As Pakistan grapples with various humanitarian problems, a feeling of awareness is growing among the youth that they have a responsibility in steering their nation away from decline. At the moment, three entirely youth-run organizations are working to combat suffering and poverty across Pakistan: Karachi-based Y’s Charity led by an 18-year-old, Karachi-based Revive led by a 19-year old, and Islamabad-based Justuju-e-Ilm led by a 17-year-old.
This is how 3 student-run NGOs are making a difference in Karachi and Islamabad
This is how 3 student-run NGOs are making a difference in Karachi and Islamabad
July 11, 2020
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Can you talk a bit about your background in terms of social work? How’d you get started; what motivated you to start this project?
Y’s Charity: Three years have passed in my journey of philanthropic and community work. Y’s Charity started as a home-run bakery converted to a charity which was inspired by my grandparents, parents, and my idol, Abdul Sattar Edhi.
Justuju-e-ilm: The first time I realized how important social work was going to be in my life was when I first stepped into the non-profit Mashal Model School five years ago. I began interning there one summer and have been returning there ever since. It expanded into more than just teaching and I found myself wanting to be present for and organizing as many projects as I could. Gradually, this passion led to the creation of Justuju-e-Ilm: an NGO that I co-founded with my friends, aimed at providing cost-free and accessible education to children of families living below the poverty line in Islamabad.
Revive: It’s been like 4 years since I’ve been in this field of social work. Revive started off with a group of 10-12 motivated friends who discussed the idea of helping people on a weekly basis with simple pocket money savings. Everyone agreed and we started off with just RS 3000. It went on from there.
Could you please elaborate on the work you’ve done so far broadly?
Y’s Charity: Until now Y’s Charity has conducted 24 projects, including first aid seminars, Iftar distributions and clothing drives. However during our COVID-19 Relief Campaign, we raised Rs. 70 Lakh and distributed 1500 Rations to those economically affected. We also donated 1000 PPEs to doctors, nurses, and paramedics all the way to Gharo, along with 1000 patient gowns.
Justuju-e-ilm: I have been working and advocating for the availability of resources and education to the underprivileged children of Islamabad for quite a long time. Since the establishment of Justuju-e-Ilm, we have successfully tutored over 200 children, volunteered at multiple non-profit schools such as Mashal Model School, and this summer we successfully raised over PKR 100,000 for our students and their families in Bari Imam through our COVID-19 Relief Program.
Revive: We launched various campaigns on which the idea of Revive was built on. We conducted numerous ration distribution drives, successfully helping 2500 families. We’ve also worked with orphanages and old-people homes to give food-boxes, clothes and gifts to the marginalized. We’ve also been conducting numerous anti-littering drives by cleaning up areas like Clifton Beach and we work to combat depression by setting up a Mental Health Awareness Program. Cooperation with hospitals like Jinnah Hospital has also been at the forefront of our work, as we’ve been working to promote awareness about things like oral cancer.
Pakistan is a nation rife with humanitarian troubles. How do you keep yourself from losing hope amidst all the tragedies around you?
Y’s Charity: To be very honest, I don’t believe in the ideology of total success in philanthropic work simply because you never achieve the highest level. I think it’s small steps of success. The main factor that keeps us from losing hope is the smiles and gratitude from the recipients as well as the “friends like family” relationships we develop with our people in the underprivileged localities.
Justuju-e-ilm: We see our work as a single speck in the ocean of obstacles for the people in our country, and on our planet. Some days it feels futile and not nearly enough, knowing the scale at which illiteracy exists in Pakistan, along with its many other problems. However, we recognize that our work, as small of an effort as it may seem to many, is still an effort nonetheless. We’ve seen it change the lives of many innocent, talented and incredible children, and we’ve seen it inspire others to do the same. I remind myself every day that slow progress is better than no progress, and the fact that we have come this far and are still going is hope that one day we can get even farther than we can imagine right now.
Revive: If my work or my actions are affecting someone’s life in a positive manner, then that’s all I need to stay hopeful. Unfortunate events do happen sadly, since we are living in a society where negativity and suffering is quite common, so the best thing one can do is to keep on spreading positivity.
What do you think of the allegation that student-run charities are mere tools used by students to get into good universities?
Y’s Charity: More than an allegation, I believe it is a statement. However, statements aren’t generalizable. Despite the actions of few, many youth-run charities have the same ideology in mind — a better Pakistan and a better country. I’m proud to say that Y’s Charity will continue to conduct good work in the hands of new leaders overlooked by me even after I go to university. It’s not for clout, for a lot of us it’s a broken heart trying to do good.
Justuju-e-ilm: It’s never a surprise to hear how many people so rigidly believe that most youth based initiatives are utilized merely to help students get into universities and colleges. While it may be true in some cases, I have definitely come to realize over time how far it is from the truth in many other cases. When I first started my work, I hadn’t even begun high-school and had absolutely no plans for my future – but this, the interning, the teaching, the second home that I found within my community of students was everything to me. There are people that I know, friends and partners of mine who pour their life into this work because of the meaning it holds for them; they’ve found people that have become, in spirit, their families. It’s a common misconception that by doing what we do we’ve only changed the lives of others – but that pales in significance to how much of a change these children have created in my life.
Revive: To be honest I have never thought about that. I never knew that this is also one of the tools being used by students to get into good universities. But, I believe that student-led charitable organizations do impact society. Also, I do believe that charity work is all about your dedication towards the sake of humanity and you can only do it if you genuinely believe in it.
What do you hope to accomplish in the upcoming years, what do you see in the future of your organization?
Y’s Charity: The future of Y’s Charity is very simple.
a. To become a registered NGO,
b. To conduct its standard 8 projects per month,
c. To partner with companies to receive sponsorship and,
d. Lastly, to operate throughout Pakistan within the next 5 years (solely youth run) as our whole concept is bringing the youth together and emphasising the need for community service from a young age.
Justuju-e-ilm: In the year since the foundation of this organization we’ve made incredible progress that I hope will only increase in the future. Expanding our NGO would mean being able to open up a space for our headquarters, create a centre of our own for our sessions, increase the amount of work we do for women and girls in our area. Not only that, but to also be able to develop our fields of work targeted towards minorities in our country: namely religious minorities and those with learning disabilities. It is also an aim of ours to one day hopefully provide educational seminars regarding topics with a stigma around them, such as mental health, menstrual health, sexual and domestic abuse and harassment, religious and cultural tolerance, and so on, specific to Pakistani societies where this information is not available.
Revive: We aim to expand to Islamabad and we’ve already recruited some social workers from there. We also aim to focus on our “Empower to Employ” and “From Waste to Sustainability” campaigns because we want to tackle both economic realities, as well as long-term environmental problems that may prove crippling to Pakistan.
Do you have any message you’d like to send to the young people of Pakistan?
Y’s Charity: From my experiences I have learned never to second guess yourself. Don’t be arrogant and listen to advisors, however don’t let your insecurities affect you. Keep a check on your mental health. Do what you preach and lastly always always raise your voices for social awareness. I hope this charity and the journey of social activism is a small inspiration to the youth and future generations of this beloved country.
Justuju-e-ilm: I would like to urge them to not wait until their adulthood to start trying to make a change, to stop restricting their perspectives and to start being as open minded and accepting of differences and diversity as possible. There are so many opportunities available to young people, especially in today’s day and age, to make a difference not only in their own lives but for those around them. That is something that is only going to be possible once a restricted mindset and a sense of blind conformity is discarded.
Revive: Everyone lives for themselves, but the best thing one can do is try to live for others. You’ll learn what life is. Try to place yourself in others’ shoes. Try to help each other. If not that then just stay positive. Maybe your positivity and optimism can change someone’s life without you ever knowing it.
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