Asian Network for Trust, Hiroshima, published and distributed Fauzia recent childrens book in Dari language, Sadako's Prayer in Bamiyan and Parwan Provinces of Afghanistan.
Fauzia Minallah's book Sadako's prayer is based on the true story of Sadako, the 11-year-old Japanese girl, who was victim of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and gave us the prayer
this is our cry
this is our prayer
peace in the world
Fauzia conveys to us through her story mans will to rebuild life despite catastrophes. In Fauzia’s words “The book is about an event in history where a whole city was destroyed and a nation devastated, but the people of Hiroshima set an example to the world by rebuilding their city and making it into a center of peace,”
The story begins with Amai, (the central character of Fauzia’s “Children of Light” series) a magical dove made of light that turns into a shooting star and takes children on different tours of the world. This time she takes two kids, Seema and Ali, on a tour of the world. Looking down the children can see the earth and its beautiful creatures.
“When there is love and laughter, and when people take care of the earth, then the world is a beautiful place and there is peace,” Amai explains. She then takes the children to another part of the world where they see ‘the terrible engines of evil’ – missiles, fire and smoke, — the atomic weapons that are made by men and used for destruction.
“Thousands of men, women and little children have been killed and maimed by these terrible weapons,” Amai then tells the story of Sadako, who dies of cancer caused by the radiation.
“The people of Hiroshima endured the pain and suffering of an atomic bombing and turned it into love. They did not waste their energy and money on developing weapons to take revenge for the destruction of their city. They turned their city into a centre of peace. They pray and work for a world without nuclear weapons, a world where innocent children like Sadako are protected from devastating wars.”
Fauzia heads an NGO that conducts art workshops in katchi abadis, she teaches mural making and recycled paper making to children and produces books. She has three more books planned for children based on the central character Amai.