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

by Ayesha Nauman

October 16, 2023

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

“We welcome you onboard at NCSC”.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

makes me feel as if home found me

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

Join NOW, or forever hold your peace!

Written by Khadija Asad
Edited by Noor Ul Ain Adeel

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

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

1. Blood Donation Drives:

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

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

Blood Donation Drive’19

2. Al-Qalam:

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

Al-Qalam program

3. Fempower

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

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

Fempower Breast Cancer Awareness play

4. Orphans kNOw More

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

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

OkM’s trip to Aghosh Al-Khidmat

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

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

by Rama Ali

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

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

1. We share the spirit of giving.

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

NCSC donating clothes at Chadar’s Clothes Donation Drive.

2. The bigger and the better!

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

The newly formed council of 200 for 2018-19!

An executive talking to Info News at our Cleanup Drive.

An executive talking to Aaj News at BDD.

3. We never sleep on the job.

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

4. We’re all about fun.

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

Humorous flashcards at our Blood Donation Drive :’)

5. We look out for each other.

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

The NCSC family chilling after an arduous Blood Donation Drive!

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

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

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

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

By Rama Ali

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

5 Reasons Why You Need to Join NCSC!

You’ve probably already heard about NUST Community Services Club. How could you not? We are the biggest, most successful society at NUST, after all.

*pulls out shades*

You might also have a fair idea of what we really do here, for orphans, women, transgenders, the physically impaired, the underprivileged and for humanity at large!

And yet, if you’re still asking yourself why you need to join NCSC, we completely understand! We know this is a big commitment, and we value that! So, here’s our round-up of the top 5 reasons why you REALLY need to join NCSC RIGHT NOW!

 

1) Good Vibes

At NCSC, we have plenty of positive vibes!  We thrive on them. They keep us going. The overall atmosphere is infectious, it catches on before you even know it! You might come into it as a skeptic, but the more you start spending time in the society, for all the causes that you do, the more it all starts tugging at your heartstrings.

You learn to be a better version of yourself. You grow to be more grateful of all that you have, when you see the stark difference between you and other individuals of the community. You think about the world around you, and emerge as a much better person.

Pfft, no it’s not cheesy, but you know what is?

 2) The After Parties!

There are A LOT of events at NCSC, and there is an after party after EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Right after we get done with our work, we believe in celebrating our success! In a world of muftay, NCSC never shies away from rewarding those who deserve it!

So believe me when I say, yahan sabr ka pizza hamesha acha hota hai (though, on a sidenote, we must admit that C1 ka pizza is an acquired taste. But who cares? Treat tou treat hoti hai! And now you see what we meant by cheesy.)

3) No-Judgement Squad

At NCSC, we have a judgement-free zone. And no, we’re not saying that because it sounds cool, we really do mean it!  No matter who you are and what you love doing, we will accept you, give you a home and teach you how to love!

 We believe all human beings are awesome and give everyone an equal chance. Even if you’re not an expert in your chosen field, but are willing to work for our cause, we will take you in! We also organise workshops for different portfolios, so that you get a chance to properly hone your skills, something which no other society at NUST does! Because when we take you in, you become a part of us!

However, if you’re still not up for it…well, then…

*cough* warning letter *cough*

4) Commitment to Work

NCSC is not just a society, it’s a whole organization! You have to see it to believe it. There is a professional work environment, and everyone is extremely committed to their work. Everything has a formal procedure and a hierarchy is always followed.

Members take what they do very seriously and are very prompt in their actions. They meet deadlines, there is always a wide pool of people to take up the role of Event Heads, and they are more than willing to do whatever they can, regardless of whether it’s ‘their division’.

So, once you’re in NCSC, you will learn work ethics like nowhere else! I mean, we all know that everyone at home calls you ‘kabhe tou koi kam karlia karo’ affectionately, but once you join NCSC, that, my friend, will change!

Workaholics Unite (right after we’re done with this task, of course)

Waisay bhe, parhai may itni koi tabahi tou machani nae apnay, why not channelize your extra energy for a good cause? And honestly, C3 is Monal only the first few times. Then it’ll be like any other dhabba, so you might as well ditch those trips and come join us!

5) It’s Family!

At the end of the day, NCSC is not just a society, it’s an identity! You become a part of the largest family at NUST, and by that we mean wherever you go, no matter which department you’re in, you do find apnay NCSC kay loug, there. And even though we are more than 200 people, it never grows impersonal. The president tends to know every single person in the society. It’s like a big old Star Plus khandaan (without the drama, of course, or is it?)

It’s a family which manages to find fun everywhere, works when required, throws the best parties (yes, we also throw awesome farewells (Read: roast-fests for the entire council, specially the graduating batch), which will leave you in stitches) and goes on the most amazing outstation trips (did someone say camping? Uhh yes, we did!). But to top it all off, it sticks together, come what may, and that is what makes it all worthwhile!

So, are you still considering this?

We hope not!

Because, you might think you’re cool, but if you’re not NCSC-cool, are you even cool?

*the crowd roars in disapproval*

Start applying at the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gF5m3g0lN2WdP9RHDXjak6H0qM30Nwc9GlrQp5ip8ik/viewform?edit_requested=true

GET your passion for helping humanity out and bring forth your A-game, SET your goals straight and join in what matters, and get ready to SERVE the community!

What more is there to say?

On your marks, GET, SET, SERVE!

 

 Mahnoor Fatima

Head over to our YouTube channel to know more about us!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoOIb8TMQ-foann-zvzAAA

Cover Credits:

Huzaifa Irfan,

Team Graphics, NCSC

Abdul Sattar Edhi: 1928- Forever

Image via http://www.newsmedialive.com

08-07-2016- The day when the country was yet again shaken by a great loss as Mr. Faisal Edhi announced the death of his father, Mr.Abdul Sattar Edhi, the country’s most respected philanthropist.

The nation went into immediate mourning and social media lit up with heartfelt tributes to the man who changed lives of thousands.

But who was Edhi? He was known by many names; Angel of mercy, the living saint, Maulana Edhi, Father Terrassa and so on, yet he liked to call himself Pakistan.

‘I am Pakistan’ he would say with a broad, kind smile. As someone on social media said after his death, ‘When asked about the best things in Pakistan, Edhi’s name was among the first things that springs to one’s mind.’ He was indeed right.

During his lifetime, Mr. Edhi was awarded the Gandhi peace award, the 2007 UNESCO Madanjeet Singh prize, the 2011 London peace award, the Peace Prize from the former USSR for services in the Armenian earthquake disaster in 1988 as well as  Domestic honors such as Nishan-i-Imtiaz (1989) and several others. He was repeatedly nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

But honors held little interest for him, instead what mattered to him was

Member of a Gujrati family that participated in the 1947 migration to Pakistan, Mr. Edhi soon discarded the title of refugee and instead decided to undertake philanthropy after witnessing the state’s inability to care for his ill mother.

But he was very ambitious for his time, since he had meagre resources, little education and no money. Yet determination takes one far enough as Mr. Edhi proved. He began from learning to drive an ambulance and transporting people to and from hospitals. Soon he owned a chain of ambulances. He opened his first clinic in 1951 and the Edhi Foundation grew explosively to be the country’s largest welfare organization, running schools, hospitals, morgues and ambulance services across the country, filling up cracks in services which the state failed to provide.

‘I saw people lying on the pavement,’ Edhi said in a 2009 interview with NPR, recalling how he started his first clinic. “The flu had spread in Karachi, and there was no one to treat them. So I set up benches and got medical students to volunteer. I was penniless and begged for donations on the street and people gave. I bought this 8-by-8 room to start my work.”

Since then, Mr. Edhi and his wife Bilquis, whom he married in 1965, built the country’s biggest humanitarian force, based in Karachi, the metropolitan city, which is home to over 20 million people. Their ambulances rush to the scenes of violence and terror. They have placed over 20,000 children for adoption. They wash and bury the city’s unknown dead. They constructed a charitable empire out of nothing, which is operational all over the country yet 48 years later, an ambulance was the only vehicle Mr.Edhi had ever driven.

But what set him apart from every other philanthropist was his kind soul that keenly felt the pain of others. Mr. Edhi worked for humanity as sincerely as one possibly could. He would often be heard saying ‘There is no greater religion in the world than humanity’ and that’s what he acted upon; everyone was welcomed to his centers; no questions asked, no formalities needed, religious or racial differences disregarded. Each day some helpless women would find shelter in Edhi centers, elders found new homes in Edhi homes and abandoned children would discover new families. His centers held cribs with signs that asked parents to simply lay their child in the crib and walk away instead of killing them. Thousands owe their lives to Edhi due to his direct interventions.

But his indirect interventions impacted hundreds of lives as well. It was he who filed a petition, for example, that children with unknown biological parentage should be able to apply for national identity cards, which was eventually settled in the petitioner’s favor.

His dedication to his work soon gained him recognition and soon enough his name now commanded respect. Gangs fighting in Lyari would cease fire to allow his ambulances to collect bodies. In a country, where people enjoy soiling each other’s reputation, Mr. Edhi’s character remained untarnished. He avoided controversy and remained focused on his mission. His call for aid would result in millions donated, yet he was known for his humble lifestyle – he reportedly owned just two sets of clothes and called a small, windowless and sparsely-furnished room next to the office of his foundation, his home. He never sought fame, power, glory or wealth. He epitomized simplicity, implemented equality like none other and practiced tolerance like few could. He lived as if he was sent down simply to serve others.

As Sami Shah writes in DAWN, ‘People don’t remain uncorrupted their entire lives. Politics gives them promises of power, wealth gives them a lust for luxury, and religion gives them the narcissistic egotism of a messiah. But Edhi’.

Edhi was Pakistan’s exception. In a country split into races and ethnic wars on rise, where authority is the only way to make sure your voice is heard, where you need to be either religious or political to make a difference, Mr. Edhi was an exception. He was kind and selfless and brave. Indeed an exception to us all.

Eventually his work took its toll on him and in 2013 he was diagnosed with kidney failure. In June he turned down an offer from former president Asif Ali Zardari to get treatment abroad, insisting on being seen in a government hospital in Pakistan, because he always disliked the VIP culture.   

During the late hours of 8th of July 2016, the angel of mercy departed the world, leaving behind not only those he cared for but an entire nation orphaned.

His final words were ‘take care of the poor of my country.’

After Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Abdul Sattar Edhi became the third person in Pakistan’s history to receive a gun carriage funeral. This is the highest symbol of respect that the Armed Forces can give to any civilian. His funeral was attended by notable names such as Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad, President Mamnoon Hussain and many others .After funeral prayers and a gun salute by the army, Mr Edhi’s body was taken to Edhi village, which he founded 25 years ago, where he was laid to rest.

Mr. Edhi’s success story gives hope to all those striving and fighting to make this country a better place. He inspires the nation that individuals can make a difference without seeking authority. Though the legend has passed on, he leaves behind his legacy.

As the Slate remarks “Edhi was one of those people, as admirable as they are rare, who simply refuse to let the state of the world detract from their mission of making it better.”

Our nation has indeed lost one of its greatest heroes, a symbol of hope for many and the very personification of compassion and empathy. It will take long for that void to fill, for another Edhi to be born but what we can do as individuals is to be part of the change he dreamt of, to promise ourselves that we will take forward the missions he started, to carry on with the legacy that he left behind.

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.

NUST completes 15 water well installations in Thar for resolving water issue of the drought struck area

In an effort to improve the health and hygiene of the rural population of Sindh, NUST Community Service Club (NCSC) with the support of NUST Administration successfully completed the installation of 15 water wells in Thar. The organization Association for Water, Applied Education & Renewable Energy (AWARE) worked on the installation of water well for the residents of Thar.

AWARE proposed to provide safe drinking water through water well installation in order to improve health and hygiene of 15 villages of Union Council Khejrari & Faqeer Abdullah Taluka and District Umerkot. The project was based on installed 15 water wells. Total populations of beneficiaries are 4,678 souls covering 832 households. On 22 May, 2015, two students from NUST belonging to Thar area visited the 15 sites and met community partners for a need analysis survey before intiating the project.

The major purpose was to make easier for villagers to get water because it is difficult practice of dragging out water from depth of 200 feet. As water is deep in area and underground water is difficult to drag out from dug wells compels inhabitants to use less water and resulting hygiene issues affects health and living standards. Mostly children and women had to bear the brunt of the situation. Children had to look after animals, which are used for hauling water bucket from dug wells and women had to fetch water in pitchers, carrying on head to home.

The main objectives achieved from the installation of wells include:

• Providing safe drinking water to 4,678 souls of 11 villages through installation of 15 water wells to improve health and hygiene of the people in project period

• Reducing absenteeism and drop-out ratio among school going children through provision of easy access to water in 11 villages in project period

• Promoting participatory development approach by engaging community to increase the access of the people in U.C Khejrari & Faqeer Abdullah to safe drinking water through installation of 15 water wells.

• Improving health and hygiene of the people by providing safe drinking water and raising awareness among them.

This project was completed on August 25, 2015. Previously, a well was installed in Ratan Bheel Paro of union council Khejrari, district Umerkot, Sindh which benefited 350 people from 50 households.

NCSC would like to thank all its donors in sponsoring the wells and doing their part in addressing the water issue of several areas by construction of a total of 16 water wells by NUST.

NCSC Membership and Recruitment Drive 2015

*Cue DRUMROLL*

Attention all those brainy heads out there! It is finally here, the membership and recruitment drive of one of the biggest clubs at NUST i.e. NUST Community Services Club! It’s high time you put your brilliant brains out of the cage & started thinking out of the box for a change; allow yourself to dream at a larger scale and aspire to be a young humanitarian, activist and a person to be of service to the community. NCSC is looking for youthful talent with calibre in the different domains that our club has to offer and more importantly, innovative ideas of projects and events for helping the community at large. All you need to have to become an integral part of NCSC is a driving force that makes you think of others before yourself, makes you see beyond the superficial forms of happiness that everyone is running after, one that does not let you eat unless you have fed a starved brother or one that merely instils in you a passion for bringing about a positive change.

If seeing somebody smile their brightest one and knowing that you are the reason for it provides you with eternal bliss, if helping someone in hardship is the highlight of your week, if you are aware of the power of giving, donating and helping then you definitely belong with NCSC. With all this satisfaction and feeling of fulfilment, you also get to have discounts at your favourite eateries all around Islamabad. Moreover, if you opt to join us, you get generous discounts on all NCSC events such as knack of all this, NCSC gala, Footy mania, Vocalize your talent, karaoke night, and also get sponsored for international conferences.

I would say my motivation for working as a part of NCSC is this saying by Margaret Mead : “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” So, if you think you have what it takes to become one of us, APPLY AWAY!

Written by: Warda Batool

NCSC is getting bigger and we’re excited

NUST Community Services Club works for the betterment of humankind because we believe that:
“The purpose of life is not to be happy- but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference.”
The question that keeps on coming to one’s mind is that why and how he/she can make his life, his efforts, his doings and his deeds really fruitful and worthwhile. Ultimate and true satisfaction can be only be achieved, indeed, by trying your best to make this life better for others.

NCSC has been working since many years, tirelessly inside and outside NUST to provide maximum benefit for the people and the society we are a part of. NCSC is: “Working towards a better change in the society.”

Just last year, NCSC executives, putting in the best of their potentials, worked around the year, fulfilling its goal of healing the world. It successfully held its flood relief campaign, earthquake relief campaign for our brothers and sisters in Baluchistan, two blood donation drives, a free eye-camp and much more. It plans to work arduously this year too and for the years to come to help the vulnerable in the society, receiving the fruit of its efforts when an orphan child’s eye twinkles, when an old lady’s love is cherished and when the smiles shine on the sad faces of the homeless people.

Believing so and to giving students a golden chance to lend a healing hand to the humanity, NCSC initiated its general membership drive in the very start of the semester. The positive response of the students was commendable and appreciable as these students realized the importance of being a helping human amidst the toil of their hectic studies and their race to achieve a good GPA. The executive members of NCSC held the drive in Concordia 1 and Concordia 2 throughout September and the first week of October. The NCSC General members were granted with incentives like a 10% discount in the following cafes or restaurants:
-Pappasallis
-Coffee Planet
-MR. COD
-Roasters
and a discount on every event of NCSC.
Plus, they will also be given 50% discount for NUST Media Club events. All the money collected from the membership drive was sent to the Student Fee Fund.

For the entertainment of the new general members, NCSC conducted a free movie night, streaming the horror movie ‘Mama’ set up a photo booth and organized a Karaoke night about which we will be giving a detailed coverage later. We are really excited for out new recruits and aim to continue to work for the welfare of mankind with the strong hands of the newly joined members and will put in the efforts to serve and give to make our life and the life of others worthwhile.

Life saving skills

How to administer first aid is an important and lifesaving skill, therefore a relevant on the do’s and don’ts of first aid were demonstrated in last week’s workshop for the students of the community services course. The information was comprehensive and the lecture was assisted by visual slides complete with headings and essential points so the participants could jot down the vital knowledge. To keep the attention of the audience during this three hour class important procedures were demonstrated on stage. The situations discussed ranged from fractures to snake bites and thorough explanations were given on how these situations should be dealt with in case of injury to yourself or some other. Like every other workshop questions were encouraged so that the procedures and information was clear to each and every participant. The highlight of the workshop was the fire drill that involved giving the participants hands on training on how to use a fire extinguisher if the need arises. The exercise was fun achieving its goal of keeping this lesson memorable for the participants so that they are able to use these skills when required any point in time.

Taking Initiative

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”

National University of Science and Technology not only believes in graduating learned professionals with all the sufficient abilities to face the competent world out there but also grooming strong human beings with a generous heart to serve the community, playing their role for the ultimate betterment of the society. That is why NUST makes it compulsory for all of its graduates to complete 50 credit hours in their final year, for their community services course. Keeping this in mind, NCSC offers its course participants a number of interesting events every year to assist them in completing their credit hours in the best possible way. So, taking the very first step, NCSC introduced its events details this week in SMME and NBS on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 and Thursday, September 25, 2014.

Dr Irtiza took this opportunity to guide the students on how to manage a community service project right from the planning stages to the evaluation and feedback stages in the end. This was in order to prepare them to take on projects on their own or become part of a project already being taken on by the NCSC. Accordingly, the event heads from NCSC briefed the students about the coursework for different categories followed by an interactive question answer session. NCSC TABA team also proposed their book-bank project and E-Margalla project.  Dr. Irtiza answered the queries of the students and told them about the options they have. The students were asked to contact through emails for any other doubts they had and were advised to choose their events as soon as possible. The focus this week was to motivate and encourage the students to take on projects they are passionate about and take initiative.

The Nust Community Services Course: What you need to know

At Nust all the students in their last year of bachelors have to take a Community Services Course. The aim of the course is to instill a sense of social responsibility in the people and to provide them with opportunities that will help them experience the joy of giving their time to a cause. The coursework requires the students to end seminars by faculty and guest lecturers alike, volunteering at community service events and filling out reports about their experience. The coursework comprises of 2 credit hours, one is made up of theoretical work (ie workshops and seminars etc) and the other is made up of volunteering hours. The participants of this course are required to complete 30 hours of community work to complete the relevant credit hour. These hours can be completed both on campus and off campus owing to the convenience of the participant.
One thing that the course needs to make more of an impact is increased input from the participants, especially when it comes to organizing events and conducting donation drives. Original ideas that the participants will own is only bound to bring energy and enthusiasm in this really important initiative. What really changes the way participants look at society and its problems is by direct interaction with the people they are trying to help. Going to old homes, orphanages or even the streets and spending time with the people there both encourages them and also gives the participants a feeling of satisfaction for giving back to society.
Here are a few ideas that the participants could give their time to in order to make the most out of this course:
– Volunteering at hospitals
– Organizing a picnic with senior citizens
– Become pen pals with children at orphanages
– Deliver to homeless people
– Providing refreshments at local sport tournaments
– Produce short films encouraging no drug use and violence
– Create and distribute a list of hotlines for kids who might need help