Orphans Know More: A Tale Of Hope, Belonging, And Unforgettable Bonds!

by Fatima Ali

January 26, 2024

Sitting on your breakfast table, surrounded by the sweet aroma of your brewing morning coffee and the warmth and love of your parents, have you ever thought about those who are deprived of this warmth and love? 

NSCS’s brainchild, “Orphans Know More- OKM,” is our way to keep them in our thoughts and reassure them of their worth. Under this initiative, we try to spread joy, smiles, and laughter amongst those subjected to the cruel side of life at a very young age. 

Keeping up with the legacy of NCSC, this year, too, we arranged numerous visits to different orphanages and told the little lives living there how precious they are.

Inaugural Event For Tenure 2023-24:

For this tenure’s inaugural event, instead of our council visiting them, we invited children from different orphanages, such as Noreen Zindagi, Muskurahat Trust and their Braces Project, and Aghosh, to name a few, to visit the NUST H-12 campus.

The doors of NUST Central Library were opened for them, making their eyes shine with sheer awe. The little angels were clearly fascinated by the huge realm of knowledge surrounding them.

A particular highlight of the tour unfolded as the group ventured into the vibrant NUST Sports Complex, adding an extra layer of thrill and joy to their visit. The children’s eyes widened with amazement at the sight of the state-of-the-art facilities. The bowling arena echoed with their laughter. The swings, with their rhythmic motion, transformed into a playground of happiness, as both volunteers from NCSC and ON ’23 OC (Organizing Committee) and Freshmen joined in, pushing the children higher with gleeful enthusiasm. Meanwhile, the badminton court lit up with their contagious enthusiasm as they engaged in spirited matches, with volunteers and Freshmen.

Amidst the fun-filled activities, a scrumptious lunch was served, fostering a sense of togetherness among all participants. From bonding over games of Ludo to sharing stories over a shared meal, the sports complex became a hub of joyful interaction and heartfelt connection, leaving lasting memories for both the children and the volunteers.

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that OKM couldn’t have a better kickstart for this tenure. 

Dental Hygiene Workshop With Ashiana Trust:

We at NCSC not only believe in spreading smiles, but protecting them too, quite literally! In light of our above-said motif, we arranged a visit to Ashiana Trust. On the misty morning of 2nd December, our team of 34 volunteers reached Ashiana Trust, aiming to spread smiles and educate the children to protect them and their precious health.

Through an exciting and engaging interactive session, our volunteers educated the children about the maintenance of dental hygiene. The workshop not only addressed the

immediate need for dental education but also fostered a sense of camaraderie between the volunteers and the little kids.

Through activities and games, the children learned practical tips for oral care, turning what could have been a mundane lecture into an enjoyable and educational experience.

Visit To Community Life Foundation– Home To 29 Kids:

The sole purpose of OKM is to be a home for those who don’t have one, and by home, we don’t mean material walls of bricks. We mean a home that is built with bricks of empathy and cement of compassion. 

On 30th of December, in the spirit of December and the holiday season, we curated a special Christmas edition of OKM- a visit to the Community Life Foundation, home to 29 kids, 29 futures, 29 dreams, and 29 ambitions, reaffirming our commitment to be a beacon of warmth and joy for those in need

To make our visit fun and one to remember, our council had planned numerous engaging activities for the children. The laughter and excitement echoing through the orphanage were a testament to the success of the initiative. 

As part of our special Christmas celebration, a two-tier fondant cake, generously sponsored by FunkyBake, was brought to the orphanage. The children’s eyes sparkled with delight at the sight of the beautifully decorated cake, symbolising the joy and sweetness of the holiday season. Our volunteers also distributed goodies among the angels, earning vibrant and beautiful smiles in return, making it all worth it. 

A Final Note :

As the sun sets on the vibrant campus of NUST, there exists a beacon of hope that shines even brighter in the form of the NCSC. Through their innovative initiative, Orphans Know More, the club has woven a tapestry of compassion, bringing smiles to the faces of those who need it the most. 

This is more than just a community service project; it’s a narrative of empathy, education, and the unyielding belief that every child deserves a chance to know more- more about education, more about health, and more about joy. These children are our future. And by protecting and nurturing them, we are nurturing a safe future for our society.

“Rev up your Engines: Be a Super-Donor!” – throwback to BDD Fall 2023

by Isbah Rais

January 19, 2024

Blood Donation Drive is a flagship event of the NUST Community Services Club. Each year, the first and the foremost agenda of the selected council is to ensure that they give back to the society by orchestrating this venture from the platform of the university. For the past years, it has garnered the attention of students, faculty members and external organizations alike and the enthusiasm during the Drive days is therefore always spectacular. 

Students of NCSC ensure that the event is promptly planned and the teams set up stalls to welcome the donors in the NBS Ground with utmost enthusiasm. The theme chosen for the Fall 2023 edition of the Blood Donation Drive was 8 bit games hence the tagline “Rev up your engines: be a super-donor!” – for it was truly an opportunity to “PAC” our fears away and to serve humanity. The student-run organization realizes the importance of blood donating and creating awareness in the individuals of their responsibility towards the society.

Episode 1: 17th – 19th October

This year, the Blood Donation Drive was divided into two chapters to assure maximum participation. The first part of the event was held on the 17th till the 19th of October and it was in collaboration with Jamila Sultana Foundation and Medicos Aid Society of the Rawalpindi Medical School. The beginning of the venture was marked by a colorful and vibrant environment in NBS Ground where various stalls are setup for the entertainment of volunteers and students. From food vendors to five-minute games, all the visitors are welcomed to a good time.

On the first day, commencement of operations was slightly delayed because of the rain prediction but to the credit of event management, it was promptly set up with clearance. Next, the registration process ensued where the volunteers ensured the eligibility of the donors. For further assurance, their blood is tested and after the green signal from the doctors, the process of donation begins.

their blood is tested and after the green signal from the doctors, the process of donation begins. From hygiene to any other medical facility required, the volunteers of NCSC are on their toes to make the event a success. The donors are also provided with cupcakes and juices for swift recovery and the medical professionals are monitoring their health alongside.

Moreover, the proceedings from the stalls were put towards the student-run educational program for the underprivileged, Al Qalam. Successful collaborations with the NUST Stray Animals Club and NUST Physics and Astronomy Society through stall setups were particularly notable as well. Thus, NCSC ensures that duty and entertainment run side by side and everyone who participates in the event leaves with a great learning experience. 

Episode 2: 28th – 29th November

The second part of the drive kickstarted on the cold morning of 28th November. However, despite the challenging weather, the spirits of the donors and NCSC volunteers were soaring high. The collaboration was once again with our trusted partner Jamila Sultana as well as AFIT. From vendors to student-run stalls engaging the visitors in mind-boggling games, NBS Ground was once again brought to life by the drive. 

With both parts of the BDD ’23 Fall Edition, the NUST Community Service Club managed to collect a whopping 622 pints of blood that will go towards the patients of thalassemia and all those who require it. We are grateful to the foundations for trusting us with the Drives for years and years and giving us the opportunity to be responsible contributors to society.

Palestine: a land painted by martyrs

November 20, 2023

by Huda Amin and Saifullah Shamim

Have you ever ventured into a land where shopping bags were being used for carrying children’s body parts instead of groceries? Have you ever visited a bakery,  expecting a sweet treat, only to uncover the haunting reality of a chilling cargo of lifeless bodies beneath its cheerful façade? Or have you ever witnessed the heart-wrenching scene of a crying father collecting the scattered body parts of his martyred children? If you haven’t, welcome to Palestine: a land subjected to the worst crimes ever committed against humanity, a land of people whose faith is highlighted by their celebration of martyrdom.

The Palestinian resilience is unparalleled. They stand tall even after being subjected to years of torment. Its streets, once filled with children’s laughter and the fragrance of fresh olives, now echo with the cries of motherhood, mourning the loss of innocence. This blog post endeavors to provide insight into the Palestinian struggle, foster an understanding of the challenges they face, and take a deep dive into Palestinian culture. Our motive is to highlight the role of media and provide effective strategies on how we, as individuals, can contribute to the Palestinian cause.

Palestine comprises the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The West Bank lies west of the Jordan River. It is Palestinian land yet contains numerous illegal Israeli settlements. Raids by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are frequent and kidnappings of Palestinians are the norm. 

Gaza, on the other hand, is a tiny strip of land that is usually referred to as an ‘open-air prison’. Israel determines what goes into it and what comes out of it. Currently, Gaza is being heavily bombarded. Civilian casualties have exceeded 11,000 with more than 4,000 children killed. Israel has cut off electricity, fuel, and water supplies in Gaza and has made active efforts to ensure a communication blackout. Before we delve deeper into the crisis in Palestine, let us first briefly educate ourselves about Palestine and its culture. 

What is the culture of the Palestinian people? 

Situated where many civilizations have ruled – with each leaving its trace, Palestine is blessed with a diverse culture. It is home to courageous Palestinians who take pride in their identity. Palestinian food is a blend of different cultures and famous dishes include hummus, musakhan, kunafeh, etc.

The people in this land speak a particular dialect of Arabic and have produced remarkable literature. Talking about Palestinian culture and not including Dabke would be a great disservice. Dabke is a folk dance where a group of dancers, led by a leader, dance together in a line or circles using their feet extensively. It is usually performed on joyous occasions. As for songs, one of the most popular songs by a Palestinian singer is ‘Ana dammi Falastini’(My Blood is Palestinian) sung by Arab idol winner, Mohammad Assaf. This song is internationally known and has become a symbol of Palestinian resistance worldwide. Apart from this, watermelon and the traditional headwear, keffiyeh are prominent symbols of Palestinian resistance. Olives have a special place in the culture of Palestine as they are used extensively in the cuisines and are abundant in the land

The Palestinian people are courageous and resilient. However, they have had their land illegally occupied and have been subjected to the worst kinds of abuses. In 1948, the Nakba took place where approximately 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their own homes and had their villages destroyed. Following that, they have had to face a wave of bombings, firings, and illegal settlements for many years. Recently, Israel has exponentially increased the bombing in the densely-populated Gaza Strip, intensifying the crisis in Palestine.

What’s going on in Gaza:

Following Hamas’s attack on 7th October 2023, Israel started heavily bombing Gaza. Since then, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Israel has dropped more than 25,000 tonnes of explosives on the Gaza Strip, equivalent to two nuclear bombs. Currently, Gaza is being heavily bombarded. Civilian casualties have exceeded 11,000, with more than 4,000 children killed. Israel has cut off electricity, fuel, and water supplies in Gaza and has made active efforts to ensure a communication blackout.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states that as of November 16th, Israel has damaged 222,000+ residential units, 167 places of worship, 87 ambulances, and 300 educational facilities, one of them being a UNRWA school in Al Maghazi refugee camp.

Moreover, in a joint report, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stated that around 390,000 jobs had been lost in Gaza as of 5th November. 

Hospitals haven’t been spared either. Hospitals such as Al Ahli Hospital and the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital were damaged. Al Shifa Hospital was forcibly evacuated by Israel, for it was claimed to be a Hamas base, a claim yet to be proven. Other hospitals are overwhelmed. The people of Gaza are starving, and women don’t have access to prenatal care or menstrual hygiene products. Refugee camps have been bombed, and Gazan lives are being treated as mere “collateral damage.”

A black day in journalism:

It is crucial for us to shed light on the plight of Palestine and amplify the voice of the oppressed, especially considering Israel’s relentless suppression of the truth, exemplified by the deliberate targeting of journalists. Approximately 40 journalists have fallen victim to the Israeli occupation since October 7th, 2023.

One heart-wrenching incident that unfolded a year ago remains etched in our collective conscience—the tragic fate of Shireen Abu Akleh, a seasoned Al-Jazeera Arabic correspondent. In the midst of covering Israeli Army raids in Jenin, she was ruthlessly shot dead, alongside another reporter, Al-Samoudi, who sustained injuries. Despite Israel’s attempt to deflect blame onto Palestinian fire, eyewitness journalists vehemently refuted this, attesting that no Palestinian fighters were present during the assault. The news of Shireen’s untimely death cast a pall of sorrow and grief over Al Jazeera’s offices. Described as a ‘professional and unbiased journalist,’ Shireen’s demise marked a ‘black day’ in journalism. The resonance of her story reverberated across social media, with thousands condemning the killing and holding the Israeli occupation accountable. Shireen Abu Akleh’s narrative serves as a poignant reminder of Palestinian resilience in the face of adversity, urging us to embrace truth and stand in solidarity with the oppressed.

The need to verify the news coming in: the role of Western Media

In the persistent coverage by many Western media outlets, the Palestine-Israel issue has been erroneously penned down as a mere religious conflict. However, beneath this misleading narrative unfolds a 75-year-long atrocity that indiscriminately victimizes Palestinians—Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. Shockingly, amidst the recent turmoil, around 800-1000 Christians remain in Gaza, underscoring the urgency of safeguarding the rights of all Palestinians, irrespective of their religious beliefs. The influence of Christian Zionism in the USA is glaring, and the safety of Palestinian Christians is consistently overlooked. Amid the merciless bombings and forced evictions, a tragic reality emerges-newborns in Palestine receive their death certificates before their birth certificates. This is a humanitarian crisis that requires collective awareness and action, prompting us to open our eyes to the profound suffering endured by all Palestinians.

In a disconcerting instance of media deception, CNN reporters entered Al-Rantessi hospital in Gaza accompanied by IDF soldiers, orchestrating a display to substantiate claims of weapons and hostages in the basement. The evidence presented, supposedly a list of ‘Hamas terrorists,’ was, in reality, the Arabic calendar denoting ‘days of the week.’ This underscores the unsettling reality that CNN, a major news outlet, neglected the fundamental practice of fact-checking.

The frustration intensifies when we confront the pervasive double standards and inherent racism of mainstream media. The propagation of a narrative that aligns with the perspectives of the ‘white man’ is evident, leaving verifiable proof offered by countless Palestinians. Despite a plethora of videos presenting genuine evidence, these narratives never find a platform on major news sites. The unsettling truth is that, for some, truth is determined by the ‘white man,’ perpetuating a system where selective reporting prevails over factual accuracy. This incident serves as a testament to the media’s predisposition to twist narratives in favour of a particular demographic.  

It is imperative to highlight the Western media’s hypocrisy, as their dissemination of falsehoods fosters animosity among their audience. A poignant illustration is the tragic case of 6-year-old Palestinian child Wadea Al-Fayoume, who fell victim to an anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate crime. This incident underscores the urgency of presenting an authentic narrative and exposing mainstream media’s propaganda. 

What can we, as individuals, do? 

• The Palestine issue demands immediate attention; every moment of silence allows misinformation to prevail. NCSC implores you to step into the role of an authentic voice for the Palestinians, amplifying the genuine narrative and shedding light on the mainstream media’s falsifications. 

• Along with spatial colonialism, there is an underlying cultural colonialism at hand where Palestinian food, language and heritage are being stolen and labelled as Israeli. So, educate yourselves and tell the world about Palestine and the Palestinian culture. Don’t let their identity die. 
• Keep talking about the issue. Stand in solidarity with Palestine and mark your name among all those who stand up for the truth.

• Boycott all brands that come under Israel to remove all support for Zionists. This will distort the Israeli economy, and disturb the influx of money, the money used to make weapons to use against innocent Palestinians. 

• Donate, donate, donate! Palestine needs you. Canned food, hygiene kits medicines, clothes, and all such donations are greatly appreciated. Exercise your best judgment in donating things that are in good condition and respect the dignity of the people wearing them. The NUST Community Service Club, under its Palestine Relief Campaign has been collecting donations since the 26th of October and urges you to take part in it. Details are as follows:

NOTE: All Donations collected will be channeled towards affectees through the Al-Khidmat Foundation

• Use the power of social media. Like, share, comment, post, and repost Palestinian content to push it up the algorithm. Be consistent and spin the narrative back in favor of Palestine. 

• Before you share anything, be mindful of the dignity of the Palestinians. Don’t share, for example, the content of Palestinian men being tortured by Israeli forces while they are undressed. Remember, they are someone’s family and no one would want to come across a video of their loved ones being treated in an inhumane manner. Be mindful when sharing content. 

• Keep the people of Palestine in your prayers, always. 

Follow these influential Palestinian voices to stay informed and contribute to the urgent call for justice and truth:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Czvmo9qr0pZ/?igshid=NzBmMjdhZWRiYQ==

For more information on the subject:

https://instagram.com/bdsnationalcommittee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

References:

Israel Gaza war: Hamas-run health ministry says Gaza death toll passes 10,000 – BBC News

Gaza death toll tops 10,000; UN calls it a children’s graveyard | Reuters

Why Nakba is the Palestinians’ most sombre day, in 100 and 300 words – BBC News

Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #39 [EN/AR/HE] | OCHA (unocha.org)

Israel Gaza: Hospitals caught on front line of war – BBC News

www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2022/5/11/shireen-abu-akleh-israeli-forces-kill-al-jazeera-journalist

At least 42 journalists killed in Israel-Gaza war – The Washington Post

How deadly is the Israel-Gaza war for journalists? | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera

Wadea al-Fayoume: Last words of knifed US Muslim boy were ‘Mom, I’m fine’ – BBC News

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/11/10/extinction-gaza-christians-fear-for-communitys-survival-amid-israel-war

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2013/3/16/honouring-rachel-corrie-10-years-on

Paint Tomorrow: Pink Stories, Real Glories

November 12, 2023

by Taqwah Baig, Maryam Riaz and Mashal Rehman

Penned below is a collaborative story by three particularly good writers amongst the NCSC community who have preserved forevermore the three events celebrated as part of our Pinktober Initiative.

Part 1: Why is everyone wearing pink?!

Every day, we observe a diverse group of people at the C1 cafeteria, dressed in a range of colors, from formal blues to bold browns, daring blacks, sharp reds, and more. Each person comes dressed in their own unique style, comfort, and ease. If you stand under the canopy, it’s like looking through a kaleidoscope – each color stands out distinctly. It’s a buzzing mosaic that’s hard not to marvel at.

...a radiant sea of pink, a symbol of the collective commitment to breast cancer awareness.

When October arrives though, a wave of pink takes over. This once-ordinary space, where students gather for tea, conversations, and quick bites, transforms into a radiant sea of pink, a symbol of the collective commitment to breast cancer awareness. By promoting visibility, unity, support, and hope in the fight against breast cancer, Pink has become an essential element of the breast cancer awareness movement. You now know that NCSC’s Pink October campaign has arrived, and it was nothing short of magic this year!

Pink ribbons and banners stretched across the entrance, twirling gently in the breeze. Tables were dressed in pastel pink tablecloths and hosted a spread of delectable delights, while pink balloons, like delicate orbs of hope and courage, floated gracefully around the bustling floor. Once you entered this pink portal, you accepted the invitation to be part of the change.

“…in tribute to breast cancer awareness, each piece a unique blend of creativity and compassion.”

NCSC showcased its fierce commitment to Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention by organizing fundraising activities and games for everyone. stalls. You could find homemade cookies, cupcakes, and other baked goods, each artfully decorated with pink frosting or ribbons. Craft stalls were brimming with handmade jewelry, crochet items, and stickers; small ‘mehndi’ and ‘flower garlands’ table was set up to win the hearts of all the desi girls joining in. A special section of the café was dedicated to showcasing artworks created by students in tribute to breast cancer awareness, each piece a unique blend of creativity and compassion. Everything was available for purchase, the proceeds from sales contributing to the growing pool of support for the cause.

The chaotic chorus and chattering were occasionally interrupted by roars of laughter, heavy sighs, and whines as groups of friends played Jenga, losing and winning with each collapse of the tower. For those who wanted to remember the day, a photo booth was arranged and complemented with pink-themed props and backgrounds. Friends and colleagues huddled together, capturing cherished moments that they could look back on and feel proud that they did make a difference.

People left with smiles, dry, pink-painted thumbs, and ribbons. One couldn’t help but be struck by the synergy of generosity, entertainment, and awareness. NCSC proved again that when people come together with a common purpose, they can transform a simple café into a bustling epicenter of compassion and hope. Each coin donated, each game played, and each product purchased served as a reminder that collective efforts could make a real difference in the fight against breast cancer.

So, to answer that initial question, “It is NCSC’s Pinktober campaign, Duh!”

Part 2: Blossoms of Hope 

In the heart of autumn, as orange leaves start dancing around campus, the rosy hues of hope start to show as well. While the essence of pinktober is strength, the name also uses art as therapy by using pink as a color of healing and resilience. NCSC welcomed Pinktober this year with wide arms and pink cheeks lit up with smiles so bright that everyone wanted to ignite the flames of change. It only made sense to host a seminar that not only educates but also inspires as a Pinktober Seminar is more than just an event, it is an opportunity to unite in a celebration of survivorship, to share knowledge and raise our voices against a relentless adversary: breast cancer.

“…connecting on a human level“

This year’s seminar was not just about data and medical jargon, but rather about connecting on a human level. Strength blossomed throughout the duration of the seminar, as every attendee felt a renewed sense of purpose. We could hear the buzz about the seminar from miles away; everyone wanted to put on their best pink outfit and show up! One thing was made clear in the seminar: cancer may touch lives but it can’t dictate stories.

With this, secrets were unlocked; how early detection can be a superpower and tales of triumph among unbreakable spirits. Needless to say nobody left the seminar without a smile on their face, each a testament to the indomitable human spirit. 

The engagement of men during the seminar stood out to all – it’s vital that men and women equally participate and unite to maintain a rock solid support network for breast cancer patients, as today it can be someone you know and tomorrow it can be someone you love. Historically, breast cancer has been associated predominantly with women, perpetuating a myth that men are not at risk. By inviting men to the seminar, this misconception was broadly challenged, demonstrating that breast cancer knows no gender boundaries. Moreover, the inclusion of men had a ripple effect on the seminar’s impact. As male participants gained knowledge and understanding, they became advocates for breast cancer awareness in their own circles, thus expanding the reach of the seminar’s message

Part 3: Embracing Pinktober: A Journey Through Breast Cancer Awareness

In the month of October, a sea of pink sweeps across the world, symbolizing not just a color but a powerful message – the fight against breast cancer. It’s a cause that touches millions of lives, transcending borders and uniting us in a common goal. As the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women and the most common cancer overall, breast cancer deserves our undivided attention.

” not just a story of survival, but a testament to the strength of the human spirit.”

At NCSC, Pinktober is a time of education, myth-busting, and support within our community. We believe in empowering individuals with knowledge about breast cancer prevention and care. In the podcast we conducted, we had the privilege of introducing a remarkable individual, Ms. Shazia Abbas. Her journey through breast cancer is not just a story of survival, but a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Ms. Shazia’s experience with breast cancer is a powerful narrative in itself. It’s a journey that began with the daunting diagnosis, a moment of disbelief, fear, and a surge of emotions. Her friends and family rallied around her, offering support, but they also encountered the cultural misconceptions and stereotypes that often shroud this subject.

As she awaited her surgery, she grappled with uncertainty and vulnerability, emotions that many who face breast cancer can relate to. In the midst of adversity, she found moments of gratitude, silver linings that illuminated her path.

As a mother of two, she faced the added challenge of contemplating her children’s journey alongside her own.. The impact of breast cancer on families, especially on mothers and their children, is a poignant chapter in this narrative. It underscores the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring love and protection that mothers provide even in the face of the most challenging circumstances.

“Ms. Shazia’s journey is inspiring, and her insights serve as a beacon of hope ..”

Beyond the battle with breast cancer, we’ve celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit of individuals like Ms. Shazia, whose event planning business stands as a testament to the indomitable human will and the determination to make a positive impact on the world. Ms. Shazia’s journey is inspiring, and her insights serve as a beacon of hope for those on a similar path. Her message to women battling breast cancer is one of strength and resilience, and her advice to those who seek to raise awareness is a call to action, a reminder that every voice matters.

We’re thankful to Ms. Shazia, for sharing her story and wisdom. Her presence is a source of inspiration for all of us at NCSC, and we wish her continued health and success in her journey.

As Pinktober fades into memory, we don’t bid farewell to the cause; we recommit ourselves to the ongoing journey. Our message remains resolute: breast cancer isn’t just a disease; it’s a community of survivors, caregivers, and advocates. In unity, we find hope and strength. The fight continues, and together, we can make a lasting difference in the battle against breast cancer.

Check out Miss Shazia’s entrepreneurial venture here!

• Link

Welcome to NCSC – it’s been waiting for you!

by Ayesha Nauman

October 16, 2023

At 9am in the morning and your phone chimes, and the notification reads:

“We welcome you onboard at NCSC”.

From that random bench at C1 where I was interviewed, to my designated seat in the auditorium, I said to myself “I don’t know how it gets better than this”. A virtual hug to all the ‘swifties’ who can feel and relate to this reference.

The Purple themed lights and aesthetic environment, canopying the eras of humanity really did teleport us into a different realm altogether. A realm of perfection, idealism, and incredible selflessness.

we are indeed just the flag bearers of a bigger and immensely profound cause.

The event formally kicked off with the self-reflecting and quite thought-provoking words of our faculty sponsor, Ma’am Maheen Mumtaz, compelled us to contemplate on why we came here in the first place, but also instilled in us a stature of humbleness and humility, that we are indeed just the flag bearers of a bigger and immensely profound cause. One might question our isolated efforts to be futile in the bigger picture. But it is indeed the drops that makes up the pond.

The truly galvanizing speech was followed by the introduction of our esteemed former and present office bearers who have set the precedence that we hope to propagate. Hearing their stories inculcated a sense of excitement and responsibility to not only sustain the empire we inherited but to diversify it for the better good.

The paradoxical thing about time is that it passes, be it good or not. And if you ask me, the good time elapses faster (just saying). To capture and reminisce about the day that marked the official inauguration for the year 2023-2024, there was a designated photo booth with apt props for teams to channel their inner ‘swifties’.

In NCSC, it is a trait of the job that people shouldn’t stay restricted to their respective portfolios. We are all in it together. So, to familiarize the newly recruited executives from different portfolios and to make them feel at home, there were indulging ice-breaking activities. A few excerpts from the movie 3 idiots were played as well. Trust me, the aspiring engineer in me could relate to their misery on another level altogether.

all happy and joyful until ‘Bayaan’ songs enter the chat

Considering everybody was so happy and cheered up with the eccentric sense of humor of our hosts Manahil Eman and Romaisa Rashid, it needed to be balanced out. The ‘sad boi’ o’clock was upon us afterwards. It’s all happy and joyful until ‘Bayaan’ songs enter the chat, and the gloominess starts to take its course. Being very dramatic, the much-appreciated vibe was however achieved, but at the cost of making everyone remember their sorrows.

To officially mark the end of the event, the cake was sliced in a manner quite resembling to how Queen Elizabeth, the latest sliced her birthday cake with a sword. At this point, we all were frantically hungry and had the potential of gobbling the holy cake down in quite an illustrative manner but weren’t graced with the chance. It was sponsored by Rahat bakers.

One certainly saves the best for the end, right? That calls for the food we all had been eagerly waiting for. After all, who doesn’t fancy freeloading. Ending the night scooched up sitting in the hallways of SMME and savoring the much-needed food with the best company is all that we needed.

makes me feel as if home found me

That warm feeling of sharing a bond and having others to look after you to make sure everything sails smoothly . It is what we craved when we sat on that random seat at C1 for our interview, and now writing this, makes me feel as if home found me and took me in.

Elevating Students: Reaching for the Sky

By Rija Zaki 

July 16, 2023

How many times have we talked about raising the education system? Ranted about the pressing need to build up the schools and students of the nation to a better level? I’m sure it has come up many times at dinner tables or in friendly conversations, only to be forgotten within seconds afterward and never discussed again until the next gathering when we hash out everything wrong with our country. We do that often – just talk. In stark contrast, NUST Community Service Club (NCSC) is walking away from a realm limited to conversation, taking quickening steps towards elevation. 

Mission and Vision

Instead of leaving education as a topic only to be discussed across a table, thereby continuing our legacy, NCSC took the matter into its own hands. Thus began “Elevate,” where we aim to assist underprivileged and under-resourced schools in every way possible so students attending can receive a quality education in a quality environment. This effort can include but is not limited to constructing new libraries and labs, donating learning material,  addressing institutional needs, and organizing classes, awareness sessions, and activities. “Elevate” has always been more than just providing resources to schools; it is about providing the resources needed most for students and schools to do better. How do we do that? Instead of simply assuming needs ourselves, we make it a point to engage with school administrations, learning about what is genuinely required and what would be most helpful. By fostering social, intellectual, and emotional growth, the ultimate vision is to make quality education a reality for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from. 

Revival: Summer of 2022 

Despite the project coming into existence years ago, somewhere along the way, it got lost amid COVID and other NCSC work until it was finally revived in 2022 under hardworking NCSC members. They set up a computer lab at a school run by the NGO Bardasht and then proceeded to encourage book donation collection over the summer, covering various disciplines and age groups. 

Current Tenure: 2022-23

Book Donation Drive

On 19th November, NCSC volunteers went out to the Bardasht school to donate and organize the collected books according to subject and language in hopes that this mini-library would serve as a stepping stone for children at the school. 

Teach for Pakistan x Project Elevate: a tale of success 

Visits to SMME and S3H

Another event under Elevate was in collaboration with Teach for Pakistan on 6th April. Children from Teach for Pakistan schools toured S3H and SMME, which included visits to the Radio and TV studios in S3H and Robotics and Human Systems Labs in SMME. After the tour, there was a session at SMME Seminar Hall where the children could interact with NUST students, who guided them about higher education, admission processes, different disciplines and careers, and any difficulty they could face or had questions about.

Book Donation Drive

Elevate also conducted a Book Donation Drive with Teach for Pakistan fellows on the 12^th and 13^th of April for an under-resourced school in Sihala to provide those girls with the necessary learning tools and resources to facilitate their education. A collection booth was set up at the central location of Concordia 1, where many donations were collected. Particular care was taken to ensure that the books donated to the children were appropriate and relevant for primary and middle-school-aged children and in good condition.

Elevate Visits 

However, this was far from it. Under Elevate, NCSC decided to work with and send volunteers to Pheli Kiran schools. The magic of this school system is in its flexibility and mobility, arising from the need to effectively provide education to children from slums, refugee settlements, and nomadic communities: a rare initiative that often doesn’t receive enough support.

Accordingly, Elevate had its very first Pheli Kiran excursion of the year on 4^th March. Our artistic volunteers got their hands a little messy as they painted the school walls and brought color to the school. This was followed by sharing the wonders of science, math, and English through interactive sessions.

Another Pheli Kiran visit took place on 18th May. It started with casual conversation and ice-breaking activities, but what truly stole the show were the science experiments that allowed the students to delve into the solar system, sound and sensory experiences, and the travels of light itself!

Glimpses from the Pehli Kiran School Visits

It should come as no surprise that the Elevate visits continued even in the summer due to the dedication of the people of NCSC. For them, there truly was no better way to spend a break than visiting not one but three different colonies for an education awareness campaign.

NCSC Volunteers sharing the joy of Eid ul Adha with students in Basti Muhammad Baksh

This is how on 19^th June, they found themselves being welcomed with open arms in Basti Muhammad Baksh, Basti Ali Luck, and Basti Balochan. Constructive discussions and exchanges of ideas occurred on increasing education for girls and its importance. During the school visit, volunteers actively connected with the students, from playgroup to eighth grade, through meaningful and grade-appropriate learning activities in scientific and artistic realms. 

This is where you come in

Undoubtedly, education makes or breaks a community. It helps unlock your true potential, allows you to push yourself to your limits, and equips you with the necessary skills needed to make your mark in the ever-competitive world of today. In the way that drops combine to form rivers, social change is birthed from the smallest actions of individuals that steer the world towards greater prosperity, actions that you too can undertake starting today: 

1. Teach and tutor those around you. Even if you don’t possess the means to assist someone in gaining formal education, you can also teach skills you’ve learnt through your own life experiences. Remember that whatever can be taught has its value. 
2. Lobby authorities to implement effective educational policies. 
3. Raise awareness on educational issues and offer solutions. This can be as simple as sharing information with acquaintances in person or posting impactful content on social media. It can also be as comprehensive as conducting intensive on-ground campaigns in localities with low literacy rates. 
4. Build and maintain libraries, computer labs and other educational facilities. Naturally, it’s tough to take such steps on your own, but NCSC has got you covered! Donate and volunteer for Project Elevate, which often undertakes such endeavors. 
5. Prioritize supporting children marginalized along the lines of gender, disability and economic class. Pakistani society often prioritizes the powerful and privileged, leading to identity-based disadvantages for others. You can address this issue by donating to NCSC’s Project Al Qalam, which aims to finance the education of underprivileged children.

These are just a few suggestions for how you could make an impact towards the greater good, but countless other pathways to the same exist. Together, it is more than possible to continue building towards educational quality and equity. Here is to hoping for perpetual elevation!

NSSI: the Demon Within

June 24, 2023

by Simra Salman

Trigger Warning: This article mentions self-harm and associated mental health issues. Content may be disturbing for some readers.

What is NSSI? 

Self-harm is intentionally injuring oneself, often due to a mental disorder. Emphasis on “often.” Not all people who self-harm are suicidal: this is where the term NSSI comes into play.

The widespread notion is that all people who self-harm intend to take their life. While this may be true in some cases, it is not true in all. Often surfacing amongst teens and young adults, NSSI is destroying one’s body tissue without intending to take one’s life. The question then arises: how does this habit develop?

Survivor’s Insight

This is how one NSSI survivor has described their experience:

“The way I see it, a sin is…in the broadest of terms, an act that harms either yourself or those around you and maybe both.

However, some sins seem to kill you off from the start, their very sound makes you want to run far far away. These sins “suffocate.” Then there’s other sins, sins that don’t seem to bring us any harm. In fact, they seem to bring us pleasure…precisely the reason why we’d do them over and over again. At one point, these sins seem to amplify your essence. The blood in your veins starts coursing through like high-frequency alternating current, setting up the strongest force field around you that shoves anything that could bring you down into the deepest and darkest void. This is bliss. This is ecstasy.

But you know all too well from one look at your forearm. Your flesh is no longer pink and lively, it’s gray like death. Oxyhaemoglobin forms only in minute amounts…so much so that you can no longer distinguish your veins from your arteries. There’s only a few strained capillaries left that appear red. And of course, surface level scars…ones that make you pull down your sleeve everytime someone passes by.

These scars are self-inflicted. You’ve fallen into this toxic and addictive cycle of doing things that make you feel alive, but you know all too well that you’re slowly killing off what makes you…you.”

While this anonymous survivor describes it as a means of pleasure that temporarily amplifies their essence but later brings regret, the bigger picture is much more complex.

Effects

NSSI can result in several adverse outcomes. For instance, it could lead to cognitive impairments, poor interpersonal relationships, and, when in early adolescence, mental disorders in the future, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

NSSI takes a toll on household relationships, disrupting communication and weakening parent-child relationships.

NSSI is associated with a 30-fold increase in the risk of suicide attempts compared to the general population (Lund et al., 2021). So while NSSI isn’t itself a result of suicide ideation, if left untreated it may lead to.

Causes

The causes of NSSI are diverse and can be genetic, biological, spiritual, psychological, social, cultural, etc. Though precise reasons cannot be pinpointed, several risk factors have been highlighted and must be recognized timely for effectively managing NSSI. Age is significant: NSSI is common in adolescence, possibly because this part of a person’s life is characterized by the uncertainty that comes with self-development and self-discovery.

According to Wang et al. (2022), adverse childhood experiences, bullying, low health literacy, and mental health disorders pose the greatest risk. Furthermore, the study indicates that females are more

likely to develop this behavior- probably because they face a higher degree of physical and sexual violence, particularly in male-dominated cultures.  Clinical observations and cohort studies have reported interpersonal stress, early-life adversity, and digital media

use as causes. A meta-analysis conducted in 2015 systematically analyzed the risk factors for NSSI behaviors in people aged 10 to 44 and found a lack of unified predictive factors and the necessity of standardized NSSI measurements. 

The answer to why people self-harm has been explored comprehensively (Klonsky et al., 2014), with research finding that self-harm is a means to alleviate overwhelming negative emotions and provide a temporary sense of relief or calm to the participant: this parallels the survivor’s insight shared above.

A correlation has also been observed between an overall negative perception of one’s self and NSSI – people may view the act as a method of punishment or channeling self-anger. The reason least frequently found as a driver for NSSI is the desire to influence others – such participants use NSSI as a physical means to signify their emotional distress.

 Studies also indicate that out of the Big Five personality traits, those scoring low on extraversion have a greater tendency to adopt NSSI as a coping mechanism. This perhaps can be owed to the fact that introverts on average tend to have a lower amount of interpersonal relations and human nature tends to remember bitter experiences more clearly than positive ones that may lead

to the buildup of overwhelmingly negative emotions. This in turn, poses a huge risk factor for NSSI – where individuals may turn to as self-perceived temporary relief or punishment.

It doesn’t matter how introverted or extroverted an individual is because, at the end of the day, humans are social animals – and the sanctity of human life cannot be stressed enough. Precisely why it’s essential to identify this issue amongst affected persons in the community and to manage it effectively lest the well-being of society be harmed.

Effective and Responsible Management 

While those affected by this brutal behavioral disorder may concisely cite NSSI as a coping mechanism – what cannot be emphasized enough is that this is a maladaptive coping mechanism, one which does more harm than good in the long run. A community’s welfare lies in the well-being of its individuals, and as human beings, we have a duty to protect and aid those around us. While no universal treatment for this disorder exists to date, essential steps for effective management must be taken. 

we have a duty to protect and aid those around us

Often those affected by this disorder are ashamed to disclose their suffering out of fear of being subjected to judgment. What is essential in such a critical time is to create a loving environment and help them to open up. If you observe that a loved one has suddenly become distant or shows a drastic change in their behavior, please talk, listen, and be there for them: help them manage their troubles in a non-maladaptive manner. The forearms are the most common site of self-harm: if you notice scars there or someone rapidly pulls down their sleeves to conceal something, don’t be afraid to talk to them about it. 

Help break the vicious cycle of triggers and NSSI

If you or a loved one are suffering, it is highly advised to seek help from a mental health professional since they can provide a safe environment, assist you in understanding the causes of NSSI, which vary from individual to individual, your dominant triggers, how to break the vicious cycle, talk healthily about emotions, and identify healthy coping strategies. Your coping mechanism will depend significantly upon the main reason that drives NSSI in you. In addition to talk therapy, therapists may provide mild to moderate medication to help with emotional distress (Bender, n.d.). 

Your Story isn’t over yet…

In the end, it is essential to remember that if the wheels of a bicycle that are meant to go in the same monotonous circle eventually break, so can this vicious cycle of overwhelming negativity and consequent painful behavioral patterns. To everyone reading this: your story isn’t over yet. 

References 

Klonsky, E. D., Victor, S. E., & Saffer, B. Y. (2014). Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: What We Know, and What We Need to Know. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 59(11), 565–568. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674371405901101

Bender, R. (n.d.). Non-Suicidal Self Injury (Perelman School of Medicine – University of Pennsylvania , Ed.). Www.med.upenn.edu; PAH OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC. https://www.med.upenn.edu/psychotherapy/newsletter_selfinjury.html#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20strongest%20predictors 

Wang, Y.-J., Li, X., Ng, C. H., Xu, D.-W., Hu, S., & Yuan, T.-F. (2022a). Risk factors for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents: A meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine, 46, 101350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101350 

Al-Qalam: We’ll light the way

by Zartashia and Simra Salman

May 5, 2023

What is Al Qalam?

One of the most significant challenges in raising a community’s literacy rate is ensuring that that rise is for less-privileged children, too. With the ever-increasing poverty amongst us, many families struggle to afford even the most basic of necessities so it is no surprise -no matter how heartbreaking- to see them pull their children out of school.  

This program offers hope for a brighter future

In response to this issue, the Al-Qalam Project was set up by the NUST Community Service Club. Initially formed as an educational financing program to provide street children with access to education, the program has undergone much change and growth with each successive tenure. Through the provision of support for children’s education, Al Qalam offers hope for a brighter future, breaking the cycle of poverty and providing the necessary skills and knowledge for these children to succeed in life. Overall, it serves as a crucial instrument towards achieving education for all, leaving no child behind.

This tenure’s project heads have restructured Al Qalam to ensure greater efficiency of operations and effectiveness of impact. 

Alleviating the financial burdens of lower-staff employees at NUST…

The core value behind NCSC’s “Get, Set, Serve!” motto is to start helping others from close to home: accordingly, emphasis has been laid on targeting the children of NUST’s lower-staff employees. To ensure that the light of Al-Qalam spreads far and wide, we have adopted a policy of sponsoring the education of only one child per family, allowing more families to benefit. Furthermore, the program now focuses on primary education since change starts at the grassroots, and many families, unfortunately, cannot even afford this much. There has also been extensive effort in coming up with creative ways to raise donations. For instance, we collaborated with Teach for Pakistan and NUST Media Club for a PSL Final Screening Event that was held at H-12 Campus on 17^th March. Though the ticket price was only Rs 200, funds of over Rs 118,000 were collected and safely deposited in the Al-Qalam account: a true exhibit of sports meeting philanthropy. 

This tenure’s project heads have restructured the project to ensure greater efficiency of operations and to improve its effectiveness. The core value of NCSC’s “Get, Set, Serve!”,motto is to start helping others from close to home. Thus, this tenure (and onwards), specific emphasis has been laid towards targeting the lower-staff employees of NUST and to alleviate their financial burdens. This program addresses the issue of inequality in education and provides an opportunity for these children to receive the education they deserve. To ensure that the light of Al-Qalam spreads far and wide, we have adopted a policy of sponsoring the education of only one child per family – more people can benefit from this program in this manner. Also, one starts from the grassroots and the extent of poverty is growing to heights where even the primary education is not always affordable for parents and thus the restructuring to sponsor only the primary education for all cases. This restructuring meant that we had to start from scratch with only one case and with the continued efforts of the NCSC, the program is now sponsoring more than 10 families – such is the philanthropic magic that NCSC members continuously cultivate and what makes this society one of the best at the H-12 campus! We are also happy to announce that the number of donors has exceeded the 200 donors mark this tenure, all with the continued effort of our volunteers!

Now sponsoring more than 10 families!

Overall, with NCSC’s continued dedication this tenure, we have exceeded the 200 donor mark, raised more than 250,000 rupees, and are now sponsoring more than 10 families – such is the philanthropic magic that NCSC members continuously cultivate and what makes this society one of the best at the H-12 campus!  

How can you help Al Qalam? 

As an individual, there are several ways you can support the Al-Qalam program and make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children. 

One way is to donate, either once or on a recurring basis. Even small donations can make a significant impact, so every little bit counts. Monthly recurring payments of even 100 rupees are guaranteed to play a sustainable and pivotal role in permanently and positively shaping someone’s life. To donate:

The three simple steps to donate are:

1. Open your banking account and select Rehaan Khan’s NayaPay account

2. Select schedule for future

3.Join our WhatsApp group for regular updates (link in Instagram bio of @alqalam.nust)

Another way to support the program is by sponsoring the full cost of a child’s primary education for a year (with an option to continue doing so at the start of the next primary school year). Sponsors receive regular updates on the child’s progress, allowing them to see firsthand the impact of their contribution. To sponsor a child, reach out on the contact number of either project head: 

Simra Salman – 0320-9546896

Rehaan Khan – 0315-8777039

Sufyan Ahmed – 0304-9113756

If you are unable to donate, yet another way to support the Al-Qalam project is by spreading the word. The Al-Qalam Project is particularly active on social media this tenure, and  you are encouraged to follow our Instagram account: @alqalam.nust.  

Supporting Al-Qalam by donations, sponsorship, and/or marketing, you can create a positive impact on all children’s lives and fight the adversity of their circumstances through the power and light of the pen.  

Community and compassion: How NUST embraces the Ramadan Spirit

by Neha Nisar

April 21, 2023

Ramadan is a special time of the year for Muslims all around the world. A time for reflection, self-discipline, and spiritual renewal, the month of Ramadan is of great spiritual significance to the Islamic world as Muslims believe that it was during this month that the first verses of the

Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The month-long period of fasting from dawn until sunset is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, with the hours marked with high community engagement.

The spirit of Ramadan is one of generosity and giving, and it is a time when Muslims are encouraged to help those in need. One of the ways in which this spirit is demonstrated is through the collection and distribution of charity. In many communities, organizations and individuals come together during Ramadan to collect donations and distribute them to those in need.

At the NUST Community Service Club, the Ramadan spirit was alive and well this year, as every year.

Under its annual Ramadan Ration Drive, several collection points were set up throughout the campus, including at C1, C2, Coffee Lounge, Retro Cafe, Masjid-e-Rehmat, and the Central Library. In addition to physical donation boxes, online money transfer options were also available, making it easier for people to contribute.

A total of 965,000 Rupees collected and 220 families served!

Over the course of three weeks, a total of 965,000 Rupees were collected, an impressive increase from the previous year’s collection. This money was used to support 220 families, exceeding the previous year’s number of 81 families.

Before the actual distribution, volunteers visited the area to mark the homes of those in need to ensure that the aid was reaching those who required it most. On the day of the distribution, volunteers came together to distribute essential food items to the families.

Giving and helping: a way of strengthening the community

The act of giving and helping others during Ramadan is not only a religious obligation but is also a way of strengthening the community. By coming together and supporting those in need, particularly during this special time, we are reminded of our shared humanity, the importance of empathy and compassion, and the power of collective action in creating positive change.

Mental Illness – an invisible enemy

by raheela Sahar

April 16, 2023

Mental illness is an invisible enemy that plagues the minds of millions of people worldwide. Despite its prevalence, it is often misunderstood, stigmatized, and swept under the rug. The reality is that mental illness can make even the simplest of tasks feel overwhelming – leaving those who suffer from it feeling isolated, alone, and unable to function in their day-to-day lives.

As a loved one, it’s crucial to know how to offer support and assistance in times of need. In this article, we’ll explore what mental illness can look like, followed by practical ways to support someone experiencing mental illness.

What it’s like on the outside

It is a disease that is there but hidden behind fake smiles and hollow laughters. It is a monster that hides behind the curtain of normality. 

A person may seem to be carrying out their chores just fine: they show up for work every day, always dress nicely, smile, laugh, and party hard, but on closer inspection, their well-being might very well be in tatters. It takes a patient mind to realize that something is amiss.

…hidden behind fake smiles

If you pay attention or even inquire about their often-ignored parts of life, you may find that your loved one may lay awake the whole night or be extremely exhausted during the day; they may experience mood swings or have an inability to focus; they might withdraw from loved ones or lash out at them for reasons that are not readily apparent.

Of course, they have not gone mad or insane: they are in fact, just very ill, except that their illness is peculiar in that it is not physical, rather it is mental. This illness does not make them crippled, but it might make their sleep a torture, getting out of bed a near impossibility, and every waking hour a painful ordeal.

How it feels

It is difficult to live with a mental illness. The flow of life that other people may take to be routine is a big chore for you. Getting out of bed becomes a formidable task. As you open your eyes, the anxiety, fear, and the thought of living through it all overwhelms you and straps you to your bed.

But how can they laugh in a world drained of color and purpose?

Even if you do manage to get up and go out for work, all those cheerful faces around you make you feel alienated. There is a smile on everyone’s face except yours. You wonder what in the world is wrong with you: why can’t you laugh? But how can one laugh in a world drained of color and purpose?

Before you know it, your mind is a zoo of jumbled thoughts without direction. With your mind so tumbled and you so broken, how can you fit in the world?

 You start feeling unwanted and out of place in this world and withdraw to loneliness, only to find that the quiet of your surroundings only makes the devils in you scream louder. Covering your ears doesn’t help, and you can’t tell the devil to shut up; you can’t stay here, and you can’t go out back into the world, you can’t fall asleep, and you don’t want to stay up. Where, then, do you go?

Where you step in

Such are feelings of a person going through a mental illness. They don’t feel they belong anywhere and constantly ask themselves: where do I go? The answer to this question should be provided by you. As their loved one, you should be there for them. But what do you do?

Ask them to seek professional help

If you feel that your loved one needs medical assistance because their symptoms are becoming unmanageable, encourage them to seek help from a professional because there is no shame in seeking help for mental health issues, and there are many effective treatments available. You can offer to help them find a mental health provider or accompany them to their appointments.

There is no shame in seeking help…

If you believe your loved one needs medical support, inspire them to seek professional guidance. Mental health issues are nothing to be ashamed of, and a variety of successful therapies can be found.

Listen to them

For a person going through a mental illness, thoughts are the biggest challenges to be faced. They are the ones causing chaos in a person’s life and making living unbearable. Therefore, to listen patiently and without judgment will provide the greatest help.

Kindly ask them to express every thought that crosses their mind. Don’t expect coherence here; some thoughts will be half-finished, some will be dark, and others may even seem trivial. You might be tempted to offer impatient, quick solutions like “just go out more” or “develop new interests,” but these kinds of fixes can be difficult to implement when someone is struggling to work through an emotional abyss.

Provide practical assistance

You could offer support for daily tasks that may be challenging for them, such as grocery shopping or cleaning their home. Neglecting physical well-being and surroundings, such as their home, could exacerbate their mental health. For example, an empty fridge could result in poor meals and, therefore, poor mental well-being.

If they are a university student, be mindful of the unique stressors that come with academic life and offer to assist them in addressing these challenges. For example, you can aid them in organizing their schedule so they can complete priority tasks. It’s important to recognize that mental illness can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming, so your assistance can make a significant difference.

It’s also essential not to force interactions with them. It is tempting to suggest a deceptive quick fix by encouraging them to socialize more. Instead, it is crucial to respect their boundaries and allow them to take the lead in how much or how little they want to engage. Sometimes, just being present and offering support can be enough.

Last Thoughts

Overall, it is important to remember that living with a mental illness is like living in an abyss replete with devils. It is a land of darkness and chaos, where you can neither stand nor run, where hopelessness abounds and a thousand hands try to drag you underground.

In such a no man’s land, a kind helping hand and a patient ear act like the candle that is needed to navigate through the pitch black and find the way out again. So, continue to be a source of comfort and support, and let your loved one know that you are there to help them every step of the way.

Blood Donation Drive ’23: Avengers Assemble!

by Isbah Rais

March 15, 2023

All the Avengers from the NUST Community Service Club assembled this year to balance the universe in the best possible way. The three-day Blood Donative Drive of Spring 2023 was a mega success as people from all over the university rushed to fulfill their responsibility in our metaverse of kindness.

Kudos to Team Decor, they really put in their best efforts!

Four extremely talented individuals were leading the mission and made great use of everyone’s individual abilities to save the universe. Food stalls were set around the site by WOFL Planet, American Express Pizza, Shack on Wheels, and Pasta Fiesta in NBS Ground to provide nourishment and entertainment to our fighters who arrived in great numbers throughout the day.

The drive was conducted in collaboration with Jamila Sultana Foundation from 14th February to 16th February and every single day, our volunteers brought their kindness and passion from 9am to 6pm to assist the donors.

Could the frame have been any cuter?

A total of 525 pints collected!

On the last day, a cake was cut to celebrate the birthdays of some of our warriors who also contributed to making the event successful. A total of 525 pints of blood were collected which is a mega achievement, not just for NCSC, but for every person who is trying to make lives better.

A few glimpses of the campsite

All pictures have been captured by Team media NCSC 2022-23 – thank you for preserving these priceless memories forever!

A day to sit back and sigh: counting the number of times women have become prey has never been easier.

by Fatima Masood

March 8, 2023

…the roots, the power, the supremacy lies with every person but women.

It is perhaps a good time to give every reader a disclaimer, to protect the fragile ego of the very society we are a part of, to emphasize the very fact that the roots, the power, the supremacy lies with every person but women. It is time we accept the blatant nature of this very statement before wrapping our falsely infected minds with the hope of a miracle, a change, something and someone to re-define what it means to be a woman in Pakistan. 

52,370 cases of violence

We started the new year with extensive shows of striking fireworks, delivery of messages to get better to the people we love, to be kind but we forget that kindness, goodness, humility are all virtues and virtues do not form until the primary notions of humanity: security, safety, just being and acting like humans remain unfulfilled. When the human race kills, assaults, abuses, we go way back – back into the alleys of darkness, into the places where brutality resides.

In the year 2021, 52,370 cases of violence, particularly sexual harassment, kidnapping and murder were reported out of which 8719 received media coverage only; many more remained unreported. 

It is intriguing how all these figures and facts still remain untapped when it comes to practical implementation and constitutional changes. It has become a need, a medium of sustenance, a way to channel your humanity, to maybe stop listening and start acting. Your happy posts about how privileged of a woman you are might be a gleeful reminder for you and those you love but there are women who, with every passing minute, get closer to the verge of vulnerability, breakdown, a shatter of all hopes, all possibilities. 

writing down the exasperation of a woman might be the only freedom of communication we get in Pakistan. 

A country where a woman is gang- raped in a family park, women journalists are threatened for their work and choice of clothing, underage girls are married (given away) as valuables barely reaching the worth of prestigious men, women of the minorities are abducted and forcefully converted to Islam, where a religion that offers every right, every freedom of choice to women is exploited at the hands of the ‘all-knowing’ ulemas… the where’s and women will continue but my words will fall short. It’s despairing because writing down the exasperation of a woman might be the only freedom of communication we get in Pakistan. 

It is crucial to understand that girls become women earlier than boys become men. The heaps of responsibilities, the pressures that function to create a framework for a socially accepted woman and the society’s expectation to make women understand the consequences of deviance walks way ahead in the life of a girl: hence, their early stroll down the difficult road to understanding femininity.  The birth of a girl, still in most parts of the country, is considered a lamenting liability. This is then continued to see if the mother of the girl can give birth to a boy. The mother, often without her consent, is then tested, analyzed and examined to see if she performs well and gives birth to an ‘heir’. God forbids if that does not happen, the

mother becomes a woman who has to take care of all the girls she gave birth to, might be under consistent violent attacks at the hands of her male counterpart while the girls may become a source of unskilled and unpaid workforce before they are introduced to the beauty of the vicious cycle again: marriage, children, violence, repeat. 

Is optimism still an option?

In a country where feminist movement by the name of Aurat March gets public attention for its controversial tagline and not for the problems of women that started the movement in the first place, where objectification of the opposing gender, from exhibiting a number of provocative banners to putting up offensive content on social media, is considered to be the best possible solution by a handful of radical feminists, where career-oriented women are stereotyped as ‘rebellious’, where draping a shawl and learning how to cook gives you a high score for a righteous woman, where the dignity of a man does not get hurt by a woman being

publicly stripped in a public place, where a woman who steps outside her house amidst the staple male stare is a target of workplace harassment…. is optimism still an option?

there is always a way to initiate betterment…

There might be negligible hope to alter the status of women in Pakistan but there is always a way to initiate betterment. It might be far more reasonable to talk to your women, ask them

about the obstacles they go through, give them enough confidence so that they become a ladder of strength and ascend to heights that only a few recognize. They are your women, your talented, beautiful,

passionate, relentless and intelligent women, they are and will become a part of your life in every role. Tell them you’re proud of every little effort they put in that role as respecting them, honoring them, appreciating them might be the start to a bigger change, one that identifies them as equal and reverent beings, one that results in them being treated and loved as humans.

Equal and reverberant beings…

Note: source of all the pictures included in this post is Freepik.com

The Misconstruction of Mental Health

by Rija Zaki

February 25, 2023

We are often only inclined to believe in the existence of something if it can be seen, touched, or perhaps experienced by ourselves. For some, the denial is stronger, and all of these are still not enough. Could one perhaps attribute the still existing disbelief and myths about mental illness to the nature of humans then? After all, it cannot be seen as an infection or touched as a broken leg could be. 

For some, the denial is stronger, and all of these are still not enough

Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik

Unfortunately, that is not enough of a reason to justify the stigma around mental health, especially considering recent advancements in science and technology that have proved again and again that mental health is fully capable of causing emotional, behavioral, and at times, even physical changes. Really, is diabetes or arthritis easily visible either?  And yet, it is only mental health that people skirt around, doing their best to not believe or accept it as an illness.

Even when people acknowledge it as an illness, the myths surrounding the topic often create a misguided perspective on the topic. Or a stark contrasting approach is taken – often by the current younger generation – where the term is used as a joke. While it may have started out as a coping mechanism (and who can blame them, really?), it has progressed to the point where the usage of mental illnesses has spread enough for every other person to use it as the focal point of their joke without any understanding of the actual illness. This might have normalized mental illness but only within a specific context – only if it’s funny, endearing or “quirky” – glossing over the harsh difficult parts. 

It has nothing to do with the intelligence of a person or weakness…

While the trend might only be most common amongst teenagers, it does not mean it’s not a big issue for adolescents or even adults. Just like any other illness, it has nothing to do with the intelligence of a person or weakness. If anything, living and battling mental illness requires great strength, so why is it that many still believe that one can have mental illness if they’re weak? 

Image by storyset on Freepik

Moreover, there are ways to protect people from mental illness or reduce the changes caused by it in their life through help, support, and loving relationships. Though of course, when battling mental health, it is not only the “mental” part that one needs to focus on, but also their physical health. It’s not always as “obvious” either. Just because someone struggles with their mental health, it does not mean you’ll find them crying in every corner after every five minutes. People could be doing great academically and have a lot of friends and yet find themselves struggling with mental health – and it is normal to do so. Another common myth is believing that one can only develop a mental condition due to bad parenting. Many would be surprised by the amount of factors that can contribute to one’s mental health including financial struggles or exposure to violence or traumatic events. 

The Gen Z jokes might make light of mental illness, but it still does not provide a medium to discuss it openly, rather makes things even more seemingly tough.

Perhaps we are not fully at the stage of accepting mental illness for what it is, but that does not mean we should stop working towards achieving that stage. The Gen Z jokes might make light of mental illness, but it still does not provide a medium to discuss it openly, rather makes things even more seemingly tough. The effected do not have any means to feel comfortable, to seek support from their peers – particularly when said peers consider mental illness a matter light enough to be joked about.

If done right, creating awareness about mental illness could prove to be abundantly beneficial for all those suffering. Yet, it is only the “done right” part that we often end up struggling with – but with conscious efforts to understand mental illness and create awareness, we can certainly start moving towards the “right” path.

Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik

When the Ground Shakes – The Tragedy of Turkiye and Syria

by Manahil Eman

February 20, 2023

Imagine going about your daily activities in the most ordinary manner imaginable, with no thought to what might occur in the near future, when all of a sudden, the ground beneath you erupts, literally bringing your world crashing down.

“There is light, and suddenly it’s all just dark. It’s dark and tight. I’m scared. I don’t know what’s going on.”

A survivor’s heartbreaking words heard from amidst the rubble

That is the reality for some after a Mw 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey, as well as northern and western Syria, robbing people of their happiness, peace, and some even their lives. As of today, the death count has reached at least 45,000. There are 114,000 non-fatal injuries, 2.4M people displaced, and around 24M people severely impacted by this tragedy.

The earthquake has left a trail of devastation in its wake. Entire communities have been reduced to rubble, leaving thousands of people homeless and displaced. Families were torn apart as loved ones were lost or trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Survivors were left without homes or possessions, and many were forced to seek shelter in crowded makeshift camps. The earthquake also had a significant impact on the local economy, disrupting transportation and damaging infrastructure. Schools and hospitals have been destroyed, making it even more difficult for people to access the basic services they need to survive.

A reminder for preparedness and prompt response measures

The impact of the earthquake continues to be felt today and serves as a reminder of the need for preparedness and prompt response measures in the face of natural disasters. The earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human life and the immense power of nature, of how a split second could turn your entire life upside down, with no warning sign, no last goodbyes. Many survivors are still struggling to rebuild their lives and recover from the trauma of the disaster, while simultaneously reacting to the aftershocks still being faced throughout the land.

Thousands of homes were destroyed by the recent earthquake and its aftershocks in a region where 2 million people already lacked proper shelter.

The tragedy of this earthquake is made all the more poignant by the fact that Turkey has already suffered through numerous similar disasters in recent years, and Syria is under war. Due to the ongoing conflict in the country, information about the extent of the damage in Syria has been limited, resulting in difficulties to provide aid and support to those affected by earthquakes, further exacerbating the impact of natural disasters. Syria has been thrown into a ‘crisis within a crisis’ with no way for the survivors to get help, no way to escape, with temperatures rapidly plunging below freezing. Thousands of homes were destroyed by the recent earthquake and its aftershocks in a region where 2 million people already lacked proper shelter. The destruction also disrupted gas supplies that residents depend on for heat and caused outages for electricity, internet, and cellular service.

As I sit here reading news reports and watching videos of the destruction caused by the earthquake, I am filled with a sense of helplessness and immense fear. These were human lives, just like mine. People just like me with plans for the next day, waiting to do all kinds of things. It could’ve been my life lost in a tragedy like this, it could’ve been any life at all. Is there anything we can do to ease the suffering of those affected, of all those left behind in the remains of broken buildings and belongings, rubble and reminders? 

The answer is yes, we can. To help those impacted by the earthquakes endure this catastrophe and start their recovery, funding is desperately needed. Donations need to be collected as soon as possibly in order to fund even more rescue programs as well as kickstart the process of getting survivors situated and build back all that has been lost in this devastating disaster. These donations, although monetary are optimum, are not limited to just money. Basic necessities for the survival of the people pulled out of rubble, people who have lost all their belongings to this disaster, such as clothing, basic toiletries, food etc. can create an insanely huge impact in this road towards recovery. 

Ongoing support is required!

Moreover, a huge factor in collecting as much donations as possible is educating the ones around us about the severity of the situation and inculcating a sense of empathy in the hearts and minds of our friends. As first responders and groups like the IRC attempt to address the disaster, ongoing support is required, which is only possible if the wonder of social media is put to good use, and the latest information regarding the earthquake as well as any authentic resources are shared.

NUST and its Community Service Club are doing their very best in assisting those affected through a Relief Drive, collecting monetary and in-kind donations at the H-12 campus and through a Relief Account, details of which are as follows:

Account Title: NUST Flood Relief Fund

Account Number: 2292 7917 3412 01

IBAN: 0022 9279 1734 1201

Branch: NUST Branch, Sector H-12, Islamabad

There is still much work to be done to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those who are affected by seismic activity. By continuing to invest in early warning systems, building codes, and disaster response measures, we can help to mitigate the impact of earthquakes and ensure that communities are better able to withstand the forces of nature. As believers of humanity, it is our responsibility to be there for our people in this time of dire need and do everything in our power to respond as much as we can, gather as much help as possible, and send countless prayers for the lost and the survivors.

Significance Of Human Rights

by Maha Baig

What are Human Rights?

Human beings have no control over the traits they acquire through inheritance. Therefore, any bias invoked based on an apparent quality acquired through birth cannot be the merit to determine how a human being should be treated. 

Human rights are inalienable and universal, afforded to us because of our sheer humanity. They safeguard everything that is fundamentally human in us. Regardless of religion, color, caste, race, and language, the only perfectly unbiased representation that is both a voice and identity of a human being is the right they hold because of their inherent humanity. 

One thing that is very important to remember is that human rights are not privileges; they cannot be granted or revoked. Each and every single human being is born with rights and remains deserving of rights even if their lifestyle does not conform to capitalist society. 

History Of Human Rights

The significance of human rights can be aptly imagined with what unfolds in a situation where they are not upheld. For instance, the utter debasement and downright contempt for human rights during World War ll finally awakened people’s collective conscience, and the war became a definitive turning point in internationalising human rights. Following World War II and with the creation of the United Nations, a Charter was put forward and drafted to serve the sole purpose of reaffirming “faith in fundamental human rights, and dignity and worth of the human person.”

However, the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany were realised after the war. The UN Charter alone was hardly sufficient; there was a necessity for a universal declaration that officially specified individuals’ rights to execute the Charter’s provisions on human rights. Keeping this in mind, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights in 1948 in a committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Universal Declaration Of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that enshrines the rights and freedoms of human beings. The Declaration frames an individual’s “basic rights and fundamental freedoms” and affirms their universal nature as inherent, immutable, and applicable to all human beings. It consists of 30 articles that establish the basic concepts of dignity, liberty, and equality, individual rights, such as the right to life and the prohibition of torture and slavery. The rights of the individual towards the community include freedom of movement, the right of property, and the right to a nationality. The so-called “constitutional liberties” include freedom of thought, opinion, expression, religion, and individual’s economic, social and cultural rights.

● The Story of Magna Carta

In 1215, under the dictatorial rule Of King John, Magna Carta was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government were not above the law. It was signed by the barons tortured by the King’s relentless exploitation of power to limit the royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself. Among the Magna Carta’s provisions were clauses providing for a free church, reforming law and justice, and controlling the behavior of royal officials. The Magna Carta further went on to become the inspiration behind the Universal Human Rights Declaration.

International Human Rights Law

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights lays the foundation for modern international human rights law. International Human Rights Law is considered one of the most outstanding achievements of mankind. As each country has its law, there is no single international human rights law but a set of agreements and customs to guide global governance. These primarily include human rights treaties or conventions drawn up by the UN with individual countries that inculcate human rights in the country’s legal system. These treaties predominantly determine how governments treat specific individuals to nip discrimination, be it on any basis, i.e., race, gender, religion, etc., in the bud. 

Why is International Human Rights Law Not Upheld?

International human rights law is not a complex law but a set of treaties or binding statements that a sovereign state chooses to uphold of its own volition. Were it to go against the said law, the repercussions it faces would, at most, amount to international sanctions on trade, export, and import but nothing substantial that can prevent the abuse of human rights in the said state. Since the international community works under state sovereignty,  IHRL is not enforceable. Moreover, signing a treaty or convention does not make the treaty binding for the state, it only shows a general agreement to the principles of the treaty. Only when a state ratifies the treaty does it become binding to it.

Human Rights Violations

Even though International Human Rights Law is evident in its declaration of the universality, indivisibility, and indefeasibility of human rights for upholding the dignity, and sanctity of the human person, countless incidents of human rights abuse are recorded by the minute. According to Amnesty International’s 2009 World Report,  individuals around the world are:

● Tortured or abused in at least 81 countries

● Face unfair trials in at least 54 countries

● Restricted in their freedom of expression in at least 77 countries

In 2007, an estimated 6,500 people —nearly half being unarmed civilian deaths – were killed in an armed conflict at the hands of insurgents in Afghanistan. Hundreds of civilians were also killed in suicide attacks by armed groups.

On  July 8, 2019, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a 43-page report on the abuse of human rights being carried out in Indian-occupied Kashmir. The allegations range from mass killings, forced disappearances, torture, rape, and sexual abuse to suppression of freedom of speech and bans on religious gatherings.

On 31 August 2022, a long-awaited report by the (OHCHR) into what China refers to as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) concluded that “serious human rights violations” against the Uyghur and “other predominantly Muslim communities” have been committed.

Since 1967, Israel has imposed an apartheid regime on Palestine in the worst case of human rights violation. It started first by illegally occupying Palestinian land, demolishing their homes, and expanding settlements to eventually killing countless defenseless Palestinians in the process just because they choose to speak for their rights, of expression, of property, of speech, and finally, of life.

Alleged human rights abuse in the southwestern province of Balochistan, Pakistan, points to enforced disappearances targeting students, activists, journalists, and human rights defenders, which continues to this day.

In Uganda, 1,500 people die each week in internally displaced person camps. According to the World Health Organization, 500,000 have been killed in these camps.

All of the above factual data indicates how authoritative regimes abuse human rights because doing so simply helps dictators exercise, expand, or retain their power. And it is because human rights, in their most generic meaning, preserve human dignity, disenfranchise the nefarious means of those who yield power, and promulgate freedom in its true sense that they are abused most vehemently. 

Why are Human Rights Necessary?

To appropriately explain the necessity of human rights, we must allude to the epochs of greatest human failure, where we see a blatant contempt for human rights.

● Holocaust:

The Holocaust was Adolf Hitler’s plan to “cleanse the world” of Jews and communists. It was one of the most barbaric and brutal forms of targeted systematic oppression.

● Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA): 

For 18 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) guerrillas of northern Uganda had been kidnapping boys to train them as soldiers and girls to turn them into sex slaves of the commanders. In 2002, as many as 20,000 children were controlled by the LRA.

● Jim Crow Laws in the U.S. South:  

These laws enforced racial segregation in the southern United States by marginalizing African Americans – denying them the right to vote, hold jobs, get an education, or other opportunities.

Suffice it to say that human rights are the very foundation on which the esoteric value of human life is preserved, without which the following would become the norm:

● People wouldn’t have the confidence or the trust in each other or society to work in conjunction.

● Ethical and moral boundaries would be frequently overstepped in the most heinous ways.

● People would have no freedom to live, express their thoughts, or be their person. 

● Marginalization, discrimination, and systematic oppression would become the only reality.

● All legal, political, and social systems would collapse, resulting in utter upheaval and havoc. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, human beings cannot coexist in harmony if there is no proper implementation of human rights as framed in a legal system. No implementation would translate in a complete disregard for life and the marginalisation of many. 

In Pakistan, most people are not even aware of their rights, let alone speaking against the infringement of these rights. In a time of great political and social polarisation, it is all the more imperative for us to understand the significance of human rights. Our shared humanity is the only basis to bridge our religious, political, racial, and regional differences and help preserve the society and peace of this generation and the generations to follow. 

Blood: Reviving Life, Rectifying Service

by: Ezaz ul Haq

In the waiting room of a dimly lit hospital, amongst strangers, sits a person clutching his hands and muttering his prayers. His limbs are fidgety, and his gaze is reaching. He is waiting for news about his wife, who is undergoing a hysterectomy in the operating theatre just across. He is praying for a successful surgery and longs to hold his wife in his arms again. Unfortunately, that is not the news he will be getting, for the operation theatre’s door pushes open, and a nurse rushes over hurriedly. In a hushed yet frantic voice, she tells him there has been a complication and that they are losing his wife. Before leaving, she says one last thing: they need more blood to save her. Panicked, the teary-eyed husband manages to pull himself together. He searches for his phone and dials every person he knows. He is searching for a donor whose blood type matches his wife’s. With every unhelpful call, he loses hope. But in a miraculous turn of events, a distant relative pulls through at 1:20 am. What follows is a glorious display of humanity, one unquestionably aided by God’s will. The relative rushes to the hospital just in time with a couple of bottles of the required blood. The blood proves enough to save his wife’s life and complete the botched surgery. The person in this story is my uncle, and his wife is my aunt. The family in question is mine.

This incident happened in a well reputable hospital in Lahore. The hospital had no existing blood bank, and when things went sideways, the staff was powerless in their attempts to save a bleeding patient on their own. I am sure this is not the first time such a thing has happened, that a catastrophe has been barely avoided (or God forbid, not). One may ask, why did such a thing happen? Why are there no regulated, much less documented, blood banks in all our hospitals? One answer that stares you right back in the face is: people do not donate. In Pakistan, there is a minimal history of voluntary blood donation. So, why do people not donate blood?

Myths

Blood donation has always been shrouded in a plethora of myths that are just that: myths. Consequently, it becomes essential to debunk all the misinformation surrounding donations. A common misconception among prospective donors is that donating blood will leave their bodies short on blood. The truth is that an individual’s blood volume returns to normal (owing to an increase in plasma) within 48 hours of donation, whereas the red blood cells are replenished within 4 to 8 weeks. Some people may worry that donating will cause fatigue or weight loss. Although a donor may feel lightheaded, nothing is to say that a healthy person will experience prolonged lethargy or weight loss. Truthfully, blood donation kicks the marrow (cell-making factory) in full gear, which tends to act as a checkpoint to see whether the body is in a healthy condition or not.

Considering this unfounded fear regarding blood donation, prospective donors often venture into paranoia. Undoubtedly, it is crucial to be vigilant in such matters, but trust should be placed in professional medics carrying out safe and clean procedures. Tip: Ensure that the agency or hospital you donate blood to is registered officially. If you must, ensure that the needles used are sterile.

Issues

An underlying issue with blood donation in Pakistan is that screening is not free. If we neglect screening, the risk of releasing infected blood and blood components into the public increases. This keeps prospective donors from donating as the process will either be costly or highly risky. 

Additionally, people may have Hemophobia or Trypanophobia, an irrational fear of blood and needles respectively. These people may be healthy but choose not to donate out of fear, once again reducing the number of donors available. 

Blood donation is also time-consuming. Depending on the scenario, the actual donation may only take a few minutes, but the tests that precede it take up an hour or more. 

The current statistics are alarming and should encourage every one of us to step up and donate: Pakistan’s donation rates are less than 1%. It is worth noting that even if only 1% of a country’s population donates blood, it is sufficient to cover all medical needs. 

Other shocking facts are as follows:

• Shortage amounts to as much as 40%.
• Over 90% of blood donated is by a patient’s family or friends.
• About 10% of blood donated is by professional donors.

People donating blood only to an urgent (often familial) need is admirable but also alarming. This implies that there is a trust deficit among the population. People tend to worry about the potential misuse of their blood. They are not wrong, given that the scale of unscreened blood (on the black market) has been rising due to the absence of a central monitoring system.

All these issues have hindered efforts to make a centralized database for all blood banks in the country (even the few that exist).

With an already existing blood shortage, recipients with a negative blood type find themselves in worse waters, as the blood compatible with them is harder to procure. To quote Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf (Head of Community Medicine, CMH Lahore Medical College): “…The unavailability of blood has led to a number of deaths, and many patients suffer from ill health. The transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year.” 

Solutions

To resolve these issues, we must establish a centralized body that tours the country and makes a centralized database of existing blood banks and donors. It should ensure that the procedures are safe, clean, and done by professionals. There should be grand-scale marketing to shatter the myths that plague us and create awareness among the people to encourage them to donate.  

Importance 

Blood Donation helps improve the life expectancy and the general quality of life for patients that suffer from life-threatening conditions. These include thalassemia, hemophilia, anemia, cancer, post-birth bleeding, and other invasive surgeries like a cardiac bypass. Active blood donation ensures that unfortunate events like the one that befell my aunt do not happen to others. 

One should see donation as a public service, an act of generosity that contributes to the greater good. It strengthens the bonds of the community, instilling in the donors a sense of belonging. After all, what could be nobler than saving a life? So, step forward. You could be why a mother gets to see her child or a husband gets to see his wife. Do not hesitate and give freely, as the blessing of life must not go undivided.

References

[1]       https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-all-about-blood-donation

[2]       https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/329553-dire-need-of-motivation-for-blood-donation-in-pakistan

All We Need is Love: The Third Gender’s Call

_{By Simra Salman}

The eyes of your reflection meet those in the present world, and it seems as if you’re staring past your own self. Their heartbreaking comments echo through the vast passages of your head, and you almost hear your heart shatter into a million sharp pieces. You want to break this vicious cycle, but somehow you simply cannot reach the velocity for escape. This is the world, my darling: it criticizes you for who you are. From all aspects, physical to mental to spiritual, one never seems to be acceptable. No matter how much we progress in this millennial age, the toxic perspectives ingrained in our society would take a lot more than just time to be removed from amongst us. Regardless of whether you’re male or female, they set standards for you every step of the way. Failure to meet their criteria and you’ll inevitably lose value in their eyes.

 However, this world isn’t just black and white neither is it just male or female. Why do we as a society refuse to even acknowledge the third gender? Those who are perhaps the most vulnerable group in this “land of the pure”? Don’t shove that thought away, don’t turn away your face just like they all do, for they, too, are as human as you and I. Now imagine stepping into a trans person’s shoes. Imagine being asked to “be more masculine” or “be more feminine,” failing to be accepted for who you actually are. Imagine stepping out into a marketplace and automatically being associated with sex work. Imagine having finally one day been granted a protection bill only for it to contain a loophole that prevents you from receiving shelter from all these heinous crimes: it dictates discrimination against trans people as unlawful but fails to outline any penalty for such crimes. Imagine living in a world where the word “khusra” (the Urdu word for a eunuch) is considered the most degrading of insults. Imagine going to a hospital in need of immediate medical assistance only to be ridiculed unless someone “normal” accompanies you. Now just think how all of this would undermine your self-worth. While the entire burden of self-worth cannot be put on social interactions alone, one can’t refuse that they indeed play a significant role. After all, we are considered social animals, and even the most introverted amongst us is far from being the ideal introvert. Deteriorating mental health is basically a given if one is subjected to such brutality every single day of their life.

To mend our ways, we must first identify what caused us to go astray. After all, we are the youth of this nation, and the power in our hands is sometimes unfathomable. Undoubtedly, we can change this society for the better, if not the best, one step at a time. We at NUST Community Services Club not only acknowledge this strength of ours but try to awaken the sense of significance so essential to drive this machine amongst our fellows and the youth at large. Who better to learn from an issue than those directly subjected to it? This is precisely what inspired us to organize the session “Baat Cheet” on the 24th of February, 2022. The event was an interactive talk session with trans rights activists: Nayab Ali, with her 10 years’ long experience in activism; Bijli Baji, widely known for her courage, compassion, and her regular food drives in Islamabad; and Sherkaan Malik, a former debate coach and now a manager at Transgender Rights Pakistan. They candidly shared their stories, significantly enabling students to further their knowledge about the trans community and the common problems that they face. An Instagram Live session was also arranged with Dr. Awan before this event.

Trans people have always existed amongst us, but the intensity of discrimination amongst them has varied over the years. This gender minority belongs to different races and ethnic groups, speaks different languages, and has different backgrounds. There’s a long chain reaction triggered by an unwelcoming society that results in the terrible treatment of trans people. The earliest of such social interactions occur within our own homes. Quite often is the case that our toxic ideologies would undermine even blood ties, forcing trans children out of their homes at the youngest of ages. Did you know that Nayab Ali, who had ten years’ worth of humanitarian activist experience, was subjected to the same? Bijlee Baji, too was abandoned by her family at a very young age. She contacted them after 17 years, informing them of her diagnosis with Hepatitis C, upon which they said, “You may die from our side.” The importance of education in today’s world cannot be stressed enough. Our wants will always exceed our needs, but our needs are essential. Among the limited job opportunities across Pakistan, being educated certainly grants one the upper hand. Sharing their personal anecdotes, Dr. Awan emphasized that this would solve some, if not all, of their neglected peoples’ problems.

They always say that every cloud has a silver lining. Although a lot more effort is clearly required, we must recognize all efforts made to protect these individuals. University students from NUST raised funds for Bijli Baji’s treatment, and as a gesture of her gratefulness towards society at large, she organizes a food drive in F-11 every weekend. The first-ever madrasa for trans people opened in Okara in 2019, providing them a safe space to further their religious education. Moreover, the Supreme Court formed a committee for the “Trans People protection Act”, which ultimately led to the passing of the 2018 law, acknowledging the third gender under the CNIC section of NADRA. Rights to vote and contest in the elections were also granted. In democratic states like Pakistan, the political representation of minorities is indeed a huge milestone.  Though the complete effectiveness of the act is questionable and doesn’t define penalties against rape and other heinous acts.

The final question is: what can we, the youth of this nation, do for these lovely people of the earth who feel abandoned and rejected every day? Dr. Awan offered us a solution that was simple and complex at the same time. “All we need is love.” I’m not exaggerating when I say that my eyes tore up when I heard his words -for isn’t love the core emotion that gives life all its meaning? Your mother looking into your eyes and telling you that she believes that you’re the most beautiful child in the entire world. Your boss appreciating your good efforts, making your heart swell with joy. Your friend showing you off to the world, feeling privileged to have been blessed with your company, making you want to be there for them in all ways. Having a significant other that truly complements your being, each providing the essence for the other’s existence. Working for others in any way that you possibly could to change the world for the better. Allowing each other to progress as individuals in harmony. There is love behind all this, but there isn’t nearly enough for this minority group. Nothing is permanent, but with the right efforts, we can reshape this all. All we need to have is faith, humanity, and the courage to go on. Hoping that one day, Pakistan becomes a country where people of all shades are truly safe and secure and that we set out an example of rhythm to follow.

Transcending Thirteen: Orphans kNOw More

_{By Duaa Shah}

Pop culture teaches us to fear 13. So we run from 13 on a Friday, 13 guests at a table, 13 letters in a name. But even as rationale hits and we wave fear off as superstition, 13 remains merciless; in Pakistan, only 13% of girls are still in school by ninth grade.

Fear renders some of us stagnant. We close our eyes as if that’s enough to evade settling responsibility. Yet beyond the oblivion we quickly wade into, 13 lives on, a number whose smallness reflects millions of girls’ aspirations turning to dust.

Fear inspires others. They choose ache over the dark because the affliction of witnessing is inconsequential against the affliction of experiencing. 13 becomes a number whose implied adversity can then itself turn to dust.

On 26th April, the NUST Community Service Club (NCSC), under Project Orphans kNOw More (OkM), visited Mera Ghar, an orphanage dreaming of doing just that. The “Ghar” encompassed girls from diverse backgrounds, some with families and some without, but all at an intersection of gender, age, and socioeconomics that gives way to harrowing vulnerability. But even in that vulnerability, the children were brimming with innocent prayers like seeing their loved ones for Eid and relentless ambition for careers like medicine, military, engineering, and law. And those prayers and that ambition, which, for many others, are left alone and untethered, find support at Mera Ghar. The administration not only opens its doors for girls across the country’s geographic and ethnic boundaries but also helps pave vibrant and unique lifepaths by sponsoring primary, secondary, and tertiary education; providing facilities like self-defense classes; and keeping multiple caretakers.

As NUST volunteers conversed, played, celebrated, and (finally) broke their fasts with nearly a hundred vivacious, affectionate, and ingenious girls, the seemingly strictly drawn boundary of 13 seemed more faint, more faded, more forgiving.

Workers of the World, Unite!

_{By Rana Hunain}

He is hopeless! Painstakingly hopeless! His daughter’s face swirls around in his mind a hundred times a second. He can feel his dead wife’s solacing presence surrounding him. He watches cars zooming across the road near the plantation he works on. Extravagance around him makes his pitifulness more visible. By plantation owner’s rules, his labor doesn’t belong to him. He bemoans his life for not having freedom of choice and owning his labor. He doesn’t sell his labor in a voluntary exchange; the labor is owned by the plantation owner. He belongs to the group “HAVE NOTS.”

This is the everyday story of many we see in our society. Selling one’s labor to someone else is the oldest form of exchange, stretching back to early human developments. The most common story of the beginning of civilization delineated when agricultural societies became productive enough to generate food surpluses, then the need for a medium of exchange, placement of political power, and division of labor was felt. At this critical turn, nations worldwide decided on a pyramidical society. With the ascension of this NEW WORLD ORDER, we observe a pattern of classifications emerging like master and slave, aristocracy and common man, laborer and man with the lash. This binary arrangement of society produced dichotomies i.e., ruling class, working class. And capital was hand in hand with the ruling class and political authority.

Our conception of labor

When we think of labor or laborer, portraits of bricklayers, and peasants run across our eyes. Our view of work or labor is very much myopic. This confusion about the nature of work is readily described by the division of the workforce into blue-collar and white-collar workers. A laborer is anyone who sells their time in producing goods and services to an employer for a wage. Essentially white-collar workers are higher paid “corporate slaves.” Owning your labor is an intrinsic right in exchange. Here, owning profoundly means not selling your labor when you don’t want to sell. But practically, labor has to participate in an exploitative apparatus that feeds on labor while refusing to give equal standing. Historically, during the feudal economies of the middle ages, work was meant for the slaves and serfs. Employment in the current sense of the word was pretty much non-existent. The slave market provided slaves for any kind of labor. But it changed with the introduction of craftsmanship. Work was more than just producing goods and raising the standard of life. It was more of a way to express yourself in a dimension other than art and also the meaning and fulfillment it gave. When Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine chapel, it was employment.

Labor rights: an egalitarian deal

The doctrine of egalitarianism dictates that the best state of society encompasses freedom, equality, and justice. But this free-agent scheme was the recipe for imploding quagmire. The amount of money is proportional to the freedom of choice and liberty. Socialist movements of the 19^th century were aimed at this conundrum that freedom to utilize private property was obfuscating equality for the masses. This tradition of opposing the ruling class still affects today’s leftist politics. Redemption of an equal society is concealed in redeeming labor rights.

Labor rights: a religious ideal

Religion has been the sole arbitrator for human conditions since the sophistication of mankind. This is what some of the major religions have to say about labor rights:

Christianity:

Jesus (PBUH) was a carpenter. A profession that represents wholesome work.

Bible says, “Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,

But the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

Islam:

Islam doesn’t advise the socio-economic layout that polarizes society into binary dilemmas of owner and worker, those who HAVE and HAVE NOT.

Prophet Muhammad said, “pay the laborer before his sweat dries out.” 

Labor Rights are Human Rights

Human dignity is sacred. Realizing, preaching, and protecting it are the noblest of deeds. If we find some group deprived of dignity and respect, we must devise a way to mediate their problems as a developed civilization. This is the sole reason we have human rights. Labor rights must be considered human rights to protect dignity and respect. Lack of labor rights or improper implementation of labor laws haunts the lives of the labor class. The poor labor class initiates a vicious circle of poverty which drags down the whole society. Labor rights are a marker of how we care about our less fortunate factions of society. Secondly, labor laws also help maintain equality.

Historical Movements

After four millennia of intellectual evolution, enlightenment taught us about individual liberty and free-enterprise economics in which accumulation of wealth was declared as antediluvian extinct. Labor was surrendered in front of big corporations. This created a rift throughout Europe. Astute politicians and business barons were crushing the labor class with 14-16 hour workdays 6 days a week. LABOR LAWS: a phrase with no introduction to the so-called civilized world. The labor market back then was a sophisticated form of slavery. Craftsmanship was replaced by mass production. Cities began to swell. Child labor was employed to fill intricate machine parts in confined spaces. Capitalists owned fruits of labor. Nature of work for the masses returned to a backbreaking ordeal. All this commotion in the air paved the way for labor rights movements across Europe in various regions of space and time.

The American labor movement in the 19^th century was very much active in the struggle for the betterment of workers. Organized labor unions pushed for higher salaries, more reasonable working hours, and safer working conditions for people in the industrial sector. The labor movement spearheaded attempts to end child labor, offer health benefits, and assist wounded or retired employees.

Labor laws in Pakistan were formulated in the 60s. Later on, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was considered the leader of the masses and had socialist leanings, practically unionized every profession and crushed the capitalist class by nationalizing the enormous chunks of private conglomerates.

“Under the Factories Act, 1934, no adult employee, defined as a worker who has completed his or her 18th year of age, can be required or permitted to work in any establishment in excess of nine hours a day and 48 hours a week.”

UN activity about labor rights is centered upon ensuring the eradication of child labor, forced labor, and decent working conditions. The current state of the labor market across the globe, According to UN GLOBAL COMPACT:

• Almost one in ten children are subject to child labor, or 160 million children globally, a number that has risen for the first time in two decades
• 24.9 million people are trapped in forced labor
• More than 630 million workers worldwide — that is, almost one in five, or 19%, of all those employed — did not earn enough to lift themselves and their families out of extreme or moderate poverty
• Each day 7,500 people die from unsafe and unhealthy working conditions
• 74% of countries exclude workers from the right to establish and join a trade union, while 79% of countries violate the right to collective bargaining, and 64 countries deny or constrain freedom of speech and assembly
• Hundreds of millions of people suffer from discrimination in work because of their skin color, ethnicity or social origin, religion, or political beliefs.

Current Labor Movements

In America, during the pandemic, corporations laid off massive amounts of workers, which helped them maintain their stock prices, and their businesses didn’t go under. This cynical handling of labor has helped develop class consciousness in the worker community. America is experiencing what is dubbed “The Great Resignation.” Workers are demanding better wages and good health insurance. Leftist politicians are calling for higher tax rates on billionaires and pushing for legislation to up the minimum wage. Unionization is a powerful tool against the ruling class. A collective body that represents the common interest of workers. Workers of major corporations like Amazon and Starbucks have voted for unionization.

Future of Labor

We live in a craven, transactional economy where we are only worth as much as our personal brand, and jobs are unstable. With the advent of the gig economy like Airbnb, Bykea, Uber, and Foodpanda stability of jobs has vanished. You are not enlisted as an employee but as a contractor, i.e., Rider. Unfreedom has been veiled as freedom. But the future seems hopeful. After 30 years of unregulated economics, wealth inequality has soared, and the new generation is cynical about the current system. Socialistic sentiments are prevalent in Gen Z. According to the Institute of Economic Affairs, a study found that 67% of 16-25-year-old men are distrustful of the government and Wall Street.

All we need is a crystal clear description of objectives and a way to deal with politics. Individual actions are the backbone of any movement, which culminates in the acceptance of more significant goals of the labor class.       

The Gift of Giving

_{By Sameen Salahuddin}

Spirits run high, their festivity holding us closely during the month of Ramzan. It’s a moment for us to feel, a moment for us to give, and a moment for us to share. The Holy month of Ramzan touches down on both spiritual and worldly affairs and reminds us that there is more to being human; we fast, we pray, and we ask for forgiveness, but we also need to look beyond the lens of our comfort, we need to look at our community and remember: our privilege does not extend to all. 

The Holy month of Ramzan invokes a feeling of empathy within us all, a sense of urgency to give back and help those around us. And the ways to act on that -to bring a smile to people’s faces, ease the weight on their shoulders, and remind the world that there is good left in humanity- are countless.

One such way is to bring food to people’s tables and to fill empty stomachs; particularly in a country that has been severely ravaged by poverty and the pandemic, this one step could go a long way, and it could encourage onlookers to repeat the same gesture. 

The ease of inspiring others with action compared to the fruitlessness of preaching empty words was one of the driving forces behind initiating, “Iftar from the heart”, NCSC’s first ration drive to distribute food to the underprivileged and to extend the comforts of Ramzan to those struggling. This time of the year offers a mirror of reflection: the delicacies we enjoy during Iftar and on Eid are not experienced by those less fortunate, so why not have a hand in bringing them memories and delight?

Often, while fasting, we prefer to sleep up to Iftar time. But the true essence of Ramzan lies in putting in the effort and putting in the work, of making long arduous journeys in the heat to reach the scene -journeys such as the one undertaken by NCSC volunteers on 23rd April:

There is a moment of fright and glee when you realize the little kids playing with firecrackers are a little too close, but their energy and giddiness still bring a smile to your face. You almost want to join in, before remembering that there is still a mission that needs fulfilling. 

Going door to door to deliver the ration packages and meeting a plethora of people from various backgrounds allows you to form connections, to learn, even if only for a moment, about the ways they live and carry themselves. You converse with Afghan refugees and attempt to converse with those who don’t speak Urdu, only Pashto. You lose your footing, lost in unfamiliar languages and expressions, but it’s easy to catch yourself and share a smile and a package. As they express gratitude, warmth settles over you, seeping into your bones; you are reminded of the potency you have, the potency of small changes that, bit by bit, add up to grand gestures.

We are all the same in the eyes of Allah; we may be leading different lives, walking different paths, and painting different colors on our blank canvas world, but we are one and the same to Him in our humanity. Will He not be happy to see us aid our fellow people?

The ration drive may have come to an end, but this is just the conclusion of one chapter, not the completion of our story. There are still many ways for us to reflect, for us to think, for us to help out: they do not need to be tied down to the month of Ramzan. Even beyond this month, let these memories of the ones we supported carry us onward toward an endless path of sharing joy, fulfillment, and blessing.  

Bread for Every Breath

_{By Fatima Shahid}

تڑپ کر بھوک سے جاگتے ہیں، انہیں نیند نہیں آتی

یہ تو غریب لوگ ہیں صاحب، ان پر عید نہیں آ تی

I was a witness to her withering breaths for months. The waning lub dub of her heart, the slackening of her joints and muscles, the sudden plonks of the ECG lines scaring the living daylights out of me followed by the upswings giving me a faint ray of hope. “Allah mujhe apnay paas bula kyun nahi leta, Mirha?” she would repeatedly ask me, eyes filled with agony, dark half-moons lingering underneath them. The question was always followed by a dead, hopeless silence because there was nothing I could do. Despair engulfed me completely.

Gradually, almost all my lifelines hit the skids. Before the pandemic set foot, when the world wasn’t as dark and static as it is now, when I was able to pay all my bills on time, when I was a mettlesome breadwinner for my family – which includes me, my son and my Amma jaan – I used to be a tickled pink beautician at a bijou salon in town. Alhamdulillah, I would mutter under my breath upon receiving a modest pay at month’s end. Bliss would take over me. Despite being a run-of-the-mill job for many, my job was like a cherry pie for me, something that took me on cloud nine. Nothing made me happier than hearing Amma jaan say “Teen waqt ki roti izzat se naseeb hoti hai humein”. It was a sublime blessing for all of us.

We were ecstatic. We were beaming. We were breathing. Little did we know how ephemeral and temporary all this could be. The onset of the pandemic was a death blow for me. The cessation of all social activities and mass shutdown across the country meant that I could no longer work at my winsome salon. Horror and dread ran through my blood as I ruminated over the future of me and my family. The only thread of light I could see at that moment was my prowess in the field of baking.

Two weeks post the outbreak of pandemic, I found myself embellishing a batch of twenty donuts with icing sugar, though no amount of it could oust the bitterness that had crept into my life. Online confectionery business isn’t a walk in the park – marketing, advertising, procuring customers, maintaining product quality – all can be quite grueling and demanding. With many pre-eminent bakeries transitioning to provision of online services, fledgling businesses like mine did not stand much chance. With a heavy sigh, I counted the few notes I was able to make over the month.

Lockdown was like a pause button for me. I felt futile. I felt hollow. My hopes diminished as days and months passed. World had grown smaller for me owing to the horde of responsibilities on me. My coping paraphernalia was exhausted and worn to a frazzle. The strokes of the paintbrush that filled me with felicity, the rays of sunlight slashing through the curtains at 7 A.M that charged me with vitality for the day, the dawn chorus of the birds that caulked every part of me going through agony – failed to perk me up. Inertness oozed out of everything. All was drenched in despondency. 

Just like the world was beginning to dwindle for me, Amma jaan also lost all her lifelines. No more friends’ meetups, no more gossip sessions with Bushra Auntie who lived next door, no more dawdling around the malls looking for those enamel tea sets. We were living hand-to-mouth, meandering in gloom, not knowing how life at the end of the tunnel would be like and the fact that not all of us would be able to make it to the end…The only lifeline left for me and Amma jaan was little Sheraz, he was a beacon of light for us. Even in such trying times, he managed to be all smiles. Him saying “Mama mein ab se kuch bhi kha loon ga” while seeing me fretfully add the last bits of his favorite koko crunch petals to his bowl, was truly overwhelming. Looking at my seven-year old kid filled me with motivation to keep striving, for things will get better one day. إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا – Beshak mushkil kay saath asaani hai – I recited day and night, while hopelessly seeing all food stocks plummet as days passed.

“Amma jaan aap theek hain!?” my voice echoed through the hallway as I rushed to Amma who was holding tight onto the edge of the bed with dribbles of sweat trickling down her forehead. Her face was pale as a waning moon, her eyes widened and filled with trepidation, her body weak as a nestling in falcon’s grip. Frantic with worry, I scurried to the hospital where Amma jaan was diagnosed with arrythmia – which encompasses irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain followed by dizzy spells and fainting fits. Like this wasn’t dismantling enough, the doctor bludgeoned me totally by pointing out the cause of arrythmia to be anemia. Elucidating further – it was an inherited form of anemia called sickle cell anemia that was made worse due to low dietary intake in the past few months. The amount of guilt that flowed through my veins was immeasurable. I held myself accountable for Amma jaan’s shriveling health.

The rustling of leaves as spring breathes heals aching hearts, not this time. Dejection prevailed.

Amma jaan’s medicines and monthly check-ups became stakeholders of my meagre salary. I put my shoulder to the wheel and stopped at nothing, but despite all my efforts, Amma jaan’s condition kept deteriorating. Things took turn for the worse when Amma jaan had a heart failure not long after being diagnosed with anemia. The doctors didn’t have the nicest words to offer. Amma jaan’s heart had enlarged in size to pump more blood, in order to make up for the lack of oxygen in the blood. She suffered a stage C heart failure which could make its way to stage D if left untreated. Aortic Valve Replacement was sought to be the work-around in Amma jaan’s case – the only impediment being the fairly high mortality rate in the follow-up period. Alas, we had no choice. I couldn’t see Amma jaan in that condition. She was in pain. I consented to carrying out the AVR. 

My eyes trailed over the rainbow connecting the two ickle clouds hovering at the sides of the card. Vacuously, I gawked at the handprints that stood prominently underneath the rainbow. Sheraz’s petite hands. Hashtags of “Together we fight” and “Stay strong mama” were scribbled at the bottom of the card – it was a beautiful card, one that meant a lot to me, one that my little baby gave to me seeing me teary-eyed and demoralized in the waiting room of the hospital. The meticulous yet vivacious strokes of the crayons evinced vitality, optimism and buoyancy. A light at the end of the tunnel. Something that I desperately needed then, for I was devastated. It took me by awe how my seven-year-old little kid could turn into my biggest support system, a crutch for me throughout my struggle. My only lifeline.

Weeks passed.

Holding Sheraz’s finger, I walk in the windy streets of Islamabad. I drink in the sweet smell of spring, hoping for it to be therapeutic for my maimed soul. My eyes look for the lambent forsythia and daffodils. I seek for reassurance – being told that this too shall pass. 

Everything does. So will I. So did Amma jaan. 

This is the story of Mirha. A dauntless woman who despite being faced with several adversities due to the pandemic, moved earth and heaven to cater for her family. COVID-19 gave birth to hundreds or even thousands of such Mirhas. The pandemic continues to have debilitating effects on world hunger and poverty. Disruptions in the supply chains and rise in consumer demands has drastically raised food prices across the globe. Malnutrition and child hunger have exacerbated. About two-thirds of households with children have lost income ever since the pandemic set foot. “It is a dire picture and the poorest households are being pushed even deeper in poverty”, in words of the UNICEF Director of Programme Group. 

In many of the households that are a victim of food insecurity, people are going a day or more without food. The pandemic has disrupted every nook and corner of the healthcare system. World has been propelled into a well of misery and gloom.

Pakistan – a country that is already a victim of extreme poverty due to political turmoil as well as natural disasters – has been slashed by the pandemic. The volatile situation in Pakistan convoyed by the pandemic has aggravated hunger and poverty in the country. Up to 40% of the population has been pushed below the poverty line in COVID-19’s viral wake. About 20% of the population is undernourished that has led to roughly 38% of the children experiencing stunting. Though efforts are being made to fight hunger and the country has implemented initiatives to beat this calamity, these efforts are minuscule and limited. Challenges in eradication of food insecurity persist and hunger is still a major issue in Pakistan.

“I just feel like I get one piece of good news that makes me think life isn’t going to be bad, and then here comes 30 things to basically push me right back down in this hole that I feel like I’ve been trying to dig myself out of for the last probably 15 years”. These are the heart-rending words of another Mirha who is striving to provide for her family under the prevailing harrowing conditions. Another one – a teen selling soda bottles, holding his one-year old brother, along the rail tracks near his shanty home. In every direction, we will see distressing stories and dispirited souls. Not much of a sight to behold. We have to be the sunshine for these people stranded in darkness. We must do whatever is in our power to help them out, extend a hand of solace and warmth.

Feeding those around us leads to bakhshish and in this holy month of Ramadan the reward of this deed would surely be multiplied. Ibn al-Qayyim said, “If Allah Almighty had forgiven one who gave water to a dog suffering from extreme thirst, then how about one who relieves the thirst, satisfies the hunger, and clothes the naked among the Muslims?” 

Kindness and generosity are the most underrated agents of human change. You can give as little as a penny, a date, or a raisin – small drops amass to become a sea. Remember that happiest people are not those who are getting more, rather those who are giving more. 

Our religion emphasizes on feeding the poor, it is a highly rewarding act in Islam:

• It is considered to be one of the best Islamic traits.
• By doing so, you will be following the Sunnah as Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Free the captives, feed the hungry and pay a visit to the sick.” 
• It is the attribute of a true believer.
• You will be questioned about it in the Hereafter.
• You will be rewarded with Jannah. Our beloved Prophet S.A.W said ’Whichever believer feeds a hungry believer, Allah feeds him from the fruits of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection…′ [Tirmidhi]
• You will be carrying out a Sadaqah and can even reap Sadaqah Jariyah rewards for it

This year NCSC is playing its part to stifle hunger prevalent in the country. You can play your part and help us fill the empty stomachs and empty tables. Join us in extending a helping hand to the families that do not know where their next meal will be coming from. It’s not about how much you give, rather how much love you put into giving. You have two hands, use one to help yourself and the second to help others. Donate today and cement tomorrows. NCSC will ensure that 100% of your donation reaches those in need.

Do things for those around you not because of who they are, but because of who you are. Be the change you wish to see in the world.

‘Whoever saves one (life) – it is as if he had saved all of humanity’. [The Noble Qur’an, 5:32]

References

https://www.undp.org/press-releases/pakistan-pandemic-could-push-millions-more-povertyhttps://muslimhands.org.uk/latest/2021/07/benefits-of-feeding-the-poor-in-hadith-and-quranhttps://reliefweb.int/report/world/pandemic-and-poverty-covid-19-impact-world-s-poorhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05664-3

‘Crazy Talk’: The Local Stigma Against Mental Health

_{By Maria Rafiq}

We face tremendous stress as part of just being alive in an era of hustle culture, where whatever we do, is just not enough, and honestly, it is sometimes beyond overwhelming. Wherever we are, be it at work, at home, or in a friends’ gathering, we hear someone saying; “I am so stressed out” or “I am so anxious”. But talk about mental health and the next thing we hear is,

“You can do better.”

“You should be a little thick skinned.”

“Oh! Come on, you should pull yourself up by your bootstraps and move on.”

Mental health disorders are often linked with insanity, labelled as craziness, and tabooed in our society. More people with mental illnesses end up in criminal jails than in psychiatric hospitals because of not being educated, being unable to identify the symptoms of mental illness, not knowing what to do about it from the stigma of really dealing with it head on, and lack of proper healthcare.

What distinguishes disease from health is the difference among the two states. To understand what illness is, we must first understand what health is. To make things right, we must be aware of things that are wrong. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Our mental health affects how we think, feel and act. It determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Whenever there is an interruption in the flow of these processes, we start manifesting and experiencing symptoms of mental illnesses.

There are different types of mental illnesses. Anxiety disorders, phobias, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), psychosis, schizophrenia, and mood disorders like major depression, persistent mood disorder, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, or seasonal affective disorder, and substance related mood disorder. Most of these disorders are casually passed on as “a bad day”, or “rough time”. Approximately, 280 million people in world are suffering from depression and experience at least five of the common symptoms of depression including changes in sleep pattern, appetite and weight, trouble concentrating, decrease in ability to make decisions, irritability, agitation, and hostility. On the other end of the spectrum, there is mania, which is complete opposite of depression. Feeling elated, high energy, very fast train of thoughts which can’t be verbalized, irritability, agitation, and being impulsive, are some of the symptoms of mania. Mental disorders are manifested over a longer span of time and going through life’s problems, like excessive emotional stress, getting fired from a job, divorce, loss of a loved one, death in family, and financial loss, can trigger the symptoms. It is very important to recognize the signs and get the right treatment and medication from professionals.

There is a common perception in our society that children don’t have mental illnesses; everything is immediately classified as bad behavior. This results in the delay in diagnosis of mental illnesses which leads to a lot of complications and problems in the life of the child. If ADHD (Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder), which is usually diagnosed between the ages of four and sixteen, remains undiagnosed and unmanaged, it can lead to mood disorders, extreme sadness, and anxiety. Autistic children show symptoms like, delayed language skills, delayed motor skills, delayed cognitive or learning skills, hyperactive, impulsive, or inattentive behavior. Instead of getting a proper diagnosis, an autistic child can easily be labelled as “Dumb” and the condition might go undiagnosed in many cases, leading to a worse quality of life and poor mental health outcomes. Symptoms that present as irritability or high levels of anxiety in children can progress to depression in adults. Lack of early engagement and support, and expectations push the person further into the tunnel of darkness later in the life. It all starts when the kids are little with tiny things like, declining to have a conversation about emotions, not teaching them the vocabulary to name their emotions, calling them out for bad behavior instead of asking them what is bothering them, and not providing them a safe space to freely express their feelings.

We are like a machine, to function optimally, we need to have all our systems working in complete harmony. If you have a physical health issue or certain medical condition that may be linked with mental illnesses, you are at higher risk of being vulnerable to a mental health disorder. Chronic pain, for example increases the risk of depression. Sometimes, mental illness is hereditary and is linked with genetics. You cannot possibly fight your genes, so, you have got to take good care of your mental wellbeing and invest more in your mental health. More importantly, whatever you put into your body, your systems react to it. Drugs and alcohol may seem like fun unless your epigenetics put you at a higher risk of a mental illness. Alcohol causes depression and methamphetamine causes psychosis. If you are already at risk of schizophrenia either because of family history or environmental factors and you consume marijuana, it can accelerate the appearance of the symptoms by 7 years. Similarly, if a person is suffering from mental illness, he or she may start harboring physical symptoms like unusual eating and sleeping habits, gastrointestinal issues (e.g., constipation), changes in weight, nausea, body aches etc.

The takeaway is, take good care of your physical and mental wellbeing, educate yourself and others about mental health and create a safe space for others to express themselves. Think of your mental health as your retirement account, you cannot draw from it unless you invested in it. It is a glaring fact that life is going to throw some hard balls on us, so why not invest in the golden pot of mental health because we are going to dip into it, at some point in our lives.

In Hopes of a Better World: Orphans kNOw More

_{by Roshnik Rahat}

“Don’t think that I don’t miss you baba,

Don’t think that I don’t remember you, baba

I’m your son, baba and I know you’re always with me”

There is a melancholic silence followed by a round of applause for Adil* as the poem competition concludes. The applause is led by an audience consisting of 10 volunteers from the NUST Community Service Club (NCSC) and 30 orphans from Noreen Zindagi Welfare Trust. The children and volunteers have been huddled together in the playground next to the orphanage, where for the past 2 hours they’ve been drawing, coloring and sharing stories.

While the visits happen almost weekly under the banner of Orphans kNOw More (OKM), a central project under NCSC, it’s a weekly challenge to interact and socialize with the shy children. However, by the end of each visit there is a sense of camaraderie as the volunteers and children are clustered together in groups and share details about their school days, why math is their favorite subject and how yellow is the best color for Snow White’s gown.

Coloring activity as part of an OKM visit

In contrast to this seemingly bright picture, most of Pakistan’s orphans live much harsher lives. It is estimated that there are more than 4 million orphans in Pakistan: thousands of whom are undocumented. Additionally, natural disasters, poverty and terrorism further exacerbate the situation leading to homelessness, lack of food and education^[1].

Child Labor and Orphans:

Overall, Children, especially homeless children are at a higher risk of sexual exploitation, economic exploitation and trafficking. While Pakistan is a signatory of the convention on Rights of the Child (CRC), little public effort has been made to bring these rights to fruition. With 68% of births being unregistered in the country, there is often little data which can be used to document and tackle child mistreatment and child labor^[2].

courtesy: UNICEF

In 2020, the Pakistani government made the national commission for the rights of children but there is much work to be done in this regard^[3]. Some major issues to be tackled include the following;

• 20% of the children (age 5 to 14 ) are working 
• 90% of the carpet industry workforce is made up of children.
• Pakistan has the second highest number of children out of school.
• 90% of street children in Pakistan work in sex trade^[4].

According to one study published in the global political review the majority of street children in Pakistan are orphans^[5]. This puts them at increased risk of sexual abuse and trafficking. Furthermore children who have lost a parent or whose parents are suffering from severe diseases such as (T.B., HIV, AIDS etc.) are more likely to be exploited as the need of providing for the entire family falls unto them.

Solutions:

Thus, it is essential to provide orphans with safe havens for their complete welfare. While much still has to be overcome, it is simultaneously important to acknowledge that Pakistan has a rich history – stemming from its culture and religion – for caring for orphans. Noreen Zindagi trust is one such example: there are also Edhi homes for orphans and SOS villages for their educational and welfare development.

Similarly student-led organizations like OKM which rely on sponsors can provide much needed relief and ensure that more than just the basic needs of these children are met. After all child labor and exploitation are only some of the problems these children will face in their lifetimes. If orphanages are not handled properly then children may face harassment, abuse and anxiety^[6]. In contrast, adequate facilities and care can produce homes where children are loved and cared for and the demands for both their present and future are met.

Bonding session with the kids!

This is certainly true in the case of Adil, who has grown into an empathetic and clever young boy, excelling both in academics and socialization despite his harsh circumstances – circumstances in which many children often have the option of reaching neither. 

Can we create a country where 4 million orphans just like Adil have the opportunities to grow and succeed? Watching Adil finish his poem with confidence and grace , it becomes easy to imagine.

* Names have been changed to maintain privacy.

References:

[1] https://www.orphansinneed.org.uk/news/how-to-help-orphans-in-pakistan/

[2] https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/child-protection-0

[3] https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/pakistan

[4] https://borgenproject.org/child-labor-in-pakistan-2/

[5] https://www.gprjournal.com/jadmin/Auther/31rvIolA2LALJouq9hkR/PccnlG7vwK.pdf

[6] https://ideapublishers.org/index.php/lassij/article/view/111

Of tugged heartstrings: An illuminating conversation with Zenana Pakistan

Writer: Muhammad Shaafay Saqib         
Graphics Artist: Fizza Munawar          
Editor: Zunaira Saadat

NCSC’s The Visionaries podcast series just released its sophomore episode, with yet another wonderful guest brimmed with enlightening stories and struggles that implore us to search within ourselves the community service spirit, even if only by way of instilled inspiration.

Hosted by NCSC’s Zahaab Rehman, this episode featured Rania Khan Barki, the founder of Zenana Pakistan for which she received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and the Diana Award. Zenana Pakistan is a non-profit youth organisation that uplifts impoverished women through education and employment opportunities, alongside awareness campaigns.

Raina’s innumerable stories lit the discussion. For her, everything began from the age of 15  when her acceptance to a study exchange in the U.S sparked not only elation, but also a strange event of gathered male relatives to decide her fate, alluding to whether she, a girl could go at all. It was when her father bouldered to assert that she could do what was best for her, girl so be it that her talent got the chance to shine. She realized how community service should be something we all partake in, and so she took it upon herself to help spread awareness of women’s issues to those women who needed it the most, including women of low socioeconomic class, slums and house-help, to name a few. She knew change was possible, perhaps because her journey on the exchange implored the same men who opposed it to soon ask her how they can send their own daughters, as well.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NUST Community Services Club (@ncsc_insta)

Change needs dedication, and in the illustrious back and forth Zahaab had with Raina, this was made apparent. She chronicled the amazing establishment of the Zenana Foundation School in Lahore, a free seat of education for poor women, girls and, now, boys as well. She narrated the campaigns for acceptance of women’s education against rabid misconceptions, the taunts of how she would ruin the girls with her education, the un-hushed comments that she did this all in her own self-interest, but her dedication to not leaving these poor humans alone contended that the march must go on, so she marched. Rania recalled how it began from simply teaching her own house-help before she expanded further.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zenana Pakistan (@zenanapk)

With experience, nonetheless, arrives tugged heartstrings. The battle against society and its mindset Rania had set out to win had its days of joys and many tears. Her stories of sisterhood, with a long chain of dupattas to catch a ball that fell down multiple floors rejoiced the heart. Yet others broke it when she acknowledged how simple amenities like the type of toilets we use were strange devices to the underprivileged, detailed in a heartbreaking story that would not suffice to summarize in the word limit.

Additionally, Raina told the listeners ways they can help, as well as advice they can take. She asserted that help comes in ridiculously simple ways, from monetary donations to volunteering as an intern, teaching students for as little as 15 minutes regularly, or even simply ensuring your own house-help are enrolled in Zenana’s online classes. Her biggest advice is to remember those who always offer support and not get bogged by those who chastise.

NCSC is glad to have had the pleasure of her presence on the series and we hope the episode inspires more to follow in her footsteps. All that you have read is but a mere portion of the wonderful conversation that was had and, if it compels you to hear it completely, be sure to listen to the full podcast by clicking here!

Of Women and Wonders: An Exclusive Interview with Muruna

Writer: Khadija Rehman
Editor: Noor Ul Ain Adeel
Graphics artist: Ahmed Rihan

Minister to the world in a way that can change it. Minister radically in a real, active, practical, get your hands dirty way. 

– Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

For far too long, women have been deprived of their equality of humanity. Such a problem is particularly prevalent in Pakistan, where notions have been internalized to such a degree that challenging them seems tantamount to altering the social fabric. Luckily for us, Muruna is here to remind everyone that this is not how it’s supposed to go. Muruna is a Non-Profit Organization comprising of seven wonderful women from all walks of life, uniting under the singular goal of women empowerment. NCSC invited the organization’s president in a candid one on one session, and we were more than enlightened by what we got to know.

Introduction: What is Muruna?

NCSC’s representative, Anees, conducted the interview with Ms. Faiqa Zafar, the founder and president of Muruna. Faiqa is currently enrolled in NUST in the Psychology program, and her core team comprises of students from all over the university. The origins of the organization came from Faiqa’s spirit for volunteering, and her passion towards inclusivity for women was what led her to initiate her own efforts.  Faiqa and her team work towards acquainting the masses regarding women’s issues through social media and field practice. Her goal is not just the dissemination of this message, but also to equip women so they can sustain themselves autonomously.

On Inclusivity and Activism:

Anees highlights how discourse surrounding women’s issues is considered taboo because of its absence from the mainstream, and general reticence towards voicing the cause. This discouragement was something that Faiqa faced a lot in her life, but her passion was what caused her to rise above it all. She sums it up in an apt statement:

‘Itni kya buri baat hai insaan ko apne haqooq maangne mein?’

Faiqa furthers explains the importance of creating a safe space within the organization itself, to accommodate those who were still a bit reluctant. Showing appreciation for her translation team, she states that this too is activism; everyone in the organization can contribute to the cause on a level they’re comfortable with. The team seeks to reduce language barriers so the message may not get lost in translation. Intersectionality is stressed upon, and posts are thoughtfully crafted to be wholly inclusive.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Muruna (@muruna.ngo)

Striving towards normalization:

To normalize discussion, it was important for Faiqa and her team to start from the grassroots level. One facet of Muruna’s overarching theme also deals with awareness regarding women’s constitutional rights. Faiqa and Anees both agreed that due to an absence of awareness, these laws are not widely recognized, a fact that many predators take advantage of. Ages of consent are neglected, marriage laws go unconsidered, and subjugation runs rampant. For Muruna, it was essential to disseminate a detailed breakdown of women’s laws so women are able to realize that such heinous acts can be contested in the court of law.

Towards a hands-on approach:

Muruna’s performance is not just restricted to the cyberspace. SONA vocational center is a platform with women in employ, who craft goods for sale. Muruna assisted these women in selling their products to prevent mediator mismanagement, by using their platform to promote their work. In addition to this, they’ve also visited the village Mara Kalan to acquaint local women with menstrual hygiene. Faiqa acknowledged that topics like this are not easy to speak about but assimilating her team with the local women helped her connect to her audience. To her surprise, she was met with a positive response, which encouraged her to pursue this initiative further.

The interview concludes with Faiqa stating her aspirations towards the continuation of her journey of empowering women. She seeks to further dabble in the history of this cause, while simultaneously carrying out collaborations and awareness sessions. We at NCSC are very grateful for their appearance, and excited to learn about their future endeavors!

If you’re interested in watching and learning more, click here to view the full interview!

Women’s Day 2021: #ChooseToChallenge

Writer: Mariam Younis
Graphics artist: Kainat Tariq
Editor: Anees Hassan Khan

Every year on 8^th March women are celebrated around the world on account of International Women’s Day. It is a day to recognize women’s achievements and the crucial role they play in the development of society and the progress of the world. The commemoration of this day has made it a focal point to draw support for the many feminist movements globally. These movements demand equal representation and participation of women in politics and law-making bodies and aim to achieve personal, political and economic freedom for women.

The history of this day goes back to 1945 right after the devastating Second World War, which was the breakthrough moment for civil rights when the United Nations charter promoted fundamental rights and equality without distinction between race, sex, language or religion.  Then came the giant leap for humanity when “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights” was established in 1948 which stated that both genders were equal, and were entitled to inalienable civil, political, economic and social rights. Afterwards, the year 1975 was observed as women’s year by the UN to promote their goals and achieve a global standard. Subsequently 8^th March was formalized as a day to celebrate women. Then on July 10^th 2010, years of struggle for representation finally led to the inauguration of UN Women in a historic step as a forum dedicated to the empowerment of all women.

In the struggle to achieve the beau idéal of human civilization, the status of women is paramount. Women are, after all, half of the population. Here in NCSC, we are committed to the global cause for women. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day was “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” According to the UN Women website, it aims to “celebrate the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.” The hashtag for the day was  #ChooseToChallenge. We saw our student body come together, and enthusiastically take part in promoting the ideal of equality for all. Bound by the constraints of social distancing, our members took to Facebook and Instagram, to show their unequivocal support for this continuous struggle.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

In the post pandemic world, the global online community came together to carry on the spirit of the mighty suffragettes, the pioneers of the modern feminist movement. The concept behind the hashtag was that a challenged world, is an alert world and from challenge comes change. The goal was for people to stand in solidarity against injustice and challenge the world to do better. Our members enthusiastically participated in the event and vehemently opposed the status quo in the effort to call out stereotypes, prejudice and inequality. We believe that collectively we can achieve a more inclusive world.

Because collectively, we can and will make a difference.

For a Change, Let’s Start Living for Ourselves

Writer: Anees Hassan Khan
Graphics: Zabreen Mustafa

You incessantly scroll through your chats that had been piling up for a week. You’re aware of your state of mind, the mental exhaustion, yet you keep scrolling, and each subsequent “unread” message weighs you down with guilt.

They reached out to you, and you let them down.

You immediately close the app, wanting to distract yourself from this digital noise. Your distraction: more of the same digital noise. The irony, ever so imminent.  

You are now mindlessly scrolling right on Instagram stories. Up until you see the new social issue the internet is angry about two more days. The caption ends with, “… if you don’t use your privilege to talk about this, you are part of the problem.” You feel the knots in your stomach tighten.

I’m not doing enough… no, in fact, I am a horrible person for being so indifferent.

The knots tighten further as your anguish builds. You feel numbness creep up your toes now. It will soon overwhelm every part of you.

You’re so darn selfish…

            …And so what if you are.

I feel that in today’s day and age, where social media has stripped away any semblance of private life, unabashedly wearing your badge of selfishness with pride, is the need of the hour. In a world that constantly reinforces the notion that your time is not your own, and you have obligations to the world, that you never committed to in the first place, I feel we need to break the cycle by caring for our own.

Redefine selfishness, as a chaotic good, and not a chaotic evil. Change the deep-rooted mindset, do a full 180. Be selfish with your time, choose what – and more importantly, who – to prioritize. Be selfish in your interpersonal relationships. When you invest in someone, unashamedly expect them to invest back, everything should be on reciprocal basis. It is not evil to want something in return. Be selfish in how much energy you give to others, and how much you give to yourself. Normalize prioritizing amongst your personal life, your work life, and your university life. Be selfish and say “no” when you don’t have the energy to help someone.

I feel that during this pandemic that is raging worldwide, with our lives turned upside down, it is most important to look out for your own self. So for this New Year, I want to learn to be kind to my own self, first and foremost. I want to live for myself as I isolate and detach from the world as we know it. I want to explore who I am as a person, when everything else is stripped away.

But more so, I want to give back to others, but on my own terms, without any constraints, without an unspoken social contract dictating what our relationships should look like.

Because it is impossible to give, when you are running on empty for so long.

In a nutshell, geo aur jeenay do.

It’s Just Another Revolution Around The Sun

Written by: Muhammad Shaafay Saqib

Edited by: Noor Ul Ain Adeel

Graphic by: Uzair Hussain

It’s this old-fashioned new-year thing.

It happens every year.

Near the end of every year, humans look fondly towards the next. It’s time for hope and real change. Bask in this wonderful, regular marker in the timeline of our lives that looks at us to tranquilly correct the mistakes of the year prior. Especially after the momentous turbulence of 2020, it becomes therapeutic to wait for a hero in the new year, no, the new decade, as a shining glimmer of hope that change is imminent, for as the clock ticks itself on, our problems may turn itself off. As the sun sets, our old, toxic adventures can ride down away into the golden road. This is the time. It is. We feel. Except.

It’s arbitrary.

It doesn’t matter.

Nothing will change. This year will be just like the last. The year, as most widely considered, is merely a solar concept. It need not matter when you start executing your plans for the year; if January the 1^st suits, good for you. Otherwise you may decide on June the 27^th, or rather April the 22^nd, before settling on December the 19^th. There are those who rest the weight of their resolutions on the start of the year, then fail (dishonor on their cow, no question), and unnerve while their optimism scurries with its claws under floorboards. It does not have to be this way. Because.

It’s just another revolution around the sun.

Nothing needs to happen right now.

Do you know how many calendars there are? Neither do I, but there are a lot. The Gregorian Calendar, whose trendsetting dates form the raison d’être of this piece of writing, is a solar calendar, marked by our position around the sun. On the other hand, we have the Hijri calendar, a lunar calendar marked by the glimmering phases of the moon. Then there are those who can’t choose so we have the Hebrew lunisolar calendar. Calendars come and go — even the Gregorian existed not about four hundred years ago. It replaced the Julian Calendar in 1582, adjusting errors to align more accurately with the planet’s circling of the sun. To make this correction, it added eleven days. All at once. Dumped. Understandably, some were aghast. They demanded their eleven days back! Nevertheless, it was a small, slight incremental change that helped make things better in the long run. They got over it and it never really should have mattered. In fact, a few days prior to the publishing of this article, it was still 2020 in the Julian Calendar. Hence.

Happy (another?) New Year!

Do you feel real change, again?

You want real change? You need a revolution. Slice up the feudal monarchists like the French did, under romanticized guillotines in public displays of capital punishment (ouch). The self-absorbed foreign queen requested that you eat cake, so you storm the Bastille, overthrow her government and start decimalizing everything.

……………………The Storming of the Bastille

March on like they did, in love of your country, but also the number ten. The ten isn’t random; they did do it. They tried to decimalize the darn clock. For a while, France lived ten hours a day, each in 100 decimal minutes with each of that in 100 decimal seconds — imagine if that stuck. Sure, they had their functional justifications, of which there were many, but in the end… why? Clocks are our clocks, days are our days, and weeks are our weeks.

No.

It may have meaning, but it’s all arbitrary happenstance. Change it. Who cares? Your community and nation bear meaning, while community and nationhood are coincidental. Most of us didn’t choose and so we just were. Friends bear meaning, but friends are only chance. They are a product of where we lived, whether we moved or where we studied, among many playing factors. Family bears the most meaning, but family is only random. We feel like we have structure and reason but beneath it all, it’s determined chaos and capricious, irrational evolution. Nearly everything can be changed over time, even the definition of time itself. Yet, somehow, it all carries meaning to us. We hold. We endow. We love.

We meander through a world that is constantly changing in ridiculous ways, and perhaps we did not need 2020 to tell us that. Planning is amazing, but fate-interlaced-chance is inevitable. Why mark the time to change solely at dawn, when change then happens at dusk? Your thoughts continually revolve around your mind, building and replacing bricks in your brain, little by little, piece by piece. The feeling is of the determined and chaotic simultaneously, like a butterfly that caused a tornado, or a neatly defined structure no longer after an earthquake. In spite of the metaphorical bedlam, an impetus of the arbitrary, we will give meaning to it all, because that is what we do as humans. Give meaning to each second, as a chance to start anew and hoist ourselves in the right direction, embracing the sense of calm that comes with staying within the topsy-turvy roads of betterment, hope, and love for one another. Just like political upheaval, it may seem like the year is just happening and it makes no sense why it should be like this, good or bad, but we will still try to find meaning and that is okay. You know why? Because it helps us take the next, gradual step in right direction, and know where we are going in the grand scheme of things.

Let’s calm down. Change things up a bit.

A tiny shift could happen right now.

It’s just another revolution inside ourselves.

Maskathon: Wearing Your Imagination!

by Arwa Aatique and Iqra Ali Mirza

If someone would have predicted 10-20 years before that in the eminent year 2020, the entire human populace of Earth would be scrambling around, very much resembling ants, just to put on bits and pieces of fabric on their maws, he would’ve been dismissed as a loony for his jabbering and certainly would’ve been scheduled for a psyche evaluation.

However, fate is indeed a cruel mistress with its fickle nature as we now find ourselves in this exact situation with the ever-maddening COVID’19 hanging over our heads like a dark and extremely clingy shadow that refuses to leave no matter how much you pry at it. If we scrutinize history, one of the greatest strengths of the human race is its ability to acclimatize.  However, some individuals still consider the ‘new normal’ as an insignificant precautionary measure, failing to realize universal masking is our only beacon of hope until the vaccine is widely available.

Graphic designer: Jahanzaib Kaleem

Keeping this panorama in our line of sight, we at NCSC revealed to you “Maskathon!”, entailing mask designing for any and all to showcase their creative skills and prowess.

With this we hoped to abate this mistaken (read: cynical) view the public has on these innocent pieces of fabric and hope to mold the perception into a more affable one. Adding to that, the Superhero theme played vividly as a metaphor for the Unsung Heroes who’ve worked day and night for our safety.

Graphic Designer: Aysha Tariq

With a surge of 60+ participants illustrating away their canvases with vibrant hues and scintillating creativity, only the truest of all heroes made it to the Top 20, who now found themselves in the first battlefield. The Top 10 most voted designs were led into an exhilarating Round 2, where our esteemed Sponsor, Maskon, made the hard decision of choosing the Top 3 Maskerpieces. We congratulate Shizza Yasir, M.Saad Imran, Umar Awan, and all the our superheroes who aided us earnestly in our cause.

Graphic designers: Kainat Tariq and Ahmed Rihan

As the superheroes saved the day with the finesse and style of a designer, we found humanity leaping yet again for that utmost need in the fragility of our times; hope.  

In the end, we would like to extend a major shout out to our Sponsor, Maskon!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mask On (@maskon.pk)

To New Beginnings

Written by Zunaira Saadat
Edited by Muhammad Hamza Waqas Awan

CORONA. QUARANTINE. 2020ISTHEWORSTYEAR. LIFEHASCOMETOAHALT

I think these are the most common things I hear, every single day since the last March. And it’s not some puzzle as to why this has become a new norm. However, we here at NCSC know how to tackle each battle. Recently, the recruitment drive 2020 allowed us to expand our family with the addition of some of the most brilliant minds of NUST. But is any recruitment complete without a proper welcome to the society? Definitely not. So how, with an ongoing pandemic did NCSC make the impossible, possible?

A timely formation of the organization committee, followed by the creativity of the event heads, was the perfect kick-start towards the event’s success. Within a short duration of time, all the invitations were sent and the platform decided upon.

Keeping social distancing a priority (and the fact that that was the only option), MS Teams came along to save the day. On 12th December at 5.30 pm, the NCSC family gathered to meet each other, as virtually as was possible. The twist here being the theme ‘Cosplay’ set for the 2020 orientation. As instructed, each individual dressed up as their favorite character and showed up, ready for the day.

• 

• 

Following the perfectly balanced and well planned schedule, the newbies were welcomed by Dr. Bahadur, faculty sponsor NCSC and informed them about the success of the society and its impact. Next, each team of the society was introduced, and the audience informed about its functioning and contribution to each event that takes place in the engine of NCSC. A special video was played, recapping the events hosted by NCSC in the very recent past. Needless to say, the video touched my heart as I recalled the events I’ve been a part of because of the society, and the lives I was able to bring the smallest, yet long-lasting change because of it.

Once the newbies were well-acquainted with the works, it was time to break the ice! First off, a little game called Off-track/ On-track set the stage. Giving the audience a chance to reveal their true (weird) side as they worked their minds on what works are to be done, and those to be avoided, in the most fun way possible.

• 

At NUST, and therefore NCSC as well, the diversity presented is something no one can overlook. Therefore, giving this diversity its due acknowledgement is a must. To do this, a little game called Aliens have landed was planned. Through this, individuals got the chance to introduce their language and cultural differences in a creative and interesting way.  By the end of it, the walls were seriously down, and a connection was successfully established between the old members and the new ones. Following this game, creating a story was set in motion, which further helped bond and obviously was fun to be a part of.

NCSC has been home to some of the most talented individuals since its inception. Adding to that has always been a privilege and an honor. This year, the recruitment was different, and so was the orientation, but against all odds, NCSC, because of its durable and determined work force, stands and will continue to stand strong, ready to face whatever comes its way and always emerge victorious.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Join NOW, or forever hold your peace!

Written by Khadija Asad
Edited by Noor Ul Ain Adeel

Psst, did you hear? Registrations for NUST Community Service Club’s recruitment drive just opened! Oh, what’s NCSC you ask? It’s only the biggest and coolest society ever! We’re a bunch of leather-jacket-wearing, motorcycle-riding, rebels-with-a-cause on a perpetual mission to stir trouble change. Alright, the former might not be true, but the latter definitely is.

One of NUST’s oldest societies today, NCSC’s history goes all the way back to 2007; the year it was founded. Since then, we’ve grown colossally and contributed positively to the society at large. Not to toot our own horn, but seeing how NCSC has multiple MacJannet Prizes and HEC Social Integration Program Awards under its belt, I’d say we’ve been doing a pretty decent job so far. Don’t believe me? Just watch (or read on ahead) for a quick intro to some of NCSC’s biggest projects and events:

1. Blood Donation Drives:

If there’s one event that just screams NCSC, it’s our trademark Blood Donation Drives. Held once per semester, these BDDs are held in collaboration with organizations like Jamila Sultana Foundation and Sundas Foundation to help provide relief to thalassemia patients all over the country.

During BDD season, our dedicated council can be found scouring all of NUST, like bloodhounds on a scent trail, sniffing out potential donors and bringing them to donate – by hook or by crook (just kidding… or am I?). Throw in some good-hearted (for the most part) competition between all the schools, delicious food, overall good vibes and you have yourself a recipe for bloody (pun intended) success. Just at our last BDD, a grand total of a whopping 605 pints were collected as a result of the OCs blood (literally), sweat and tears!

Blood Donation Drive’19

2. Al-Qalam:

Seeing how education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world – and boy does it need changing now more than ever – everyone deserves equal access to it, irrespective of financial and social status. Thinking along these lines, NCSC launched the Al-Qalam Project back in 2015, with the aim of sponsoring underprivileged children by paying for their academic expenses. Under this project, monthly donation drives are carried out throughout campus and the money then distributed among enrolled students. Currently, over a 100 students are registered in the program. That’s over a 100 lives that now have a shot at a better life!

Al-Qalam program

3. Fempower

One of NCSC’s most powerful projects to date, Fempower is all about empowering HER. The 2017 MacJannet Prize winner, this project aims to celebrate the resilience and sheer strength of the female spirit, which even after weathering violent storms, bounces back anew, stronger than ever, like a phoenix rising from ashes.

Under the dynamic leadership of some ah-mazingly talented women, Fempower sponsors the vocational training of underprivileged women and widows, giving them the means to achieve financial independence and build their own future, rather than remaining at the mercy of a ruthless society. Here’s to Fempower reaching new heights in the future!

Fempower Breast Cancer Awareness play

4. Orphans kNOw More

NCSC currently has two orphanages in the OKM family, Aghosh Al-Khidmat and Apna Shelter Home. Weekend council trips to them can only be described as life changing experiences. Meeting the adorable kids, with their sunny smiles and contagious laughter, so ecstatic to have visitors and even more elated to see the goodies brought for them, it really does put stuff into perspective doesn’t it?

Once introductions have been made and everything’s settled – or as settled as can be, with these hyperactive youngsters bouncing about – commence the activities, both fun and educational. Thus begins a roller-coaster of emotions; excitement, intrigue, the occasional disappointment at losing a game, and much, much more. By the time you leave, your heart is full and brain pensive and you walk out of the orphanage a changed person.

OkM’s trip to Aghosh Al-Khidmat

With a glorious legacy behind us, we hope to grow even more in the future. Become a part of all that awesomeness and apply away, because together, we CAN make a difference!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

NCSC x Sundus Foundation – Restoring Blood Banks

by Hafsa Jawad

A recent study showed that Pakistan is in need of an increased effort to motivate blood donation. The country, despite its large population has a donation rate of less than one percent.  There is now a dire need for Pakistan to increase this percentage as even a one percent donation rate would be sufficient for the country’s needs.

Keeping all this in mind, NCSC collaborated with the esteemed Sundus Foundation, to hold a door-to-door blood donation drive. The drive was held keeping in mind all the mandatory precautions and tenets of social distancing that the ongoing pandemic demands. Willing donors could register if they wanted to donate, after which a mobile unit would come to their homes to collect the blood. The purpose of this donation drive was to contribute to Sundus’s depleting blood bank.

The Sundus Foundation is a renowned organization known for its great work. They take the safety of their donors very seriously and work efficiently and tirelessly to create a safe and hygienic environment for their donors to donate in. For the donation drive their doctors wore all the necessary protective gear (e.g. gloves, mask etc.) needed to avoid any potential problems caused by human contact.

The Prophet, upon be peace, said: “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

Around 5000- 9000 children with β- Thalassemia are born every year in Pakistan. Bearing in mind these statistics it is easy to see why we need to step up our efforts towards increasing blood donation. With the coronavirus steadily declining, we hope that more people will be willing to do this Sadqah and donate blood to this noble cause by visiting the closest Sundus Foundation’s center to them.

Let us create a safer and healthier Pakistan, together!

Al-Qalam Wins MacJannet Prize!

by Sana Shafiq

“I’m collecting this month’s donations for the Al-Qalam Program now. If anyone wants to donate, please do so.”  This is something you must have frequently heard around in your departments. If not in this form, then in some mildly severer version like: “It’s a whopping 100 man, you surely spend a lot more pretty much daily!” Well, these were the class executives for Al-Qalam Program: the hard-working individuals who collected donations from all over the student body. You might be wondering, what is Al-Qalam Program?

It is a project launched by 2 passionate individuals from NUST Community Services Club in 2015. The driving force behind it was the stark number of out-of-school and dropout children in Pakistan in the year 2015-2016, as provided by the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS). By analysis of these statistics, it was noted that the major cause of this was the financial crises subjected to these children’s families. Being students of a prestigious institute, they could evidently realize the necessity of education. Indeed, quality education is the right of every individual. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Al-Qalam program was launched. Al-Qalam literally means ‘The Pen’ in Arabic: undoubtedly a powerful symbol of education. Under the program, monthly donation drives are conducted throughout the campus.

At the ground level, donations (i.e. Rs.100 per student) are collected from the student body by the class executives, which then work their way up to the school ambassadors and the board of directors. After hassle-free bottom-up collection and processing, donations are disbursed among the registered children. Directorate of Student Affairs aids the entire process. The transportation, security, expenses, supplies, halls, classrooms or any other administrative requirements are coordinated by a faculty advisor and two support administration officers. Currently, we have over 100 students enrolled in the program.

Recently, Al-Qalam Program won the third place for the 2020 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship, deeming it one of the best student-run community services projects in the world! For this, they will receive $2,500 (Rs.400,000) to support their cause. This served as a catalyst for the involved student’s efforts and motivation, whether they were the ones working for it, or the ones benefited by it.

Al-Qalam has been living up to its legacy, succeeding on every step. Yet, it has many steps to ascend, for a good deed must continue, constantly benefiting the society it exists in. For that, we all must join hands and carry on helping in eradicating the gloom in the world by spreading the light of education.

Does Liquid Gold Run in You, Too?

by Khadija Asad

The last two weeks had been a constant battle. A bruising, never-ending, battle that had been full of anguish and uncertainty of its outcome.

The ruthless COVID-19 pathogen had inconspicuously entered into their human host’s body one day when he breathed in contaminated droplets left suspended in the air.

The invader had then hijacked one of the host’s healthy blood cells and proceeded to wreak havoc in the following days by multiplying and making more copies of itself, leaving an endless trail of dead blood cells in its wake.

The white blood cells had sensed the presence of the assailant almost immediately and had responded by launching an immune attack. Whole legions of WBC descended onto the battlefield (in this case, the bloodstream) and fought tirelessly, though at some points it felt like a losing battle.

Faced with an unknown enemy, it had taken the WBC some time to recognize, and wipe out, the antigens by creating the right antibodies—the magic bullets that had ultimately annihilated the invasive pathogen.

The battle had been won, the virus eliminated. But these little warriors’ mission was far from over. Because somewhere out there, cells like themselves were fighting the same battle, against the same foe. But while their host human had emerged victorious, someone else might not be as lucky.

They had the weapon in their arsenal, it was now time to give it to someone else. The antibodies in their host’s blood would now go on to help someone else.

The needle was almost inside their human’s vein now. Humming with energy for the purpose they were about to serve, blood cells began lining up and making their way via the catheter to the machine that was to process them.

Inside the machine, plasma (or liquid gold as it’s so frequently called for the lifesaving antibodies that it contains) was separated from other types of blood cells and collected. The rest of the blood cells would be delivered back to the host’s bloodstream while the plasma would go on to serve a greater purpose.

The whole process took a total of only 90 minutes. 90 minutes to give someone a new lease on life, to donate not only potentially lifesaving plasma but something even greater- hope.

 

A Silver Lining

by Eesha Irfan

If you could wish for one thing during this time of self-isolation, what would it be?

I think everyone would have varying answers to this question, but what’s evident is that the Corona-virus pandemic has taken a lot from all of us, things we never realized we took for granted until it was too late to hold on to them or get them back.

For many of us, it’s the normality that we miss as a university student; how every day brought new challenges, new experiences, new people to meet, or just the same old people who’ve come to mean more to us than we’d realized. We miss our hustle and bustle filled days, even more so now that each day feels so monotonous and unexciting compared to our past topsy-turvy routines.

It’s insane how in just a few days, our world turned upside down. We’re often fearful, wary and uncomfortable with change but a change this fast and at a global level is even scarier, and I realize many of us can’t help but be anxious in this state. Not only does the thought of going back to how things were make us nostalgic and melancholic, but it reminds us of how much uncertainty there already is and how much longer it’s still predicted to carry on for. Everything is so unsure. During times like these, having friends around you who understand and relate can make a world of difference, but being so far apart from them physically adds a whole other toll on us.

Things are really confusing, we all realize that, we go through it every day and it’s scary that nobody has the answers or solutions to this.

But I think the silver lining here is how we can all still be connected through this.We live in a digital age where we can all stay connected (within limits, granted). I realize that’s nowhere near the same as being physically present around the people we love, but it is still worlds better than not being in contact, not being aware, and living in the uncertainty of not knowing what’s happening to the world outside and the people in it. Rather than being able to do silly things with our loved ones in person, it’s amazing if you think about how people can still do silly things over the web instead, like all the viral trends, for example. They make us laugh and keep us together in the oddest ways but it makes a big difference to us in our staccato-like everyday lives.

These are troubling times and it’s mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing to be going through this. But we have the consolation that we’re not going through this alone. You have the people you live with, your neighbors, strangers from all over the world who are all facing this. And that’s such a powerful thing if you think about it, the relentless solidarity, the whole world united in its pursuit of self-isolation to stop the virus from spreading; each one of us contributing a little every day, making so big a difference even if we don’t feel like we are. We’re in this together. No matter where you are and who you’re with, there are people all around you who can relate, who you can talk to, who understand, and who are willing to be there for you.

And when this pandemic finally ends, as all things must, we’ll know then more than ever how important our friends and our loved ones are, how not to take the little things for granted again, and hopefully, we all get to start anew and be better and more grateful versions of ourselves. Maybe then we’ll see that we are capable of surviving storms, and though some of us may be scratched and bruised, we can still stand strong and shine bright and happy, because we’re survivors, and we’ll get through this, together.

“There is a strength within us that we can’t even comprehend until it’s called upon. We are, at our core, built to survive.”
~Claudia Gray

 

A Peek into Eye Camp ‘20

by Saad bin Muhammad

The eyes are your body’s most highly developed sensory organs. In fact, a far larger part of the brain is dedicated to vision than to hearing, taste, touch, or smell combined. We tend to take eyesight for granted; yet when vision problems develop, most of us will do everything in our power to restore our eyesight back to normal.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like not being able to properly differentiate between different colors or even not being able to recognize them at all? Wouldn’t it be heartbreaking if you weren’t able to properly see people and things that bring you happiness? Or not being able to enjoy the beauty of the countless blessings of God we see everyday around us? If you can do all this and more without any aid you should thank God for the incredible blessing of sight.

Realizing the importance of sight, NUST Community Services Club (NCSC) organized a two-day Eye Camp on 3rd-4th March, 2020 at NUST Medical Center in collaboration with Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital and Lokal Eatout. An astounding 677 registrations were recorded in total. The location was filled with not just studentsbut people from different parts of society. To make things convenient and simple for everyone who showed up, volunteers were present at all times to guide incoming people and assist the doctors.

A registration desk was set up right outside NUST Medical Center and people were asked to provide basic details about themselves to register and were then given a token. Before having their eyesight examined by a doctor, a person sitting right outside the office initially checked the eyesight using an ophthalmoscope. They were then asked to wait for their turn.People were sent inside in groups of 4 to ensure everything went smoothly and everyone was given sufficient time.

In a world where everyone’s in a haste to do their tasks, nobody has time to stop and marvel at the wonders of nature and what is the best way to do this other than through sight? We take these blessings for granted. What better way is there to connect with nature other than seeing and admiring every pattern etched on a leaf or a ray of light being cascaded by a droplet in a beautiful pattern? Take a step back and connect with the most primal sense, the sense of sight, to be grateful for everything that surrounds you.

Heaven: An Old Age Home

by Zunaira Saadat

As we grow up, we often stay oblivious to the fact that our parents are growing old. In many cases, instead of taking them as a blessing and a breathing source of knowledge and wisdom, we consider them an extra mouth to feed. In such cases, they are abandoned from the comfort of their homes and force them to spend the remainder of their days around strangers, engulfed in their loneliness and the forever wonder of where they went wrong. They are left, in old age homes.

On Saturday, 22nd February 2020, team NCSC arrived an hour before noon, and were welcomed with joy and love from the elders, an instant bond was formed. Soon enough, the two generations faced each other off in some challenging rounds of ludo (and boy were they good). Reaching mid-day, absorbing the gentle heat of the winter sun, these respected members of our society shared the tales of their past. From the mischiefs of childhood, the daring acts of youth and the sacrifices of adulthood, they narrated it all. Contrary to one’s expectation, the seniors described every path of life with a smile on their faces, and recalling the memories of their past made their eyes sparkle, as if they had relived those days merely through words.

Cloth Donation Drive’20: Of Warm Sheaths

by Zunaira Saadat

It was the first week of December. With each elapsing day, the wind turned icy cold, accompanied by long nights and the stillness they brought in. The only words in my mind were: Winter is here. Therefore, being the shopaholic that I am, I availed the free time on hand and set out to gather all the warm sheath I needed against this ice-cold weather for the next few months. I’m sure just like me, most of us did the same. Stepping out of the warmth of our abode, we usually don’t spare a second to think what this harsh winter is like for those who can’t afford the basic necessities of life.

NUST Community Services Club (NCSC) took it on themselves to look out for these individuals of this society. Thus began the week long clothes collection for the Cloth Donation Drive (CDD) 2020. The students, faculty and the in dwellers of the residential area of NUST were encouraged to play a part in this collection. Working tirelessly from Monday to Friday, the members of NCSC collected, sorted, ironed and neatly packed the collected items which mainly comprised of warm clothes of all sizes, sweaters, jackets, shoes and bed sheets. All the packed items were loaded in boxes, ready for distribution the following Sunday.

On Sunday, 9^th February, the NCSC volunteers set off to serve. The receptive community chosen was a Christian colony in H-8. With their timely arrival, the NCSC family unloaded all the boxes and neatly set the items for distribution. Clear sections, separate for men, women and children were made for ease of the conferrers. As soon as the members of the community finished their Sunday prayer, they were warmly welcomed to the venue. In order to avoid over-crowding, neat lines were made. With tokens in their hands and excitement on their faces, the folks eagerly waited for their turns. The volunteers made sure each and every individual got the chance to pick items of their size and their desired choice. In no time, the sounds of masses selecting their favorites filled the area, enhanced by the laughter of children with new clothes in hand, their eyes full of impatience to go home and try the new attire.

The sun shone brighter than ever with the passing minutes as the crowds started to disperse and exit. It was then that I remembered to check the time, and to my surprise, 3 straight hours had passed by in the blink of an eye! The catch here was, seeing the smiles on the faces of those people, and the way the elders of the community showed their gratitude in prayers of well-being for the volunteers put my heart at ease to no extent. This very response is the driving force behind the work that NCSC does, and attaining that ensures the success of each event.

As I write these final sentences, I can feel the heat of the sun intensifying. Now all I can think is..winter is gone.

A Building With Tomorrow Inside; Gehwara-e-Aman

by Mariam Yunis

Finally, the last but certainly not the least was an exciting physical activity to understand basic English grammar. The game involved the use of actions to relate with punctuation marks: at the sight of the question mark the children had to stop and tilt their heads, for the exclamation mark they were supposed to hop and wave their hands, for the comma they had to slow down and walk and for the period they had to halt. The kids were made to stand in a line some distance away from the speaker and as the comma, period, exclamation mark and question mark was indicated they would respond and take a step forward if they were correct and a backward step if not. It was organized as a race and the one who finished first was the winner. The race started and everyone got into their element, there was laughter, teasing and we all enjoyed the game. As the saying goes, there is a child in all of us and surrounded by their free spirits we certainly let out the child in us.

As one pm approached it was time to head back and what better way to end the day than chocolate and cake? To unwind and relax we distributed chocolate cupcakes among everyone and crowded together for merriment and some hearty chatter. After that we said our goodbyes with heavy hearts but it’s safe to say that the day boosted everyone’s spirits.

 

Al-Qalam: Access to education

by Sana Shafiq

What is your favorite childhood memory? Running through streets, riding a bicycle, wind whipping through your hair with the sound of laughter echoing all around in the surroundings; it can be any of those, along with plethora of other options. Though, there is one thing we can all agree upon: Most of our childhood was showered with blessings and sheltered with oblivion and carefreeness. Now to think of children who cannot afford these kinds of luxuries, and even necessities like their education: What a stark societal difference exists in the name of the system of classes?

National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) launched Pakistan Education Statistic 2015-2016 which revealed that about 44% of children between the ages of 5 and 16 are not enrolled in schools in Pakistan. Moreover, out of the ones present in schools, more than 60% of them drop out before even passing matriculation. The reason for being deprived from education for these children is mostly financial strife.

As a citizen who is bestowed with the ability to give something to the community, it is our utmost responsibility to help the needy one out in these endeavors. Everyone deserves to be given their basic rights and not be denied of them, especially by putting the label of money on them.

Al-Qalam Program is an initiative taken by NUST Community Services Club to target the educational needs of such children. The program has the agenda to make quality education accessible to everyone, irrespective of their financial situation, and thus, reducing the numbers of drop-out cases and heightening the retention rate of children getting schooled. This program was launched in the year 2015.

In all departments of NUST, Al-Qalam Class Ambassadors are elected, who further nominate Class Representatives from each class. This is the most simplified way to work from the bottom-up and ensure a hassle-free process for collecting donations. It is awe-inspiring; the way a minute amount of even Rs. 100 contributed by a single individual sum up to a significant one when grouped together, indicating the importance of unity. It is indeed standing united against an evil which defeats it. In this case, it is warding off the darkness of ignorance caused by societal imbalance. The spells of donation collection repeat as frequently as once per month, targeting both the student body and the faculty.

Al-Qalam is now successfully sponsoring the education of 130+ deserving children in the areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Taxila, and Wah. However, we have a long way to go to spread the light of education around in our country. For that, the children are counting on the most fundamental person in this matter: You.

FROODs: A hunger-free future!

by Mominah Asif

Not everyone is privileged enough to spend winters in front of the heaters, analyzing the newly out episode of ‘The Witcher’ or discussing how Shahzain turned out to be an absolute villain in ‘Ehd-e-Wafa’. Some people who work tirelessly to ease their lives always stay in the background and are seriously neglected in extreme cold and unbearable heat. While we chew on the most delicate bread, there are some people who are bound to dip stale bread in water and wait for the next day to dawn for another meal.

Living our lavish lives, we sometimes totally ignore how much food is wasted every day. The amount of food that can easily fulfill a family’s needs for the entire week or sometimes a month goes to the trashcans. To stop the food from going to waste and bringing it to the right plate, NUST Community Services Club (NCSC) introduces ‘FROODs’, which aims to collect fresh excess food from event places, restaurants, caterers, and serve it free to those in need, with dignity and love.

Last week, we conducted our first food distribution in front of SMME, where the NG staff at NUST was served with warm and fresh food. Our team of enthusiastic individuals made sure that the food was fresh, and no morsel went wasted. Starting with little steps, we are all set to build a community where none of us has to sleep hungry, where wasting food is considered a big sin and every individual feels responsible for every piece of break that goes to waste. Here is to a hunger-free future!

Chiragh: The Flame of Hope and Change

by Mominah Junaid

A few Thursdays ago, I tried to think of a name for Baat Cheet’s third installment. This iteration of Fempower’s flagship event was supposed to be the biggest one yet. Having successfully pulled off the event and hosting a renowned entrepreneur and a philanthropist along with women from her organization, I am confident that the name I ended up choosing was the right one.

Chiragh – a flame burning bright and strong  perpetual brightness that holds at bay the darkness that threatens to swallow it whole.

Credits: NUST Media Club

At Dreamville cafe, on 4th December, a crowd gathered to hear the stories of the women who had weathered such darkness in their own lives. Sawera Arif and Tazeen Akhtar, two women who had survived acid and burn attacks, were joined by Masarrat Misbah (founder of Depilex and Smileagain Foundation) and Ayesha Tasleem (Director of the Smileagain Foundation). They were each invited to share their experiences and, under the gently warm autumn colours, we witnessed incredibly important discourse on one of the most pervasive evils that exist in our society.

Credits: NUST Media Club

It was not easy to listen to the harrowing stories shared by both Ms. Sawera and Ms. Tazeen, nor was it possible to look Ms. Misbah in the eye as she unflinchingly shared gory details of some of the cases she had dealt with. And yet, not a single person looked away. These women, in their brutally honest discussions of domestic violence, were confronting violent truths that only do more damage when swept under the rug. And in airing this societal dirty laundry, so to speak, we learned quite a few startling facts.

Ms. Sawera Arif shared that, in her experience, a survivor’s mental health is often disregarded by those around them in their superficial focus on the perpetration itself and physical healing. The long road to being able to see yourself as human again, as deserving of love, is one that every survivor must go through and it is a journey made easier by other people simply treating survivors normally. Ms. Tazeen Akhtar added here that the sooner she is able to work again, the sooner she will feel like herself again. She had been a nurse before the gas explosion that totally upended her life.

Credits: NUST Media Club

True to the spirit of the event, Baat Cheet, in the form of audience questions, led us to explore the societal conditions that give rise to violence against women, and the reason for a glaring lack of prosecution in such cases. Ms. Misbah looked back on her long career as a philanthropist and shared with us the sad reality of our political and judicial institutions: the written law is far from adequate, and the supposed champions of such laws are barely concerned with revising them. Political apathy, in turn, is exacerbated by patriarchal religious and educational institutions that uphold entrenched power structures and prevent progress.

The saddest revelation of all, perhaps, was that attacks like these are often perpetrated by husbands against their wives and concealed by the family’s silence. There are entire segments of society where women are powerless in the face of this injustice and, indeed, are forced to reconcile such honour-based violence as a fact of life. This however, is still just the tip of the iceberg. Acid attacks are not limited by class, race or gender. They happen in all segments of society and to people of all gender identities and ages. The problem runs so much deeper because, as our guests discussed, a patriarchal mindset pervades all domestic bubbles that feeds into a system that fails to hold men to account. Ultimately, men need to lead the fray in holding to account perpetrators of violent actions and misogynistic ideologies.

‘Boys will be boys’ is a mentality that needs to be cancelled in 2020.

It also becomes incumbent on us, the educated and privileged students and workers and activists who are fortunate enough to never witness such misfortune, to fight for the rights of these women. We need to use our social capital to put pressure on patriarchal institutions, on lawmakers and politicians. Holding perpetrators responsible is part of the process; the end goal should be the complete eradication of this social evil from the roots.

There are women, men and children all over Pakistan whose lives are being taken away from them in the most unjust and painful way possible: while they are still living. At Baat Cheet we learned that we need to fight to end this injustice. We, the privileged ones who are able to raise our voices and hold our institutions to account.

Credits: NUST Media Club

After the event, I asked Sawera Arif if she has any plans for the future. She said that once she is fully healed, she’d like to pursue a Master’s degree and become a psychologist. Her dream is to change the way mental illnesses are perceived and treated in Pakistan. This is a dream interrupted by violence, a dream that she has now found the strength to nurture again. Sawera, after a long and harrowing battle, has rediscovered her light.

There are still countless survivors who continue to fight their own battle against an overpowering darkness. In that struggle, we need to stand in solidarity and fan the flame of their Chiragh.

Of Gratitude for NUST’s Unsung Heroes

by Zunaira Saadat

Here at NCSC, we aim to spark a light in every heart to feel for the impoverished and those in need. Lending a helping hand and uplifting each other, in every possible way, is the driving force behind each of our events.

With this same intent, the project ‘Ehsaas’ came into being, garnering inspiration from “World Kindness Day”. Often in our race to attain the best, we forget to take a glance at those who remain behind the scenes. These are the drudge workers, a group of people who give so much, but are given so little.

As a token of gratitude and appreciation for all their backbreaking work, NCSC organized a grand lunch for the NG staff of NUST named Milaap-e-Dastarkhwaan. The honourable guests included the sanitary and horticulture workers, the security guards, the sports staff and many more.

29^th November, 2019: The Big Day

With the volunteers pouring in before the arrival of the guests, the CIPS basement was primed to host; tables set neatly with the help of the students and a station-type buffet with the volunteers ready to serve. The arrival of the guests was eagerly awaited, who soon after reached from their duties and the Friday prayer. They were warmly welcomed and seated as drinks were served to quench their thirst. Within minutes, the aroma of the meals prepared by Daig.com.pk filled the hall, and the place buzzed as the crowd got lost in its flavour.

Apart from making sure they eat their hearts full, the students of NUST engaged in interactive sessions with the workers. This gesture further added a welcoming ambience, and was a way of letting these labourers know how grateful the NUST Community is for all the countless hours they spend in making sure us students are at ease and comfort here. Since these hard workers had very little time to spare, they were given “Thank You” cards as something they can hold on to (quite literally) before they were off to their duties again.

The whole NCSC family ,ever so willingly, volunteered in serving the honourable guests with the passion and purpose of giving back to these unsung heroes. With all hands on deck, the event swung in full colour and its success was clear as day by the smiles on the faces of our hard-working staff. Through this event, it was evident that NCSC, in all its pride, did what it has always aimed of doing: Get.Set.Serve.

Cleaning the Waste at Islamabad TASTE

by Numrah Malik

“It’s only one straw,” said 8 billion people.

We are a part of the time that is living amongst dead zones and is facing what threatens to change ecosystems, impact healths, and harm the planet’s biodiversity; plastic and solid waste pollution. In this seemingly uncontrollable circumstance, NCSC collaborated with Muslim Aid, an organization aiming to promote healthier environments, to bring the threats posed to us through waste pollution, in hindsight.

Gleaming lights, a buzzing crowd, an endless stream of food stalls, and roaring music; amidst the ambient sphere of Islamabad Taste, little would you care of the sea of waste that is soon to be surfaced at dawn on Jinnah Convention Center.

Believing that impetus has to begin with the environment closest to you, NCSC played its role at the Islamabad Taste – targeting mainly the younger and the elderly through a set of activities amongst which a major one stood out to be a cleaning spree. Volunteers were set out in groups of 2-3, collecting thrown trash throughout the festival. With the trash-picking spree, appreciative ribbons too were tied to people. The purpose of all being to raise awareness about the massive amounts of waste we dispose off every day – which does unforeseen harms to our environment and adds on tremendously to greenhouse pollution.

With that, a simple bin guide activity was also carried out. The volunteers guided people to the organic and inorganic bins highlighting the prime role effective waste management plays in preserving our habitats.

The tiny bit of heed being paid to the issue and the lack of awareness being spread is only leading us to worsened outcomes. Even if it is the smallest initiative, it needs to be taken up because it would be far better than mistaking it as someone else’s responsibility to set the wrongs right.

Inclusivity: The Heart and Soul of NCSC

by Mominah Junaid

NUST Community Services Club operates on one fundamental principle: open-heartedness. We believe in fostering a culture of sharing and collaboration, of uplifting communities by helping their most disadvantaged members.

A long history of organizing blood donation drives, health awareness camps, orphanage visits, fundraisers, human rights awareness, eye camps, plantation and clean-up drives, cloth donations, and other charity events, powered by a dedicated team of NCSC volunteers, exists to back this claim.

NCSC’s project Al-Qalam aims to reduce educational inequity by sponsoring education of more than 150 underprivileged students. Project Orphans kNOw More contributes to the development of young children through creative educational activities.

Not only do we lead community service efforts in NUST, but we also stand behind a firm belief in community discourse and its power of change; Fempower, a women’s empowerment project under NCSC, has been a platform for public discussion on intersectional feminism and a friendly support group for women.

Above everything else, NCSC strives towards a more inclusive society. Every charitable endeavour is driven by an ethos of bringing closer into the fold those whom circumstances have forced to the margins. Our members and volunteers, our family, is uniquely motivated to do good in this world in the smallest and most incremental of ways. We espouse universality and welcome all, regardless of their caste, creed, gender or ethnicity. And that is why, perhaps, NUST Community Services Club is proud of being an ever-growing family.

BDD ’19: Boy Was The Beat Turned Up

written by Noor-ul-Ain
edited by Abdul Hayee

Blood Donation Drive ’19, which spanned over four days, was not only a breath of fresh air to the exam-trodden students, but also a much needed escape. Students that came to donate got lost in the unique environment of the camp, compared to the staccato of their routines. They saw their peers laughing, hi-fiving each other all the while coaxing every soul in sight to donate as well. Phones were out, smiles wide, the camera flashing, capturing memories, moments and what not.

Held in the IGIS ground, the BDD day one started off as any normal day, but got busier as the day progressed. The eager donors pouring in from a myriad of schools, all had only one purpose in mind; to donate for the sake of saving lives!

Sundus Foundation staff on duty

The staff of Sundus Foundation were more than efficient in the help they provided; from setting up the camp to making sure each donor was at ease, their work-ethic was more than amiable.

This year, the BDD went with a little different theme. This year, we wanted students to move their feet to the steady beat of our rhythm; we wanted them to keep the beat going, and so, this year’s BDD was music themed! From the décor to the overall ambience of the event, one could tell the organizing body’s sweat and blood were mixed in the hard work. The event shone with the effort of the décor team. From crafty origami to cute headsets and the plethora of colors, it couldn’t get any better than this!

A happy donor :’)

Scene change: BDD shifted to NMC

Improvise, adapt, and overcome. Regardless of the change in the venue from IGIS ground to NMC, the donors still came pouring in! It was absolutely astounding to see you all travel so much just for the purpose of donating one pint. Your enthusiasm was exemplary and your magnanimity pleasantly surprising. The smiles of satisfaction on all your faces just after doing a good deed was enough to dissipate all the exhaustion we felt.

The numbers game was ON at the BBD

The RECORD-BREAKING DONOR

And why was this year’s BDD so ‘hatt kay’ you ask? Well, this year’s drive could only be epitomized by the phrase: we came, we saw, we conquered. Suffice to say that the greatest feat of this BDD was beating the previous record of 604 pints! Holding the 605th token, the organizing body looked at the record breaking donor with pride in their hearts, some even shed a tear or two (Although they’d argue that something had gotten into their eyes.)

Alas, for the Beat Drop Award. The students here at NUST were more than eager to find out which school had been deemed worthy, who was the chosen one. In the end, after a multitude of re-checks, we finally had a winner. Contrary to popular expectations, the school that emerged triumphant, was S3H! *cue the longing sighs of SMME and SEECS students*

NCSC signing off

This Blood Donation Drive wasn’t ‘just’ an event, it was a myriad of memories, all hanging onto the threads of the new bonds formed, the old ones strengthened by the addition of newer, sturdier threads. We hope that you show the same vigor, fervor and enthusiasm, which was on display this Blood Donation Drive, in the future. Let’s break some more records. See you all in 2020, pun intended.

Introducing Project Ehsaas!

written by Hamza Waqas
edited by Abdul Hayee

As we’ve creeped into the 21st century, with all our technological advances and vast knowledge, the human factor inside us has diminished at a similar rate.

But why not just label it as trivial? Why consider it a pressing issue? The answer lies in the essence of humanity; the powerful force that sets us apart from the other living beings; and to deny the concept of humanity is to deny your very own existence, it is to deny the very ideals that our form was founded on.

And why deny this beautiful concept? The idea of exerting yourself for someone else without any vested interest is what sets us apart. Among the various acts of kindness that we can perform, lay the most simple and seemingly insignificant acts that may mean a lot to people who are not used to such behaviour. These may include, but are not limited to: speaking kindly to the janitorial staff, giving food to children living on the streets, smiling at the security guard while entering the university, holding a door for someone (preferably chanting ‘Hodor’ simultaneously) and so on.

Imagine you help an elderly woman cross the road and she passes you the most genuine smile you’ve ever seen. Wouldn’t you feel a rush, a breeze gliding through your face leaving a peculiarly complacent smile on it? Wouldn’t you feel whole?

These little acts may be so significant in achieving self-redemption or just to experience those waves of satisfaction.
What exactly is Project Ehsaas?

This November, we are delving deep to ponder what defines us as humans. We’ll be figuring out the cost of bringing a smile to someone’s face. At NCSC, this month is dedicated to doing those little acts of kindness which make life a bit more worthwhile. But now we’re taking it up a notch by launching a project dedicated just to this.

To reinvigorate this spirit, NCSC presents its brand new project Ehsaas. Ehsaas will explore the avenues of doing those little acts of kindness which which make the world a better place. Join us in this noble cause, find yourself, and give meaning to your life.

HACK: How to get the most out of BDD’19

by Rama Ali

Another blood donation drive is upon us. For all good intents and purposes, we thought a public service message was in order. In the past, one too many eligible blood donors have been seen loitering about the BDD tent with no benevolent intentions of dropping by. Some just go skipping past, their approving comments on the decorations being the only charity that crosses their placid minds. It occurred to us, the reason might just be a lack of inspiration.

There are others who need this memo as well. For beginners who have not donated before or those who are saints, if you emerge from the BDD tent with nothing gained but giddiness from having lost a pint of blood, you uninspired people have much to learn 🙂

Take notes, as we tell you how to get the most out of this BDD.

1. Enjoy the setting AND the melodrama!

A snippet from NCSC’s last BDD

Blood donation takes a few minutes, but the drama in the BDD tent will never fail to entertain you all the while. Sit back or lie down in your reclining chair, move your feet to the music booming inside the tent, and take in the amusing sights.

There you see the faint-hearted, going over the top with their performances at the sight of blood. Then those who, by some mistake, pass the fitness test and then nearly pass out during the donation process. Some with their fear of needles also end up in the BDD tent as if they lost their way. Oh the unnecessary shrieking!

2. Keep an eye out for NCSC photographers

Say cheese 🙂

Got you here, haven’t we? Who doesn’t like their pictures being taken, that too with a DSLR. Be on the constant hunt for NCSC’s photographers who shall be lurking about the tent at all times.

It has been observed that familiar faces keep showing up again every other day at the 4-day-long BDD, after they have already donated, under the pretense of escorting their friends. Come on, we all know why they are really there. You will know them when you see them: bribing photographers, casually blending into photographs with strangers, posing with the decorations and lining up for interviews with TV channels.

3. Get a thorough health-check, because it’s FREE!

You won’t be strapped to the blood donation chair as soon as you enter the tent. Much to your pleasant surprise, you will go through a health check and blood test first. For free! We know most of us are too laid back (and broke!) to go get a paid medical check-up and will come running at this prospect. I would certainly want to know if my hemoglobin levels are doing fine.

4. Something for the “food-positive” blood types

Snacks for you snacks!

A significant proportion of the blood types we register are this type. Led to the donation drive by the whiff of snacks and juices, they will never let free food slip by. You might just catch them sneaking an extra juice box on their way out.

5. The Departmental Wars

Where the pints collect!

A chance to brag about your department, is a chance we all like. Every blood donation drive, we have an inter-department competition to see which department donates the most pints of blood. It’s no longer about you, my friend. Your department’s reputation in BDD hangs in the balance. Convince as many of your classmates to donate as possible. Imagine your smug little smile and your smug little talk when your department actually wins!

Well, I think that covers everything you have to watch out for. If you thought to this day that blood donation had nothing in it for the donors, you were supremely unaware of the perks that NCSC’s BDD has to offer. Now you’ll think twice before you walk past the BDD tent without dropping by. Do not let this BDD slip by without making the most of it!

Hoping to see you there.

Let’s Get, Set, Donate!

Children Saving Mother Earth: One Tree At A Time

by Mariam Younis & Mominah Asif

Planting trees to tackle climate change, could this really be humanity’s salvation? According to scientists, planting roughly three trillion trees globally could reduce our carbon footprint by two thirds, making it one of the most crucial efforts required to end the ever pressing climate crisis. With this in mind, NCSC members and our little heroes put on our capes on a mission to save the world, one tree at a time.

All geared up to save the world!

On the day of the plantation all of us, geared and set at Gate 2, waited eagerly for the children to come and fill our day with their heartwarming smiles. When they finally arrived we were left in awe at their discipline, witnessing them wait for each other and file into a queue on their own as they made their way to the site. We gathered round at the partially barren area amidst the glaring greenery of NUST, all the kids brimming with excitement and curiosity. Since everyone was eager to get to know one another some conversations were struck up while we waited for the event to officially begin. We learned of the dreams and ambitions of the children, immensely proud to hear them say they want to make the world a better place.

Passing it on to the young ones.

The children took their lead as we launched into the proceedings. Saim recited some verses from the Holy Quran followed with a beautiful Na’at by Zohaib and finally Waqas sang the national anthem as everyone joined in with the spirit of making Pakistan greener. Next, our ever-enthusiastic event
heads, Bariha and Hashim, addressed the kids to inform them of environmental issues and the part we play in them so they can truly appreciate the importance of the green trees for the clear blue skies.

Satisfied after playing her part 🙂

The kids were thrilled as they moved on to the plantation field. Each of them was given a label which they excitedly scribbled their names on to mark the saplings they were going to plant, effectively creating a bond between the child and nature as it symbolized the hope for a more conscious generation to inherit this planet. Then began the plantation as the air went abuzz with peppy remarks from the kids, everyone’s wholesome laughter, some craziness and the occasional bouts of wisdom as we took some moments to express our gratitude for the Earth that nurtures and nourishes us. We were content with our hands in the dirt, our heads in the sun and our hearts with nature.

Leading from the front!

The event went on till the sun began to dip behind the Margalla hills that surround the campus. It was now time for the group photo, the children were given pretty little props to accessorize their photo in a fun way and they loved it, cheerfully waving them around to show each other as they selected ones with their favorite colours and decorations. By the end, we were all tired but merry and with grumbling tummies we set off to Kybo and enjoyed a happy meal together before saying our goodbyes.

The mandatory group photo.

Of Umeed-e-Sehar

written by Sana Shafiq
edited by Numrah Malik

I happened to be somewhere on the 23^rd of October. On a short walk to CIPS, pleasant gusts of wind blew and the sky was filled with orange hues and pink undertones. The last rays of sun were coming out as if they were passed through a diamond prism. In the auditorium, a variety of people were seated: eagerly anticipating what was about to come next. It was the day when two of the biggest societies of NUST i.e. NUST Community Services Club and NUST Dramatics Club collaborated for a noble cause: raising awareness about Breast Cancer and other social injustices faced by women.

The auditorium was a round sphere, buzzing with upbeat energy; like a star which was soon going to light up and spread warmth and hope in the galaxy of the world. While final touches were being made to deliver the play in its best form, some delivered singing performances to keep the audience entertained. Soon, the course of events commenced.

A powerful script was read which challenged our society’s stance on women and defended the idea of treating women as equally respectable individuals just like their male counterparts. The mime performance which followed it was also a heart-wrenching portrayal of how one woman is denied her right of choice and being an opinionated being in our society. The story of struggle and strife for acquiring freedom was told, all without using a single word!

At last, the main play started. The lights were dimmed out except for the ones focused on the stage, and the audience had their complete focus on the stage which was illuminated by lights. The drama narrated the gripping tale of Roha, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She and her husband face the judgmental point of view of society on her diagnosis and treatment. Her husband tries to make both ends meet to cover the cost of treatment, but is himself overcome by the negative stigma in the society and thus, abandons her. An elder lady also shares her experience with Roha, for she also experiences isolation from her friends and family after being diagnosed with breast cancer. However, she advises Roha to not cave into the negativity spread by the people around her. In an emotional scene, she gets the support of her parents.

Despite facing all the backlashes and battling the judgments and negativity, she survives. It was a beautiful moment to witness a new dawn in the midst of darkness. In the end, Roha delivered a moving speech which openly questioned the stigma surrounding Breast Cancer and other unfair norms prevailing in our society.

The entire ordeal not only refreshed the minds of the audience after a hectic day, but also provided them a dose of awareness and spread a message of hope, that every cloud has a silver lining, and that every taboo is beatable. It is us who decide when the change begins. The night had begun outside the room, but there surely was the hope for a new dawn, brighter than ever.

Lastly, for their phenomenal performances, we would like to appreciate:
Eesha Irfan, Hamnah Aamir, Anza Zahid

And the talented individuals who headed and made the event possible:
Fatima Saleem, Hamnah Aamir, Tatheer Zahra, Ammar Saleem

A New NCSC – Shining Brighter Than Ever!

by Hafsa Jawad

A strange yet wonderful buzz of energy filled the spacious room. In the seats they sat, the promised gems found at last after a tireless search. Old faces and new, both alike in the anticipation that shone in their faces, could be seen. As they whispered and chuckled, one thing was clear – they all could not wait for the start of what promised to be a spectacular evening.

And then it began. NCSC’s Orientation 2019. The event started off with an inspirational speech highlighting the true spirit of community service by the faculty sponsor, Dr. Niaz Bahadur.

A director receiving their honorary lapel-pin

Soon after that, it was time to break the ice. In a mischievous turn of events that had the entire gathering laughing and indulging in good natured ribbing, all the members present were asked to write down their embarrassing moments, and a few brave souls even shared them out loud!

As the evening progressed, the originally nervous recruits began to relax in their seats, and at one point even joined in the soulful rendition of John Legend’s “All of Me”.

The President and GS conducting the ‘On Track, Off-Track and Zero Tolerance’ activity

NCSC is a society which believes that effective teaching can be done in the most fun way possible! In this spirit a game of “On Track, Off-Track and Zero Tolerance!” was conducted to help the new recruits become familiar with the rules and norms of NCSC.

Amidst the laughter and jokes, were also gentle warnings against rule breaking, coupled with rousing encouragement to put your best foot forward.

The council taking the ‘NCSC Oath’

Then came the speeches of the NCSC Office Bearers 2019, all memorable in their own right. The President, Muhammad Fahad Kazi moved everyone with his powerful speech on the inner peace that comes with helping others, and Treasurer Manahil Amir brought a tear in everyone’s eye with her poignant comment on what the dua of JazakAllah means to her, when given by someone she has helped.

The General Secretary speaking to the council

Soon it was time for refreshments! All the respective teams with their new members made their way outside and participated in a bonding session that emphasized what makes NCSC special: the genuine desire to know their members and quickly turn from acquaintances to friends. In no time at all, under the starry sky, as the nervous reserve around the new recruits crumbled, the air filled with warm laughter and exclamations. And this realization cemented in their mind: NCSC truly is a family, and this feels like home.

A Call to Arms

by Eesha Irfan

Disclaimer: Contrary to popular belief, feminism is a grand attempt to finish oppression in all its forms, regardless of gender. It is about equality not just for women, but for men as well. Therefore, here is a homage to everyone who struggles against this oppression; you’ll always come out stronger.

A message to all the women and men out there
There are those who’ll always try to tear you down

With biting words and scathing remarks:
Of your body, your worth, and whatever they find
Because it’s so much easier for them, instead of looking within, being unkind.

They will try to bring you down,
But fear not;
For there are those who’ll always help you back up
Your sisters and your brothers from unlikely places
With words of kindness and encouragement on their faces.

I know the world seems bleak and unforgiving
But they will bring back the color and the light, submitting
So do not fret and do not feel down
For there are friends and allies all around.

 

 

 

 

OkM: Another Merry Day!

by Mominah Asif Pirzada

Can there really be anything more therapeutic than being in a place where you are circled by the warmest of souls and the cutest and most innocent of faces? Everything seems much more meaningful once you start seeing the world as they see it. Merry and spotless.

With the sun shining brighter than ever and the Saturday being as lazy as ever, the OkM team picked up all the volunteers from the SEECS parking. Entering the APNA Orphanage, the team was greeted by the gleeful smiles of children who waited eagerly for their ‘apnay’ to hug them and chug them with love. The team made its way to the little library where they found the children reading The Famous Five and the Harry Potter series with such captivation, as if they were the heroes of the books that they gripped in those little hands. The ever-enthusiastic project heads divided the kids into two groups, the younger ones and the older ones. Like always, every ‘chota’ wanted to be a part of the elder group and kept reassuring the team that they were old enough to be classified under the ‘older kid’ tag.

The fun began when the map completing competition started. Every volunteer was assigned a team of two kids who then had to guess the right countries on the map. The groups’ knowledge of Geography was put to test, and trust me those Vasco da Gamas were better at it than the most of the team!

This activity was followed by a presentation by the kids on fun facts about the continents that each of the groups had selected. It started of with trickles of shyness, but once they started speaking, it was all cheer and pride in the air. The team that gave the best presentation was given a globe, by spinning which they could easily guess some prominent features, such as the hottest and the coldest countries.

Several Bieber fans were also unearthed when little Shahbaz came forward and sang ‘Let me love you’, bringing back some bittersweet memories. The younger kids had their fair share of fun too with the color bursting activity which was very carefully planned by the project heads and volunteers to indulge the kids into something full of learning and fun.

By the end of the visit the little kids also had their inky pinky ponkies made, and a series of games was set into play.

With everyone being called for a routine group picture, the children knew the time to bid farewell to their ‘apnay’ was approaching. With innocent smiles, they told the team to come back soon with cooler games and not to make it too late.

To Join, Or Not To Join, That Isn’t Even A Question!

by Rama Ali

I beg your pardon for warping perhaps the most famous line in all of English literature, but you are hardly Hamlet and certainly this is no dire dilemma. If you are wondering whether you should join NUST Community Services Club, the answer you need does not ask for a page worth of soliloquizing. There are no cons of joining NCSC my friend, and there’s only one way to go.

Nevertheless, I shall explain why I so emphatically claim that joining NCSC is a must. Why, you asked? You shall get it. Here’s why:

1. We share the spirit of giving.

If you have this spirit, you have it. A golden heart like yours is what NCSC needs. We’re all in it for this very same purpose: this relentless spirit to serve. There is no ulterior motive. This is all we have, and all we share: a love for humanity.

NCSC donating clothes at Chadar’s Clothes Donation Drive.

2. The bigger and the better!

Oh yes, we are HUGE, the biggest society in NUST if I may say so myself! At NCSC, you get to interact with the likes of everyone, literally. From SCME all the way to SMME which is on the other end of the planet, you’ll amass the oddest and most vibrant group of friends from disciplines which could be poles apart! We are everywhere, and welcoming more and more golden hearts as we speak.

The newly formed council of 200 for 2018-19!

An executive talking to Info News at our Cleanup Drive.

An executive talking to Aaj News at BDD.

3. We never sleep on the job.

Anyone would bet NCSC is the liveliest, most professional, hands-down coolest society at NUST, with no second thought. Our sheer organization and energy is why NCSC has more class than any other society. We have the biggest number of events throughout the year, mostly several of them going on at once. Astoundingly, you never see delays or deadweight- everything has a set procedure, a perfect hierarchy through which we work.
And like I said, we DON’T sleep on the job. That’s the level of contagious passion we have: we need only ask and EVERYONE comes out willing to volunteer and lead events.

4. We’re all about fun.

Uh-oh! Did you think we were all work and no play? NCSC is known for its perks. We throw the best after-parties, welcomes, and farewells. Even in between those we sprinkle in some themed get-togethers with games that get the whole council unbelievably hyped. Not to mention the time we have reading anonymous compliments (umm could be roasts too) that get everyone rolling with laughter.
Oh yes you heard right, I mentioned after-parties. As noble and passionate as we are about the cause we serve, one simply cannot help fantasizing about the prospect of free food afterwards. But you hard-working dedicated souls deserve that!

Humorous flashcards at our Blood Donation Drive :’)

5. We look out for each other.

It’s one big family that believes in caring through and through. Your directors will be your best friends. It will seem like everyone knows everyone. From wishing council members on birthdays to hanging with the president and secretaries like they are your best pals, NCSC always feels like home.

The NCSC family chilling after an arduous Blood Donation Drive!

I could keep going on, for the reasons are many- but I think the rest I’ll leave for you to come see yourself!

Now that the dilemma is solved, do not wait and let your “currents turn awry and lose the name of action”, if I may quote Hamlet correctly this time. Countless opportunities to learn and lead await you at NCSC.  If you really, I mean REALLY have the spirit to serve humanity, this is your call.

Well, there’s nothing left to wait for. We’re already recruiting! Let’s Get, Set, Serve!

OKM: Fostering Hope, One Visit At A Time

by Uzair Bakhtiar

NCSC kept its torch burning as it hosted the first orphanage visit of the academic year. The evergreen yet still criminally overlooked Aghosh Al-Khidmat was the destination and it’s safe to say that the club knows every corner of it. 

The high-spirited volunteers gathered in the SEECS parking early last Saturday and set off on their merry way. The destination was far, it always is, but time sure flies when you’re having fun and not even the heat or traffic could dampen the mood. The club arrived an hour later and were welcomed gleefully by the sparky-eyed children. The love of children is unparalleled to everything else as it only grows over time. 

This time around, the club came up with new activities to woo the children over. For the first activity, the children were divided into two groups. Each group rolled a mammoth dice that was prepared specifically for this activity. The competitivity of the children was on show as they left no stone unturned in trying to win the game. For the other activity, the children immersed themselves in the art of Origami and they were taught how to make enchantingly cute paper frogs.

So many children, so few rides.

The adrenaline rush soon kicked in as the skittish children started running in search of pastures anew. Soon, each volunteer had a cute little kid resting casually on their shoulder. The kids had found a new obsession, ‘piggyback rides’. 

For the final activity, all the children were gathered in the hallway where they curiously looked on as the magic twirled right before their own eyes. A model volcano was assembled using household chemicals and a plethora of colors, which when erupted fervidly left the children in awe. This activity instilled the enormity of science into the brains of the children who were visibly clueless. 

Soon enough, it was time to say goodbye. The volunteers left with a heavy heart but knowing that they ignited a spark of joy that could never be extinguished. 

The routine group photo!

A Reflection, a Thank You, and a Farewell

by Uzair Bakhtiar

On the 29th of April 2019, NUST Community Services Club hosted its annual farewell for the graduating batch in all its pomp and glory. The spacious SMME seminar hall was chosen as the setting for this auspicious eve.

The ‘OKM’ squad in front of the vibrant backdrop

The Mughlai theme was clearly on show as the hall was soon embellished by a plethora of colors. The event kicked off rather stirringly as a flashback video was played on the screen. The video compiled all the invaluable memories of the council which they had made together in the past year. The throwback reminded everyone of what they had been through and that nothing unifies us better than the reminiscence of the past. Someone might’ve been cutting some onions because the video left everyone teary-eyed.

After the sentimental roller-coaster the farewell video put everyone through, it was important to transcend things to a lighter note, therefore it was time for the award ceremony. All the teams had put blood, sweat and tears in their work throughout the year yet there could only be one winner for the best team. Team Social Media Marketing was rightly chosen as the victor due to their outstanding work ethic and diligence to the cause. Shields were also distributed among the best directors, DDs and executives of the calendar year. Later, the faculty sponsor, Sir Niaz gave blessings to the students and wished them good luck. Moreover, he emphasized upon ‘Work is Worship’ and encouraged the students to burn the midnight oil and leave no stone upturned to come out in flying colors in their future life.

Team Social Media Marketing receiving their ‘Team of the Year’ award

After the prize distribution came the entertainment segment. Anfas Malik of SMM was invited onto the stage and he enthralled the entire hall with his slick dance moves. Later, the director of decor, Maria Khalil blessed everyone’s ears with her majestically soft voice. This was soon followed by the title announcement and scroll distribution and the titles were hysterical to say the least. Even the sternest of faces couldn’t help but giggle on the well thought titles.

An executive receiving their ‘Title scroll’

Goodbyes are meant to be hard on everyone but it is always harder to be the one left behind. That explains why everyone was so downright emotional when the graduating OBs started giving their farewell speeches. They each described their journey, their highs and lows and the memories they had clustered along the way. Words were not easy to come by as nothing in life could’ve prepared them for this.

GS Abdullah Anwar giving his farewell speech

The night ended on a high, with appetizing food being served in the SMME courtyard where the council gathered for one last meal together. Though there was an atmosphere of joy and excitement, yet it was tinged with an air of melancholy and sadness. Truth is, nobody is way too good at goodbyes.

The Mughlai vibe at SMME Courtyard

Spreading Hope and Joy at Orphans kNOw More!

By Muhammad Ahmad Hassan

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”

Our folks at NCSC aim to give all these things to the witty minds and innocent souls of orphanages in NCSC’s favorite, and rightly so, project, Orphans Know More. To spread joy is a divine service, a smile in return is sweeter than the last sip of nectar.

OKM’s latest venture was at the newest addition to the big old OKM family, Apna Shelter Home. The enthusiastic organizing committee and volunteers gathered first at Concordia 1 with all the ammunition for joy and then the next stop was Apna Shelter Home. Since the kids had become rather familiar with the OKM family, acquaintance took no time, and soon the classroom turned to a big warm nest of babies just coming out of their eggshells. Excitement and enthusiasm were in abundance in both parties ready to treat each other in the best way possible. All the kids were divided into four teams, all equally cute and equally eager to win. Activities planned out for the day were challenging to both mind and body and joyful to the heart and soul. It all started with bingo and while there was a lot of nail biting, which isn’t very healthy for you, there were a few yays and some noes after every number was called. Finally, there was a shout from the back of the room, ‘BINGO!’, and everyone fell silent for a second, and then all the kids went crazy, ‘Sir, we needed just one more number’, to, ‘Ma’am favored this team’. Of all the good things that take time, accepting fate takes the longest.

The next activity was Dart ‘n Answer, a fun dart game, not only to test the aim but the mind as well. The game comprised of three rounds and was well played, with suspense till the last throw. The third activity, enjoyed the most by everyone, was Sudoku. A sheer test of brains and patience as everyone tried their best to fill all the boxes right. The kids helped the members and the session of brainstorming lasted for quite a while.

After all the fun, what could have made the kids happier than some tasty bites? Food was thus served, and with the hard work and efforts of our new project heads, Bariha and Hashim, a successful visit was executed and ended on a high note. We said our goodbyes and promised to return with more games and goodies, they promised to remember our names and save some cake for us in return. If you want to have some cake, be there on our next visit.

The Inside Story on Catch the Trash 1.0

by Rama Ali

Rewinding to a few days before event day, Catch the Trash 1.0 was introduced with a one-of-a-kind handmade panaflex by which everyone was, beside themselves, awed. A panaflex made of cloth and newspapers and NOT plastic. From the get go, we made sure that this drive was completely litter-free!

This cleanup drive was organized in collaboration with WWF on the 20^th and 21^st of April. WWF is known for its unparalleled efforts to conserve nature and wildlife. They have worked with many businesses, organizations and the general public to help them develop a greener footprint and this time, they joined NUST Community Services Club in a two-day cleanup drive in Islamabad.  If you had not signed up for this drive, you may have missed out on some newsworthy things.  Allow me to convince you why it was so much more fun than cleaning up might seem at first thought.

1. Sight-seeing and working

The venues that were decided for the cleanup drive were Rawal Lake for Saturday and G-9 Markaz for Sunday. Although one would not bet on G-9 being a sight-seeing spot, Rawal Lake certainly was one! Thus all the volunteers (a.k.a. The Cleanion League) ended up having a bit of a field trip along with the work!

2. Get, set, serve!

Everyone wants to be the best, even if it is at catching trash. So the volunteers split up into three teams, one under each event head, and set out to see who ended up collecting the most trash. This little competition put everyone on their toes and introduced a lot more motivation and drama. We had it all wrong; trash collection is not really as mundane as it sounds.

3. We got to wear cool gear

Don’t think too elaborate; it was a mask and pair of gloves. And we had our ammunition (trash bags) too. In our defense, we did look like people on a mission.

4. We did our own march

This was perhaps the most fascinating spectacle; it must have been, with how onlookers stopped to watch. It must be hard to miss a crowd of Cleanions parading around with big placards and chanting slogans like the old Commander Safeguard theme song “Saaf saaf Pakistan, paak paak Pakistan!”

5. We got local support!

The most heartwarming sight was how the local people joined in for this cause. A few stayed for the entire parade! Students in the area pitched in to help us clean, and some people even stopped to appreciate or engage us in discussions. Most worth mentioning is the cutest Cleanion we recruited along the way: a little child who toddled up to drop his share of litter into the bag!

6. Free food!

Here’s our sales pitch. Just kidding! No one was instigated to join this drive for free food but this did come as a pleasant windfall. After a long day of working under the sun, we certainly earned a good meal to finish the day. We also had some popsicles to beat the heat at Lake View Park.

And there you have it, 6 highlights that were a must mention. There’s still more where that came from and you should keep a lookout for our next cleanup around the Capital! The official drive may be over now, but there’s much we can still do because there’s probably nothing more DIY than cleaning up. NCSC shall not be barging into your room next to conduct a much needed cleanup session, but you ought to do it yourself. So starting now, tidy your own space, do your laundry, stop flicking those wrappers out the window, and walk the extra mile (or a few steps) to the trashcan instead of chucking your junk from a distance and landing it outside with your poor aim!

Let’s build a clean, healthy and sustainable Pakistan!

 

Four Reasons Why You Should ‘Catch The Trash’

by Mahnoor Qureshi and Rama Ali

1. If you’re an Islamabadi, you’ll know:

Islamabad may be the most beautiful capital in the world, but it certainly does struggle to manage its waste. The struggle is very real for all residents including us ‘Cleanions’ with our acute sense of cleanliness; with the garbage dump gathering at the end of the street, the smell of the overflowing container at the markaz, floating pieces of garbage blocking the local nullah, the obscure mounds of plastic choking the plants at the locals’ favorite greenbelt… and the number of times you’ve filed a complaint with CDA. Aaaagh! It’s too much. We CLEAN-ions like things CLEAN (isn’t that a surprise) and we shall not take more of this! You know how they say it’s both a blessing and a curse to smell everything so very deeply (well don’t scoff, that’s our version of it!)

Anyways, if  you live in Islamabad, you realize the importance of the Cleanion Mission!

2. For the love of pandas:

The Cleanion League is powered by WWF. Yes, the World Wide Fund for Nature, the ones with the cute panda in their logo. For years, WWF has been hard at work in Pakistan, making amazing, sustainable efforts to ‘help build a future in which people live in harmony with nature’. They’ve made some sound efforts to protect not only the endangered pandas but us panda-huggers endangered by our own antics (littering, for example).

These people will be enabling us to visit two central locations in Islamabad, help clear up trash, and raise awareness. And they’d love if you joined in.  If nothing else, do it for the panda guys.

3. We’re not exactly like the Minions:

There’s lots of them, they work together, and they’re adorable.

Gru and his league of Minions might have caused the Earthlings a whole lot of trouble if they’d stolen the Moon like they’d planned to. (Despicable Me reference, anyone?) Fortunately enough, we’re only stealing stuff that everyone loathes. Yes, trash.

4. I mean, if not you then who?

There’s really no one person to blame for littering. And no one person responsible for cleaning it up.

It all begins with one little convenience. One torn plastic bag, one glass bottle, one empty bag of chips… Before you realize it, the unsightly mound of trash has grown to the size of a small car. If these little conveniences can pile up to such height, the efforts of us little Cleanions can surely pile up to make a big difference too. Yes I’m talking about you too, you potential Cleanion.

And we’ve been waiting long enough for (*cough cough* the municipal authority) the Cleanions. If you’re not going to be one of them, who is…?

So join us this Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM to help clean us our capital!

Exercising the Body and Mind With Orphans kNOw More!

By Mahnoor Qureshi 

The Aghosh Al-Khidmat Orphanage is a rather understated building tucked in a far corner, on a very steep road. As you enter, an elderly man asks you to make an entry of your visit in a register, and the female caretaker tries to get the children who’ve managed to run out the open gate in your wake, back inside.

Soon after you get there, you realize Aghosh is a world of its own. It’s a place where you embrace the moment, and find reason to laugh at the smallest of joys. Here, you are happy, perhaps because of the colors and the people that surround you; you are delighted, maybe because you own some toy you love; you are content at the sheer wonder of being alive. Your life is an endless tide of spontaneity, ablaze with your own boundless energy, and any friendly face is welcome to share with you in your happiness.

It’s Sunday, and the children are savoring their freedom: they run through the corridors, shouting, chanting, chasing after God knows what. We assemble in the nearest classroom, and form teams. One group of students and children goes upstairs to the cozy library, where the children rush to the shelves, pull out their choice of books, and bring them to the table. They read them out, or name what’s in the pictures, or just talk to us about what it is that they see. In another classroom, children take a math quiz, to see who can win the prize. The Pictionary game has them guessing the right word, and in another class, children draw, playing around with markers.

A few of the children are focused and shy; they read their book, or manage to solve the challenging math problem. But many are too energetic to engage in a constant activity for very long. After almost an hour and a half, the caretaker announces it is time to go outside to play. The orphanage has a rather unkempt empty plot beside it, where the children play ball games, or explore, or fly kites. We play catch, or draw faces in the mud, or just sit in the shade, watching, as they kick the ball and fly their rough, handmade kites. By 1, it is time to leave. Everyone gets free chocolates, and the children follow us up the road, as far as they are allowed to, to bid us, admittedly, a quite saddening farewell.

 

Paper Frogs Leap as ‘Orphans kNOw More’ Extends its Family

By Mahnoor Fatima

After years of spreading joy and laughter at the Aghosh Orphanage for boys, trying to color their lives, grooming them and enriching them psychologically, NCSC’s favourite project ‘Orphans kNOw More’ wanted to extend its family. With this goal in mind, a long search in the twin cities ensued at the end of which OkM finally found a new home in the Apna Shelter Home. With renewed spirits and a strong resolve to continue influencing lives positively, NCSC set out to meet its newest family members on 31^st March 2019.

The lively organizing committee reached the venue and was taken inside a classroom to meet the young ones, who enthusiastically started to chat with everyone. Then the activities for the day began. Soon after the first challenge was revealed, the entire classroom was abuzz with excitement. Colored papers were distributed and the instructions were carefully studied as everyone had been tasked with making the perfect paper frog! The challenge had everyone in a fix. Many threw their papers in frustration. Some young ones implored to be taught how, while some OC members struggled to be the older, more informed ones.

A certain Deputy Director, after giving up on the printed instructions, was seen sitting in a corner and fast forwarding a video tutorial for making paper frogs in origami. The said DD then emerged confident to take on these amphibians with her newly acquired skill.

Caught in the act

 

Meanwhile, another Director (today handing over his camera to another rising photographer from SMM) was seen sitting in the center of a huge group of children, having completed frogs and moving on to planes and talking crows!

Our skilled Origami-ist

The real hero however, was a young boy from 4^th grade who insisted he knew the secret to an easier jumping frog and was ready to reveal it. This led to many successful pieces of folded art, which were then carried out for a race of the jumping frogs.

The art of jumping frogs

Ready to race!

After the race, the children and NCSC members were divided into teams for a lively ping pong game where players had to put a ball in one of the cups in a triangle, and on doing so would receive a trivia question. If they answered correctly, they would be awarded a small reward. A boisterous game ensued as the OC members grew invested, laughed and defended their teams.

Team Hyperion led by Ramis took the lead, followed by Soul Eaters led by Hassan who defeated the odds with what we thought was an interesting team name.

In the thick of the game

The scoreboard!

Director Marketing paving the way to victory

The last activity of the day was one of NCSC’s favourite games: Human Tic Tac Toe! Teams ran and threw paper balls on the prepared grid, in an attempt to make their team color appear thrice in a row. The game continued until everyone had a chance to play their turn and one team was declared the winner.

The day ended on a high note. One friendly baby girl was seen agreeably going from one OC member’s arms to another.

All smiles!

The GS went back to high school and his skills were tested, as he took to teaching physics to an older boy at the shelter.

What a ‘NICE’ thing to do!

And our photographer for the day:

And what was perhaps one of the most satisfying moments:  DD SMM, usually not-so-happy with the existence of humans (did you forget to treat him too?) was, in a turn of events, seen in perfect bliss.

There was some counselling and new friends were made. At the end of the trip, many sad farewells were heard and promises to be back soon, made. The OC, led by the hardworking event heads Manahil and Fahad, left filled with blissful satisfaction, eager to be back on another weekend.

Our effervescent project head enjoying a moment of triumph after being rebuked for his choice of playlist on the entire trip there

Once again, the stage was set for a ride of a lifetime’s worth of memories made with orphans who needed to know that with our love and care, they won’t be orphans anymore. The curtains are up, and a wild ride awaits us all! We hope to see you all soon on our next visit!

 

One Land, One Blood: Serving the Nation One Pint at a Time!

By Arooj Kazmi 

Blood Donation Drive’19, spanning four days from 2^nd to 5^th April, was the epitome of determination and magnanimity. IGIS ground, where the blood donation camp was set, became a halo of lively energy, as scores of NUSTians, both students and faculty members, came along in unison for a noble cause.

What made this event so special, you ask? Well, anyone present at the site would respond in a heartbeat, “Everything”. The camp was a colourful ensemble of cultural patterns, tasteful décor and quirky slogans, all contributing to the Drive’s cultural theme which aimed to promote a sense of unity. The vibrant atmosphere was made more enjoyable by a selection of songs played throughout the day.

The NCSC team left no stone unturned to welcome all brave blood donors and their faithful companions, guiding them carefully through various stages of the endeavour. Experts from the collaborators, the renowned Jamila Sultana Foundation, were present at the site, providing the confidence that all blood donors (and aspiring ones) were in safe hands. What is more, food and refreshments by Mouthful and Islamabad Tea Company were present in abundance in order to replenish all the generous souls that showed up.

Like every year, it was truly heart-warming to see people donate blood. Unlike any other year, however, this BDD collected a total of 604 pints! Six hundred and four pints. That spells hope for hundreds of thalassemia patients.

The Drive ended on a note of excitement and anticipation, as all NUST schools braced themselves for the announcement of the Golden Drop Award winner. This year, SMME grabbed the award for the highest number of donors.

Every small contribution made this BDD a huge success, and the event signalled that the potential to do good is present in all of us. See you at the next Blood Donation Drive?

 

Bonding with Nature and the NCSC Folks at I Am NCSC 6.0

By Khadija Asad 

NCSC organizes a theme related to an important social cause every month. In celebration of this month’s theme, March for Earth, NCSC organized a literal march (I have to say, the people here at NCSC sure do love themselves a good pun) — a plantation drive at the NUST hiking trail.

The day started out sunny, but to everyone’s relief, the sun nestled itself behind the clouds, round about the time the drive was supposed to begin. At around 3 pm, people started gathering at the base of the hiking trail and once enough had gathered, we started setting out in groups towards the plantation site.

The hiking trail is located in one of the relatively distant corners of the campus. So the people arriving were already out of breath, having walked all the way here from their far flung areas of NUST. Nevertheless, the excitement and energy in the air were obvious. The “I Am NCSC” spirit was on full display, as people joked and helped each other up the steep terrain. There were so many moments when yours truly, being the true klutz that she is, was seconds away from having an embarrassing fall, only to be stabled by a kind soul nearby. Every few minutes, someone offered to carry the huge water pots we trudged along with us, so that no one was stuck with them for too long. The people were just that nice.

As we huffed and puffed our way to the top, the lack of oxygen to our brains made our breaths choppier and our jokes lamer (but as one wise Deputy Director pointed out, lame jokes are the best kind). Anyway, once we got to the top, the breathtaking view of NUST that greeted our eyes made us forget all about our fatigue. People stopped to catch their breath and marvel at the beauty around them.

And then came the actual work. Members rolled up their sleeves and got their green thumbs out. You got to see so many types of people. There were those that attacked the ground with their shovels, directing their pent up frustration (OHTs are coming, sigh) into every hit. These people meant business and they were not slowing down anytime soon. And then there were those who were multitasking—planting and taking pictures of themselves planting simultaneously. Boomerangs of themselves watering the saplings were made, and proof shots with shovels were taken. People also marked their planted saplings with flags bearing their names.

I’d like to give a special shout out to all the members who, despite sweating like crazy, continued to wear their NCSC bomber jackets proudly. It was solely their persistence and drive to flaunt their new, cool jackets that kept them going, and for that, I applaud them.

A grand total of 1035 trees were planted as a result of our blood, sweat and tears. Once all the saplings had been planted, we started the journey back to the base, exhausted but satisfied. A lot of memories were made that day. There was this sense of belonging to this huge family, as we cracked jokes and bonded. And just the thought that our little saplings might one day provide shade to future NUST generations, was enough to put a smile on our faces and we walked away with contented hearts.

Were You That Stranger?

By Arooj Kazmi

Thalassemia. This five-syllable word seemed to spell the end for her. What had she done to deserve this? Constant fatigue riddled her days, acting like an iron wall between her and the things she loved –  like playing outdoors with her friends; out where there were no worries, just the frenzied voices of her peers and a cool wind that tugged at her hair. The sheer irony of her situation was that she had everything – a pretty face, two hands, two feet, a proportionate body… but no blood. Not the right sort of blood; it was shrivelled and useless.

 

Needles. The prick of a needle was a strange feeling. As a child, she was unable to understand what the needle did, why the doctor poked it in her arm. But now, as an adult, it all made sense. The needle was what kept her alive. The knowledge that someone had donated blood – a thing so precious and personal – gave her hope. It was remarkable that a complete stranger wanted her to continue living. It was a thought that filled her with gratitude, and she held on to it. She held on to life.

Were you that stranger?

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects an ever-growing number of people in Pakistan, with roughly 50,000 registered patients currently. The condition decimates a person’s ability to lead a normal life because of the constant fatigue caused by it. In many cases, death is inevitable, unless it can be prevented by regular blood transfusions. NCSC has taken up this noble cause of collecting blood donations for thalassemia patients, propelled by the belief that small efforts reap big results. You too can be a part of this year’s Blood Donation Drive. All healthy individuals have the capacity to become that saviour stranger in another person’s life.

 

Of Cats and Eye Sight: A Tale of the NCSC Eye Camp

By Sana Shafiq

“Oi, there goes the cat which we fed yesterday,” said my friend, as we sat on the swings with our lunch, in a barely 20-minute-long lunch break. “Where?” I scrambled around to find my glasses, and by the time I had found them, the cat had apparently gotten away. The product of years of experience has brought many things to light. I can only suspect that the graph of the loyalty of cats barely increases no matter how much reverence you show to them, but I am certain of this: once the equations on the whiteboard become blurry to you, it only goes downhill from there, no matter what level you stand on.

The good news is it can be controlled by taking care of your sight. I was elated to know that NCSC took up the responsibility for that, as it organized an Eye Camp for 2019 on the 14^th and 18^th of March in collaboration with Al-Shifa Eye Trust. A congregation of people, all at the stake of problems similar to mine; how could I not go to witness that sight! (There were, of course, some who were present merely in hopes of free stuff, but I am not supposed to tell you this.)

Thus, I found myself standing in front of the adequate building of the NUST Medical Center on the cloudy day of 14^th March. The location was bustling with not just students but people from all sectors of the society, regardless of their status, presenting a wonderful model of unity for the cause of something good in the community. Not only were the steps indicated and numbered, but ushers and volunteers were also present at all times for guiding the incoming people and assisting the doctors and paramedics.

A registration desk was present under the canopy set up outside the Center. People relayed basic details to register themselves, got tokens and then waited for their turn. While some sat on the chairs, others just wandered around the area. Then, groups of five to seven were sent in the building according to their token number to avoid over-crowding.

A plain wall inside the Center was spruced up by vibrantly colored glasses on its expanse. People inside could barely feel any effects of waiting as the beautiful backdrop captured their attention. Turn-wise, the trained doctors checked the eyes of people with the help of their equipment in three steps. Then, prescriptions for glasses or medicines were given, if needed. Of course, there was a booth which had free glasses and medicines in it to cater to the doctor’s prescriptions!

It was kind of nice to see the whole scenario, sort of like a meeting for an I Wear Spectacles club (if that existed), which reconvened just 4 days later as well. By the time I was free and had begun the long walk back to my school, the sun had succeeded in peeking through the cloudy curtain. And oh, did I mention that I came across a cat, who, well, did exhibit cat-behavior, but at least I had the vision this time!

The Kids Steal the Show at Vocalize Your Talent!

By Khadija Asad and Numrah Malik

“Vocalize Your Talent” was held on March 9^th, under the headship of the NUST Community Services Club, as a part of the NUST Olympiad 2019. The event aimed to showcase the talents of the kids from Aghosh Al-Khidmat Orphanage, and boy, were these kids talented!

The session commenced with the recitation of Quranic verses shortly after 11 am, with the arrival of the chief guest, Mr. Bilal, who is also the manager of Aghosh Al-Khidmat Orphanage, and the judges. Amongst them were Dr. Tahir Baig, Assistant Professor Hassam from SEECS, and Miss Mariam from S3H. As the kids poured into the auditorium, their obvious enthusiasm tugged at the heartstrings of all those present, as they eagerly shook hands with members of the organizing committee.

After everybody settled down, the competitions began. The first one was of Tilawat, Hamd and Naat, and comprised of a total of 9 participants. These kids channeled their emotions into their voices, and moved the audience with their powerful performances.

With the conclusion of this part of the event, there was a quick Q&A round to re-capture the wandering attention of our younger audience. Kids who answered correctly were rewarded with chocolates.

With the children re-engaged and munching on their sweet rewards, the event progressed towards the second competition of English and Urdu speeches, which had a total of 5 participants. Seeing the fervor with which the speeches were delivered by the little orators, the audience could not help but smile. Amidst the competitions, additional performances of Hasbi Rabbi, deliverance of Hadith and Quaid’s messages and Asma-e-Mustafa (SAW) also took place.

After a short break, the last competition of Nazmein and Taranay took place, with a total of 10 participants, all of whom delivered outstanding performances. As this last competition of the day ended, the esteemed Chief Guest, Mr. Bilal, took to the podium to deliver a few words while the judges compiled their results.

Next came the part all the children were waiting for with bated breath—announcement of the winners. The results were announced, and the winners were called to receive their prizes. Moreover, every child was awarded a participation certificate, their faces shining with undiluted joy as they made their way onto the stage to receive them. Shortly afterwards, refreshments were served and the event came to a successful end.

Observing and interacting with these little ones, I couldn’t help but marvel at their spirit. These kids may not have the most fortunate of circumstances, but they don’t let that stop them from dreaming, from achieving. They have a spark inside of them that refuses to be extinguished, and spending time with them infused in me a sense of optimism too. These kids may be young, but we have a lot to learn from them.

Bringing Healthy Fun to the Kids, Olympiad Style!

By Jasim Ahmad

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the ongoing NUST Olympiad, glazed with some cracker events, an even better enterprise was underway, called the SOS Olympiad. The participants were a buzzing bunch of kids visiting NUST from the SOS Village, from across the yard. The whole event was organized under the NUST Olympiad’s Community Outreach Program.

The cold Sunday morning greeted the children as they happily jogged up the stairs to the SMME seminar hall. Little did they know about the sweet surprises that were in store for them. And so began the eventful journey for the young Olympians. Kids always have a thing for fun games and activities, and who knows that better than NCSC. Subsequently, the event was kicked off by some rounds of Minute-to-Win-It. But before that, the delighted contestants were divided into houses. The houses were named to accommodate the ongoing PSL fever, with the houses being Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators, and Peshawar Zalmi. All the teams participated with a lot of motivation and gave their best to complete the tasks. With the sort of effort and hard work that they put in, the appeal for food was almost inevitable. Unsurprisingly, NCSC had that covered as well, as the grumbling bellies were soon filled with savory biryani. After satisfying their hunger, some of the children ventured into the intense battle for claiming the title while the rest cheered on for their housemates.

By noon, as the sun glared with all its might, the girls were taken to the gymnasium for indoor sports. The contests included badminton and table tennis. The level of competitiveness shown by the opponents was extraordinary, as the support from the stands naturally went overboard.

With all the action going on at one end, a different yet equally intense battlefront had unfolded itself. Amidst the greens of the helipad grounds, the boys locked horns for the title. The glory resided in winning the futsal and tug-of-war matches. All the teams competed at the top of their might as their fellows cheered them on. The boys rallied around the ball as at it was kicked back and forth. As soon as the futsal session concluded, the stage was set for tug-of-war, a chance for the kids to show who was the mightier. By that time, the girls had arrived back from the gymnasium and were rubbing their hands for the throwball matches. With the blink of an eye, the girls dived right into the action and began contending for glory. Even the people organizing the Olympiad took some time off and came over to cheer the little players on, and they were anything but disappointed.

All good things must come to an end, they say, and the same went for the games and all the fun. The sun was bound to set soon, and so did the moods. Arrangements were made for a closing ceremony. The NCSC team had it organized smoothly and within no time the table was set with all the shields, medals and trophies. After summing up all the points for all the games, despite a nail-biting contest, the Quetta Gladiators came out as the winners. The announcement was followed up with a lot of cheers and buzz by the kiddos. The event was capped off as the individual performers and the houses as a whole were rewarded, with the chief guest, Shahram Changezi, Assistant Director Sports at NUST and former World and Asian Snooker bronze medalist, presenting them with the trophies and shields.

It was almost dark as the guests from across the sector, boarded the bus with heavy hearts and deep sighs. Team NCSC was not any less saddened as they waved good bye to the children as they departed for their home.

This Is a Woman: Raising the Profile of Women Making a Difference

By Azka Yamin

8^th March sounds like just another day, right? But it’s not. Every year, the whole world celebrates 8^th March as ‘International Women’s Day’ to praise and honor the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Women’s day is all about unity, celebration, action and women empowerment.

In a conservative society such as that in Pakistan, a woman’s place is considered to be the home, so whenever a woman steps out to acquire education or pursue a career, she is stigmatized. But this notion needs to be changed because now women are educated and more courageous than ever. Today it is necessary that we recount stories of women who stood up for their rights despite all the hurdles. Women who made something out of nothing. Women who are supporters of their whole families, working day and night to feed their loved ones. It is the need of the hour to talk about such women to inspire our younger generations.

So, on this 8^th March, NCSC, under the banner of their flagship initiative Fempower, organized an interactive session to celebrate successful women. The USPCASE seminar hall was decorated in pink and white balloons, immersing it in a feminine ambience. Quotes of empowered women who cast an everlasting impact on the society were projected in the background. In the session, five independent women working in various industries shared their experience and shed light on the issues prevalent in our society and how we can tackle them. One of them, Farkhanda Shaheen, addressed the common misconception in our society that women empowerment is all about implementing Western culture, saying it is not needed because Islam empowers women. She made it clear to the audience that the system of rights and equality prescribed by Islam is just and the need of the hour is its implementation. The esteemed panel also comprised of a talented woman from our very own NUST! Anum Zehra, who is a voice actress and did the voice over in “Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor”, shared her experience with the audience and raised the point that women empowerment cannot be achieved single-handedly and it requires the support of the entire society especially one’s family and close friends. Another esteemed panelist, Miss Sobia, a marketing director at Jazz, stressed on the importance of acquirement of education and skills along with having belief in your own capabilities. Women from the audience also shared their inspiring stories of struggle and queries from the participants were addressed by the panel.

No session is complete without tea, which was given to all participants along with refreshments. Badges to promote solidarity with women were distributed to the audience packed in pretty pink goodie bags. At the end, the panel members were presented with shields and bouquets. All in all, the session ended on a positive note, instilling a message of acceptance, tolerance and equal human rights.

6 Reasons Why You Should Come to NCSC’s Eye Camp

By Sana Shafiq

Are you someone who can view everything oh-so-clearly, or is life too much of a blur? NCSC will be holding its yearly Eye Camp for all on the 14^th and 18^th of March. Here are six reasons why you should swing by!

1. Your eye check-up is overdue

Are you too swamped by the hectic 9 to 5 routine? Either you spend extensive hours stuck in traffic to get to home or have to take long walks in NUST to reach your hostel? Do not fret if you have got no time to spare to pay a visit to the doctor. NCSC has got you covered!

2. It is happening in your own backyard!

The trained staff from Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital would be present right in your backyard – the NUST Medical Center! How can anyone from NUST skip having their eye exam then?

3. To Combat the Daily Mishaps

Experiencing the everyday mishaps of the not-quite-6-by-6-life? Like adding salt instead of sugar, overlooking that one sign in a calculus question and thus transporting your answer to some imaginary dimension, failing to wing the perfectly winged eyeliner for you cannot focus or apparently staring down random strangers when in reality you are unable to make out their faces in your blurry world. Come to the Eye Camp to conquer these and other daily problems!

4. Free Checkup

Okay, the whole check-up will be absolutely free. You will not even have to spend a dime! Enough said.

5. More Free Treats!

Not only the check-up, but the prescribed medicines and glasses will also be available for free! Consider it a treat from NCSC, delivered to you a lot quicker than the long-due treats from your friends.

6. To enjoy the 6/6 life:

It is surely a struggle to read the last line of the Snellen chart. Wait until you get acquainted with your saviour super-glasses through this platform and witness nature in its true essence. After all, what matters in life if not the tiny details? Honestly, you’ll never know what you’re missing until you experience it!

Convinced? Well, we will be waiting for you on 14^th and 18^th of March! Thus, if you are not able to get your eyes checked up one day, you can swing by the other day! Let us all put our lives into focus.

Where Are You Hurting?

By Rama Ali

(A wealthy man’s words and the thoughts of a child on the street)

 

Where are you hurting little one?

I saw the asphalt hit you hard;

Is it your knee? Perhaps your hand scraped-

It looks to me so scarred.

 

Where does it hurt, you ask?

I ail in places of which count I’ve lost;

What ails me are my penniless hands,

And lo, the childhood that it has cost.

 

And all the scars that mar my hands

I did not get them all today,

Time has earned me many years’ worth

From slaving the hours away.

 

It hurts quite terribly, does it?

Why little one, wherefore so melancholy?

Here, the hurt shall go away angel,

This is part of play, mere fate’s folly.

 

You ask of my melancholy shroud,

Why, what more would you ever see-

Than the ever pressing ache in my eyes

Of a childhood that never was- will never be.

 

It is part of play, you said strangely-

I know of play, but playtime is unfair to me;

It evades me for days at times,

Because I have bread to earn you see.

 

Oh my, your shirt has ripped!

Is that why you sob so hard?

There there, I shall buy another,

Dry those tears, don’t look so jarred!

 

This shirt was of the few I own,

A size too big, but I’d have grown;

It is rather kind of you to buy

For I doubt I could afford a stone.

 

I have learnt to quiet tears,

Life, this partial thing, has made me brave;

But once in a while, for I am still a child,

These tears come brimming like a wave.

 

Now hear me, young one so dear,

I do suppose you nestle near-

Let’s return you to your cozy home,

I shall walk you till, never fear.

 

I live around that corner, sir.

Quite a modest home, if I may say,

Nothing like yours I would presume,

Still I think of it longingly all through day.

 

You’ll return me home-

God bless you, a kind soul, if ever was born,

But say, even with your powerful hands,

Could you ever return… a childhood gone?

Little Child

By Sana Shafiq 

 

Come little child, let us go out to play,

The sun’s setting, long gone is the day.

 

The night is upon us, I am afraid,

The time stars shine, but also fade.

 

I have seen your eyes where dreams dwell:

A tale unheard is what they tell.

 

Your smile, unfaltering, puts to shame,

My ingratitude in a worldly game.

 

Etched onto your skin are terrains,

Of all the pain, of all the strains.

 

There are, of course, your hair so grey:

With years you grow, with years you fray.

 

I wonder what is in your mind:

The toil, the loss, all confined.

 

But dear, in you, that’s all I see:

A child still waiting to be free.

 

Oh, who will calm those precious souls?

Blemished by the world, filled with holes.

 

Winters have passed, frost upon frost,

Yet none can repay a childhood lost.

Stolen Away

By Numrah Malik

They rise at the first brightening,

As their restless eyes scan for scraps of food, they worry,

If hunger, their old friend, is here to stay,

In the cold light of the day.

 

They seek the sights of playgrounds and schools,

For their hearts yearn to learn and play,

Their hands, that only know to scrub and not to write,

Are made to do chores, through midday.

 

They wouldn’t dare speak of the strenuosity,

For if they did,

Who’d make the wage,

To feed their stomachs yet another day?

 

By dusk, their parched feet have only known of thorns and rocks,

And not of carpeted floors or woolen socks,

By night, covered in rags,

On frosty floors, their weary bodies lay,

And with every drowsy night’s sleep,

They have their childhood stolen away.

Showing What We Are Made of at “I Am NCSC”!

By Rama Ali

On the blustery winter afternoon of February the first, as NCSC members crossed the little ramp upto the SMME courtyard (with some feeling quite relieved they had gotten a ride, thus avoiding the formidable hike – well it is! – from wherever else in NUST to SMME), they probably hadn’t the most accurate idea of what kind of evening they were in for. This gathering called “I am NCSC!” is organized for the whole council to get together for an enjoyable evening several times every year. This time around, the hands backstage were the teams Social Media and Publications.

Although at first glance one could not decipher what theme was going around with all the colorful dresses, those black shark fins sticking out from some backs threw it away! Articulately put, it was “Over the North Pole, Under the Sea”. We had polar bears with fur coats, brightly colored anemones, baby and daddy sharks, and one lady even dressed up all in white personifying the North itself!

The evening formally kicked off at 4 pm, whereby everyone was randomly divided into teams to compete in a little NCSC Olympiad. Well, it goes without saying how emotions run high when the clock is ticking and you have some contenders to beat! That’s exactly how it happened, folks.

The first challenge was to draw a scaled-up version of part of a printed picture of the NCSC council in less than fifteen minutes. Hilarious would be an understatement of how the resulting art turned out when all the scaled-up pieces were put together to form the big picture. It could be rightly said that this hand-drawn, big picture of the NCSC council was both historical and hysterical, where every artist and amateur had spilled out their talent (that too in a hurry). To decide the winning piece the judges tried to identify as many faces as they could from each drawing. During this process, one guy even pointed to a stick figure exclaiming “That’s me!”, while no one else could see this resemblance for the life of them.

Next was an oversized version of tic-tac-toe combined with a relay race. The human-size version of tic-tac-toe was chalked on the ground and there was a starting line some distance off, where the teams were stationed. The competition proceeded in pairs and each team had to deploy their best runners to run up to the box, place their colored marker, come back and tag the next member to run and so on until one team got three in a row. The hype was unbelievable, not to mention the exclamations when one team blocked the other.

After a little prayer break, everyone teamed up again to empty out their lungs by blowing up balloons and then trying to make a person lie on top for ten seconds without popping any! Surprisingly, the winning team did it in a breeze. By now it was dark and getting awfully cold, so the balloons were popped (by sitting on them, could you guess?) and dinner was served. While everyone sat down in a circle to savor their biryani, this eventful evening ended by reading out some anonymous confessions for some of our council members. While some confessions were appreciative, people certainly took advantage of the anonymity and most of the confessions brought fits of laughter.

It all ended with a little prize distribution and at 7 pm, they called it a night. So all in all, regardless of what anyone expected before they arrived at the event, they certainly left all pumped up and perhaps with their sides aching because of the incessant laughter, literally! New bonds were made, new exchanges took place, new experiences were shared and this “I am NCSC!” certainly lived up to its name and more.

 

Connect

By Arooj Kazmi

2018 was an amazing year for me!

Next year I resolve to go to the gym more often, learn fingerstyle guitar, read philosophy and

As the year draws to a close, there is one thing that I feel really requires my attention – developing deeper connections with people; going beyond initial judgments to know people for who they are.

When I say this, I think of that aunt who sits mute at family gatherings, a faint smile on her lips, but is an avid book reader and blogger; a class fellow of mine to whom words don’t come easily but is expressive when playing a game of badminton; a child at the park who sits silently and observes.

I’m beginning to realize how important it is to find that faint intersection between our lives and someone else’s, and then build upon it, because connections with others keep us tied to this world, without which we’d simply float away…

NCSC & Chadar Fight Off the Winter Cold

It was a cold Sunday morning, but she had to wake up early. This was the day, as she was told, that a group of students from some university in Islamabad was coming to their town to distribute clothes. She readied her daughter, Ayesha, who was as much looking forward to this visit as she was. They were expected to gather in the house of a senior lady of their town, who would then lead them to the store.

The wait turned out to be long, making her anxious. Someone near her was talking about leaving, because it didn’t seem that these children were actually coming. Still, she suppressed any such impulse, and sat patiently with Ayesha by her side.

When she finally did get round to the store, there was a sense of urgency in the air. Other women were going about picking clothes, taking them away, helped by the children who were carrying shopping bags full of sweaters, suits, and shawls. She did not waste much time, and started searching and separating the clothes she’d take along with her. Before long, a noticeable pile had accumulated and she decided it was time to leave, urged on by the children managing the store. On her way back, she saw a volunteer carrying a small, black hijab to the table with the kids’ clothes. An idea struck her mind, and she hurried to the table, excavating the piece of cloth that she had seen.

Ayesha will really like this little scarf.

She did. The little girl wore the scarf on the spot, with a big smile plastered on her face. This had made her day.

***

As was his daily routine, he got onto his bicycle early in the morning, and set out for work. Of late, it had begun to get particularly cold, and his old, feeble body was only protected by a sweater, which was beginning to get dirty. He prayed to Allah to send help, for he did not have the money to buy another piece of clothing to keep the cold at bay. Anyhow, he carried on with his day.

A little after 3pm however, a booming voice coming from the masjid filled his ears.

“A group of students has set up a store to give away winter clothes. Whoever needs them should come to the plot next to Nagina Masjid to take the clothes.”

He could not believe his ears. He got on his bicycle and wasted no time in getting himself to the designated area, where the store was set up. Inside, there was an entire collection of clothes: jackets, coats and sweaters. Exactly what he had needed.

He did not need to fear the cold again, for his prayer had been answered. It was nothing short of a miracle for him. He left the store with a heart full of gratitude and tears in his eyes.

***

NUST Community Services Club (NCSC) organized a Clothes Donation Drive in collaboration with Chadar this winter. The clothes were processed, packed, and taken to Morgah, a katchi abadi near DHA 1, Islamabad, to be distributed in a Street Store. More than 1000 items of clothing were distributed to over 80 deserving families in the area.

Every family had a story much like the ones covered above. It is inspirational how a simple act of donating clothes can change and improve lives in such impactful ways. This is what drives NCSC: the goal of serving humanity, and of making the world a better place to live in.

Be Grateful

By Khadija Asad

Sometimes my mind wanders off to realities I’d rather ignore. Like how the snug little bubble that I live in can burst in the blink of an eye. How everything I’ve ever known, everything that I’ve come to so blindly rely on, is in fact, just temporary. It’s a thought that makes me uneasy, so I return to ignoring it.

But for how long? The question comes back to haunt me when I’m at my happiest.

The truth stares us in the face, yet we choose to act like it doesn’t exist. We lull ourselves into a false sense of security, choosing to pretend that things will keep on going the way they always have. Like our lives can’t come crashing down on us in a mere fraction of a second.

Nothing is promised to us. Not another day, not any of our supposed “constants”, not another shot at any of this. So why do we live like this?

I’ve come to a conclusion. I can either choose to remain blissfully oblivious of the impermanence of things or I can embrace it. I choose to do the latter.

This new year, instead of being afraid of what the future might hold, I’m going to try and live each day to the fullest, to make every day count. To find joy in the simplest of moments. And most importantly, to show the people I love how blessed I am to have them in my life. I’ve always been scared senseless by the thought of losing my loved ones; just this thought alone could reduce me to tears. But I now realize that I’ve never actually been particularly expressive of my feelings for them. This year, I’m going to change that. I’m going to live with no regrets.

Another thing I’ve realized this year is that I’ve never truly appreciated just how lucky I am. I’ve always been so consumed with making things better and better that I never realized how fortunate I was that things didn’t take a turn for the worse. While I was busy fretting over trivial issues, people out there have been battling nightmares my entitled self can’t even imagine. This new year, I resolve to do everything in my power to help those less fortunate than me.

Living with the uncertainty that nothing is promised to us, the best we can do is cherish every moment, be grateful for everything that we usually tend to take for granted and do what we can to make this world a better place. Because the good we do, the joy we spread, and the pain we help alleviate, is all that matters in the end. Everything else just fades over time.

Here’s to a meaningful 2019.

 

NCSC Speaks for Human Rights

All of us, as human beings, are entitled to certain inalienable rights that must be preserved and fulfilled. However, governments the world over are doing a questionable job of upholding these rights, and they need to be held to account for this. At the same time, while we struggle to ensure our rights are not taken away from us in any way, we need to ask ourselves: what role are we playing in fulfilling the rights of those around us?

An electric feeling lit up Room 107 in SMME in the late winter afternoon of December 18^th as students from various departments gathered to deliver their views centering the above topic in the most convincing ways they could at the declamation contest arranged in collaboration with the esteemed Higher Education Commission.

The participants were presented with a choice of two topics, namely “When the people become apathetic, the nation slips into destruction” and “Pakistan ki wazeer-e-insaani haqooq se mere chand sawaal”. They were given 20 minutes to brainstorm and write their ideas and talking points down, after which numbered slips were distributed at random which indicated their speaking turns. Each contestant was then given 5 minutes to expound on their chosen topic.

There was a wide range of oratory prowess on display. Some of the speakers articulated their thoughts in a steady flow whilst others were overwhelmed by the occasion. One contestant passionately interrogated the Minister of Human Rights on the injustices suffered by Kashmiris, whilst another couldn’t control his laughter on stage, in no small part due to the distracting antics of a certain someone in the audience. Most of the contestants, however, tried their best to keep their speeches short, sweet and to the point, taking less than 3 minutes of their allotted time slots. In some cases, however, the ending of the speech was abrupt rather than smooth, partly but not entirely due to circumstances outside the speaker’s control.

After all orators had taken to the rostrum and delivered their ideas to the best of their abilities in the short time span, the judges, Mariya Shujah of NUST Debating Society and Dr. Niaz Bahadur of SMME, tallied their scores. Ms. Shujah then stepped forth to announce the winners of the contest, with the audience and the speakers alike waiting with bated breath. After what seemed like an eternity, the suspense was broken and the names were made known. Masood Tariq from SEECS stood first in the Urdu category while Bariq Sandhu from SMME was declared the runner-up and deservedly so, since both had articulated their thoughts in a structured, confident and passionate manner. In the English category, Fahad Ansari from SCME bagged the winner’s position and Raj Ali Asghar from NICE came second, having given solid examples to provide an alternative to apathetic individualism rampant in today’s society and to illustrate how nations in the past have destroyed themselves by losing their sense of community, respectively.

In the end, there was a lot to learn for the speakers and audience alike from the content of the speeches and the judges’ remarks, and it proved to be a great place for new speakers to test their resolve on the rostrum before attempting to go for bigger prizes in the future.

‘Their Little World Of Amusement’

by Numrah Malik

Faint chirping of birds, golden rays of sunshine, fallen autumn leaves, a park, an excited bunch of kids, a few volunteers, and some heightened sentiments; the fragments that shaped the OKM visit to Ayub Park on the 15^th of December.

A cheery ride later as the team exited the bus, they were greeted with warm hugs and handshakes by the children of the Aghosh Al-Khidmat Orphanage and the students of Bahria University, whom the visit was set in collaboration with. Discussions went down and groups of volunteers were assigned to groups of kids. The children waited for the volunteers’ cue, on which the adrenaline took over and they ran at their full speeds to the park’s entrance.  Names of the sculptured animals were guessed, smiles were passed to cameras, ticketing was done and the gates to their little world of amusement were opened wide for them to stampede through.

The volunteers, struggling to cope up with their energy, had now lost most of their assigned kids to the bliss of excitement. For them, the hunt of retrieval began and for the children, a wandering did.  They were startled by the Tigers and Lions and dazzled by the peacocks’ beguiling feathers. Standing in front of the Monkeys’ cage and arguing on who the father, mother and the child were amongst the three, they stood and gazed in wonder as the Monkeys flew around on the trapezes, putting up a show.

Next, they found themselves in a field which they did liven up with their hooting and laughter. Competitions on finding the strongest amongst them were held on the seesaws and the merry-go-round was spun at its fastest with kids clinging on to it tight, feeling like the speediest heroes of the world. Finally, they rushed in queue for a ride and waved to the rest with the brightest smiles imprinted on their faces as they were spun around, leaving the ride only to find themselves drained of still some bit of their energy.

With heavy hearts and hungry bellies, they walked out of their little bliss and assembled for refreshments. When the hunger was satiated and the thirst quenched, questions began to go off in the air if they’ll see the team tomorrow. Or if not, then when so next? The day was meeting its end.

For many, this visit marked their last and they left carrying with them an ocean full of memories. The rest, they left only longing for the next one.

“The moments we share are the moments we keep forever.” -Anonymous

 

 

Listen

By Sana Shafiq

Do you ever feel sad, alone or consumed by the nagging thought that literally no-one understands or cares for you?

So as it is advised to anyone with the similar case, you try to reach out to other people around you, socialize and stuff. But apparently, no matter what, it never goes well. You feel your parents are somehow never home, or when they are, they are not free to give you any time. Your siblings are the creatures who were and will always remain annoyed (and annoying) for no evident reason so expecting them to understand you is literally out of the question. And your neighbors are too engrossed in celebrations of some kind by blasting off music, which somehow adds up to your gloominess.

Dejected, you move towards the society outside your neighborhood – which is even more depressing. The first and foremost option would be to catch up with a friend. However, you are not surprised by the fact that your friend is interested more in taking a thousand pictures and selfies from a hundred angles than in actually carrying out a meaningful conversation with you. Also, your classmates are competing well enough in studies and all to become a constant source of your depression by giving frequent reminders of your laggings, perhaps without even meaning to do so. And the world around you is tangled in the burning issues of keeping up with Snapchat streaks, tagging in Facebook posts, check-ins and those Instagram posts.

All these things have their place, but we humans got lost in them at some point; so did the true essence of many relations.

Amidst this chaotic mess of life, do you sometimes just pause for a second and think, “Do I really know this person? Like, honestly, what am I doing spending time with someone who could care less about my existence?” Time progresses and you do not even comprehend how or why it happened, but somehow you find yourself all alone.

I spent several years of my life thinking like that; how the world and society gives up on me this easily, until I realized: am I not a part of the same society?

You know, we all do this. We ourselves give up on people around us, because listening to someone else’s story, giving them their due time, nurturing them and empathizing with them is a task only for the patient. Everyone wants their own story to be heard but we are seldom ready to listen to anyone else.

Such a strange sight
I saw-
Myself:
Pleading to be
Listened to
While not
Listening to
The others.

Just trying to understand someone, letting them know that you are there for them, offering up small acts which cost nothing but have a deep impact, lending an attentive ear to the one who needs to be heard. Let us all be honest; there does not exist a single human being who does not wish for these things. Such a remarkable thing that these are not tangible, cannot be bought, but given and received among human beings. There has to be a purpose for all of us to exist in the form of a community, and this justifies it: we all are made the source of the simplistic values of respect, care, kindness, compassion and love for one another, which are as necessary for the soul to flourish as are food and water for the body. I realized that we expect our due right to be given to us right away, without even carrying out our duties as responsible citizens.

We can start with slow, baby steps. Next time someone speaks, we listen, like actually listen to them. To not judge them, to not hold some grudge against them, to not interrupt them, to not text someone else during the process, and the list goes on and on. It will all, however, boil down to a single motto:

Listen to others, the way you would like to be listened to.

With the new year coming up, almost everyone plans for a new me. There is no doubt that the changes outside greatly contribute to changes within. So, if anyone would ask me about my resolution for the upcoming year, it would simply be to listen. I think that is one of the best and most beautiful things we can do for anyone.

Saving the Day, One Pint at a Time!

By Khadija Asad

NUST Community Services Club (NCSC) just concluded their second Blood Donation Drive of the year, on Friday, December 7^th. The four-day event was the biggest ever organized by NCSC yet, with a record-breaking turnout of donors and a whopping 552 pints collected, breaking last time’s record of 502 pints! Unlike all previous BDDs, this time the Drive was held in collaboration with not one, but two organizations, Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion (AFIT) and Sundas Foundation.

A string of Red Blood Buds (bet you can’t say that three times fast!) greeted you as you stepped foot on the campsite at the IGIS ground, fluttering in the gentle breeze, their adorable faces beaming invitingly at all donors. The campsite was filled with the hustle and bustle of volunteers busy with their duties, and the animated chatter of the donors, as they awaited their turns or lay on their beds, recovering. The whole scene was brimming with the positive energy and contentment that comes from knowing that you’re contributing to a positive cause.

The theme of the BDD, “Every blood donor is a superhero” focused on the idea that all of us have it in us to be someone’s hero – quite literally. Our blood can help give someone another shot at life. It was with this spirit of giving back to the community that enthusiastic donors from all over NUST started pouring in to donate, as soon as the camp became operational.

After the registrations and the preliminary checkup of donors, those who were considered eligible to donate were guided through the whole process. Their vigor aside, what really struck me as heartwarming was how those who were deemed unfit to donate, although momentarily dejected, resolved to overcome their issues in order to be able to donate next time.

Although the vast majority of donors showed up with excited smiles on their faces, there were those who came in feeling queasy at the thought of soon having to witness the gory sight of blood or having to feel the dreaded prick of a needle. But all superheroes have some fears, right? What makes them so special, however, is that they don’t let their fears rule over them. Our super donors, too, conquered their fears, keeping their eyes on the prize – the sweet gratification of knowing that the difference they make may last a lifetime.

Saving lives does become exhausting, especially by donating blood, a monumental effort that can only be attempted once every 3 months. To ensure our superheroes recovered well and returned in a state of good health, delicious meals whipped up by Healthy Bites and Korba Restaurant were provided to them. This added to the already long list of factors motivating people to keep trickling in through the gates of the blood donation camp over the course of 4 days.

The Pro Rector of NUST, along with the Head of the Pakistan Thalassemia Centre visited the camp on the third day and appreciated the efforts of the donors and encouraged them to continue to work for the welfare of the society.

What added a fun twist to the whole event was the Golden Drop Award. To make it fair to all schools, even those with small populations, this time the award was given to the school with the largest registrations to school strength ratio. ASAB’s aspiring bio-scientists took home the prestigious award, with SMME coming second.

The painstaking efforts of the organizers, coupled with the overwhelming response of the donors, helped make the BDD an astounding success. The feelings of selflessness and compassion that were visible throughout the four days were enough to restore one’s faith in humanity. St. Francis of Assisi’s words ring especially true:

For it is in giving that we receive.

Tale of a ‘Magical’ Day

by Numrah Malik

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight OKM Boeing A189 with service from NUST to Aghosh Al-Khidmat Orphanage. It’s 09:55 AM and we are currently first in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately five minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and adjust your seats to the upright position for take-off. Thank you for choosing OKM Airlines. Enjoy your flight.”

And so it took off; the fourth visit of the OKM team to the Aghosh Orphanage this semester, on the 1^st of December.

After a smooth flight and landing, the team found themselves standing in front of the gates of the orphanage. At this point, volunteers were assigned to their respective activities and the team merrily stepped foot through the steel gates, walking into the aura of belonging.

As the children eagerly waited to greet the team, the team was first met with a briefing session by the orphanage’s manager and then the HR manager of Al-Khidmat Foundation’s Lahore office respectively, who took on the podium to enlighten and inspire, mostly the fresh volunteers, as they talked about Al-Khidmat foundation and the vital role that the students play in the prospering of similar organizations.

After the team finally emerged from the room, a series of warm hugs and exuberant exchanges of hellos took place between the volunteers and the children. The ground was then laid for the first activity of the day, The Magic Card Show, and boy were the children excited for it. The children sat assembled in front of the Great Magician waiting anxiously for the activity to kick-off. Multiple card tricks were performed with the children during which some hilariously, while some smartly, attempted to guess the catch behind the trick. The electrified bunch was then treated by the game ‘Tricky Cups’, that put the children’s memory into play as they tried to guess which cup the coin was under after a series of confusing shuffling. A few extra curious ones even got lucky enough to learn the secret behind a few tricks from the Great Magician himself.

Next, the ambience was further elated as the children gathered around a tub that alongside harboring water also harbored the means for the children to challenge their creativity. As the various colors of spray paints merged on the surface of the water once sprayed, aesthetic patterns bloomed into view. Paper cups were then dipped into the patterns and taken out only to find those same exquisite patterns imprinted on the cups as well. Soon, every kid ran around the corridors flaunting in his hands his own artistic creation.

Shortly after midday when the echoes in the halls of the orphanage changed from those of artistic flaunts to prayer calls and the children rushed in the congregation for Zuhr prayer, the team decided to bring this gleeful visit to an end. As per the ritual, the team gathered for a group photo shortly after which the announcement for the departure went off. In gloominess, the team bid their byes and boarded the flight back to NUST, towing along with them a luggage stocked with the most pleasing memories.

Sharing the NUSTian Experience: NCSC Visits LGS Wah

It was a chilly Thursday morning, when a team of members from the NCSC family set out for Wah together. After an unexpectedly long drive, they finally reached Lahore Grammar School in the very immaculate Wah Cantt. The team was divided in three cars. However, in this race to their destination (quite literally a race, courtesy of some very enthusiastic Uber drivers), there was one clear winner, a fact with little to wonder about, because both the president and the press secretary were in this car, sources state.

After arriving, the members of NCSC were briefed by the Principal and A levels student coordinator of LGS. As they made their way to the computer room, an 8^th grader asked ‘Are you from NUST? Upon affirmation, she raised her eyebrows in awe and shouted ‘WOW!’ Her reaction will forever be emblazoned in our memories. It was one of those rare moments when we realize what it means to be a ‘NUST’ian!

Our members were then taken to a room full of A levels and F.Sc. students. The PS welcomed them, told them about NCSC and its cause, and introduced all the members present there- or so she thought. In a turn of events, she overlooked the person standing right next to her and forgot to introduce the esteemed Joint Secretary to General Secretary- a subject who holds a grudge on this mistaken lack of recognition to this day. After that, the (disgruntled) JS to GS, Saad Aftab, proceeded to give a detailed presentation about NUST and its many schools, its key features, location, student life and much more. He also told which fields the students with a specific combination of subjects were eligible for. Saad’s presentation was punctuated with a lot of hype, which engaged the students. One instance of this was recorded:

Saad: “At NUST you meet so many different people. Societies help you to find students with similar interests! Iss kamray may kharay huay logoun ko dekhain *points to all the NCSC members* ap ko pata chalay ga hum sb ki aik he ideology hai. Hum sb bohat ‘COOL’ hain!”

After this presentation, the team was taken outside in the main ground of the school. Desks were set up to accommodate 2, 3 representatives of each school of NUST to facilitate the students’ counselling. Students came in batches, inquiring about how to apply to NUST through the NET and SAT streams, what kind of scores they should get and what subjects would make them eligible for which fields. A lot of the students were interested in NBS, S3H and some other faculties. Students with premedical backgrounds wanted to know if there was any hope left for them in the world if they didn’t make it to medical school. Although representatives of ASAB could have sat them through a daylong lecture just to answer this question, they restrained themselves and stuck to the basics.

 

Some very amusing questions came up, amongst which were ‘What is a GPA?’. Another student came up and said ‘I don’t know what to do with my life, everyone says find your passion. I don’t know!’ to which the PS was heard saying under her breath ‘sem2sem’. A lot of engineers in attendance, however, were very disappointed because not many students of LGS Wah seemed to be opting for engineering. Director Finance Hashaam Zaheer and the president of NCSC made a swift coverup of the fact that their desk was mostly empty, nowhere as crowded as ASAB’s, by remarking  ‘Kisi ko zarurat he nahe anay ki, SMME bus naam he kafi hai’, an excuse which we were not up for buying.

Soon after, members of NCSC were taken for tea. Sources observed a sandwich eating contest between the PS and Treasurer wing, led by the OBs themselves. Who won this, however, is a well-kept secret we are not ready to reveal to the public, just yet.

The team bid its farewell, and posed for group pictures generously clicked by Director Marketing, Ramis Mustafa. After reaching NUST, Saad Aftab treated the whole team- except the PS, because it was evident he had not yet forgiven the PS for overlooking his existence in the team introductions. Team NCSC returned, pleased of having made a difference by offering the young ones some direction in their lives, and deeming the visit as a success.

We would also like to thank all the volunteers who accompanied us on this trip as representatives of the different schools, who added value to it in the true NCSC spirit!

                                       

The Superhero in You!

By Mahnoor Qureshi

“I keep telling you, your brother needs O- blood. We’re trying our best here. HELP US FIND A DONOR!” screams a frustrated nurse at the old dupatta-clad woman in front of her.

The nurse realizes her patient is in a dire state; by the senior doctor’s estimate, the man may not make it through the night. His sister – apparently a Punjabi villager – would hardly have the resources to arrange the rare blood type her brother needs. The small hospital’s blood bank has depleted in the few hours following the horrifying incident. Many willing donors will pour in soon and the man’s unusual blood type, plus the time it may take to screen the donor’s blood for disease, may make it too late.

Ambulances race into the parking lot, with sirens wailing. Stretchers are brought into the emergency ward amid chaos. A spell of icy winter rain washes the streets of Islamabad. A dark cloaked figure stands in the dim light, outside the small government hospital hosting the greatest burden of the injured and dying brought in from the gas explosion site.

*******************

“Your wife is suffering from post-partum hemorrhage,” says the young doctor to the dazed man in the waiting room of the gynecology department. “She’s lost a lot of blood after the delivery,” she pauses, letting the news sink in.
“We’ll have to arrange some blood for her so she doesn’t enter shock…” she stands up, before adding “We’ll do the best we can.”

She closes her eyes briefly as she walks away, recalling the man’s joy moments ago when he’d been told he’d had a baby daughter. Preoccupied, she does not notice a shadow retreating into the vacant storeroom a few steps away.

*******************

Chairs line the walls, facing each other in the ward. A number of scrawny children, more or less ten years of age, sit with their arms outstretched. A cannula feeds each pale, thin wrist from the donated bag of life-fluid hanging high to generate enough pressure. They sit quietly, listening to the loud debate that ensues in the doctor’s office next door.

“We don’t get any donations in Ramzan; I told you this a month ago. Ab main kia karun?”
“Doctor Saahab, main kahaan se laun teen hazaar rupay?”
“She needs blood NOW! Aik hafta bhi nahi. Aap kal le keh aain donor!”

The children in the ward all exchange worried looks. A long, unsettling silence falls in the bright spacious lobby of the Thalassemia Centre, where an obscure figure moves away from the doctor’s door, having heard enough.

******************

The country awaits a super-hero like you to save the day. You’re the one who stands in each one of those scenes, paces away from saving a life.

Pakistan does not have a central blood transfusion system; blood donations are made urgently, and on demand. 90% are made by friends and family. In cases of emergency, the lack of tested, treated and properly stored blood can mean the loss of precious lives. It hardly takes half an hour, and our voluntary, non-remunerated donations could raise Pakistan’s dismal blood donation stats and help save lives

Little Things Really Do Matter

by Jasim Ahmad

The fact that us humans are ‘social animals’ intrinsically implies that our existence is intricately related to the ones around us. So naturally, the little things that we do every day have a direct bearing on us as well as them. The magnitude varies; sometimes, it might be negligible, but in most of the cases, it makes a whole lot of difference. Some things appear to be insignificant for us, but they could mean loads for someone else. The tiniest of our goodwill gestures can light up someone’s dark patch. The things that we call ‘little’ are normally very big.

More often than not, we would find a stone or a banana peel in our way while walking on the road. Sometimes we would be fortunate enough to notice it and avoid it, yet some other unlucky person might fail to avert it, and would end up tripping over it or hurting themselves. Had we not shown ignorance, had we been a little more considerate, had we picked it up and gotten rid of it, we might have made a profound difference for someone. But one might wonder, “Why bother?”

You’d often encounter beggars while travelling through the city. Sometimes you find yourself compelled to discourage them by not entertaining their appeals. But sometimes, you come across such faces, faces that depict helplessness, faces that tell a story; some filled with innocence to the brim, others inflicted with pain and agony. Yet, they show dignity and would never beg. They try their utmost to earn their way out of poverty through work and we ignore them But the professional beggars manage to coax us through their buttery spell of words. Those 20 rupees, that went in the wrong hands, could’ve made so much difference for the deserving. We never tried to look beneath the surface. But why bother, you might wonder.

Your mother does so much for you, day in, day out. She is a bundle of blessings. For all that she does for you, she demands very little in return. But the teeny tiny things that you could do to make her happy, the things she never asks for, the things you rarely value, can make her day. But why bother, you might wonder.

Every Friday, you go to the mosque for jummah prayer. You’re getting late for the jamaat and all of a sudden you realize that your ablution is yet to be made. You scramble over to the bathroom in a hurry, only to find a long queue of namazis, ahead of you, waiting to make their wuzu. You wait and wait and wait for your turn. As you take a glance over the crowd’s shoulders, you see a person, making his wuzu in a manner most noticeable (of course, by the crowd waiting behind him). He takes as much time as he can to fulfill the ‘holy’ requirements, as the long queue of namazis looks on, bogged with the fear of missing the first rakat. Alas, it took you forever to get there. Maybe, if he had spent a minute less, you might have not missed that rakat. But why bother, he might wonder.

That old man you saw at the road today, waving his feeble arm to get a lift, you never paid heed to his call, or to his wrinkled skin, or to the blistering cold wind that blew in fury as you whizzed past him in your car with a cozy interior. Maybe if you had stopped and given him a ride, it would have mattered to him so much. But why bother, you wonder?

Because it’s all contextual, because sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most, because your ‘little’ might be someone’s ‘critical’. So let’s end this month with an oath to keep doing all the little things that matter to those around us, because in the end that’s what gives our lives a purpose.

Little Things That Matter – A Poem

By Rama Ali

Amidst bigger woes that life can’t help,
And the common crassness we behold,
While in the skies are old metaphors for greatness,
Down on Earth happiness is found to unfold.

In acts of unexplained kindness,
At first sight so small and scattered,
Is a worth and peace of heart so rare,
And all the love and joy that mattered.

When love asks for expression,
It merely asks for little things,
You’ll learn that life’s dearest presents,
Aren’t wrapped in paper and strings.

And more valuable than telling trophies,
Are all those moments left untold,
When you warmed hearts with kindness,
These unassuming gifts of old.

For every thoughtful word you’d say,
Every ounce of love you gave away,
I promise all these little things,
Will be the stars that light your way.

A Little Help Goes a Long Way

By Noman Zuberi

I am a final year student at NUST. Over the past three years here, I have enjoyed many things, but since I do not have a car of my own, coming and going to university involves a lot of use of ride-hailing services and walking. I can confidently say that this has been one aspect of my university life I have not enjoyed. Through blistering cold winters and scorching summers, many day scholars face a similar dilemma through out their journey at university.

It has often happened that a friend passing by has spotted me and given me a ride. I have been particularly lucky in this regard since a significant chunk of my friends from school are enrolled here as well. Being given a lift when you are bracing yourself for a long grueling walk from the university gates towards your department always results in a massive increase in goodwill towards that particular friend.

But you know what is even more amazing? It is when some complete stranger does the same thing. That’s because this random guy knows nothing about you, has no positive or negative feelings towards you and will probably never see you again. But he still, out of nothing except the goodness of his heart, seeking the reward of Allah, stopped and gave you a lift. It did not significantly affect him or give him any material benefit yet it completely made a total stranger’s day infinitely better. Seeing as this is the month of Allama Iqbal, there is perhaps no better way to pay tribute to him and these selfless empathetic people except as stated in his poem Hamdardi:

Hain log wohi jahan mein ache,

Aate hain jo kaam dusron ke.

A Trip Down Wonder Lane

By Jasim Ahmad

It was a chilly Saturday morning as the whole team gathered in the SEECS parking lot at 10 in the morning. There was a buzz of chatter as the team members conversed with each other while embarking on yet another promising journey, bolstering the bonds. Even though our destination wasn’t as close to NUST as we would’ve liked, the time literally flew as we mapped out activities for the kids.

Finally, on reaching our destination, we were rather surprised by the peculiar placement of the Aghosh orphanage and even more by its unusual appearance, as we disembarked onto a narrow bumpy road. The building happens to be at the end of a steep slope, preceded by a queue of monotonous dwellings. The children knew that we were coming and were excitedly awaiting our arrival, recognizing most of our team members from the previous fortnightly visits made by the team.

The building had a simple and decent interior. As we entered the building, the kiddos rallied around us in excitement. Their eyes lit up, and their faces gleamed with glee. After the whole team gathered inside, we lay out our plan for the activities that were going to be carried out and got our equipment rolling.

The team members were split into groups of two, each leading a different enterprise for the kids. The activities comprised of a video session, aimed at educating and providing awareness to the children. But at the same time, they didn’t let their voice go unheard and demanded their favorite cartoons be shown. Notably, “Abdul Bari Cartoons” and “Quaid ki baatein” were their dearest as they even had the theme songs memorized. After the culmination of each video, the children were asked questions about what they had learnt from it, and every now and then, their responses would stun us. Their replies were brilliant and they repeatedly left us in awe. Their attentiveness, sharp understanding skills, and quick responses were quite prominent.

Post videos session, the kids were told they were going to get cars. Their already invaluable expressions were going to be broadened when they’d find out that they themselves would be making the cars. So we didn’t waste any time, and told them. Boom! Their joy was impulsive and their questions came in a flurry.  They were further fascinated by the fact that the cars were going to be made out of plastic water bottles.

Afterwards, we had some fun experiments arranged for them such as “float and sink” and “balloon and pins”. These activities were basically meant to familiarize kids with some common scientific phenomena, such as pressure, density and weight. Time and again, they gaped in awe as the spectacular science unfolded in front of them. Whilst, on some other instances, their witty questions and responses left us puzzled and forced us to think.

Like always, farewell is the hardest part. But the inevitable came when the aaya called the kids over for lunch, and the kids obediently followed. With a heavy heart, the team walked out the steel gate, filled to the brim with many adorable memories. To cap the OKM journey, a group photo of the whole team was taken to put the seal on a wonderful day before we boarded the coaster.

A World of Its Own

By Ahmad Hassan

As I walked into that room, I breathed in an unfamiliar air; heavier than usual, yet easier to breathe. My heart beat faster while my lungs enjoyed the extra weight. The room was not so small but not so large either; like a shoe that fits perfectly but nothing so Cinderella-ish. Laid out along its length were two rows of beds, beds that were worn out like the people on them, beds that belonged with the alienated.

I made my way through the narrow space between the beds, bumping my knees in almost every one. As I stumbled through them, I saw a face staring at me, smiling, through the corner of my eye. I stopped right there in my worn out tracks, turned towards the figure beside me, his face stern in a relaxed way, hair thin and grey revealing the shiny scalp covering his skull that housed God knows what treasures. He was skinny and weak, but his face radiant, like a crispy red leaf hanging on to a tree with all its might in the howling autumn winds.

He was just like any other old man. Suddenly, there was no one else in that room; the walls had just had a white makeover, the bed replaced with a simpler but younger bed, and the only constant was that old man. For a moment I could swear there was light coming from behind him, but I chose not to. Something crossed my mind, a thought perhaps or a part of it, and I sat down next to the withered person.

“Assalam alaikum!” I reached out with my hand and he took it welcomingly.

“Wa alaikum assalam, beta!” he replied, still wearing that same smile that had now had me confused.

“What’s your name?” I prompted the question awkwardly, not knowing what else to say.

“Dr. Shams,” he said. “Yes, a doctor, a King Edward graduate.” He had somehow sensed the surprise before it even set up its camp on my face. “This is a rather peculiar place for a doctor, don’t you think?” I said, then regretted it the very next second and wished it hadn’t sounded like it had.

He chuckled, a chuckle too lively for him. “I’m a MBBS doctor, yes, a King Edward graduate,” he said with the same pride as before. “I know, you just told me that a moment ago,” I said as my expressions shifted from confused to confused and irritated.

“I did not.”

“Yes, you just did. You did.”

He has a short-term memory disorder, a voice came from the too white walls, like a whisper in my ear, making sure it was secret between us only. But if he had short-term memory loss, it wouldn’t have mattered had the walls even shouted; the last thing that a man who forgets too often needs is a reminder.

“So Sir, did you do any specialisation?”

“No,” he said as if he had no regrets. “I wanted to marry, and I did. Had three kids, two girls and boy,” he winked. “Back in our days, life was so simple, no?”

“Yes Sir, indeed it was!”

“Also, I’m a doctor, a KE graduate. You had to study hard to become a doctor and you still do. Do you?”

I was embarrassed by the question. All this time I had relied on my abilities and more on the graciousness of the Good Lord who’d been too kind to me, turned me into spoiled brat, a machine too rusty to work, like a refrigerator that serves as a lamp and not for cooling. “I try my very best to, Sir,” I said, looking down at my fingers embracing each other.

“You should, see, you should. I was a doctor myself, and I married. Parho gay likho gay bano gay nawaab,” he smiled. Somehow, he reminded me of that Cat Stevens song ‘Father and Son’.

“You’re still young, that’s your fault…  

Look at me, I am old, and therefore, happy.”

He again went on to tell me that he was a doctor, but by now, the confusion had long gone and the irritation had faded like some distant memory. I listened to the same thing he told me in a different way every time, and it’s the most present I’ve ever been in a conversation. The walls remained white for quite a while, the beds around us unoccupied, the light behind him bright, the smile on his face like a boat storms were too afraid to sink.

The Simple Yet Profound Act Of ‘Giving’

By Arooj Kazmi

Your closet is overflowing with clothes; the ones you’ve just bought wait patiently in line. To make room for them, you carefully pluck out a pile of clothes and place them on your bed.

Unfold each piece of attire from the pile, and it will tell you a story. You run your fingers through the silken, pink dress that you wore at your uncle’s wedding. It’s delicate lacework, which was previously a gleaming, milky white, is now a little faded. Your favorite red shirt that you wore on your first day of college, still firmly holds on to a deep brown stain near the sleeve where your now-best-friend dropped coffee. A wooly sweater your grandma knit the previous winter comes up next – you didn’t much fancy it for its dull brown color scheme. But now as you examine it closely, you begin to notice the intricate patterns that snake across its form in neat synchrony, and that image of your grandma’s ancient, delicate fingers knitting intently in the calm tinkling of knitting needles, pops up in your mind. An uneasiness settles upon you.

You swiftly move on to a deep-blue sweatshirt. It still smells of the Givenchy perfume that you had fallen in love with during your high school years. On the front is written, in a bold, gold font: ‘It is when you give of yourself that you truly give’. In retrospect, the caption strikes you as a little odd for a sweatshirt, and you’re not really sure why you bought it in the first place… but inside your mind, tiny, invisible cogs have been set in motion, and somehow, your heart feels heavily nostalgic and slightly miserable.

You take out a large duffle bag and start piling in clothes. From your cluttered study table, you pick out a handful of color pencils and place them with the clothes. While doing so, you feel elated, only if very slightly- perhaps you have taken on the most cliched form of charity, but isn’t it better than doing nothing at all?

If only you could see that smiling child, staring at herself in the mirror with a sweet mix of awe and admiration, donned in your pink dress; if only you could see that tiny ripple you have made in the vast ocean of a child’s mind when he discovers a whole new world through your mere color pencils, and if only you ceased to underestimate the true power of giving… you would give more freely, and by doing so, understand the importance of those small acts of kindness that are so often overlooked.

Awareness for a Healthier Pakistan

by Khadija Asad

The Kidney Health Awareness Camp was held in C1 canopy (facing SADA) on 7th November, organized by NCSC in collaboration with Pakistan Kidney Patients Association (PKPA), a non profit organization aiming to reduce kidney diseases by spreading awareness in the general public and providing free consultation and treatment. The camp offered a lecture on kidney health and free consultation by a healthcare professional from PKPA.

Before the event began, the team built up anticipation for the session by distributing informative material about kidney health among the students present in C1. The team went from table to table, leaving a trail of pamphlets and brochures in their wake.

Concerned students listening to broaden their knowledge about kidney diseases and their prevention.

The session commenced at 1 PM, with the arrival of the representatives from PKPA. Col (R) Yunus Bhatti, the general secretary of PKPA, was the guest of honor. A lecturer began by explaining to the students the basic function of kidneys, how they help cleanse our blood of toxins and other wastes. He then revealed the sad reality of how Pakistan is home to more than 20,000 kidney patients, and ranks eighth in kidney disease worldwide. The major reason behind this rising number is the general lack of awareness regarding kidney health. He then proceeded to explain the major causes of kidney failure, namely diabetes and high blood pressure, the tests available to check kidney function and the procedures to deal with kidney failure. He further urged the students to take up a healthy lifestyle and to encourage their peers to do so too.

Kidney health specialists shedding light on the importance of kidney health.

The session concluded with a Q&A session in which the students’ questions were addressed by the lecturers. Many shared experiences of family members fighting kidney disease and were met with support and empathy. The session ended with a vow to protect our kidneys and to strive for a healthier Pakistan.

A curious student discussing the issue with the specialists.

The Little Things in Life – A Poem

By Uzair Bakhtiar

A random act of affection,

Is sometimes all it takes,

To prevent a broken heart,

From turning to gray.

 

A small act of virtue,

Goes a long way,

In showering someone with hope,

and so shall I pray.

 

For it is hope that salvages one’s misery,

Delivering him from all sorts of anarchy,

To the promised land of felicity,

How hard is it to believe?

 

To believe that happiness can not be achieved,

Till a person learns to bleed,

Not for the sake of himself,

But for the sake of his creed.

 

So it is the little things in life,

That bestow us with belief,

Belief to fight the adversity,

Belief to uphold morality.

What Truly Matters Most

By Mahnoor Qureshi

And so, it turned out I was wrong. It was the little things that had mattered most. It was the regret that shaded your face as you lowered the car window and apologized to the maimed old man asking us if we had any food. It was the thoughtfulness with which you packed some food the next day ‘for that old man at the chowk’, and the disappointment with which you bit your lip when we didn’t see him there again.

It was the way you cared for all the birds that visited our window sill to peck at last night’s leftovers, and the way you’d remember them all. And that you never let a day pass without you rummaging the kitchen, or even the trash, for that last piece of roti, shredding it for ‘your’ birds and reproaching me for throwing Allah’s blessings away.

It was the empathy you had for the children who begged at the markaz, bare-foot in December, and the anger and despair that colored your face bright red. It was your passionate speech on the injustice of organized begging that ashamed my sullen, empty heart almost every time.

It was the fact that the same rants I’d heard a million times from the poor people in our colony moved you to tears. It was that you cared enough to listen to the people my mind had so conveniently shut out, and that you’d spent the entire afternoon emptying the store, looking for that old red sweater because ‘Fareeda’s daughter would need it’.

And so I fell for the most spontaneous little things you said and did every day. And I realized, a little late, that it was those little things that mattered most. I realized it took guts to feel the pain of the less privileged; it taxed on your energies to empathize with the less fortunate. It took bravery to admit that you cared and it took strength of conscience to get up and do something with all your concern. The ‘little things’ as I called them, were never unconnected, random acts of no consequence. They were the many ways your unconditional love for the planet and its people manifested itself every day.

Lost in Bloom: More than a Play

By Sana Shafiq

The bustling C1 was immersed in zest, soft hues of pink and an eager crowd on 31st October; all to raise awareness about the malady of Breast Cancer among the students of NUST. It was organized under Fempower, the flagship project of NCSC.

Before the event day, a stall was set up in C1 to distribute pink ribbons – the international symbol for breast cancer awareness – and invitation cards for the performance ‘Lost in Bloom’ were distributed among the general public.

Posters and pamphlets containing information about the cause, the significance of diagnosis, self-examination and taking care of one’s health were available and circulated around. In addition, a gorgeous photo-booth was set up giving the backdrop of wings in aesthetic tones of pink, symbolizing the liberation of breast cancer survivors from the taboos in society.

Thus, the long-awaited day came, and the venue was packed with a huge audience. Although the central courtyard was vacated and demarcated by pink ribbons to serve the purpose of a stage, the area around it on both floors was jam-packed as a plethora of people cheered on, even from the arches of the balcony! Those whose vision got obscured by the massive crowd did not hesitate to stand on tables and chairs to get a clear view.

The play kicked off as three performers in a circle let silver confetti fly. The entire tale unwound like a melancholic symphony, showcasing the life of a girl who gets afflicted by breast cancer. Her entire struggle in the process of diagnosis and discovery, battling societal reaction to it and adjusting accordingly, the excruciating journey of medications, treatment and recovery was portrayed through gestures and actions.

The story depicted it all: the denial, the exasperation, the toil, the agony, but above all, a promising hope: pink. For indeed, every cloud has a silver lining.

The closedown was marked by the solidarity of various people with the one battling breast cancer, as pink balloons rained over them. At that exact moment, they all truly seemed lost in bloom of the pouring pink all around, standing united on a single stance of supporting the people afflicted with breast cancer. The entire mime performance was for sure, a vivid example of how actions speak louder than words.

At the end, people were again made aware about breast cancer and the need to take this malady seriously was asserted. Also, the common misconceptions related to it were negated and the whole performance encouraged the students to extend a helping hand to the people suffering from breast cancer and not consider it a taboo.

Breast cancer is the second-most common cancer globally and one of the leading causes of the mortality of women. Undoubtedly, it is our utmost duty to make people aware about breast cancer: its prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, and for that, NCSC for sure played its part!

OKM: A Journey of Exploration

By Numrah Malik

As you descend down to a building that stands tall at the bottom of an ordinary slope, you find yourself standing in front of a house that many children contentedly call their home. It gives off an air of belonging and its halls echo with cheerfulness. It goes by the name ‘The Aghosh Orphanage’.

Of the fortnightly visits to the orphanage, as a part of the ‘Orphans kNOw More’ project, the one held on the 27th of October was yet another staggering occasion. The inflated energy of the children as they stampede into the classrooms and libraries, with exuberant smiles harbored on their faces, simply urges you to sway on the same frequency as them. As they gather around you in the library, with eyes filled with curiosity and minds scavenging for knowledge, you begin to lose yourself in awe of the determination these children hold within themselves. They gather around you in circles and attentively listen to you while you unfold to them stories from the books as though you are revealing to them the most captivating thing in the universe.

This visit instigated slight divergence from the previous ones as this one included teaching simple Science to the children as well. The common phenomena of refraction and diffraction were taught by demonstrating how a pencil appears when submerged in a glass of water and how white light diverges into various colors, which triggered in them sheer wonderment and curiosity. With their undying energy, they also actively participated in brain-storming activities such as solving mazes and jotting down attributes of their favorite superheroes, and many went on to describe their superheroes as ‘beautiful’ and ‘pretty’, which was rather amusing to witness.

As the activities came to an end, the children ran around flaunting the stars on their cheeks as if the whole multiverse were imprinted on them. The halls were seen to be littered with flying paper planes when the little ones flew and chased them around with utter zest. Several waited eagerly for their turn to be lifted like dumbbells or get flipped in the air by the guys while some simply messed around with the team by teasing them in the most intriguing ways possible. The sight those few minutes portrayed plainly divulged the type of bond shared between the team and the children. The volume of merriness that these visits fill the orphanage with is indeed deafening and the contentment that they leave you with is simply profound.

When all comes to an end, you step out only to realize how accurately Robert Bault has put it.

“The willingness to share does not make one charitable; it makes one free.”

And in that fleeting moment, you feel implicitly free.

NCSC Blasts Off to New Heights!

by Ahmad Hassan

The orientation of NUST’s largest student-run organisation started with a bang. The stage was set, all thanks to team décor. The MOCs were on their marks, the new recruits settling along with their teams, and it was time for kick-off. The hall was alive like one single organism, waiting with bated breath, like the universe before the Big Bang. And there it was, the big bang, and the orientation started.

The NCSC family taking oath to stay committed to the cause of community service.

It’s always been stressed that NCSC is like one big family, and it was time for the first family trip. Chocolate hearts wrapped in gold foil were given to every person in the hall, bringing NCSC’s search for golden hearts to a befitting end. For a smooth running of NCSC’s events in the year to come, the new recruits were given an insight into the machinery of the society, along with a brief introduction to the office bearers. This was followed by a few words of wisdom and motivation from the faculty sponsor, Dr. Safdar, who encouraged the students to explore the depth of their hearts and vastness of their minds, for neither could work until the other one did.

Faculty sponsor Dr. Safdar encouraging students and shedding light on the importance of community service.

Enthusiastic students excited for a year full of community service ahead of them.

A lot was added to it gradually, as former council members shared their experiences and how NCSC helped them grow.  The Press Secretary of NCSC, Mahnoor Fatima, welcomed the newbies into the family with a rousing round of verse. The President shared his experiences as well, and then both moved on to explaining the hierarchy in the society. The newbies were briefed about all the events and projects held by NCSC and at the same time encouraged to come up with ideas of their own, since the greatest things often bloom from the humblest of origins.

NCSC family for the year 2018-2019!

After all these formalities, it was time to stir things up. NCSC has always been curious about knowing people, so the activity obviously reflected the notion. Questions took off and answers landed, walls were broken and bonds were made. The council was then escorted safely to the open, where music was played, weirdness took over, teams got to know each other and refreshments were served. As the saying goes ‘All’s well that ends well’, NCSC really ended it on a high note.

Finishing the night off with soothing tunes of flute.

OKM Sports Gala Extravaganza

By Faraz Farooqui

On the 7^th of October, 2018, members of NCSC took off for the Aghosh orphanage, hopeful that they would make memories and learn lessons that they would be able to carry with them for a very long time. Volunteers were also super excited, considering that they were going to help organize a sports gala!

Members waited anxiously as they planned the things they would say and the activities they would help supervise. They wanted to make sure that these children would be able to enjoy the experience and look forward to the next visits as well. In order to do this the members of the OKM visit were divided into houses (Red, Green, Blue & Yellow). After this division, house captains were decided and children were allotted to each house accordingly.

After arriving at Aghosh, we let the children know about our decision and they absolutely loved it! We started off by interacting a bit with the kids by asking about how they’d been doing and what they’d been up to since our last visit. After a short discussion, the rest of the members arrived and we began splitting the children up into teams. We expected this to go very easily, but it was a much harder task than expected. This was because the children seemed to be too excited. They were all over the place, running here and there and not taking a break for even a second. We enjoyed the process however, as we were glad we were able to let them expend their pent-up energy.

Eventually we managed to organize the children, and started the sports gala off with football matches between the various houses. The matches were held at random and ended up being very entertaining for everyone involved. These matches had a few main rules governing them, just to make sure there was no unnecessary aggression during play. This led to chaos that was especially entertaining for anyone that regularly played football.

A few matches went by and it was obvious that the Blue House, headed by the NCSC President himself, was the strongest team there was. To celebrate this, we had brought along props so that the winners and losers could have a photo-session with the members of the visit.  This went well as the children smiled and posed which honestly made every little effort worth it right then and there.

The next event on the agenda was a tug of war competition in which all members of a house were allowed to participate. Both sides pulled with all their might however it was obvious that once again, Blue House was emerging quite superior in terms of ability. To commemorate this, we arranged the houses according to their positions in the Gala and had a photo session with all the children that were there. Shortly after, we began to wrap things up and head inside to spend some quality time with the children. This involved playing games and reading books with them in order to entertain them and maybe teach them something in the process.

This lasted quite a while and eventually we were able to call it a day. However, considering that most of the members hadn’t had a meal, we decided it would be a good idea to sit down and discuss the various aspects of the trip over a hearty meal. This is because we wanted to make sure we continuously improved via feedback from the members themselves. It was a long day, a very long day, but it was worth it. We learned a lot, mostly about how lucky we were ourselves and we planned to make sure that these children feel just as lucky in the future! This is because Orphans truly do Know More; they just aren’t aware of it!

Bon Voyage: NCSC Bids Farewell Amidst a Storm of Memories!

Farewell night for the graduating members of NUST Community Services Club turned out to be way more ironic than anyone from the OC had intended. Hosted with the theme ‘Bon Voyage’, the décor turned the tent at Helipad Ground into a live ship, with ropes, lifebuoys, anchors, crates-fit-for-a-pirate, and fish nets everywhere. This very nautical evening was ready to take all its attendees on a cruise!

Just when it seemed as if everything was going smoothly, rainclouds, the perpetual uninvited guests at every NCSC event, started swarming over the venue. That the unpredictable weather of Islamabad would be such a willing sponsor of their theme, the OC did not know. As the winds strengthened, it put their ship in turmoil, forcing them to shift the entire set up to SMME Seminar Hall, with heavy hearts.

This was a challenge, but the OC proved its mettle yet again. The impressing décor was used to attempt to transform the hall interior to that of a ship, all ready to sail. The hosts insisted that everyone use their imagination to think that they are indeed aboard a ship’s enormous cabin. The blue/black dress code compounded with the cerulean lights giving the outstanding effect of the waves of a sea. Given that this year’s Orientation also took place in that hall, it seemed only fit that the same venue played host to the Farewell as well (talk about poetic justice!).

The event kicked off with the video of an informal interview of the outgoing Office Bearers, talking about their NCSC experience, the best memories of their journey, people from the council they would always remember, so on and so forth. Their witty answers and candid tone entertained the audience who had gathered there to bid them farewell.

Next up was “Baykaar News”, a news bulletin unlike any other. With their tagline, ‘NCSC ki baykaar tareen news, sirf apkay liaye’, casted by Mahnoor Fatima and Khadija Irfan, it brought to light several gags from NCSC’s events which previously went unnoticed. The show was based on the ideology that no one should walk away without being teased. A big hit was the weather segment, in which a shocked weather man ‘Nadir Sialkoti’ reported rain on a burning June afternoon, the only cause of which he claimed, was the setting up of BDD’s tent at Helipad Ground. A meme segment soon followed, which provided good humor for the audience.

 

No farewell is ever complete without different titles being awarded to the members. Clever and apt sobriquets were handed out in the form of trophies, made exclusively by the décor team. A compilation video, which captured all the highlights of the council activities throughout the year, was also shown. The memorable snaps of the council members with a poignant soundtrack in the background did strike a chord with the audience. There were quite a few teary eyes in the audience.

Moving on, the much-awaited award ceremony took place next. Teams Social Media Marketing, External Relations and Liaison were declared to be the best teams in 2017-2018 and the project Orphans kNOw More, one of NCSC’s most impactful projects of the year, was given the Best Project Award. Best Executive awards were handed to the best members of each team. Dr. Safdar, the faculty sponsor of NCSC, was in attendance to distribute the awards.

With all said and done, dinner was served. This was followed by group pictures in the hall.

Kudos to the event heads Sumayya Ijaz, Hashaam Zaheer and Ahmad Daniyal, and to the entire OC, led by Abdullah Anwar, for organizing such a memorable night.

Despite a few hitches, everyone concluded that it wasn’t that bad a cruise after all. Seniors went home with heavy hearts, a sinking feeling (quite literally) of how their journey had finally come to an end. However, like always, there was that one feeling that persisted on keeping them afloat: of having had wonderful times, with some of the best people, and the memories which would last a lifetime. The journey of NCSC was indeed, a voyage to remember!

Furqan Alavi

Mahnoor Fatima

A Day of Lasts at NCSC’s Favourite Project: OkM!

“Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people”. – Mother Teresa

This quote seems like the soul of ‘Orphans kNOw More’. The unwavering mutual love between the children at Aghosh Orphanage and the OKM team at every visit is unimaginable. Each OKM visit is a special occasion, filled with opportunities of having fun, learning and growing for both set of people, alike. It provides the council members with a chance of experiencing and being a part of something bigger than themselves, something significant, something worth doing each and every bit of work.

However, the latest visit at the orphanage was a bit more special. It had a unique vibe to it. It felt like something poetic; poetic because of its many “lasts”. It was special because the children don’t give you a huge and warm welcome with party poppers and welcome shouts just for nothing. But this time, they did. This time was the last visit of the graduating batch of NCSC with OkM. This visit was out of the realm of ordinary, for our graduating fellows. It was touching and emotional and one could tell how much this visit meant for them. They tried to spend each and every second with the children to create lasting memories and moments to cherish afterwards. This is the fruit of years of their hard work and now they were optimistic leaving it in the hands of a very capable council.

Talking about “lasts”, this visit was the last for the term which meant that the NCSC won’t be having any OKM visit for a good 3-4 months, which is a long period for the energetic children. Therefore, the council tried to make up for it and did as much to make the visit as enjoyable and productive for the children, as they could.The council tried to spend as much time with the children as possible. They played games, had fun talks with the children, taught them useful things, read them stories and even had an arm wrestling competition.

The visit was the only visit of this year which took place during Ramadan. The month of Ramadan teaches us to be kind with others, to respect everyone, to care for other people and specially those who are less privileged than us. This visit was an opportunity for the council members to strengthen these virtues and impart them to the children, to make them better human beings and members of society.

With this visit, a massively successful year for OKM comes to an end. The project reached new heights this year including the library inauguration at the orphanage, and bagged the Best Project Award. The council is hopeful and determined for an even more successful year for OKM during the 2018-2019 term and will try its absolute best to carry the legacy of the graduating members forward, and take OKM across the farthest boundaries possible!

 

Abdul Hayee

Qayam-e-Aam: NCSC’s Special Stars Shining Bright!

Qayam e Aman.
Peacekeeping.
This mammoth task is not confined to the armed forces.
The students of ‘Step to Learn’ proved that.

On Friday, 20^th April 2018, a bridge was made. But this was not a bridge made out of stones or bricks. We saw the differently abled children bridge the gap between them and the rest of the world, and tell everyone of their side of the story, to enlighten the world with their spark.

A very special play was decided upon by the event heads, Isra and Issa. After the agreement, daily trips were made to the Step to Learn School. What baffled everyone was the ability of these gems with which they so easily practiced and interacted. They managed to light up the mood of every single volunteer who went there. And thus, passed two weeks.

On the day of the play, things were a little delayed because of the heavy downpour. But that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the participants or the excitement of the audience one bit. The children present came to NUST made up, with very big smiles planted on their faces. The ceremony started with the Word of Allah, followed by a Naat, both performed by the children from Step to Learn.

Following this, a general idea was inculcated into the audience about the purpose of the event and to showcase the endeavors, both by the NUST Community Services Club and by the Step to Learn School along with the Hassan Academy. The latter two have been, since their inception, playing a role to better equip the differently abled children, to better guide the rest of the world towards more acceptance. The schools have managed to raise awareness through the conduction of a number of events.

Then came the highlight of the day, Qayam e Aman. The play portrayed the power of getting together as a nation, to use up our strengths and to get over our differences. While some children were clad in traditional dresses, others portrayed the bigger threat, little cute aliens. Together, the united people took care of the problem and overthrew a wall that was dividing them. This wall was not only an integral part of the play, it was also metaphorical to the prejudice and hatred that prevails among us, which if taken care of, can open up the path to peace and sunshine.

The play ended with the line:

‘If a million hands can build a wall, a million hands can break it down’.

Allama Iqbal’s ‘bachay ki dua’ was performed by some of the students from Hassan Academy to downright perfection. What is commendable is the fact that none of these children could hear or speak, but still they were perfectly synchronized. Because claps and cheers from them couldn’t be heard, the audience showed their appreciation by waving their arms, and swaying to the enthusiasm of the children.
The ceremony ended with a number of speeches, sharing of experiences, children’s wide toothed smiles upon receiving certificates, and a whole lot of jubilance everywhere!

Mehreen Shabbir

Preventing Myopic Mania – One Person At A Time

Sometimes, all you need is a better vision. And this stays true even if you tend to take things a little bit too literally.

In a society filled with facades, myopic perspectives, and condescension, the obscurity ranges from mental to ocular. While both can be allayed, the latter is much easier to cope with.

The world which is having an ‘airpocalypse’ since the advent of certain facilities – such as your handy car, motorcycle, van and so on – has gotten the better of us, is hell for these windows to our souls. Add in the various screens of mobiles and laptops that have now become a necessity of life itself, and you get sight that is clouded by the webs of ill care.

 

NCSC is of the view that even if eyes are priceless, eye protection can be rendered cheap, by giving free ocular check-ups and basic awareness. And this formed the basis of this year’s Eye Camp.

People came, registered, waited for their turns where ophthalmologists checked their sight as well as imparted tips for better vision. Free eyeglasses were available (although for aged ones only) to the registrants on both days. Students posing with the photo-booth, waiting for their turns, knew:

Life fades when eyes squall,

Because eyes have it all!

Eye Camp’s theme was getting it heard that people should rid themselves of the cobwebs brought about by the digital age by distancing themselves, and setting better habits for using digital gadgets. ‘Bring your world into focus’ was the tagline for this year’s Eye Camp, and it surely did so for the 1,000 people that came to get their eyes checked within its 2 day span.

 

 

Shumail Hassan