Little Feet

Met this person Todd Shea at a seminar in NUST RIMMS and felt great listening to him singing Dil Dil Pakistan. His works an inspiration and more of a realization about our response towards the social responsibility as a member of society. More could be learnt about him and his work through the ph0tostream.

He is an American who has been involved in supporting disaster hit communities in Pakistan. His organization CDRS has been providing healthcare in disaster hit areas of Pakistan and has been quite active particularly in Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly NWFP). That’s not all, Todd Shea has brought Pakistan international fame when his organization CDRS Pakistan decided to help Haiti this year in there ordeal. Everyone was wondering who this Todd Shea guy from Pakistan who is helping people in places like Haiti. Todd Shea is a guy who has decided to make Pakistan his home and accept all the challenges that are involved. He has helped countless Pakistanis everywhere and now he is here to tell us his story. His complete story could be found here.

The website tells that Sustainable Healthcare Initiatives Now Empowering (SHINE) and its partner agency, Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS) have spent close to a decade in international disaster management and provision of medical support services. The two agencies operate under a joint platform built on a shared philosophy of bridge-building and collaboration – between the developed and underdeveloped countries; between public and private players; and between non-profit agencies of different sizes and specialization. The end-goal is the long-term improvement of the health and well-being of underprivileged communities.

CDRS Logo

The team of SHINE/CDRS has deployed its logistics and medical supportteams in multiple disasters, including in the aftermaths of 9/11, Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the 2005 Pakistan Earthquake and the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. Having gradually evolved a model that takes a community from disaster to development, SHINE/CDRS is now piloting a self-sustainable healthcare program in remote areas of rural Kashmir to address fiscal challenges that paralyze healthcare delivery in Pakistan and other less developed countries. The  joint agency  is also active in the area of health education.

Here are the few videos about him and his work:

The improbable American by New York Times

His song little feet, which he sang for his son

A likely tale…

A mother has four sons. She has played her part in the most effective manner to bring them all up. Even though the circumstances did not permit her to lead a luxuriant lifestyle or to give the best to her sons yet to the extent she could she did everything to bring her sons up, to face the stark realities of life and to survive in the competitive atmosphere. Her sons always complained about the fact that they were deprived of most; they did not get the best and so on. Somehow time passed by… The eldest son now has his own family, earns a little yet is contented with his life which is now nearing an end. The second child has settled abroad, is a CEO in a multi-national and has a high standard of living, which in no way reflects the norms of his cultured family. The third son who has just set foot in his adulthood is a remarkable talent. A promising, bright student, excellent at whatever he does, dreams of following the footsteps of his elder brother. He spends the entire year at hostel and does not even visit his family during holidays due to his ambitious nature. However the youngest is the odd one out. Brought up in the custody of a nanny, from morn to late at night, he prefers the company of his friends; is involved in most of the evils of the society and turns down his mothers say as if she is a servant.

Suddenly the doctor tells the mother that she has entered the last phase of a fatal disease and if her condition doesn’t improve, she has very little time with her…. The mother tries contacting each one of her sons. The youngest, who lives with her is too ignorant to pay much heed. The second one, thinking that it just might be any normal letter from home, never bothers to pick it up as he is too consumed up in his studies, the third is on a holiday with his family and is not expected to return within a month or so. The eldest son himself isn’t really well. He talks to his mother on the phone, cries in his heart, but can do nothing for her, cause of his own sufferings.

Who in such circumstances will answer her call?? Hasn’t she a right to be answered and comforted in times like these? Did she bring her sons up to see this day, that today in the hour of need not one of her young blood is there to support her??
So is the present state of our beloved motherland… Even if we think that it has done nothing for us, at least, it has proved to be a comfortable home. Today in the hour of need, why are we as ignorant as the youngest son, as career-oriented as the second child, as luxuriant as the third child (even though the gap between rich and poor is at its peak) and as weak and dependant as the eldest, wanting to we cannot take an initiative…. Who are we actually waiting for…They say the importance of a thing is only truly realized when you have lost it. Are the sons waiting for their mother to pass away, or are we waiting for a time when we will wake up to find that we too have been auctioned along with the state…. What are we waiting for?? Think….

Expression:

Farhan Bashir

Institute of Business Administration, Karachi

Azme Alishan

Moving through the Heart of Pakistan, Lahore’s to CCBPL on Raiwand Road, I passed through Canal Road on a hot sunny Friday afternoon in second phase of March 2010. With two suicide bomb blasts already reported R. A. Bazar claiming 57 lives and over hundred injured, the thoughts in mind was not about the terrorist activities on going in country but, the wonderful heritage we inherit, culture we follow and the history, we as a nation carry.

Strange? A blast hit the news and mind is cherishing the culture and heritage! It would have been the case if you have seen what i saw that day. The way we see things is the source of the way we think and the way we act (Covey, 2004). The canal in between the two roads was adorned by beautiful depictions of our culture, history and natural beauty. This view made me forget about the  terror a common man faces each day.

Few days later saw an advertisement in newspaper, the advertisement depicted a  young girl saying “I know few people do evil, but I aim that all I do will be good! Because I want others to do good with me as an example. This will make everything right and my Pakistan will become good too.” The addvertisement  entitled “Azme Alishan” (English: Great Aim) turned out to be an extremely vibrant inspiration and motion for me and helped me come out a big emotional breakdown – Optimism, Zeal, Hope, Aim… Great Aim worked.

Azme Alishan Advertisement

Accidently finding out the site for this great aim revealed that yes it really does. The initiative pledged to affirm amongst ourselves and send a message to the world that we will define our own future as a people and a nation (Azme Alishan, 2010) has done things more close to reality and of more impact. The initiative inspired people to aim great to symbolize a commitment to build a better, brighter and more positive future for our nation (Azme Alishan, 2010), through plantation, Sanwaro Pakistan and Song Composition to name a few.

The great aim supported by a consortium of Pakistan’s leading advertising and media groups who have come together to reclaim Pakistan’s identity (Azme Alishan, 2010) reminds me of a poem well established under the patriotic spirit, we as a nation carry.

Khuda Karay Kay Meri Arz-e-Pak Pay Utray

Woh Fasl-e-Gul Jissay Andesha-e-Zawwal Na Ho

Yahan Jo Phool Khillay Khila Rahay Sadiyon

Yahan Say Khizan Ko Guzarnay Ki Majaal Na Ho

Yahan Jo Sabza Ugay Hamesha Sabz Rahay

Aur Aisa Sabz Kay Jisski Koi Misaal Na Ho

Khuda Karay Kay Na Kham Ho Sir-e-Wiqar-e-Watan

Aur Iss Kay Husn Ko Tashweesh-e-Mah o Saal Na Ho

Har Aik Fard Ho Tahzeeb-o-Fun Ka Aouj-e-Kamaal

Koi Malool Na Ho, Koi Khasta Haal Na Ho

Khuda Karay Meray Aik Bhi Ham Watan Kay Liyay

Haya’at Jurram Na Ho, Zindagi Wabaal Na Ho

(Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi)