Syria’s struggle

Over the past two years civil war in Syria has escalated, but who really suffers? Is it the government or the economy-when isn’t it the women and children who really suffer? The UNICEF study found that more than 110 teachers have been killed; many teachers have stopped reporting to work; some schools that are still open have attendance rates below 10%; in Idlib 50% of the schools have been damaged or destroyed. There is a need to spread this awareness of the injustices present in Syria. How children lose their entire families and become refugees of countries like Jordan that do not support the influx of refugees and these children are nose diving into a very bleak future. This is the time to be compassionate individuals to show empathy and identify with these refugees, it is important to put ourselves in the shoes of these individuals that have lost everything. They don’t have a cent to their name and are being robbed of an education.

The unrest and political instability has lead to more civilians taking matters into their own hands. However, it is in these troubled times when compassionate action can be demonstrated. An example of this is when a group of teachers in the Kurdish area of Kobane arranged accommodation and means of transport for more than 300 secondary and high school students of Kobane to do their exams for secondary and high school graduation in Aleppo city, north Syria. This illustrates how difficult situations bring out the more altruistic side of people. The teachers that organized this put their own lives in jeopardy because of the high security situation in Syria. It demonstrates how good will can go a long way and how we should be grateful for each and every amenity that we take for granted.

It seems as though the rest of the world has turned a deaf ear to the cries of the Syrian people. The girls suffer the most-in a Muslim society when a female has no male protector she is in store for a very tough life. However, like a phoenix rising from the ashes these Syrian women are a force to be reckoned with. Within this conflict lay stories of women negotiating local cease fires in Zabadani and of removing armed actors from schools in Aleppo; women delivering life-saving medical supplies despite the grave risks to themselves and their families; Stories of women in eastern Syria who worked with merchants to stabilize commodity prices so that citizens could remain in their homes; And stories of women in Latakia who convinced armed groups to permit establishment of a local civil society presence focused on peace-building. Making sure these women are heard will be key to ending the violence. They are taking compassionate action with altruistic intentions and making a difference. They are forgiving the people who have rendered them orphaned and are dealing with them in a just manner, trying to bring about a fair compromise and more over, Peace.

We must give these women their due and spread the word.

Bibliography:

http://blogs.state.gov/stories/2014/05/01/syrian-conflict-through-lens-women-and-girls

http://www.rockresearchgroup.org/2013/03/09/syrian-conflict-disrupts-education-of-children/

http://aranews.net/2014/05/syria-students-risking-life-for-education/

Compassion Beyond Ramzan

Sitting in my dad’s office for an hour or so, bored to death, I plugged in my earplugs and was busy listening to songs when somebody passed a comment as to why was I listening to songs in the month of Ramzan. I stayed quiet and ignored that person. Well this little incident got me wondering that why is it that we leave doing all the inappropriate things for just one month and as soon as the month of Ramzan ends we resume all those things. Isn’t it wrong? At the end of the day, you will reap only what you sow.

Come to think of it, we never get tired of telling others that Ramzan is the month when we’re supposed to work on your spirit of charity, devotion and compassion, but as soon as its over we turn into inflexible fanatics.

So, as the spiritual month of Ramzan arrives, we are reminded of devotion, abstinence and compassion. People around the globe observe fasts, help each other and try to show their best conduct. It’s a month during which we try to come close to Allah, seeking his mercy and forgiveness by offering prayers five times and reciting the Holy Quran. We see people doing compassionate acts throughout this month. Right before iftaar time we see the most horrible road traffic, people rushing to their homes to have iftaar with their family but that is also the time when we see volunteers standing by the roadside throwing in packets of dates and fruits in the vehicles for all those unfortunate people who are unable to reach home on time. They help clear up during the mad rush for iftaari.

Nowadays we are sucked into the materialistic world of selfishness, corruption and greed, so we forget to focus on the deeper meaning. It is easy to be generous for just one month, but we need to strive in order to continue our generosity throughout the year. We celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the spiritual month of Ramzan, but even though the Islamic month is over its actual purpose should not be advertisement, but a permanent change.

Most of us like to treat the month of Ramzan as a spiritual bubble that serves as a retreat away from the world. But we must keep in mind that whether its Ramzan or not, being in real state of fasting should make us more sensitive to the realities of this world. Therefore it is time that we start questioning our motives, spread compassion and live for a higher purpose and observe each month as if it were Ramzan, understanding that we are more than just vessels to be filled with food and drink.

 

 

Compassionate Karachi

Karachi is a strange city. People who have been born and raised in this booming metropolis often end up cultivating a love-hate relationship with it, and one that would rival the most complicated and convoluted of romances at that. There are times when you want to end what feels like a largely unrequited love affair, but then something wonderful always happens and your faith is momentarily restored. And so the denizens of Karachi go on.

Lately our city has been plagued by violence that, even by its own standards, is appalling. You are not considered a true Karachiite unless you’ve been mugged, parents worry about their children being out too late lest something happen, and people who go to work every day do so prepared that it might be their last day alive. We’re used to very high levels of uncertainty, and have even learnt to take it in our stride.

However, living like this does have its repercussions. According to a 2012 report, 30 to 40 percent of people in Karachi suffer from common mental disorders caused by the stress of living in a city like ours. Apart from that, we tend to become more selfish in our quest for self-preservation and security of all kinds, whether it be financial, personal or anything else. We forget that we share this wonderful, albeit suffering, home of ours with others who are more underprivileged than we could ever imagine, that small acts of kindness can go a long way. Most importantly, we forget that no matter how many problems we have, we are still more blessed than someone else might be.

So how can we be compassionate and not lose our sense of humanity in these troubled times? Let’s start small. Next time you go out to eat, if you can afford it, buy food for the little children milling around you begging for money. A bunkabab or plate of chaat doesn’t burn a hole in anyone’s pocket. When you go out to eat at a fancy place, donate an amount of money to an organization that feeds the poor and hungry.

There are various NGOs running educational programs and schools for underprivileged children. Examples include the SOS villages, The Citizens Foundation, and Rabtt. These organizations are doing some wonderful work, and donations are always helpful and welcome. However, volunteering and going to see how they do their work is also a great idea. Our responsibility as citizens doesn’t just end on giving away money for charity- we should also be contributing to our society and the welfare of our people in other ways. So make that trip, go to one of these schools, go to Dar ul Sukoon and see how the children’s faces light up when you arrive with gifts and food. The best part is that they’ll probably be happier to see you than the gifts.

How about what we do in our own homes? Hiring domestic help is a common practice. But how about we give these people the respect and recognition they deserve? They make our homes livable, leave behind their families to take care of our children, and do work we don’t do only because we were born privileged and they weren’t. A domestic staff member’s place isn’t on the floor just because of their vocation- people in first world countries pay thousands of dollars a month to hire staff, and they are treated accordingly with respect. Don’t make your domestic staff sit on the floor by your feet. Don’t give them separate dinnerware- you can talk to them about hygiene, but treating them like they’re a different breed is demeaning and disrespectful. We see it all the time. A relatively affluent family comes to a wedding or a restaurant with their maid in tow. The maid is usually no older than a teenager, but usually younger. She sits by in her tattered clothing, watching everyone have a merry time. How much does it take to treat someone who looks after our children, even though they’re barely older than them, with love and respect? Not much, I would say. The biggest gift we can give to ourselves is learning how to be empathic, compassionate and considerate.

 

Nelson Mandela

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”— Nelson Mandela

This month the world witnessed a death of one of history’s most iconic figures – Nelson Mandela. A true embodiment of compassion and empathy, Mandela survived 26 arduous years in prison, almost all in solitary confinement. He had been jailed by the apartheid government of South Africa – dominated by the white settlers who refused to give the indigenous black people their due rights. Mandela had lead an armed uprising against apartheid under his banned organization the African National Congress which campaigned vociferously for black rights. However, despite his arrest, his followers and supporters never gave up and continued their struggle, which finally culminated in the release of Mandela after 26 long years.

After his release, Nelson Mandela did not pursue any policies aimed at ‘extracting revenge’ against his enemies. He urged South Africans to live in harmony and unity – regardless of ethnicity and skin colour and wished for a peaceful, tolerant and compassionate country that would be the model for other African countries to follow. In many documented speeches Nelson Mandela exhorted the overwhelming majority of South Africans who had voted for him to work for the progress and development of their country. It was also clear that he led by example, refusing to open politically-motivated cases against his rivals, aggressively ensuring that all South Africans have equal rights and support from the state and internationally establishing himself as a statesman of impressive repute.

Mandela’s personal outlook on compassion and empathy was not affected by the brutal time he had to spend during prison. If anything, his principles and values only strengthened after the ordeal that he was subjected to. The enduring impact of his legacy can be seen in the path that South Africa has followed since he was released from prison and voted into power.

Today, South Africa is a vibrant, thriving democracy with the highest level of GDP per capita in all of Africa and a relatively high ranking on the human development index. The African National Congress, Mandela’s former party, has continued to hold free and fair elections in South Africa, has not allowed the horrors of apartheid to be repeated and, to an extent, has clamped down on corruption and inefficiencies in the system.

Mandela’s personal vision and his kindness and tolerance has helped South Africa reach the zenith of African economies. Unfortunately, despite having the same historical trajectory as South Africa, another country blessed with similar levels of natural resources has gone down an extremely destructive path.

The country I am referring to is Zimbabwe, where a similar uprising broke out against white-dominated rule. Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party have been in power for the past thirty years but have only contributed to the death and destruction of the country. Their thirst for revenge and personal wealth has lead to the massacring of political opponents, silencing of any independent voices, and the transfer of public wealth directly into personal pockets. The stark contrast of fortunes between South Africa and Zimbabwe are basically down to the differences in vision between Mandela and Mugabe – an example that should go a long way in showing how impeccable personal principles can help millions of people to progress and grow.

Mother Teresa

Born Agnes Gonxha in Albania, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity and spent much of her life in Calcutta, caring for the sick and poor.

Mother Teresa

They call her the ‘Angel of Mercy’. She was the  symbol of compassion worldwide; she didn’t think twice before touching a leper on the road or cleaning a wound on an unfortunate soul. She was equally at ease breaking bread with the homeless at Nirmal Hriday, her adopted neighborhood in Bombay, or standing toe-to-toe with world leaders exhorting them to do good. The world knows her as Mother Teresa. Social workers all around the world have drawn inspiration from her work and commitment to her cause.

Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and, in 2003, ‘beatified’ by the Vatican, making her just one step below sainthood, confirming her status as one of the Christian faith’s most iconic figures.

Similarly, when one pays a visit to Mother House, the heart of the 58-year-old Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa, one doesn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Sisters in the well recognized blue-bordered white saris go about their work. Locals come in ones and twos, bow in front of a statue of the woman they fondly call Maa and go inside the small chapel where her body has been resting for 13 years. In the chapel a group of sisters are kneeling, singing hymns.

However researchers have discovered a more sinister aspect to the life and work of Mother Teresa after her death. Concerns have been raised over her ‘suspicious’ financial arrangements, which saw large sums of money transferred to her ‘secret’ bank accounts.

Mother Teresa

The missionaries set up by Mother Teresa have also been called into question were unfit for their inhabitants, calling them ‘homes for the dying’ due to their poor hygiene and a shortage of food, care and medication.

The researchers believe a lack of money cannot be the reason for the poor conditions however, as Mother Teresa raised hundreds of millions of pounds during her lifetime, although much of that money apparently appears to have vanished into several ‘secret’ bank accounts reportedly kept by the nun.

The researchers also questioned why, despite openly offering prayers and medallions bearing depictions of the Virgin Mary, Mother Teresa provided no direct or monetary aid to victims of a number of natural disasters in India. There are also several cases of Mother Teresa denying essential pain killers to her patients dying on the death bed, exhorting them to feel the pain of Christ during his crucifixion, allowing themselves to become better followers of the faith.

Whatever the truth may be, the important lesson to take away from this is that one should challenge and question the supposed ‘truth’ that is taught to us. It is always necessary to scratch the surface and not blindly accept all the major discourses of today. It is only through the spirit of self-reflection that we will be able to develop as individuals.

Muhammad Ali – Heart of a Champion

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

In 1954, a 12 year old boy had his bike stolen from him in Louisville, Kentucky. Furious, this boy marched up to a police officer, Joe Martin, and informed him about the recent theft. In the boy’s statement to Officer Martin, he added that he wanted to beat up the thief. Amused and intrigued, Officer Martin smiled and unknowingly said the following enchanted words that were going to change history.

“Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people,”

In addition to being a police officer, Martin also trained young boxers at a local gym. This motivated,the high spirited and dedicated 12 year old boy to begin to get trained, to unravel his skill for Boxing. Under the tutelage of Joe Martin the boy realized his unique boxing talent, which empowered him to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee and soon to become a world living legend we all know as Muhammad Ali.

Both, in and outside the ring, Muhammad Ali has contended many fights to maintain his ground and made sure justice prevails in all circumstances. He has fought many eminent adversaries inside the ring and with the justice system inside the courts, each time emerging victorious.

Though he experienced racial prejudice and discrimination first hand during his childhood and emerging career, Ali never backed down from his goals. He only went at them stronger and harder. For he knew that only with conviction and struggle will he ever be able break the chains of oppression and achieve success in becoming the greatest.

Ali became a Golden Gloves champion in 1959, and became an Olympic gold medalist the following year. Ali won all of his bouts in the 1960’s, the majority of them by knockout. It seemed that there was no stopping Ali and by 1963 Ali had become the heavyweight champion of the world.

In 1967, Ali faced a new adversary, one that did not need to be trained in the art of boxing to go up against Muhammad Ali. For this battle was in the confines of a witness stand of a court room rather than a boxing ring. Muhammad Ali was accused of evading service responsibilities after being drafted during the Vietnam War. His reasons for not wanting to be drafted were far too complex for his accusers to understand. Ali was a practicing Muslim minister and Islam simply forbade him from participating in a war.

Though all charges were eventually dropped against the boxer, professionally Ali suffered a series of blows when the boxing association took away his title and suspended him from the sport for a period of three and a half years.

When Ali returned to the arena in 1970, he swiftly moved up the ladder and instantly fought his way through to once again becoming world heavyweight champion.

At first, all Ali wanted was to be the greatest. So he worked hard and became the greatest the world ever saw in a boxing ring. But that wasn’t enough for Ali. It seems that the world had yet to see Muhammad Ali’s capabilities in different arenas. A new side of his personality was unveiled to the world, when he decided to become a social activist. Ali’s altruistic personality made him a hero in his home city of Louisville. Today there stands a Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of Louisville. This institute is involved in the development of innovative educational programmes, trainings, service and research which combines to support human dignity, foster responsible citizenship and further peace and justice. Three years after retiring from an extremely successful boxing career in 1984, Ali began to battle yet again, this time with Parkinson’s disease. A Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Disease Centre (MAPC) has been set up in Phoenix, Arizona and Ali is involved in raising funds for the research. He does this by organizing a Celebrity Fight Night which has raised more than $45 million for MAPC.

Apart from his efforts to raise funds for MAPC, Ali has been an active participant of the Special Olympics and the Make a wish foundation along with other organizations. His altruistic personality and workmanship in developing countries earned him the role of United Nations Messenger of Peace in 1998.In 1999, Sports Illustrated along with BBC bestowed the title Sportsman of the Century upon Ali.

In 2005 Muhammad Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and that same year he successfully opened the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville. This award-winningcenter is a more than just a museum of Muhammad Ali’s achievements; it is a place of inspiration that people visit to learn about the struggle and triumph of an ordinary boy. Inspiration is what Alihas given to the world.

Joe Martin once said, “He (Ali) Stood out because he had more determination than most boys. He was willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve something worthwhile in sports. It was almost impossible to discourage him. He was easily the hardest worker of any kid that I ever taught”

It is evident that though Muhammad Ali was blessed with the skill of boxing, he would not have reached where is now without the type of mental strength he had learned to develop. During one of his trainings sessions, Ali was heard to have said “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them –a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”

In his lifetime, Ali has faced various struggles. He took on formidable boxers of his time, racial prejudice, religious discrimination and the U.S Government and Parkinson’s disease. It seems that victory has never left his side as he continues to live with the same mental toughness that he once used in the ring to knock out every hurdle that comes his way.

Filled to the brim with courage and compassion, Muhammad Ali truly possesses the heart of a champion.

The journey that started from revenge going towards courage and ending up in altruism, make us realize how one can transform, if it had not been for the policeman, Ali would  have never realized the potentials he had, just like we need people to understand us as we understand them. Compassion defines us all.

Taking compassion to a new level

While some of us strive to be as compassionate as possible – a kind word here, a helping hand there, perhaps a smile at a stranger passing by – others aim to encourage acts of compassion in others, perhaps through campaigns in schools, discussions in homes, teachings in places of worship. We often find ourselves limited in our reach and the kindness we can bestow. So, to develop an entire compassionate village would be taking compassion to a whole new level and not to mention an extraordinary feat in itself – something Naween Mangi has managed to achieve  through the collaboration of the Ali Hasan Mangi Memorial Trust and the people of Khairo Dero.

Khairo Dero is a village near the city of Larkana in the province of Sindh.  Like many other villages in Pakistan, Khairo Dero lacked the basic facilities which most urbanites take for granted, such as clean drinking water, electricity, basic healthcare, infrastructure and other necessities.

Naween Mangi, a financial journalist, set up a trust – the Ali Hasan Mangi Memorial Trust, a nonprofit organization – in the memory of her late maternal grandfather, Mr. Ali Hasan Mangi, a philanthropist, businessman and politician. She took the initiative of developing and transforming Khairo Dero through compassion; highlighting the principal that lies at the heart of all religions: to treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Keeping in mind this golden rule, Khairo Dero has now become the first compassionate village in the world.

What is most commendable about this effort is the fact that development also targets the mindsets of people. Very strategically, in every phase of progress, the psyche of the villagers has been kept in mind and issues have been addressed accordingly. This is where true compassion lies, as it provides sustainable development in the lives of the villagers.

The first phase of development focused on providing clean drinking water, which was nearly 80 to 100 feet below ground. To tackle this situation, hand pumps were installed in 150 households, followed by a water purification unit. The villagers were asked to provide food and shelter for the workers who came to install the hand pumps. This way the villagers learnt that they would have to put in some effort in order to get what they want, rather than expecting free gifts or favors; they were taught to be self sufficient.

The next phase focused on sanitation. The Orangi pilot project helped design a wastewater treatment unit to handle sewage. As waste used to be collected in a pond, it would flood into people’s homes when it rained. Now, the water is purified by the villagers and, due to its fertile nature, used for irrigation and farming.

The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is running the primary school, which was set up (funded) by Ali Hasan Mangi Memorial Trust (AHMMT). One government school is run by AHMMT through an adoption program. These schools have been managed with the right teachers and the right structure. For higher education, funds are provided to interested students. Moreover, an adult literacy program has been introduced that initially only attracted women, but has now managed to grab the attention of men as well.

Khairo Dero does not yet have sufficient hospitals, but volunteers in the village take patients to nearby cities for treatment. Serious patients are taken to Karachi for treatment.

Khairo Dero is a work in progress. Despite the work already carried out and the compassion that villagers show towards each other, there is still room for improvement, especially in the mindsets and behaviours of the villagers. Recently, a small park was built to tackle the issue of lack of compassion in the children of the village. As children are the building blocks society, it was decided that compassion should be taught in schools and the local community centre. One of the initiatives includes a journal maintained by the coordinator at the community center. There are sessions where children relate their acts that are recorded.

Naween Mangi deserves great credit for setting up the Ali Hasan Mangi Memorial Trust, and taking this initiative of creating a model village based on compassion for the people of Khairo Dero. She believes in improving the lives of people as a whole. While NGOs usually provide certain facilities in different impoverished areas, they tend to neglect the other deeper issues. In Khairo Dero, however, Naween plans on tackling the deeper issues of the village and their root causes as well, ultimately making the villagers self-reliant, content and, ultimately, compassionate.

Naween often talks about feeling overjoyed when she saw a grown man holding a pencil for the first time in his life and drawing a line. She also quoted a lady in the village who was really satisfied with her progress in life and believed that she had reached great heights of success which couldn’t be compared to the greatest of rulers of our times.

Real compassion lies in practicing compassion as well as encouraging others to act compassionately and making a mark on the world; much akin to a tree which benefits all those who seek its shade or wish to enjoy its fruits. Naween’s act of compassion has not only changed her life, but has also managed to involve countless others to show compassion in painting a whole village with the colours of compassion.

Compassion – as Farhat sees it

Farhat Rasheed is one of the most inspiring individuals I have come across. The confidence, compassion and courage she embodies and exhibits are remarkable; her passion for the betterment of society is truly commendable.  Her positive attitude and drive is what sets her apart from the masses. She is making ripples all over Karachi, aiming to bring about a wave of change in the mindsets of Pakistani society. Representing all the qualities that define compassion, Farhat is our compassionate personality for this month.

*Beep beep* went the metal detector when my colleague and I entered the Unilever office, located inside one of Karachi’s most prestigious hotels. We told the receptionist the purpose of our visit and within a minute we were shown to a quaint little conference room.

Farhat, Assistant Brand Manager soon wheeled in with a welcoming smile. Farhat has Cerebral Palsy by birth. As we started talking, she explained Cerebral Palsy children can be mentally and physically challenged. In Farhat’s case, however, it has affected only her movement and it is managed through regular physiotherapy.

 

Though she has been through much, she is kind and gracious; grateful for the support of her family, friends and all the people who have encouraged her. Farhat studied at the Centre of Advanced Studies (The C.A.S School) until she completed her O-Levels. She fondly recalled the teachers and classmates who helped her through her studies. She told us how the school had been accommodating enough to schedule her classes in one classroom, located on the ground floor, for four years due to her condition. When she required extra time in class and academic help, her teachers had been very understanding and facilitating.

For her A-Levels, Farhat had wanted to go to the prestigious schools like Lyceum, Karachi Grammar School (KGS), but because of lack of accessibilities in such high profile institutions, she was not able to find her place.  She courageously tried school after school until she finally got admission into Foundation Public School, where she finished her high school studies very comfortably.

Two years later, applying for university, she again found herself faced a new set of challenges. She applied to Karachi’s finest business school, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), where, once again due to lack of facilities for the wheelchair access, she could not attend. Unwavering, she applied to the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) which had ramps and lifts in every building, where she learned much more than just academics. Farhat gained even more confidence; the shy little girl became talkative and learned to fend for herself. She equipped herself with the skills to face life’s challenges and fight her battles. Once again, through her compassionate nature, hard work, dedication and passion for life, she won the hearts of her peers and teachers, who ended up supporting her and guiding her wholeheartedly through her university years. During her studies, Farhat managed to earn herself a place on the highly-coveted internship program at Unilever’s where she eventually landed herself a job after graduation.

Through her experiences and achievements, Farhat has always remained humble, carrying herself with humility, dignity and grace. Farhat understands that she has been one of the few lucky ones in our society: she has been given the right kind of exposure; her affluent background allowed her to attend some of the best institutes; and not to forget her family’s constant support and encouragement for all her personal projects and initiatives. Farhat’s experiences have transformed her into the epitome of compassion: she now personifies traits of courage, empathy, humility, gratitude and a passion to make the world a better place.

In a society like Pakistan Farhat has had to fight hard for the basic rights of people with disabilities. She has a full time job, does physiotherapy every day, leaving her with barely enough time for herself. And yet, she still manages to fight for causes, raise awareness and help others.

Farhat practices what is termed as ‘altruism’: the practice of selfless concern for the well-being of others. She does so by counseling people with disabilities and anyone who comes to her for guidance. She is a person so compassionate that anyone can discuss their troubles and concerns with her.

Farhat also manages an oragnisation called Show-You-Care (SYC). SYC is an organized society of young people working towards addressing the concerns of physically challenged people. SYC aims to impress upon the concerned authorities the need to provide proper accessibilities for the wheelchair bound people in public places, such as ramps and elevators. Through (SYC) she hopes to change the mindsets and attitudes of Pakistanis towards special people, especially since our society still has a very conservative attitude towards people with disabilities. She believes special people are not “Disabled” but rather “Differently Able”.  SYC has also made contributions twice to the flood victims in Pakistan (more information about SYC can be found on her website: http://www.show-u-care.org/).

Recently, Farhat applied pressure on a number of restaurants, shops and malls to install ramps so as to make public places more accessible to special people. She was succesful in making ramps at: Pizza Hut (Mohammad Ali Society Branch), Shoe Planet, Chen One, the new Naheed Store, Gazebo, Hardees, Café 76 and Pond’s Skin Care Centre and Tony & Guy Salon at Dolmen Mall.

Farhat’s is a woman on a mission and her fight has not been easy; she requires all the support she can get. She is truly a brave individual with a desire to make a difference in her community. We support her and wish her best of luck in her struggles for this noble cause.