Impact

Voices of Youth

Views of Miss. Roqia Khanum, Team Leader

Although the life is full of circumstances and incidents but I would definitely like to mention the natural calamity of 8th October, 2005 when our life turned topsy-turvy. When, as a result of earthquake, many near and dear ones departed us, our courage was also shattered. Our desires, our determination and our dreams were shattered. It seemed like a traveler going through a jungle in a deep night finding no way, unaware of his destination and no sign of pathway. According to a saying that too many difficulties makes the things easy and that when pain crosses the limit, it becomes medicine. We were witnessing depression and darkness every where. We were thinking that we can do nothing because we have sunk in total darkness and we did nothing, thinking that we were unable to do anything. In the meantime, a ray of hope flashed in the shape of PNYS and gave us a passion and showed us a new way. After joining PNYS, we stepped forward taking with the manifesto of PNYS. Due to them we re-organized ourselves and decided to rehabilitate the devastated localities. We were made conscious that we have the abilities to do the needful. When for the first time PNYS Team came to our locality, we were very frightened, were facing a lot of problems and we could not share with them. We had even no courage to speak and narrate our name to them. Although we were literate but we lacked self confidence. I am the same girl who could not narrate her name but now I can speak in front of hundreds of people. This has become possible only due to efforts of PNYS. These PNYS has made us aware that "young people are not a problem but a solution to the problem". Problems and life are indissolubly linked. If I start narrating my own problems then we will come to know that life is full of problems. However, we faced the problems with courage and patience and with the blessings of Almighty Allah, our pathways are clear. Every body has come to know that the people of PNYS are really sincere; they do not have any other motive but the welfare of the people. These people provided us things according to our needs. Demand was ours and help was provided by them. Most important problem was that the people of the community were not cooperating with us. They said that we are spreading shamelessness and are misleading the young generation. However, it is said that if you are really committed you can reach to your destination. Perhaps, it is the result of true commitment that now-a-days, on behalf of PNYS, we are running successfully a Computer Centre, a Handicraft Centre, a Coaching Centre and an English Language Centre. People are learning while remaining in their own locality and we have become self-sufficient. When we held a meeting for the first time, we had no place. However, PNYS established a regular centre where the community people can sit and discuss matters of mutual interest. Our programme is to change the thinking of the people because people cannot progress unless thinking is changed. Since it was a new effort the people participated enthusiastically as it was in their minds that NGOs distribute relief goods. People wanted to go for their personal interests but the PNYS project was not of that kind. We therefore had to face opposition from the influential. Due to their mental backwardness they used to make fun of us and used to hurt our self-respect. However, we did not loose our heart and kept our spirit and courage at high mast. Today, I am grateful to PNYS who helped us in hard times. They spent their precious time with us and gave a shining interpretation to our dreams.

Views of Fozia Sadiq, Team Leader

The natural calamity of 8th October, 2005 at once turned our life a turtle. That day we thought that it was the Dooms Day. It was hurly-burly every where. Many mothers lost their only sons, many sisters lost their only brothers and many mothers of innocent children left them unprotected. If we start writing on this incident perhaps the vocabulary will not finish. Just after this incident, many people and many NGOs shared our miseries and they kept themselves busy in the progress of the country. I do appreciate their work "but what to speak for PNYS". PNYS guided us to rays and hopes of life. They gave a new interpretation to our dreams. In the beginning, we formed a Youth Service Network of PNYS which has completed one year. PNYS changed our mentality and made us broad minded. We channelized ourselves due to PNYS. Although we were already living in that society but the spirit to progress and to take initiative was not there. Perhaps, we especially the girls had got the atmosphere where our minds could not think of progress. The girls had to face difficulties and hurdles at every step of life. There was no chance to step forward. Women were confined to their homes. They were dependent on males for every thing and were devoid of thinking. All developments are secondary ones, development of mind stands at number one. If the minds are set on road of development then to find out the ways of progress is very easy. Now the women are in all the fields of life. Napoleon says: "If you educate a man, you educate an individual. If you educate a woman you educate a nation". Due to PNYS, we developed mentally and we devoted to seek development and serve others. Development of prosperous society depends on the participation of young people in the process. We showed our abilities, capabilities, ideas and experiences on this stage and proved that "young people are not problem but are the solution to the problems". Due to PNYS, I and my two colleagues started a Coaching Centre in our locality. The centre was started in a damaged house with 10 children. There was lack of educational helping tools and proper space. In spite of full opposition from the people we carried out our mission. Now, by the grace of Almighty God, we have provided services to over 100 poor children and we have our own centre. With the patronage of our guardians, our spirits are flying high. Many tricks were tried to close down the Coaching Centre. We got threats but we had full cooperation of our guardians and the leaders of PNYS. This spirit, courage, self confidence, ambition and patience were instilled by the leaders of PNYS to us who have devoted their whole lives to the service of the people. Their aim on the face of earth is to promote development and knowledge. They polish the academic activities. As long as they stand by us we do not see any reason of not leading to the road of progress. Now, we do not have to hide but to work in the communities for our betterment and for the betterment of our people. There is no use if there are no difficulties and hurdles. In the way of good deeds, there are definitely some difficulties. We should be happy to face difficulties and we have to carry on our mission of welfare of our communities. I am grateful from the core of my heart to the team of PNYS - the comforter and having full sense of sympathy, who sharing our agonies, established Computer Centre, Handicraft Centre and a Coaching Centre and made the following say a truth; "Hai Zindagi Ka Maqsad Auroun Kay Kaam Aana" (The purpose of life is to help others) Our future programme is to establish an Adult Education Centre and a Library so that no child and no young man remains illiterate. Our aim is to bring out the hidden potential of young people and lead them to the road of progress and self confidence. I would like to finish with the message that first of all we will have to change our mentality, will have to raise the moral values and will be the source of revolution in the country, nation and the whole world.

Views of Uzma Yaseen, Team Leader

In the past, I had a wish that the women who were backward, should come forward. When I used to watch television and read newspapers and see the women in different professions such as Engineers, Doctors, etc. I used to wish that any of us would be an Engineer or a Doctor. However, firstly there is a lack of higher education and secondly there is a communication gap due to which it is very difficult to understand about women's progress. Education department was the only outlet for highly education women. However, the question arises that how many vacancies are there in the teaching department and from where it will come. It meant that a lot many educated women were free, doing nothing and were wasting their talent. In the meantime, the earthquake of 8th October, 2005 washed away all our remaining hopes and we had to see a scene of calamity which was full of agony. Every one was so hopeless and there was no sign of hope. In the meantime, the leader of the PNYS visited our community and met with the influential of the area. At that time our position was like a traveler whose death was definite due to severity of thirst. In this situation if a well of cold and sweet water comes before us, then who is not going benefit out of it? The leaders of PNYS conducted a series of meeting with young people. Here, I would like to mention that we were very inspired by the real commitment and true spirit of PNYS team. Leaders of the PNYS demonstrated that they were desirous of our real welfare, betterment and development. After that Youth Service Network of PNYS was established to provide literacy to the poor children. We had to face many problems and difficulties in this process. In the beginning, the response of the local people was not encouraging and they considered PNYS as an NGO who was misleading the people. Under our Youth Service Network, many functions were arranged due to which the image of PNYS enhanced within the people of the area and misunderstandings removed from the minds of the people. In April 2007, we completed one year of the programme. In the affairs of Centre, there is a marked progress. An example of which is that the tuition centre was changed into a school. Now we have started vocational classes for the girls. During the past few weeks we have also started conducting English language classes for adults. In this way, we got the opportunity to improve our English. It will not be out of place to say that by coordinating with PNYS we have channelized ourselves. Due to these efforts, young generation has attained self confidence. There is no dearth of talent here. There is no doubt that if we get full guidance, we can direct ourselves to the road of development. Due to these efforts I have gained self confidence and I am fully conscious of my capabilities. Instead of wasting our time why not to utilize our capabilities at the right place and at the right time for better things and promote positive thinking and positive action. The platform of PNYS is very important for women. They can fully benefit from this platform and set themselves on the road of development.