Three-Day Capacity Building Workshop for Media Content Creators in Kalash Valley
A three-day training workshop for media content creators has begun in the Kalash Valley, Bumburait. The workshop is jointly organized by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programe (AKRSP) and the Kalash People’s Development Network (KPDN), with the aim of training local youth in ethical and responsible media reporting, scriptwriting, video editing, and producing positive social media content.
The opening ceremony was attended by Director General of the Kalash Valleys Development Authority (KVDA), Mehnas-ud-Din, as the chief guest. In his address, he stated that the priority is to promote local culture, tourism, and community values through consultation with both the Kalash and Muslim communities. He added that in future planning, local youth and journalists will be actively involved to strengthen accurate and positive reporting.
During the ceremony, while referring to a recent vlog by journalist Fatehullah about the Kalash festival, the DG said that it is important to discuss such content in forums like this to ensure that future reporting is based on a positive and collective approach.
On this point, Fateh Ullah suggested that local journalists and content creators should be given platforms where they can accurately represent the valley and its culture. He emphasized that when outside reporters visit the valley, they often portray religious festivals as being organized under someone’s “supervision” and present political personalities or officers as chief guests — which discourages the local youth. He added that these are traditional religious festivals that the Kalash community has celebrated independently for centuries, and they are not events like cricket or football tournaments where someone officiates or oversees the celebration.
The DG KVDA assured that measures are being planned to prevent such misreporting in the future.
During the workshop, Luk Rahmat delivered an in-depth presentation on “Ethics, Positive Use of Social Media, Local Culture, and Tourism Promotion.”
Participants were divided into groups to create positive content about the Kalash Valley and discuss the challenges they face. Each group was assigned a specific responsibility to use their creativity to present the true image of the area to the world.
Representatives from AKRSP — Kashif, Alia, and Naila — shared their views, saying that they aim to bring positive change to the region. They added that when local youth tell their own stories to the world, it will not only promote tourism but also highlight the positive image of Kalash culture internationally.
The training will continue on the second and third days, during which Kalash boys and girls will participate in practical activities to help them become skilled and responsible content creators.
According to the organizers, the program will bring young people together on a common platform where they can play an effective role in upholding journalistic principles, promoting tourism, and preserving cultural heritage.
