We took a little break to play a 6 person version of ludoo, but don't worry, we got right back to work!
Some of us working on posters
Aqib and Kareem setting up and hanging signs
The bonfire before it collapsed a little
Some of the goals of the night were to thank the schools for their support and hard work, to announce the postponement of the cricket match till after the world cup due to security concerns and to show the students a documentary of the seed distribution so they could see what they had contributed towards and what their hard work had helped achieve. There was a lot of interaction throughout the night as our motivational speaker, Mr. Nasir Aziz from LUMS made sure to keep the kids really involved by asking them questions like what makes us strong, and brave and help our country. The kids shouted out their various answers like "our family, being confident, doing the right thing", etc. Some kids from each school came and shared their experience with trying to sell the booklets and raise funds and it brought a huge smile to my face to see so much hope in these kids. They ackowledge that they are the future generation and want to do better than their predecessors and want to see more for themselves and their country. They want to change the world and make a difference. The way these kids spoke about how much happiness they got from knowing they were helping their fellow country men really touched me. There really is hope after all.
At one of the other campaign events, students had been invited to do graffiti on the walls of the Pukaar ghar, with Pakistan as the theme in mind. Here is some of the art work they came up with to represent our country.
The kids were really excited about contributing and taking part in helping their fellow country members, and its wonderful to see them believe in who might be the only politician that isn't corrupt. Which unfortunately is both his strength and his weakness, because the system here won't let anyone that doesn't stoop to bribery win the elections. But maybe, with this newer generation, there is hope for real elections that aren't riddled with corruption and bribery. Until then, we can rely on the good people who make a difference without our government.
A bunch of us had gone to this local hole in the wall for a 'breakfast' of halwa puri around 11.00 am too. And on our way there, a bunch of us stuffed into cars as per the desi style of getting to places, I just thought about how amazing it was to be here. And the way I've been able to connect to people with lives completely different from my own, both with the Peace Corps and now here. I think volunteering, and I guess just having an obvious common goal, really brings people together. Although I was one of the only volunteers whereas the rest of the people I was with were actual staff members for the IKF. But we're all fighting for a cause. At one point in the day, I was getting work done faster than one of the guys I was working with and one of the team members commented, and my friend said "But sir, she's imported!" So from now on, whenever I get things done, everyone claims its because I'm imported hahah. It's kind of funny.
Once again, on the other side of the coin, there are negatives about my country. My aunt was telling me about how one of my cousins fellow students died in a car accident the other day. Apparently some of the bystanders decided to steal her purse and watch and money instead of helping. After the shooting the other day, same thing. Wallets and whatever money there was, phones; stolen. It's sad when people look for opportunity for themselves at every corner, in the bleakest of moments. I don't know whether to feel more disgust or pity for the people who are so desperate that their first thought is how to gain something for themselves out of someone else's misfortune.
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