Pune News: Urban95 Kids fest kicks off at Anusaya Lonkar garden in Kondhwa
Pune: The Anusaya Sadba Lonkar garden located off Salunke Vihar road, kicked off the first Urban95 Kids Festival, exclusively designed for children aged 0-6 years and their caregivers. The festival, organized by the Bernard van Leer Foundation’s Urban95 Cities for Children initiative will be between 26 February 2023, to 5 March 2023, at five locations across Pune.
The programme was inaugurated at the hands of Vikas Dhakne, additional commissioner, PMC, former corporator of NIBM road Nanda Lonkar, Mukund Dudhale, Early Childhood development Expert, egis India and various residents of the area. The festival aims to create a safe and inclusive space for young children and their caregivers to come together, learn, play, and bond with each other. The festival will feature various activities and events, including interactive workshops, storytelling sessions, music and dance performances, art and craft activities, and more.
The festival will also provide a platform for parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals to exchange ideas and experiences and learn about the latest research and trends in early childhood development. The festival will feature a series of talks, seminars, and panel discussions by leading experts in the field of early childhood development. The Urban95 Kids Festival is a part of the Bernard van Leer Foundation’s Urban 95 Cities for Children initiative, which aims to improve the lives of young children in cities by focusing on their first 1000 days of life.
Vikram Kumar, Municipal Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation said, “I am sure that the Kids Festival will be celebrated as one of the annual recurring cultural festival of Pune City. We are proud that our partnership with Bernard Van Leer Foundation is succeeding in making Pune as a Child and Family Friendly City.”
Rushda Majeed, Chief Programme Officer, Bernard van Leer Foundation said, “I am pleased to see Pune scale child and family initiatives across the city. Pune has become a lighthouse city in putting young children and families at the centre of city management and programming. The Urban95 Pune Kids Festival is a big step forward in making visible the needs of young children and families in the urban fabric of the city.”
In 2021, Egis India partnered with BvLF to assist on the technical aspect for one of the pioneering programmes of Urban 95.
The festival promises to be a fun and engaging experience for children and caregivers alike and is expected to attract many participants from across the city. So mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate the joys of childhood at Pune’s first Urban95 Kids Festival !
