Rabia Ahmed at NY for Acumen's DIGNITY Benefit, July 2009 | Photo Credit: Steven Lau
A few hours ago, I found my father sitting at the dinner table, counting. When I asked, what he was counting, he mutedly replied “Bete, during this week, 63 years ago, my family crossed the border to Pakistan.” I had heard this story hundreds of times before, from my grandmother, my uncle, but usually from my dad. It was a journey etched into his mind, into his bones. It was the story of eating neem plants and walking – lots of walking- along a path to the new world, leaving everything behind for hopes of a peaceful tomorrow.
Years later, my siblings and I enjoyed the humid, sunny, summers in Pakistan. We’d run through the mango groves on a family farm and sip sugar cane juice in the market. We’d play hide and seek in my grandfather’s roof garden and host pretend doll weddings with my cousins. It was a fairy-tale land, a land which welcomed us with open arms whenever we visited. It was truly blissful.
Nevertheless, each year things changed in Pakistan. The cars looked a little different, the music became more rock and roll and the air became more polluted. The only constant which remained was the home of my grandfather on the outskirts of Lahore. With its white washed walls, and lattice door frames, it remained mostly how we left it the year before. The home was five stories high, grand in a modest town, and built around a central open veranda with multiple bedrooms on each floor. My grandfather had a modern above-ground latrine and air conditioner installed so that his grandchildren were not deprived of their essentials. And every summer, without fail, we’d anticipate the monsoons. They’d come in, hastily from no one direction and with quick winds, gusts of water rushed down on us with a certain sense of urgency, and we – well, we’d dance. You’d hear us shrieking and giggling in the same breath because there was no warning, no sign of the hammering waters; just the sudden opening of the skies. It was an idyllic time and we were constantly told to appreciate the rain because it was such a blessing.
But this year, the blessing has turned into a curse, a real test of spirit.
As I sit here some 7,000 miles away from my old summer home, I can’t help but weep for a nation under water. Just the thought of one in five Pakistanis without a home, without a livelihood and without any imminent hope, is simply unbearable.
We’ve read the stories: the tale of a father who tied his son to a tree; of the mother who gave birth to twins in the middle of the storm; of the family who sat by and watched their cow- their livelihood- weaken and eventually pass on. And we’ve seen the staggering statistics – 20 million Pakistanis affected, that’s more than New York State. That’s more than Haiti and Katrina combined. More than Haiti and Katrina combined. Even as I write these words, I’m speechless.
After all, Pakistan is a country divided. It attempts to be modern but is shot at by those clinging to the past. It’s a place where history repeats itself without enough time passing to learn from it. A place where culture and religion constantly fight each other. It’s a place which terrorists now call home and is also a nuclear state. It’s a country that’s lost itself, to itself, by itself.
But it is a country that is loved by so many that summered there; whose parents and grandparents fought to set up homes there, by those who decided to dedicate their lives to helping it reach its potential. Through this catastrophe, Pakistani-Americans are crying for their fellow Pakistanis back home. They’re taking action by running fundraising drives, and putting together media packs and collecting necessary items. They’re keeping one another abreast of activities from the field and are urging all, each and every person they know, to take action, NOW. It’s not just the feeding and immunizing which needs to be done now, but the rebuilding and revitalizing which needs to happen for years to come. It’s in a state of despair, of helplessness, for a people so resilient, so open-hearted, kind and gentle who have never asked for anything, but dignity,
There are people to thank, like Fiza Shah, CEO of Developments in Literacy, who builds schools in remote and hard to reach areas of Pakistan and Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund who still sees the potential, the hope in Pakistan’s people, a single person who leads an organization that invests in the future of a nation. These two women continue to believe in Pakistan, through the heartfelt moments and harrowing sorrows.
So today, I beg, and urge you all to do the same, or at least to take a step. It’s impossible to imagine the devastation from this far away. Soon enough some other news sensation will take over and most of us will forget the little teary-eyed girl or a mother without milk for her twins. We’ll forget that although they didn’t have much to begin with, whatever they once could call their own has been washed away. Their lives are once again a blank slate. What reality once was is now but a dream wrapped in a nightmare. So please, pick up your check book, or log into your paypal account. Buy some medicines or donate some food.
In this time of pain, hurt and suffering, I remember a quote I once read by Mother Teresa: “The paradox of life is if you love until it hurts, then there is no more hurt, only love.” And Pakistan, we love you and we’re hurting for you and that is what I wish for my fellow Pakistanis, only love.
Rabia Ahmed is the Co-Chair of New York for Acumen and the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the NYU Stern School of Business. To find out how you can help, please read this recent post which names a few organizations working in Pakistan that we trust and who need your support. Please also show your support and stand with Pakistan by adding your name in solidarity to http://www.ontheground.pk.
Tags: dil, floods, new york for acumen, Pakistan
beautifully written. Like a pearl string your grandfather’s story becomes whole with the migration caused by the unrelenting floods. Bless you
how do we donate?
Thanx!
Inspiring – Thank you – This reminds me of the time when I came over to Pakistan for the first time about 4 years ago and decided not to go back
I humbly request everyone who reads this, kindly donate as much as possible – Pakistan needs you – Prayers for Rabia Ahmad
Regards,
Atif S Ahmad
p.s Also if possible follow me on twitter as I’m donating $1 for every new follower I get till Sep 10 – 2010 @atifahmads
To learn more about what’s happening with the flood crisis and many ways to help, I urge everyone to join this Facebook page for PakistanFloods.org: http://www.facebook.com/pages/PakistanFloodsorg/135112569865219
Thanks for the touching post, Rabia.
Thats what Pakistan needs now.
All of our help, support, action & prayers… no matter where we are.
United, with one aim: To HELP and CHANGE the Pakistan we all once knew.
When Jacqeuline & Fiza Shah can do it, why can’t WE – AS ONE!
God bless you…And ALL Pakistanis, wherever you are.
Pakistan needs YOU, today. In whatever way you THINK you can help.
Bravo, Rabia. God bless you.
Beautifully written and so from the heart. Indeed we must love till it can’t hurt anymore. One life to live, save someone’s one life if you can!
Rabia:
I hate to sound cliché, but wow…that was beautiful. Your words leapt off the page, and your prose though romanticized was also strong and action-oriented. I have donated to the ICRC upon hearing about this tragedy, but now will give additional funds as your words could move mountains.
Tanya Rumble
Just read your article…which seems to be written from the heart!!! Glad to know that Pakistanis all around are fighting hard to save this piece of land which has been ravaged by its people, and by natural disasters.
Long live Pakistan:)
Yes the tragedy is immense but how do you ensure that the aid is not hijacked by the vested interests of the politicians and fundamentalist terrorist organizations. This makes it difficult to send money to charities and someone should be standing up to show this can be avoided.
You brought me to tears. So well put! Having spent most summers at my parents home in Lahore, with my children, your words describe what we feel and enjoy there. God bless and save Pakistan. Thank you for writing what we felt.
I haven’t seen any article like this for a long long time. Brilliantly written, and every single word comes from heart and soul! The Pakistani- British community here in the UK are so proud of you and your resilience in helping out the people of Pakistan through your Blog! God bless you!
Kind Regards,
Danish Faisal
Earlier this month Aun Rahman, Country Director Acumen Fund Pakistan sent out a note with charities that were doing great work on the ground in Pakistan that need your support. I’ve rewritten them below, but please read his post at: http://blog.acumenfund.org/2010/08/13/the-pakistan-floods-how-you-can-help/
1. Rural Support Program Network (RSPN) is a national organization and the largest non-government network of rural development programs. RSPN’s partners have worked extensively in disaster relief efforts in Pakistan, including the 2005 Earthquake. RSPN is collecting donations for affected families. Donations will be provided to affected families through the on-ground network of RSPN’s partners, including SRSO that is headed by Dr. Sono Khangharani, a long time Acumen friend.
2. The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is a non-profit organization set up in 1995 by a group of citizens concerned with the dismal state of education in Pakistan. It is now one of Pakistan’s leading organizations in the field of formal education. It has 660 school units in hundreds of rural areas and urban slums located in 68 towns and cities across Pakistan. Although its focus is on education, TCF was actively involved in relief efforts after the earthquake and is once again mobilizing resources to contribute towards the flood relief efforts. TCF plans to provide food packages to flood affected people and has set a target to provide 20 million meals to these people in 30 days. The aid will be in the form of ration bags containing flour, rice, cooking oil/ghee, lentils, dried milk, sugar, salts and spices, dates etc. Each bag will feed a family for a month. To give to TCF in the US, follow this link.
3. Kashf Foundation, one of the largest micro finance organizations in Pakistan which lends to women in low income communities, is also an Acumen Fund investee. Kashf has also started a relief drive wherein relief packages will be distributed to 10,000 households in the most affected areas. Each relief package will sustain a household of 5 members for 4 weeks. Kashf undertook similar relief efforts in 2005 where 10,000 families were provided food and shelter through its efforts and in 2009 to 1,000 internally displaced families.Given Kashf Foundation’s focus on provide sustainable livelihoods, the next phase of rehabilitation will involve support through access to financial services so that affected households can rebuild their income streams.To make a donation, contact CEO Roshaneh Zafar via her assistant Fatima Raja: fatima.raja@kashf.org
4. International Rescue Committee is responding to the devastation caused by severe monsoon season rains and extensive flash flooding throughout Pakistan. With a robust network of local staff and partners already on the ground, and 30 years of experience working in Pakistan, the IRC is well-positioned to provide shelter, clean water, sanitation, and essential supplies to those who have fled the rising waters.
5. Mahvash And Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation, established in 2003, is a charitable, not-for-profit organization which is run by several Board Members and staff on a gratis basis. On Flood relief, the Foundation has designed a Relief Process that provides basic food, clean water, and essential medicine. The Foundation is in close coordination with local NGOs to directly provide basic relief items such as 8 day food rations and clean drinking water. MJSF is currently working in selected areas of Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa. MJSF is also an Acumen Fund partner supporting social entrepreneurship in Pakistan since 2005.
Hi Rabia,
I have been struggling to put into words what I feel. There is so much blame and so much sorrow to count. Your words really hit me. As a Pakistani living outside Pakistan, I feel your pain just as poignantly. Thank you for writing this. Thank you for bringing attention to the plight. We need much more and hopefully your words will get the ball rolling for those who read this piece.
regards,
Uzair
Rabia Jazakallah for an eye opener for all pakistanis whether abroad or in Pakistan,We in Nova Scotia in a small community have collected funds and are channeling them, to the people who need more than funds they need support and direction ,and a lot will go through post traumatic effects ,they need to be heard ,.i hope your message rings and awakes us all ,
Beautifully provoked… keep it rolling…
Your feelings are right, it is devastating and horrifying here in Pakistan.
Nation is helping itself here in Pakistan and also through huge efforts of fellow country men abroad. I would take this opportunity to request/beg every one abroad and with in the country to donate generously and that too, to Army/Non-Government Orgs/individuals/corporate companies, because they are being trusted/truly effective.
Miss Ahmed, Onbehalf of Pakistani people, thank you for your love and affection. In this painful time we need it and it means a lot to us.
Thank you all for your overwhelmingly kind words of support. It’s absolutely incredible to see that so many people all over the globe share the same sentiments and are doing their part – no matter how big or small – to support Pakistan. I only hope that we can all look back one day and know that we did what we could to help such a resilient nation.
Assalamu ‘alaikum Rabia,
you shared some very heart-touching words. I just wanted to share this fundraising opportunity for fundraising upcoming this Saturday, 08/26/2010. If you sign up for this DiscoverU event this Saturday, they’ll put forth $50 for the flood relief & government of Canada will match it. So in total, for every person who signs up, $100 will be donated for the flood relief.
More details:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=148948038467662
Best of prayers.
Rabia,
Thank you for your sweet letter. I couldn’t help but shed some tears. It means a lot to each and every Pakistani out there. You are absolutely right, we all need to support Pakistan–Our Pakistan. God Bless.
Thank you- this was incredibly moving and I think helped to put a human face to a tragedy that hasn’t been seen as much as any of us would like.
Rabia-
Wow. This piece is so powerful and especially moving because of the story you tie in of your summers in Pakistan. Stories like this are so important to tell at this time in order to paint a true picture of Pakistan.
I also agree that DIL is such an amazing organization and FIza Shah is such an inspiration to all.
I am deeply touched by the support and how people are coming together to help these poor people. Thank you!!
these r not just the feelings of american pakistanis but also those pakistani who have lived all their lives away from those peaceful summers. Who have grown up listening to stories of amazing unexpected experiences from their parents. we want to live in that pakistan which we hear of from our parents and grandparents. what tales will we tell our next generation of?
Beautifully written !! …i am sure it would have inspired alot of people to support our brother’s and sister’s effected with this horrible natural disaster on a very large scale….
Allah Bless Youu !! ….
and we will keep working for them INSHALLAH !! …we will never let them suffer for long …!
Thank you for such a beautiful story and for bringing attention to the victims of this terrible tragedy. DIL truly is an amazing organization!
Very well written Miss Ahmad. I like to remember there is no color, creed or religion that has ever limited our support to others during environmental catastrophes like this. The way we all unite as the ambassadors for supporting any uncontrollable disasters is amazing. From the South East Asia Tsunami, Pakistans Earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, Haiti Earthquake and the Chilean earthquake, no efforts have gone wasted. If we are ever in need of help, perhaps a good deed today will exponentially grow into a lifeline for us if it was ever needed. Stay inspired…