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.  

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.

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.

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.

NCSC’s Project Al-Qalam

When discussing the crisis that the present world is in we often think of bringing about change. The question is: how exactly are we planning to do that? Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”. Given the current education system in Pakistan, some questions often knock at one’s door to conscience: are we empowering people with this world-changing weapon on the basis of their financial and social status? Are the rich the only people who have the right to education and bringing about this change in the world? Has money and power become the currency for buying the entitlement to this right?

NCSC has decided to play a role in overcoming this plight by taking the initiative of Al-Qalam Project. NCSC aims to sponsor one kid at a time by paying for their education so that any hurdles that may exist in the name of money can be removed. The basic objective of this project is to collect money that is to be utilized for educating the underprivileged who are unable to get education due to lack of resources.

The primary plan of the Al-Qalam Project is to assign volunteers of NCSC from each department with the task of collecting money from those who are willing to donate. Those who want to, can continue to donate the same amount each month regularly. With the untiring efforts of the team, a sum of 250,000 is estimated to be collected in this term. Team Al-Qalam plans on sponsoring a total of 150+ kids by paying for their academic expenses. Many NUST societies, Meri Awaz Suno, NUST Guidelines and student councils have joined hands in support for this noble cause; non-Nustians are also contributing towards this project.

We aim at catering even more students than we are currently aiming for and that is only possible if each one of us plays their part with full ownership. Let’s for once, be the change that we wish to see in the world; donate now for the cure of some terminal illness, a new algebraic formula or the solution of the biggest mysteries that leave us baffled might just be budding in a juvenile mind and lack of resources, power or contacts should not be the reason for the precursors to such breakthroughs to simply stay untamed and never heard of.