viewing.