IInternational Volunteer Day [IVD] 2011

United Nations Volunteers [UNV] in Sri Lanka celebrated the International Volunteer Day [IVD] 2011, on 5 December with the South Asia Launch of the first State of the World’s Volunteerism Report [SWVR] and Volunteer Awards [V Awards] “Unveiling of the Finalists”. 

Due to its impressive contributions in volunteerism, Sri Lanka has been chosen to launch the SWVR in South Asia. Key officials, from the UNV Head Office in Germany as well as the UN country team in Sri Lanka, were present at the Ceylon Continental Hotel in Colombo at 9.45am on Monday, 5th December 2011 as the embargo was lifted to deliver an overview of the report and explain its importance to the region and to the island.

 

V Awards is an initiative of the National Steering Committee of the International Year of Volunteers Tenth Anniversary (IYV +10) in collaboration with News 1st. The concept behind this is to honour individuals who make extraordinary contributions to the society and to identify the role models and champions who can inspire a nation to volunteer for social causes. 26 of Sri Lanka’s most inspiring citizens were recognised as shortlisted nominees and 15 were honoured as the finalists for their voluntary contributions at the V Awards “Unveiling of the Finalists” held that evening at the Stein Studios (MTV/Sirasa) in Rathmalana with over 800 guests. The evening was made glamorous by many artists and a true spirit of volunteerism was displayed by the presence of around 100 young V Force volunteers present on the day.

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Interview: Celebrating diversity. Dawn News

(I personally APOLOGIES to Visually Impaired Persons for miscommunication of word "Introduced Web Radio in Pakistan".. I personally say we just initiated Radio Vision Pakistan, in Support of Visually Impaired Persons. (Rashid Mehmood Khan)).

Mr.Rashid Mehmood Khan, The C.E.O of  the ‘Visionary Foundation Pakistan (VF.PAK)’, is a young social worker and entrepreneur. He is working for people with disabilities and has initiated the ‘Braille books project’ for visually impaired students.

Following are the excerpts from the interview:

1:You started social endeavours at a very young age. What attracted you to this field?

I was part of the oblivious youth until two years back, when I realised that our destiny lies in the hands of young people and decided to be the initiator of a positive change in the community. I always knew that small gestures bring immense changes; therefore I wanted to make a small effort that will bring an enormous change in my country.

2:How was Visionary Foundation Pakistan (VF) formed? What are its activities?

I didn’t plan to form the organisation, it just happened. We used to visit the government hospitals, orphanages and Edhi Centres. Once we visited the head office of the Pakistan Association of Blind House (PAB) in Karachi and met with some very energetic and self-motivated visually challenged  people. They didn’t have any Brailled books to read from and they had to engage a paid writer to help them take examinations. We decided to help them and requested the PAB House to help us learn Braille. We’ve transcribed three course books into Braille and the fourth one is in the pipeline.

We’ve also formed a ‘Writers bank’ where our volunteers help the blind write their exam. So far, we’ve provided six writers to them. I wanted to help the disabled people and formed an organisation which works for their empowerment and looks into their problems, education, health, capacity building, rights and employment opportunities.

Our organisation has commenced various projects. Some of them are: Braille syllabus books, working on the fourth Braille Book, audio Cd's, Radio Vision Pakistan (Online Radio Project) and Vision Mother & child Welfare Health Care Center  

3:What does the success of VF Pakistan mean to you?

It means I’ve made a successful attempt to bring a positive change in my society. I’ve put all my efforts in this organisation and have thought of every possible way I could help the blind. My organisation may not be very established like any of the Edhi Centres, or popular like Shaukat Khanam Hospital, but at least I’ve made a humble attempt to help mankind and I’m pleased with it.

 4:How empowered are the disabled people in the country?

I’m afraid, not much! They are neglected in every field. The government has reserved two per cent quota for them but it isn’t implemented. Besides, jobs opportunities are very limited for them.

To encounter this challenge, we’re raising awareness that all buildings, shopping malls, universities, schools, parks, railway stations, hospitals and even homes should be disabled friendly. We shouldn’t segregate and make fun of those who are deprived, rather we must accept them—after all this is called ‘celebrating diversity’.

5:What should be our youth’s contribution in the community’s development?

Only the youth can save the state. It’s high time that young people wake from their deep slumber and smell the coffee. They should realise the power of community work and start participating in social projects as much as they can.

6:What are your future plans?
I am planning to open a Vision Academy at suberb area of  Surjani Town, Karachi. & Conduct a 1st Pakistan Blind Youth Conference as well.

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The vision to see the needs of the blind

The Visionary Foundation of Pakistan is working for the visually impaired by translating books into Braille. 

 

KARACHI: “Why do people want to help us in minor tasks and not allow us to do them on our own,” says Ali Tareen, a first year student at Ida Rieu, a school for the deaf and blind.


Undue sympathy is not what people with visual impairments are looking for, Tareen clarifies, and complains of marginalisation. However, there are those whose assistance is welcomed by people living with blindness. One such organisation is the Visionary Foundation of Pakistan, a group of almost 25 people who got their inspiration from a youth workshop in 2009 to work for the blind in Karachi.
In a short span, the Foundation has already achieved many milestones for the visually impaired while it looks to scale greater heights. For instance, the foundation aims to translate all the books of the Sindh Textbook Board into Braille. “We could have done that manually but it is almost an impossible task to transcribe hundreds of books for candidates appearing every year,” said Rashid, one of their members. He said that they are trying to buy Braille printers with computer programmes that can translate into Braille.
One such printer costs about Rs. 0.45 million. While data is not maintained by the government on the population of people with disabilities in Pakistan, the last figures released by the World Health Organisation and Pakistan Ministry of Health in 2006 show that there are almost 1.49 to 1.54 million blind people in the country.

Other tasks the group has undertaken are spreading awareness about the way people with visual impairments are treated and their rights. “We found that a major problem blind people faced was that public transport drivers don’t stop for them as they take longer to get on and off the bus,” said Rashid.
“We coordinated with the City District Government Karachi and trained 50 drivers of the Green Buses to cater to people with disabilities,” he said. “The ultimate result was that the drivers became more patient reserved seats for them in the front row.” Another problem that the blind face is a shortage of people to write exams for them as there are no Braille papers or examination systems in Karachi. “As soon as the date sheet for board exams comes out we have to worry about appropriate writers who are one year younger than us academically according to the Board rules,” said Tareen. “People have now made this a business and charge us between Rs2,000 to Rs8,000 for a year’s papers,” he said.

To address this particular problem, the Visionary Foundation arranged four writers who will be assisting this year’s 50 registered blind students for class nine examinations. The foundation has since reached out to motivational speakers, doctors, government organisations and the British Council to assist in their mission.
But so far almost all of the efforts have been funded by the members of the group, said Rashid. Mohammad Hussain, the National Coordinator of the Pakistan Association of Blind said that all associations serving the visually impaired have offices in cities and in busy areas. He also pointed out that the construction done in the city in the last mayor’s regime paid no attention to the needs of special people. “So what if we are blind, aren’t we part of society?” he questions.

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The AYCPF’11 organizing committee has the pleasure to invite MR.RASHID MEHMOOD KHAN CEO OF (VF.PAKISTAN)  As a guest speaker & MR.DABEER AHMED as a National Delegates to attend “Asian Youth Conference & Peace Festival 2011 (AYCPF’11)” as “National Delegate”. The conference is scheduled to take place from 28^th – 30^th September 2011 at Al-Hamra Arts Council, the Mall, Lahore, Pakistan.

Expected to draw over 500 delegates from around Asia, the AYCPF’11 is being organized by Chanan Development Association (CDA) (www.cdapak.org)’ a National Youth Lead Organization’ in collaboration with Information, Culture and Youth Affairs Department, Government of Punjab and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

This year the theme of AYCPF’11 is “Together, We are the Solution!” while sub-themes of the conference include Day 1: Youth Participation & Leadership, Day 2: UN Millennium Development Goals & Day 3: Celebrating Diversity for PEACE.

During the 3 days conference succession of diverse events, including thought provoking panel discussions, skill building workshops on a wide range of issue, solutions that can bring us closer to meeting the Millennium Development Goals & practicing intercultural dialogue, will take place and your participation will undoubtedly be a significant contribution in the conference.

Please accept this letter as formal invitation.

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RELIEF ACTIVITIES

Visionary Foundation Pakistan & Relief activities for Flood Victims.

 

In this disastrous & awaking time on Pakistani Nation in the shape of super flood, Our youth  group is on the ground and working for helping our own country men.
   
    We start to send SMS for our friends, relatives and loved ones to aware them the seriousness of the situation, and asked them to help us, by doing any thing, like by donating cash, food items, medicines, cloths, or by sharing SMS to others as well.

 

It might be possible that some one who got this message, may want to help, and does not know the way and also we meet with pharmaceutical companies, medical raps, representatives of Karachi Whole Sale Drugs Association and lots of others just for collection and arrangement of medicines for the flood victims.

We faced a very crucial “Trust Deficit”, but we continue our work and asked questions to others that “ How we build or increase this Trust”…and we give them a sample answer too.. “By Trusting Others.”

And yes ..By the Grace of Allah …we have arranged and send the first shipment of following sufficient amount of Medicines:

1. VACCINES,

2. Pain killers including strong ones like panadol, brufen, and other diclofenic sodium tablets etc,

3.Antibiotics e.g. amoxil,
 
4.Cotton bandages,

5.Cotton,

6.Bandages: crepe, guaze pads, saniplasts,

7.IV pain killers pyodene solutions ,

8.cough syrups,

9.Anti malarial drugs,

10.Antamezol tablets etc. and others medicines that is need for the affected areas.

We are and We will try to continue this support with the help of our friends, relatives, loved ones and yes our community. We are doing what ever we can do for helping our own people.

We know this is very crucial time for us. But we are confident that we can take this responsibility as an Active Citizens that we can help our community and our beloved Pakistan

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Vision Mother & Child Welfare Health Care Centre

Visionary Foundation Pakistan, General Secretary Rashid Mehmood Khan has said that

VF Pakistan mission is to provide quality medical services to lower class dwellers.

Vision Mother and Child Welfare Health Care Centre inaugurated in the jurisdiction of surjani town, Karachi under the supervision of Visionary Foundation Pakistan.

 Mrs. Haseena Jan Muhammad , Mother of eight children inaugurated Vision Mother and Child Health Care Centre.

The purpose of the centre is to provide quality treatment, consultation, medicines, EPI Vaccination specially for children and medical check up to the poor residents, where the specialist doctors and consultants of Gyne, Child Specialist & General Physician will dully present in the centre.

 
The citizen of the area appreciated the Visionary Foundation Pakistan efforts and social services should be promoted by every one.

VF Paksitan General Secretary Rashid Mehmood Khan expresses his views that it is our duty to provide Quality medical facilities to the under-developed areas and poor citizens of Pakistan.

Today, We have crossed 1400 Patients ... at Vision Mother and Child Welfare Health Care Centre. Most of them are Women and Children. We have provided them Free Treatment With Free Medicenes....
Lots of Other Patients are benefited by Vision Mother and Child Welfare Health Care Centre (A Project of Visionary Foundation Pakistan)...

Plz Join hands with us...

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EID MUBARIK

Moon light and “Eid Mubarak”

Thousands of people across the country will wait with baited breath on Tuesday night for that crescent lunar showing which will end the month of Ramadan (the month of fasting for all Muslims from dawn to dusk) and kick start the new lunar year.

Sure the moon is joyful because she gets to outshine the sun on the night before Eid but so are the people who are all set to bask in the holiday spirit with spanking new clothes and lip smacking traditional delicacies.

Set up by Prophet Mohammed hundreds of years ago to celebrate two days by offering gratitude to God while indulging in merriment and festal splendour, Eid ul-Fitr is the latter of those two days.

It is a day of joy, celebration, colours, giving, blessing and stunning aromas that enamour one’s senses irrespective of the fact that one follows Islam or not.

While the date can change depending upon the night queen’s presence, Eid is definitely on its way.

The day begins early on Eid with Salatul Fajr (the pre-sunrise prayer), and in keeping with the Sunnah (traditions and actions of the Prophet Muhammad), dental hygiene is taken care of, followed by shower (Ghusul), dressing up in new apparels (or the best available), and application of perfume.

Eid on the last day of Ramadan month is all about breaking the fast (irrespective of whether you are a certain Gandhian activist protesting against corruption) and so a customary morning breakfast of dried fruits before the first prayer is followed by much extravagant delicacies.

The Eid prayers is also a grand ceremony performed by parishioners in open areas like fields, community centres, etc. or at mosques.

The adhan (Call to Prayer) or iqama (call) is pronounced for this Eid prayer, and it consists of only two rakaʿāt (units of prayer) with an additional six Takbirs.

The Eid prayer is trailed by the khutbah (sermon) and then a plea (dua) asking for God's forgiveness, mercy, peace and blessings for all living beings across the world.

Once the religious rites are over, the actual celebration starts with people visiting their acquaintances and organising grand celebrations of gleeful serene colours and enticing olfactory fiestas.

Gifts are frequently exchanged on Eid (called eidi in some cultures) with the children ending up as the beneficiaries in most case.

The shopping spree for Eid is also quite common, especially among young girls and the market places throughout the country are busy catering to the demand for newer clothes and jewellery.

Platinum items for men from Platinum Guild are a new highlight of this Eid with the elusive white element shaped to produce charismatic rings, striking bracelets and chains.

Textured platinum rings with smart patterns studded with flush set diamonds, in a subtle matte finish to add that extra dynamism to the ring, are up for grabs this Eid for metrosexual machos with the need for style and cash to spare.

Culinary delights of the greatest Islamic festival are also legendary and dishes like the “shemai” (toasted sweet vermicelli noodles) or the famous “Hyderabadi haleem” (a type of meat stew) grab the centre stage with foodies in the audience.

Restaurants throughout the country brace themselves to produce the finest of festive cuisines so that the month long deprivation of taste buds can be satisfied through bursts of spicy flavours and rich continental offerings.

The festive season is all set to commence with Eid showing the way, followed by several others like Ganesh Chaturthi and the digital social networks are already abuzz with celebratory tweet, posts and scraps.

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza tweets to offer her best wishes, “last day of Ramzaan..chaand mubarak to everyone celebrating Eid tomm.”

But even amidst all the joy, people across India and the world at large are offering their prayers to those who have lost their lives because of heinous terror crimes.

“While we all are busy in Eid, we must not forget the families of people who're killed in Karachi”, tweets Faizan Lakhani, a Geo TV sports journalist from Pakistan.

Still Eid is a festival of joy and of rejoicing deliverance from sins and of divine intervention protecting one from grief.

Whether or not someone is touched by gloom and irrespective of one’s religion, this festival can be a celebration for anyone with a merry heart and a love for good food.

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