We hope you enjoy this vlog feature filmed at the 2018 CAMCA Regional Forum held over June 21st-June 23rd, 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Featuring the creative and thoughtful design talents of Omaid Sharifi, a CAMCA Network member and President and Co-Founder of ArtLords, attendees participated in painting a joint mural throughout the Forum events. The mural depicts doves with the images of the flags of the CAMCA region and the phrase “Together We Have It All,” reflecting the CAMCA Network members’ belief in the strength and benefits of further regional cooperation. At the mural’s completion, it was gifted by the CAMCA Network to local Forum host and partner, ADA University, to be displayed on campus.
“I just wanted to do a joint mural with all the participants to show the regional connectivity. It’s also encouraging cultural exchanges between our countries and trying to encourage art and bring some art into the program," said Omaid Sharifi.
Watch the full vlog to hear about the experiences of other mural contributors at the 2018 CAMCA Regional Forum.
Omaid Sharifi is a patron of the arts and Co-Founder and President of ArtLords. Mr. Sharifi is a fellow with the Atlantic Council, Asia Society and the American Foreign Policy Council/Rumsfeld Fellowship. Mr. Sharifi has been awarded the Best Animation for Peace and Tolerance Award from MiSK-UNDP Youth Forum, the Anti-Corruption Excellence Award from Ban Ki-Moon and Emir of Qatar and Afghanistan’s Social Media Award for encouraging offline action in 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively. He co-founded the famous “I See You” campaign against corruption, the Hamdeli (Empathy) Network for bringing joy to Afghan citizens and the Sela Foundation in Afghanistan. Mr. Sharifi is also a U.S. State Department International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni. Mr. Sharifi started his career as a kid selling cookies and cigarettes in the streets of Kabul and later was an aide to President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani at the Transition Coordination Commission and a Program Manager for Tawanmandi – a multi-million-dollar challenge fund for strengthening civil society in Afghanistan.
Artlords is an Afghan grassroots movement of artists and volunteers motivated by the desire to pave the way for social transformation and behavioral change through employing the soft power of art and culture as a non-intrusive approach. Learn more about their unique and important work on their website: www.artlords.co/about.
Omaid participated in the Foundation’s Spring 2018 Central Asia-Caucasus Fellowship session.
Video credit: Media Kitchen, led by Spring 2018 Central Asia-Caucasus Alumni, Azim Azimov