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

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.

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.

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.

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!

                                       

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.

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

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

Qayam-e-Aman: Special Children’s Play 2018!

Children are the brightest and the most curious of us all and if nurtured carefully, they can be our best shot at laying a strong foundation for a bright future. As adult humans it is our responsibility that no child that comes into this world feels left out. We should develop a sense of inclusion, a sense of being an ‘integral part of the society’ in each and every child. Doing this will allow the children to develop a sense of purpose and social responsibility.

Special children, while possessing wonderful abilities are often susceptible to feeling left out and NCSC has taken the helm of remedying this. Each year under the banner of its event ‘Special Children’s Play’, NCSC organizes a play performed by these children. The play, intricately written and brilliantly performed has a profound message relating to the challenges faced by us as a society. This year, in collaboration with Step to Learn School, NCSC brings you the 3rd installment of Special Children’s Play titled ‘Qayam-e-Aman’.

The Special Children’s Play conducted in February 2017

To let the reader have a hint of what it feels like to be a part of such a special play, we have compiled for you a bunch of short passages written by the OC members who have worked in the play’s previous two installments. Buckle up and delve deep into the realm of emotion!
“Special Children’s Play was one of the best events of NCSC that I have been a part of. It was a very different experience getting into the shoes of kids who are struggling everyday with some form of disability, communicating with them and making them learn something. I feel it was just as much of a learning experience for us as it was for them. We learned to appreciate the blessings we take for granted. We learned that those kids are indeed special.”

-Humna Bilal

 

“Sign language was never this much fun before! The quiet classrooms were the loudest, that’s because their eyes spoke. Days which revolved around the script, narration and never ending rehearsals were tiring but when the kids were on stage, a few people could hold their tears and that was it! That’s what Special Children’s Play 2017 was all about.”

-Aysha Bilal

February 2017

“It was a beautiful experience. Before SCP, I thought you can only communicate by speech. But those kids taught me how to communicate without words. Little gestures like a smile or a frown say a lot. I didn’t know their hand gestures but even I understood every bit of their laughter. There is a universal language which requires no words.

When I was going to that school I was a bit sad but when I entered there I was bursting into laughter every now and then.

When everyone was rehearsing the play I sneaked out to meet more kids. In no time we all decided to dance. I was surprised to realize that they dance by feeling the beats. I was overwhelmed and I requested the event head to include this segment in the main show. It was such a happy day although their instructor made me dance right in the middle of the huge hall, to help the kids follow the moves. Yes, it was indeed very embarrassing but was rich and fulfilling at the same time.”

-Maira Jalil

The Play conducted in May 2017

“Special Children’s Play is not just another project, it is something very close to my heart. I started off the journey with an aim of giving something to these children, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we got more than we gave, and learned more than we taught.

They say that these children are differently abled, not disabled. And I realized it after being among them for some time that these children are so much beautifully-abled and are truly special in all the good ways.

The take home message that I learned from this journey was: No words, no language but love is the best way of communication.

I urge everyone to come forward for this cause, if not for these kids then for yourself to experience something exceptionally beautiful and moving. Because special is beautiful.”

-Hafsa Mir.

 

“It is easier to understand the privileges we have in any scenario. You can understand the problems a physically challenged person goes through and he too, knows how the loss of not being fit costs him. This does not hold when it comes to hearing impaired children.

The children had their recess when we entered their school last year. What I experienced in the following 15 minutes struck me harder than anything had before. They had their complete way of life. Their day was running as smooth as mine does in NBS. The children were all running around smiling, exchanging high fives while playing different games. Some were just busy having their lunch. You could actually feel the energy of a normal school there, but there was no other sound reaching my ears except the footsteps of running children. I had never seen an exchange of so many hand gestures ever before. It was like Naruto on mute and without any subtitles. All of a sudden, I was the one feeling like a special child, because it was me who did not know how to communicate and everyone around me did. That is the moment that it strikes you! The real feel. The real value of the privilege of being able to communicate; because you have always done it but, just cannot now! That, in my personal opinion is the most special of all feels. Which can only be experienced firsthand to understand, because this is not just ‘any’ privilege and this is not just ‘any’ scenario.”

-Tahmasib Khushk

 

Abdul Hayee

NCSC Celebrates a Month of Happiness!

 

Come March, come the International Day of Happiness!

Founded in 2013 by Jayme Illien, an advisor to the United Nations, 20th March is celebrated world over. The day is dedicated to spreading joy and focusing on everything that is good in life, in attempt to get rid of the daily toxicity.

NUST Community Services Club needs no excuse to spread happiness, but as the day came closer, it decided to take it up in style! March was declared as the ‘Month of Happiness’, and everyone took to the cause of sharing what makes them happy! The trend was kicked off by team Publications, and soon the team Social Media Marketing started to participate with full vigour and posting with a hashtag ‘#ThisMakesMeHappyNCSC’ encouraging everyone to post pictures of their happy place, on their Instagram stories. It spread like wildfire! Before we knew it, not only members of NCSC but also followers of our page were fervently posting everything that makes them happy! The place was filled with positive vibes, and we would eagerly look forward to what NCSC’s official Instagram account had in store for us by checking it several times each day!

Suffice to say, NCSC celebrated March, its month of happiness, in the best way it could! To help you join in the fun we had, we’ve compiled some of the responses below! So come on, let’s get going, get happy!

 

The first one to start was our very own president:

There was an open confession for Director Publications (how could we not post this?)

There were warm feels

Some of them were rather questionable

And the voice of every Pakistani on the planet:

And then pairing it up with other life essentials

Somebody brought up our lifeline. We also suspect this was an aftereffect of an encounter with the wifi of NUST Hostels

Food and Travelling were popular choices

And this one executive who mentioned what everyone was missing out on, Memes!

Then, in a stroke of diplomacy, Director Publications listed everything that ever makes her happy about NCSC, hoping it would inspire others to do the same. It was. Very. Very. Long. By the time it  FINALLY ended, we’re sure we could’ve been to Spain and back. (Which is probably why it did NOT have its intended effect)

That one executive who still believes in chivalry, left us bewildered

And this one who finds joy in washing cars!

We also questioned what the PS could possibly mean by his last point (for sure?) but he rounded it off without explanation…

Director M and PR spoke for all our inner clean freak selves

And DD SMM rounded it all off in this one happy comment

And then began the Instagram posts!

Starting with Maha Khan, and the one thing which makes her most happy: us, of course!

Next came in our Press Secretary, Sarmad Farid, stating what we all know to be true

And this one bromance we’ve been supporting since forever

Also in full swing (quite literally with his bow and arrow) was our JS to GS, Abdullah Anwar

There was talk of arts, and it left us very impressed!

And poetry…

The beauty of nature, and the wonder that can be city life, was also mentioned:

 

 

 

Anndd we were back to FOOD, because honestly how long can you stay away from the place where all the happiness flows into the world?

 

 

Not to forget, those everyday fascinating things which fill you to the brim with a strange sense of peace and contentment…

 

 

 

What better kind of joy, than to be connected to Him?

And probably what we thought was one of the most adorable pictures ever!

 

Needless to say, it was a thrilling experience to get a chance to sneak into your souls! It is true what Dumbledore said, ‘Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to switch on the lights’. It is indeed the smallest of things which, if we learn to appreciate, can colour our lives so vividly and make us content, happy individuals!

From that connection with the One above, love from friends and family and nature, to the bright city sphere, the food, and the sports, to poetry, architecture and art, there is so much to be grateful for and so much to be delighted about! We hope that by highlighting them, we gave you enough reasons to last a lifetime!

Happy Happiness Month to you once again, from the entire NCSC family!

 

Mahnoor Fatima

I am NCSC- ‘Assi NCSC Aan’

One of the most awaited events for the NCSC family are the ‘I am NCSC’ gatherings, the purpose of which is to give the members a chance to know each other and grow a special bond.

The most recent installment in this series took place on Thursday,  1st March 2018, and was hosted by the teams Publications and M and PR. Taking the awesomeness a notch further, the theme for the event called for the desification of the art of cosplaying.

To get everyone up on their feet and running, Publications kicked off the meet up with a Scavenger Hunt, very carefully planned by the DDs, complete with rhyming clues. Over the course of this hunt, the participating teams acquired newfound appreciation for some of the trademark places in NUST. As the game progressed, team members frantically tried to search the designated guides with their clues to the right places; upon spotting, they went gaga- shouting from far away ‘Pakro issay!’

(Bonus: If you couldn’t make it to the party, we’ve included two clues, just to give you a taste of the Treasure Hunt, can you guess what they could be?)

‘What’s that whirring sound,

There’s nothing around,

With so much around,

Wonder where I might be found?’

 

‘I used to have some substance,

But now I’ve just gone dry,

And so many scholars pass by me,

And yet, no one wonders why?’

In the end, Team C made it to the final destination before everyone else. They even managed to decipher the very misleading ‘SEECS’ clue which was the source of a lot of confusion. We also heard reports of their defeat being blamed on an innocent Publications executive, who claimed he was just doing his job.

Staying true to their promise, the organizers awarded the winning team with ‘Jewels’ (yes, the pretty boxed chocolates, because we never lie about ‘Treasure’) Café’ 309 was chosen as the place for the gathering, where M and PR had arranged for a free barbeque, though this wasn’t revealed until the very moment of the meet up. The planned spontaneity was a source of stirring excitement.  (We also managed to spot a few wandering executives who were sighted only as the food came out, but we’re not complaining!)

Winners of the Treasure Hunt!

 

Amongst the more prominent desi cosplayers were the President and GS,  Maha and Azan. Everyone got worried when they couldn’t find Maha for the group photo. There was one rumor in particular that got circulated really fast; ‘the possible abduction of Georgie by Pennywise’.

Our very own Georgie!

Meanwhile, Azan managed to scoop up the award for the best costume with his Desi Cupid attire, with a prop which read ‘Just Married”, that put every cheesy Pakistani hero to shame.  A surprising number of enthusiastically dressed up members like the desified versions of Maleficent, Dobby the Elf and a black sunglasses clad Dare Devil were also seen. All of them had something interesting to bring to the stage.

Desi Cupid

(from left to right) Desified Hobbit, ‘Bat-Man’ (a man who carried a bat, it was a pun), Tommy Shelby, Bad Girl (from Gujurat) and Dobby the Elf

The food was was enjoyed as the humorous confessions and questions were read out loud. There were more than a hundred responses, which covered every little detail that bothered any NCSC member ever- or so it seemed. We heard talk of questionable email ids, pleas like ‘saans lay lo bhai’, questions like ‘masla kia hai apka’, ‘Kabhe kisi makhi ko bhe nuqsan pohanchaya hai apnay?’,  ‘shodhi kyun hain ap’ ‘kab insan bano gay’, ‘ why so cute?’,‘kia roag hai bhai?‘, requests for lame riddles, farewell messages, those of appreciation ‘You da best prezi’, ‘ you are so adorable’, ‘candids ache leti hain sir’, random observations, ‘dar sa lagta hai apsay’, ‘inko men pasand hun’ , ‘bohat tez bolti hain’,’saru insan’, and so much more! How wildly popular the session became, was a sweet little achievement in itself.

 

The strong winds didn’t sway the delight that the moment carried. The evening ended on a high note, with a struggle to get the whole of the team in one frame and to capture the awe-inspiring skies above! And that was the essence of ‘I am NCSC’-! We tried to capture it, but really, if you weren’t there, you wouldn’t know!

Mehreen Shabbir

Mahnoor Fatima

Stepping in the Shoes of the Unseeing

Rays of sunlight permeating through the haze, struggling to dominate the atmosphere: it was a typical winter morning towards the end of December. But  something special for all adventurous souls was coming up; the event “Blindfolded Wall Climbing” was scheduled for this day!

Climbing, besides being a basic human instinct, helps in overcoming the fears and challenges by testing one’s limits. This year’s contest was organized by NUST Community Services Club (NCSC) in collaboration with the Para Climbing Club of Pakistan (PCC) and Red Bull and ARY as the lead sponsors of the event. Blindfolded Wall Climbing is not just limited to being a captivating activity, it is much more. It aims to create a sense of solidarity with the visually-impaired, to help participants ‘see’ life from a different perspective, which is what makes it one of NCSC’s most awaited events.

The IBEX Adventure Club wall at Lake View Park, Islamabad, was ready to witness the contest for which  many enthusiastic participants had gathered round. The event kicked off with a brief introduction of PCC and its activities, followed by a warm up session under the supervision of experts. A highly competitive qualifying round was organized to shortlist the top ten climbers. The climbers gave their best shots, but unfortunately, a few stumbled in the way and missed their chance of making it to the final round. To the climbers’ joy, a refreshment session was arranged after the qualifying round. The top ten climbers were all set to comptete for the top slot! The qualifying round had set the bar high; it was a contest of best among the best!

All eyes were set on the final round, and it was as enthralling as one could expect! After a fierce round, Sarmad Farid, Vice President NCSC, managed to grab the top slot with a record breaking time of 22.5 seconds! The winners were then commended for their efforts and all participants were awarded with certificates. Everyone went home with renewed spirits, of having spent a day full of energy, sports and returned more grateful than ever after experiencing firsthand the trials and tribulations of those without sight.

 

Muhammad Awais Sultan

SOS Olympiad 2017: Connecting on the Playgound!

In today’s increasingly segmented society, our foremost aim must be to remove the lines that divide us. Fortunately, there is a space where all of this comes to life: the play ground.  A vast green field under a clear sky where everyone jumps with joy and leaves their pains in the dust for a blissful, fleeting moment. A place where it doesn’t matter where you are from, how you look, how you speak, and what you believe in; where all those awful, and disruptive lines are erased, and we begin as equals.

And that is exactly why, this December, NUST Community Services Club came back with an event solely for our loved ones at the SOS Village! The SOS Olympiad was designed specially for the children of SOS, inviting them to NUST, and letting them experience the thrill of the game on the battlefield of sports!

They were divided into teams, with names based on the precious young gems of Pakistan. ‘Aitzaz Titans’, in memory of Aitzaz Hasan Bangash Shaheed, who sacrificed his life preventing a suicide bomber from entering his school of 2,000. ‘Shahlyla Defenders’, to honour Shahlyla Ahmadzai Baloch, the first Pakistani woman to score a hat trick in a football match. ‘Maseeh Warriors’ to honour Iqbal Masih, who became a symbol against child labour. And, ‘Arfa Victors’, in memory of Arfa Karim, the youngest Microsoft Prodigy. These were meant to inculcate not only good skills, but also to inspire them to be fearless and persevere in the cause, just like the individuals they were honouring.

There were exciting matches of Football, where each team had a student of NUST assigned to it. This motivated the  children even further. What was heartening to see was that, they showed deep respect for their elders. Even if victory was not to be theirs, they still embraced it with a wonderful spirit. To them, the game was all that mattered!

Matches of cricket, tug-of-war and ludo were also played with a competitive spirit, and served to promote camaraderie. Not only did the boys play very well, the girls excelled in all games too!

Magic wands and crystal balls may appear to be a fantasy of Hogwarts and Narnia, but how is a bat shaped from the finest willow, hitting spectacular sixes out of nowhere, and taking everyone’s breath away, any less entrancing? A fortune-teller may be deceptive but a searing football kick into the nets is as real as it gets! Why pull on each other’s hair, feelings and progress, when teams can have a go on a tightrope, and get much more fun out of it? That was the goal that NCSC had in mind, and we are extremely pleased to say that it was successfully acheived!

The SOS Olympiad ended with awards and mentions for everyone who excelled on the field (yes, the commentator included!). It was a learning experience for not only the students, but also all the members of NCSC. We would like to congratulate the entire core team on the successful execution of this splendid event. We hope to see it again, next year!

Haseeb Kazmi

One Step Closer to their Dream!

On 3^rd April, the sun didn’t rise alone. It rose with many young aspirations, of participants from different schools and colleges who had been invited to a one-of-a-kind event at NUST. They were about to get the ultimate taste of a day in the life of a NUSTian.

Students from Westminster, BMI, Torcia Academy and IMCB arrived at the glorious campus of the National University of Sciences and Technology; a step towards the university of their dreams. The diligent organising committee had been working months before the event to ensure everything ran smoothly. Finally, their hard work was about to pay off.

Students started pouring in the SMME Seminar Hall. Following the recitation of the Holy Quran, there was a motivational talk by Darashik Abbas, inspiring the audience to explore their passion and build a career around it. Next, Syed Basir Raza, walked them through the tips and tricks for acing the NET. Lastly, Khurram Javed informed them about the dynamics of life at NUST.

The students were offered refreshments, after which they made their way to the first ever ‘Schools Fair’ at NUST. They voiced their concerns, inquired about the degree programs they were aiming for and availed this excellent opportunity to hear the inside story from the representatives of the schools at NUST.

Soon after, the students assembled into the groups that had been assigned to them in accordance with the preferences asked at the time of registration. One group visited SMME, NICE and SEECS. Another one opted for SMME, SCME and SEECS. The third went to NBS, S3H and TICS. They visited the major labs and workshops in each of these institutions. They also toured around the many schools, cafes, hostels and other significant buildings at NUST.  Everyone was awestruck with the campus grandeur and many expressed their wish to walk those paths, one day.

To mark the end of a long, productive day, students made their way to the Headquarters of NUST. Here, groups posed for pictures and claimed that the day was a giant success. As the sun set, spirits were renewed and firm resolves to do better, rose higher. Many a soul fell asleep with tired legs, but starry eyes to dream of a day when they would enter the gates of NUST, and call it home.

With that, NUST Community Services Club would like to commend the tireless efforts of Umer Sadiq, Ahmed Yar and Humna Bilal and congratulate them on the execution of a very successful, Experience NUST 2017!

Smile for a While (2016)

It was about 4:00 pm on 24^th December, 2016; the typical wintered Islamabad turned chilly as the sun set in the horizon, allowing other elements of nature to take over. Just as the horizon was about to fade to black, however, the lights being lit at the SOS Children Village overpowered this darkness.

Bright kids in micro fashion gave a hard competition to the well-dressed seniors present on the scene. They out-showed their gratitude by showering the guests with flowers. The event started with the soothing recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the National Anthem.

As the winds got colder, the atmosphere at SOS village got hotter. Next to follow was the cultural walk; the most endearing performance of the evening featuring kids with beautiful dresses and heart-warming smiles. From the Chitrali topi to the Sindhi Ajrak, snippets from all cultures were featured in this heavenly performance. As we moved on through the evening, time constraints seemed to be of little significance.

Talha Azhar from Ideas Foundation graced the stage with his presence and praised the efforts of the volunteers and collaborators in making this event a possibility; he also paid his gratitude to the Islamabad Police for providing security. A cascade of performances -beat boxing, drama, songs and cultural dances – continued throughout the event.

IG Islamabad also graced the occasion, lauding the hard work and effort put into organizing such an event.  At around half-past seven, piping-hot food and other refreshments were served, ready to feed the appetites of the attendees. Marking the end of a great evening, bursts of vibrant colors – fireworks – illuminated the night sky.

500+ attendees
10+ performances
100+ performing kids
1 Memorable Night

 

Blindfolded Wall Climbing

The morning sun shone bright and clear upon the participants clustered together around the wall climbing segment of the Ibex Club, Lakeview Park. They gathered together with a sense of anticipation, and eagerly awaited the beginning of the event. Among them were ten members of the Pakistan Paraclimbing Club, visually impaired individuals who would be climbing alongside the students in a true show of determination and spirit. Students could either choose to climb with a blindfold on, and be immersed in the experience the event was originally designed to bring to them. Or, they could choose to forgo it entirely, and climb with their sight unhindered, just for the sake of climbing.

The formal championship commenced with each participant being allowed to climb the wall once, blindfolded or without it, as per their preference. The time taken by each participant to reach the top of the wall was measured using stopwatches and noted down. Times were compared and the top ten participants were called upon to climb again. Both members of the Paraclimbing Club and students were among them. The second time around though, only the top three were chosen according to the fastest times, and they were all visually impaired individuals.

The Chief Guest, Managing Director of Ibex Club, Esam Khattak said a few words in the closing ceremony. This was followed by addresses from the President of NCSC, Qasim Naveed, and Suleman Arshad of Pakistan Paraclimbing Club. The prizes were then presented to the winners. The results of the Blindfolded Wall Climbing Championship only confirmed what the event was all about. It is the motivation and determination to succeed, and the belief in one’s own abilities that makes the winning spirit become a true victory, not the presence or absence of other things however important they may seem, like the senses themselves.

If only we all can grasp the essence of what this event displayed – confidence, and resilience in the face of such overwhelming challenges and difficulties does bring success – and apply that to life around us, we can take on the world. We can take on the world, with the same determination, motivation and grit, that these visually impaired people had when they faced the wall, blind, and with no sight, but with plenty of vision.

The event could not have been made possible without the generous contributions of Red Bull, Red Sun Associates, Ibex Club and Pakistan Paraclimbing Club. We are grateful for their assistance in making this event a success.

 

One Step Towards a Drug Free Society

20^th December, 2016 was the day, NIT Seminar Hall was alive with the noise of many conversations. An anti narcotics seminar was being arranged by Center of Counseling and Career Advisory(C3A) in collaboration with Anti Narcotics Force(ANF) and assistance of NUST Community Services Club(NCSC).

Gist: Happiness comes with Family Life and Patience ‘Not Drugs’

To start off, Director C3A talked about mental health and how drugs are affecting it.  This was followed by an informative and interactive session by Mr. Jibran Ahmad Yusufzai. He stressed upon the steps being taken by ANF in reducing the culture of Drug addiction and trafficking. Drugs of more than 0.88 Billion US Dollars worth have been disposed off this year by ANF.  Anti Narcotics force has set up 3 Rehabilitation Centers in Pakistan to get the addicts back to life in a normal way.

DG ANF in a key ending note emphasized on the lack of awareness in youth about the consequences of drug use.  Drugs as stress managers are widely used in Pakistan. Stress should be countered with proper guidance from society. In countries like Pakistan, discussing drugs is considered as Taboo. They are not discussed properly in our family gatherings. Additionally, an addict can never be a good leader, because his addiction will affect the decisions that may not be in the best interests of society.

While we signed off, the dream to a drug free society was in mind of every student because a Drug Free Society leads to a stronger Pakistan, morally and ethically.

 

 

 

SOS Cricket Challenge

The Sun had not yet risen up to the horizon when a group of children aged between ten and nineteen, belonging to the SOS Village gathered in the ground next to the School Of Chemical and Materials Engineering (SCME), welcomed by students from NUST.

Purpose? To play cricket.

The SOS Cricket Challenge was organized by the NUST Community Services Club on Saturday, December 10, 2016. The event started out with a match played between the SOS Village children. A sense of competition wafted through the cool air as both sides tried to outplay and defeat one another. The match ended with refreshments being served to the players.

As the Sun rose to its highest position in the sky, so did the stakes. The SOS children were now going to take on the NUST students. This was a matter of SOS being up against NUST. And so the match started.

SOS began its innings with a smooth batting spell culminating in a target of seventy-one. Soon after, the NUST team began its chase, effortlessly edging closer and closer to the target, only to be stopped dead in its tracks by the SOS bowlers, when three of its proficient batsmen were taken out. The match ended with SOS emerging as the victors.

After the match, the tension in the atmosphere was diffused away as the guests began introducing themselves and interacting with the SOS children. An arm wrestling challenge was also conducted, in which those that lost the cricket matches tried to get rid of their frustration by beating their opponents.

The event ended with the guests being shown around NUST and its departments.

The children had come to NUST eager to play cricket with these people that were strangers. When they stepped out of its gates, they left with hopes of coming back again with smiles painted across their faces by the same strangers that were now thought of fondly as friends and family.

 

 

 

 

Experience NUST 2016

Experience NUST was the first of its kind event hosted by NCSC on 21st March, 2016. It aimed at giving high-school students a first-hand experience on how it’s like to be within the walls of NUST as well as to broaden their perceptions about NUST as a prospective university for their future. Above all however, was the fact that Experience NUST gave a chance to prospective students to ask all their questions and to clear any confusions that might have gone unanswered over the phone and on the official page for NUST. The response to the event was overwhelming, with a couple dozen of students showing up at 10 am at gate 1 to begin their tour of the H-12 sector campus. For effective management, the students were divided into 2 groups, A and B. These included students from:

• Punjab College, Blue Area, Islamabad • Islamabad Model College for Boys, G-10/4 •             Scienta Vision College •             Beaconhouse for Girls, Islamabad •             BMI, Islamabad

Bedazzled by the sheer size of the campus and the diversity of various buildings dedicated to different disciplines offered here, the students were escorted to SMME, where the seminar began. It aimed at addressing any ambiguities about the various programs offered and gave the participants an insight into the pattern of the NET and various other admission requirements. Among the seminar hall were 2 distinguished guests, namely Malala Khan, who talked about her experience as part of the UGRAD exchange program and Ahmed, the brains behind the popular NanStop. The seminar was followed by the much awaited trip to the various schools on campus. Experience NUST was a huge success and set a high bar for other events to live up to. It would however, be unfair to end this post without a mention of the political turmoil in the country following Mumtaz Qadri’s hanging and the consequent inconvenience posed to the participants as well as the hosts. Despite the various obstacles faced up to and on the event day itself, including the jamming of phone signals, the NCSC team persevered and was able to overcome these hurdles.

On a conclusive note, it was commendable effort by event head Zubaish Saghir and NCSC Office Bearers to arrange the whole event and there is no doubt that managing such a large number of students was a huge challenge ultimately overcome by them thanks to their dedication and leadership skills. As any event, this one too owes much of its success to the support of the NCSC faculty sponsors as well as the NUST administration.

Pakistan Chapter of the Talloires Network (PCTN) Annual Conference

It is wisely and legitimately said that two are always better than one and it is best to have more than two. The hands, which are extended for the welfare of the community are always a ray of hope that dispense the positivity that still lies among us and make us believe that there is a greater good still existing among us. The people who offer such commendable efforts are heroes in themselves and they do not need any capes or awards for their recognition. The Pakistan Chapter of the Tallories Network (PCTN) is a platform which is an initiative of NUST, that calls upon around 63 top ranked Pakistan’s institutions of Higher Education every year to come forward and share their part of the services they are offering for the wellbeing of the Pakistani under privileged community.

On 1^st December, 2015, PCTN in collaboration with the NUST Community Service Club Education Empowerment Team (NEET) held a conference in NUST School of Natural Sciences (SNS) under the supervision of Dr Muhammad Safdar. The conference included multiple university representatives from the Institute of Space Technology (IST), Bahria University, HITECH University, Virtual university and many others to collaborate on the agenda of creating a volunteer student force from all the universities and put them to work for the society as one, to provide a platform where students from different universities join together and work hands in hands for a common cause of community welfare.

A healthy debate was triggered over points of sustainability of the agenda of PCTN (NEET), financial hindrances, motivation of the lower class and local government bodies’ support. The participants shared what their institutes are doing at their scale and what they look forward to in the future. All the attendees of the conference were convinced at one single goal that is education for all, empowerment of the local community teachers and improving educational infrastructure through university provided and fund raising modes of revenue generation.

The conference concluded with proposal presentations by the participant universities and all of them agreed on working on the agenda of the conference that is to create a sustainable volunteer work force with the sole goal of achieving the philanthropic concerns shown by all.

Earthquake Relief Campaign 2015

On 28^th October, 2015, 276 souls left us and thousands of families were left devastated as a would-be historic tragedy struck the entire nation. A horrifying 7.5 magnitude earthquake, originating in Afghanistan, crept its way to the ground beneath 182 million Pakistanis, changing their lives forever. Amidst the chaos left behind after the tragedy struck the nation, a group of young and ambitious individuals rose up from the rubble to help their countrymen- specifically those with no roof left over their heads and no clothes to keep them warm in the lethal, cruel cold months that would soon approach.

While many of us were busy giving safety check-ins on Facebook, proud NCSC members Taha Fawad Azim and Haseeb, promptly designed an “Earthquake Relief Campaign” for which they were the leaders. Comprising a team of nine members, their objective was clear and transparent- to provide donations for the affectees of the quake. With the help of innumerable NUSTians, who shared the same ambition as that of the leaders, a fund of around Rs. 670,000 poured in. The donation for some would mean a warm meal in the evening, while for others it may mean the difference between life and freezing out in the cold to death. Volunteers quickly gathered to join hands, spirits heightened as ever, to set up cloth donation drives. The areas of collections included the well-populated residential areas, as well as the popular Concordias 1 and 2. The donations were transferred to the affectees, with the aid of the Pakistan army. The beneficiaries were the populations located in Mingora, Swat. The leaders have decided that the next population to receive aid from the drive is to be Chitral in the near future.

The campaign highlights the importance of the role of bright, young students in society, especially in times of crisis. It also emphasises upon how a single idea of an individual can grow into a full-blown campaign which would help around six hundred people affected by the quake to survive and rise from the ashes once more.

 

Community Services Learning- Phase 1 Projects

It is rightfully said by Sally Koch that “Great opportunities to help others seldom come; but small ones surround us every day.” To help the students recognize these small opportunities, Community Services Learning was made compulsory for final year students. Each student is required to complete 30 credit-hours of community services and in the process, learn the value of giving back and being empathetic. Phase 1 of the course required students to complete at least 10 of the total credit hours. Participants of the course undertook various projects that were aimed at bringing a change in the lives of the less fortunate. The projects carried out under the wing of NCSC have been described briefly in this article:

1.The hard work and resilience of a woman is always hidden beneath layers of dignity and selflessness. They often struggle in silence. A truly amazing empowerment project, titled “Fempower”, was established to help women like these. It is basically a Facebook based platform to highlight the struggles and amazing perseverance of the women around us. In its initial stage, the Facebook page for the project became instantly viral and the participants devotedly posted new and touching stories on an almost daily bases. The participants visited various schools in NUST as well as Edhi centre and Shifa Hospital to cover stories of hard-working women in need of assistance. This movement was able to generate a handsome amount which would be utilized for benefiting the featured women in the second phase.

2.The gift of being a man of knowledge and resources, comes with the responsibility of giving back to the less fortunate. This was the logic behind the establishment of a free Diabetes Medical Camp at a Social Security Dispensary in I-11/3, Islamabad. The project, titled ‘Care for Life’, was organized by seven members who worked tirelessly to set-up the camp with the help of staff and tools provided by The Diabetes Centre and PharmEvo. The camp provided underprivileged citizens with free tests that determined their blood glucose level, total body cholesterol percentage, blood pressure and BMI. Approximately 80 patients showed up at the camp and walked away with free medical advice and medicine. The participants not only gained the required 10 credit hours but also the satisfaction that comes with positively affecting the lives of those in need.

3.A blood donation drive was also initiated in which a total of seven participants visited the Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion and donated a pint each. Not only did the students acquire the chance to save valuable lives but for every pint donated, received a total of 5 credit hours.

4.We mostly have more than we need and in such cases, what is wiser than to share with those who don’t have enough? Keeping this in mind, 20 CSL participants organized a Cloth Donation Drive which aimed at collecting wearable and unsoiled articles of clothing. The donation was collected from campus cafes as well as hostels. A hefty amount of clothes was collected which was then donated to the earthquake victims as well as the Edhi Centre.

5.It is said that “a smile from a child is packaged sunshine and rainbows” and that is why a team of 11 students visited the Ghonsla Homes Orphanage and spent some quality time with the residents who were girls aged between 5 to 17. The younger girls were amused with activities like storytelling and art classes while the older ones were entertained by henna tattoos and talent competitions. The girls enjoyed to the fullest and made the participants feel truly welcomed.

6.For orphans, the most valuable asset is the feeling of being cared for and noticed and this was provided remarkably to the children at Sweet Home Orphanage by NUST students. A total of 33 participants decided to spend some quality time with the orphans by involving them in activities that showcased their talents. The children were also advised about their future through a series of motivational videos and talks. At the end of the session, the students left the children with gifts and everlasting smiles.

7.The importance of water cannot be denied but it is often ignored. This is what a team of CSL Participants had in mind when they organized a trip to Islamabad model primary school to hold a seminar regarding efficient usage of water. The seminar was attended by a total of 500 primary class students. The students were engaged in various activities like drawing and interactive video sessions to get them involved and interested.

8.When the bones get frail and old, the light inside begins to dim away and eventually dies out. Familiar with this phenomenon linked with old age and solitude, some very enthusiastic CSL participants set out to reignite that light in the heart of the residents of MGQ Old Home located in Rawalpindi. The residents included people suffering from both physical and/or mental illnesses. The students spent a good amount of time with the folks at MGQ and cheered them up with games, long talks and other fun activities. It was a good day for the old ones who seldom got any visits and was a self-satisfying experience for the participants as well.

9.To find a home away from home, all one needs is a sign of affection, companionship and comfort and this is what prompted some participants to pay a visit to Najjat Trust Old Homes and spend some time with the elderly who have only each other to get them through the day. The aim of the visit was to show these individuals that they are cared for and valued. The participants were able to do so by organizing various interactive activities like sketching, board games, decoration of rooms, storytelling sessions and much more. The participants even prepared a meal for the residents and made the day even more festive. The day ended with the distribution of fruits and flowers to the elderly who were blossoming with happiness and gratitude.

10.Cleanliness drives don’t always have to be mainstream and tedious. They can be amusing, interactive and inspiring. This was proved all too clearly by members of the Mural Painting project who undertook the task of painting dreary school walls with refreshing and informative drawings. One of the location was SAAYA School F-12 Islamabad where the walls were painted with pictures portraying nature and importance of cleanliness. Another location for the project was Islamabad Model School for Boys G-11/2 where the classroom walls were repainted to give them a more inviting and hospitable look. The project gave the participants a chance to learn a very productive skill and utilize it to leave long-lasting messages for the children.

11.After years of meticulous studies, students are often left to gamble with their futures because of a lack of guidance and awareness. With this in mind, 10 CSL participants decided to provide counselling to students who were on the brink of selecting their professional degrees. TABA Career Counselling session was aimed at helping young minds develop a broader perspective. The session was held at Shaheen Academy in Islamabad and intermediate level students were given awareness regarding various fields like BBA, medical, social sciences, engineering etc. The session ended with a very informative question/answer session with the students feeling much more optimistic and aware.

12.“Character is the foundation of all worthwhile success” is a lesson we should teach a child from the moment he opens his mind to the dealings of the world and so, almost 5 CSL participants took on an endeavour to visit Islamabad Model School for Boys located in G-11/2 to have a session with the young children on character building and importance of good manners. The children were kept entertained with various poems, stories and demonstrations of good basic manners. The children were left with a lasting impression and the school principal especially thanked the participants and asked them to pay frequent visits for more interactive sessions.

13.For someone who is not in the best of his health, the quickest way to the road of recovery is shown through compassion and love and this is what set CSL participants on an amazing endeavour to visit unwell children at hospitals to cheer them up in their times of anguish. After communicating with Development Officer, Asmat Ali Satti and Manager Health Education Communication, Nasir Iqbal Malik of Shifa Foundation, the participants were able to meet the children being treated at the hospital. The students involved the children in various games and activities to take their mind off the pain and dullness. Another visit was conducted at Falahee Clinic where the participants mingled with ill children and tried their level best to bring smiles to their young, yet suffering, faces.

All participants of the Phase 1 projects gave back to the society in the most productive way. They helped create a ripple that would eventually join the wave of change. In addition to that, they attained deep satisfaction that comes with serving the needy and found themselves becoming more compassionate, empathetic and humble.

CSL 401 Project 2015 – Mural Painting

Mural painting is a CSL Project targeted at improving the conditions and appearance of walls by cleaning and painting them for an attractive and refreshing look. After consideration, the walls of two schools were selected due to their poor condition. So the first implementation took place at SAAYA School F-12 Islamabad on Monday, 26^th October, 2015. A total of 21 participants started working on the veranda walls of SAYA School at 10:30 am. The aim was to provide educational assistance to the students through the painting. Ideas were exchanged, colourful paints were highlighted and after an enjoyable session by the time the clock ticked 4:00 pm a solar system, pollination, a painting regarding cleanliness and a water cycle were in existence. A flag bearing wall was also white washed and the flag of Pakistan repainted. The children were explained the importance of these paintings; especially of hand washing.

The second implementation took place at Islamabad Model School for Boys G-11/2 on Tuesday, 27^th October 2015. The rest of the 22 participants reached the school at 1:00 pm. The purpose was to make the classroom conditions neat and to give the walls a clean look. Two classrooms were selected the walls of which were in a very poor condition. Hence, amidst the dust and dirt, brushes and rollers were used to white wash the walls. A single wall was given at least two coatings. By the time participants were done, the walls presented a revitalizing and cool look. The plus side for the participants was that they learned how to mix paint and use brushes and rollers to paint the wall.

Noor-e-Chiraghan

The air was thick with sweet Sufi melodies penetrating every nook and corner of NUST; students could be seen huddled up on footpaths, mesmerized by the music and the soothing effect it had to offer. Noor-e-Chiraghan gave students some time off from their hectic routines on the 8^th of October, Wednesday; being held at SCME ground with a time span of 5pm-11pm. The ticket to this exclusive fiesta cost a mere two hundred rupees for non-members while general members could enter at a discounted price of one fifty rupees. As expected, innumerable people poured into the beautiful fairy lights lit canopy that was housing a number of stalls. The delectable eatables available at affordable rates, providing a great alternative to the mess menu for hostelites, were bought and eaten by the famished students in no time.

For the sake of entertainment, artists, performers and beatboxers performed onstage and received applause and appreciation from the spectators. To add to this, Khujlee Vines were also invited who stole the show in the true sense leaving everyone fighting fits of laughter. The display of eye-catching decorations both on the stage and across the whole ground was a view worth-seeing. Everyone contentedly posed beside the ornamentations and behind the fully embellished photo booth depicting the back of a truck with the caption “Fasla rakhain nahin to pyar hojaega” written on it and clicked pictures. Towards the end, a bunch of flying lanterns were set off into the sky where they soon merged with the stars leaving the audience awe-struck and mesmerized. In a nutshell, it was a fun-packed, convivial and boisterous event enclosed within the canopy boundary.

By,

Warda Batool

      

             

 

Nust Naatak

‘You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.’

Mahatma Gandhi

NCSC is one of the best societies of NUST which considers serving the humankind its utmost duty. In this modern age, although the technology has reached the peak of innovation but the human nature, on the other hand has become corrupt and morally deteriorated. It has become selfish, deceiving, egoistic and intolerant.

To raise a voice against the evil and to make people realize the truth, NCSC council decided to convey an eye-opening message through a play, under the supervision of the very able event Head; Qasim Naveed. The play was one of its kind, performed by the students throughout NUST, from the hostels to the cafes, from parking lots of the departments to breaks between different events. The rehearsals and selection of the students was an experience of its own in which students participated enthusiastically.

The play depicted different scenarios; basically a comparison between the life of an upper class family and a lower class family. The first scene portrayed the sad life of a beggar who has nothing to live on but by selling newspapers. He is a young kid, who should in reality be in school but due to his financial conditions, is forced to sell newspapers and earn for his family. Such kids are often scolded by the people passing by. The second part of the NATAK showed how a child belonging to a well-off family wastes her food and belongings without even caring for a second. The third and the final act depict the life of a poor, innocent child whose leg is forcefully broken so that he may beg and earn a lot of money due to his medical unfitness.

This six-minute act showed the eye-opening incidents going on regularly in our life that nobody cares about anymore. The need of the time is the realization of the wrongdoings in the society and lending our hand to make a difference before the fire of evil eats up all of us, before we reach a state from where coming back is impossible. May Allah assist us all in doing that.

Written by: Kanza Rasheed

The Second PCTN Conference

The 2^nd PCTN conference was held at NUST on March 18^th, 2015 welcoming the delegates and representatives of different universities across Pakistan. The purpose of this conference was to discuss and innovate “Sustainable Development Solutions and Action Plans for Universities and their Youth” which was well debated and expressed. The conference started a bit late at 11:00 am against the stipulated time of 10:00am. The honorable minister of planning, development and reforms, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal also attended the event and shared his thoughts and reviews about the current energy scenario in Pakistan and what the energy future plans are. Insights of various other notable and sublime individuals representing their universities was given prime importance. CIPS seminar hall, host of the event, became the buzz of the campus drawing in enthusiastic students, teachers and students from other institutions as well to attend the conference.

Maintaining their previous stature, NCSC council was at the frontline serving the attendees as ushers and organizers to smoothen the happenings. The admin events and media teams were among the busiest, catering the needs of people there and taking camera-shots of the event at regular intervals. The lunch break was observed from 1:00pm – 2:00 pm and there was another 2 hour session afterwards which also included a motivational speech by the NUST rector, Engr Muhammad Asghar. The conference was ultimately concluded on a high with a lot of expectations from youth of Pakistan to step-up and resolve the energy crisis the nation is facing currently by moving towards renewable and indigenous energy sources keeping in view the financial constraints. A session of tea and snacks was followed afterwards to refresh all the attendees and to bid them a warm farewell.

Written by: Usman Nofal

Workshop on Sucide Prevention

The seminar “Suicide prevalence in Pakistani youth: role of educational institutes as mentor” was held today in ASAB auditorium of NUST, having been organised by C3A. The seminar commenced with Quran recitation, followed by a short welcome speech by Director C3A Ms. Naureen Akhtar.  Alongside Ms. Naureen, Dr. Asif Raza ( Pro-Rector NUST) was present as chief guest and Dr. Murad Musa khan as the speaker for the seminar. Dr. Murad Musa being the professor at the department of psychiatry at Aga Khan University and Vice president of IASP had unparalleled expertise in the matter of suicide prevalence and prevention.

Dr. Musa explained to the attendees that suicide is a complex phenomenon and has been listed as one of the leading causes of death by WHO. It is not a disease but it does include a suicidal pathway for the individual that leads him towards suicide. It depends on an interplay of social, biological, psychological and personal factors leading to a rough estimate of about 1death per 40 seconds; the ratio being higher for the youngsters & women as compared to the elderly & men respectively. He went on to discuss the sociological causes and some controversial topics such as suicide bombings, Satti, Hara-kiri and suicide as a sign of social protest. He then led on to suicide in Pakistan: what Islam says about suicide, how the Pakistani law treats this, the mental health act, social point of view, suicide trends and estimated number of deaths due to suicide. Lastly, he talked about viable ways of suicide prevention. Mainly, he proposed that all faculty members of an institution must be trained for counselling of their students in every possible way, the child-parent communication gap must be bridged and most importantly governance shall be improved and corruption eradicated.

In the end, a Q/A session was held and a shield was presented as a token of gratitude to Dr. Murad Musa Khan.

Who is Hussain?

‘Who Is Hussain?’ is an international organisation working at its best to generate awareness amongst the masses about the ultimate sacrifice made by Imam Hussain and what it means for sustaining humanity. They strive to make people realise how the unfortunate incident of Imam Hussain’s martyrdom influences them and how they can gain from it. ‘Who is Hussain?’ was initialized as a campaign in 2012 by a handful of dedicated individuals. Since then, it has thrived and more people have joined in; leading to a number of 60 representatives in different countries around the world.
A campaign was also recently launched by the organisation under the name ‘#TeamGiveBack’ to help the community and bring a positive change. Muslims all over the globe are encouraged to actively take part in the campaign through videos, pictures, blood donation drives and candlelight vigils. Members of ‘#Team Give Back’ hand out water bottles and doughnuts to passers-by telling them about Imam Hussain and inviting them to join in on the team. Moreover, they donate lunch boxes to the homeless, distribute life boxes to the poor, hand out chocolates and sweets on Imam Hussain’s birth anniversary, provide the aged with eatables and medicine, give out muffins and info leaflets and much more, all to spread Imam Hussain’s message of sacrifice and humanity.
Kosh Malihabadi said, ‘Let humanity awaken and every tribe will claim Hussain as their own’. Imam Hussain is undoubtedly our own, so let’s prove it! Do not miss a chance to get to know more about Islam and its principles; and learn more about ways to benefit the society. Plus you get 2 credit hours of community service so yay!
We look forward to seeing you at the seminar.

Talking Change

The last decade or so we have seen tremendous change in society and it’s workings and owing to this change we have also seen a growing trend of people who are taking responsibility for themselves and the society they live in by becoming social entrepreneurs. Looking at this trend Nust arranged a workshop for the community services course participants teaching them the ins and outs of social entrepreneurship.

The workshop started with the explanation of the importance of Social entrepreneurship especially as societies continue to face challenges of every sort. Social entrepreneurs were therefore in turn motivated to understand the adaptive capacity and life changing potential their work carried. In order to inspire the participants even more examples were given from the international community as well as from within Pakistan. The most prominent figure mentioned, who we would call a social entrepreneur internationally, was Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale redefined what it meant to be a nurse by her selfless service and dedication to the profession, she is now called the founder of modern nursing. An example from within Pakistan which was nothing but inspiring was that of Women’s Digital League, a venture started by Maria Umar, which empowers women by giving them a platform to work on their own and establish themselves as talented professionals.

The workshop ended by a few pointers for the participants that would guide them on how to start and compose an enterprise for themselves. The workshop was very informative and gave the participants the push they might need to go out and change the world around them.

Deosai – The Last Sanctuary

From beasts we scorn as soulless,
In forest, field and den,
The cry goes up to witness
The soullessness of men.
~M. Frida Hartley

NCSC continuing this week also with the coursework for the NUST final year students screened the Walkabout Films’ documentary “Deosai-The Last Sanctuary” at RIMMS from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. this Thursday, 30th October, 2014. NCSC not only believes in working strenuously for the welfare of humankind but it also put in its efforts to arouse hope for the betterment of the endangered animals and species. And in believing so, final year CSL students were shown this documentary which has been made by Mr. Nasir Malik, a veteran Documentary Film maker, Naturalist & Humanitarian.
The documentary is based on the life of endangered Himalayan brown bears present in the Deosai plateau, which is known as the highest plateau in the world located in the Karakoram and the western Himalayas. The film itself covers the life of the brown bears, whose number has reduced to only 42-45 in the Deosai National Park because of the lack of funds, the increasing no. of tourists who affect the peaceful ecosystem malevolently and the shepherds who are responsible for the burning of the flora and fauna of the valley.

The documentary clearly shows upon the charming beauty of the valley while throwing light upon the factors affecting the natural beauty and wildlife of the area. It has beautifully captured the lush green meadows, the blooming grasslands, the hills carpeted with flowers and the crystal-clear water of the lake. “Deosai, the Last Sanctuary” is part of the ‘Give Back Project’ to educate local communities about the wildlife conservation and the animal life-saving problems and its solutions.

80-90 course participants attended the screening of the documentary followed by a very healthy question-answer session. The session ended with a positive response from the students’ side.