Sitting there right next to worlds high-impact venture founders, I felt like it was the end, where perhaps I could shout out loud, THIS IS IT! this is what I and my venture need, an utmost incubation program that could provide everything from mentorship, global networking, partnerships, seed capital to take flight and support in reach out to about a million people!
When I set foot in Boulder, Colorado it was past midnight and my expectations about having to look at this place after hearing so much about it washed out as I was driven off from the Airport to the valley-type city of Boulder. Black shadows of huge mountains showed in the dark of the night and the glimmering lights welcoming me in this city was perhaps worth all that I missed...until the next day I dismissed the thought. I had surely missed the most beautiful welcome on this earth.
Pure green and thick grass softly danced and the wind slowly blowing upon it while the sky with its deepest blue smiled down the tall proud mountains of Boulder said this is what you missed.
There could never have been a better time for me to go explore, if it wasnt me, anyone would have done the same thing. Walking down the road surroudning by a jungle of trees and grass that spread to everywhere I could see, my feet slowly touching the road creating the only sound and still not being able to budge the silence that was breathtaking, However off all this, I was sure for one thing, "Nature was at work". Nature during its silent moments was working with its all strength, thats what my eyes saw with the green of the grass and the blue of the sky, my ears heard the chirps of squirls and whoosh of the wind that would come teasing a tree or tickling the grass.... I watched and I felt Nature, so close and so honestly pure and serene it took me back to my identity....
Reminding me about my being a part of this whole circle of life... reminding me of the reasons each living being is born in this world... the reason to serve. Thats what nature was doing, serving with its beautiful peace and making each one of us realize that the whole circle of life is connected somewhere and sometimes if you listen.... you would hear the silence.... that is where Nature trully is and that is where you are... Nature says find that silence and come feel me so you could find "yourself".
"The Silence Within Me"
Do you know what Nature is whispering
Do you know what it says to me
It tells me there are people who
fight for reasons and identity
People seeking truth and purpose
They should come and learn from me
This wind is what you live alike
Even the rock and this tree
Slowly nature speaks it all
About you, me and this humanity
It tells me something I dont deny
Of the times I lose contact within me
When I know my existence
and yet I lose my identity
Then is when it talks to me
Its says listen, listen to me
I hear it yes
I listen carefully
I hear it says
Silence.....
Silence.....
Silence.....
That is whats missing in me
I need to stop, think and feel
everything that is surrounding me
Nature at its work
Silently
I close my eyes, while wind is whoosing
while grass is dancing
while sky is smiling
while trees are saying
Listen
Listen to me...
And I do hear,
"The Silence within me"
Pure green and thick grass softly danced and the wind slowly blowing upon it while the sky with its deepest blue smiled down the tall proud mountains of Boulder said this is what you missed.
There could never have been a better time for me to go explore, if it wasnt me, anyone would have done the same thing. Walking down the road surroudning by a jungle of trees and grass that spread to everywhere I could see, my feet slowly touching the road creating the only sound and still not being able to budge the silence that was breathtaking, However off all this, I was sure for one thing, "Nature was at work". Nature during its silent moments was working with its all strength, thats what my eyes saw with the green of the grass and the blue of the sky, my ears heard the chirps of squirls and whoosh of the wind that would come teasing a tree or tickling the grass.... I watched and I felt Nature, so close and so honestly pure and serene it took me back to my identity....
Reminding me about my being a part of this whole circle of life... reminding me of the reasons each living being is born in this world... the reason to serve. Thats what nature was doing, serving with its beautiful peace and making each one of us realize that the whole circle of life is connected somewhere and sometimes if you listen.... you would hear the silence.... that is where Nature trully is and that is where you are... Nature says find that silence and come feel me so you could find "yourself".
"The Silence Within Me"
Do you know what Nature is whispering
Do you know what it says to me
It tells me there are people who
fight for reasons and identity
People seeking truth and purpose
They should come and learn from me
This wind is what you live alike
Even the rock and this tree
Slowly nature speaks it all
About you, me and this humanity
It tells me something I dont deny
Of the times I lose contact within me
When I know my existence
and yet I lose my identity
Then is when it talks to me
Its says listen, listen to me
I hear it yes
I listen carefully
I hear it says
Silence.....
Silence.....
Silence.....
That is whats missing in me
I need to stop, think and feel
everything that is surrounding me
Nature at its work
Silently
I close my eyes, while wind is whoosing
while grass is dancing
while sky is smiling
while trees are saying
Listen
Listen to me...
And I do hear,
"The Silence within me"
Ok here I am… In the United States of America finally. However I am not completely at my destination that is Boulder, Colorado as my flight is delayed from San Fransisco to Denver but its just the same for me. Sitting here, near the huge glass look-outs of San Fransisco Airport that reflected in the beautiful and warm sun light of SF and the best picture of mountains gazing back to me, I was looking back to my whole travel from Pakistan. It feels like ages since the night my family left me at the airport… the dark damp night of Karachi our car made its way quietly in the dark of the night at about 3pm and I sitting in the back seat with mom and sister and was mapping out the travel ahead.
It wasn’t my first time to US, but the fact itself that this perhaps was my first ever long trip outside Pakistan, and how was I going to explain all this to the immigration and customs department, will I be allowed to enter US for a whole 10 weeks? that included and a lot more questions were loaded up on my mind until it was time for me to check-in.
Next Question: I had sketched a mughal dancer woman for the Unreasonable Institute, which knowing I wont be allowed to carry in glass frame I got in plastic frame but now the question was will they allow me to take it?
Even next question: I and my roommates had planned on a traditional room setup where we put up traditional items from our country and thus I had loaded up a bag full of traditional items like rili, cushion covers, ajraks, and a lot of other items which I was taking and did not knew if my luggage would be coming over the limit and whether I would be allowed to take it or not.
Next Question: I had sketched a mughal dancer woman for the Unreasonable Institute, which knowing I wont be allowed to carry in glass frame I got in plastic frame but now the question was will they allow me to take it?
Even next question: I and my roommates had planned on a traditional room setup where we put up traditional items from our country and thus I had loaded up a bag full of traditional items like rili, cushion covers, ajraks, and a lot of other items which I was taking and did not knew if my luggage would be coming over the limit and whether I would be allowed to take it or not.
The check-ins were where I came face to face with my questions and I was ready if my luggage or the poster got refused so I could give it back to mom and dad standing outside the airport. But amazingly, it never happened, they were ok with my rock-heavy luggage and even my poster after getting to know its plastic on the cover. I heaved a sigh of relief when I was checking-in my baggage with two boarding passes in my hands. Now as light I felt the heavy my heart started feeling when I walked towards the immigration department.
So ma'am what are you going to do in America, the trying-to sober looking immigration officer said in his most serious voice, I told him about Unreasonable Institute-A to Z. he took in the information and began looking up at my other visas on my passport. So why were you in Australia? he asked, I am a youth activist I replied and I went over to attend a conference related to Human Rights. why were you in Philippines, another question my way. I replied until the immigration lady beside him squinted at me while quickly gazing over my passport. My passport was given back to me and I was ushered to move forward to the next check -up who never bothered to ask me anything and waved for me to move ahead. I could shriek with delight! my fears yet in Pakistan were removed and I looked forward to the journey ahead.
Dubai airport had been a whole lot of a rush because of my two hours transit, I almost ran through the whole area just to locate my gate and not miss my flight. Finally locating my gate and making my way towards it I could see how this flight was going to be different then the ones I have had before, almost majority of the plane passengers were Indian, Amazing I thought. Smiling to myself I walked to the checking area with my heavy bags and stood with the row of women. I noticed new initiatives for strict checking of the luggage and the passenger itself was organized at the Emirates. It was obvious after the recent case in New York, which I was lost at details even. Many ladies frowned as the security officer went through the luggage in a disastrous way and almost checked through the pockets and stuff. The lady ahead of me in the line was definitely American, it was odd she starred at me more then to pay attention on her luggage that was being checked, "We have to go through these problems just because of the acts of some very wrong people", she stated or rather muttered glancing over at me. It obviously hurt but the fact that it wasn't new, I brushed the whole comment away.
I did manage to fly through Dubai to San Fransisco, 16 hours journey could have made me crazy if emirates wasn't kind enough to be playing Indian and Disney movies. I might have watched the whole list until finally it was time to land. Unfortunate as it was, the emirates flight landed late and my next connecting flight to Denver was left with 40 minutes to go through the customs, collect my luggage, and go through the security and check in. I had no choice but to run through the whole airport, I made it to the customs in about 5 minutes and crazy enough while this customs officer was more interested in taking my finger prints I was telling him to be quick I was going to miss my next flight. He rather laughed and to my relief I was free to run over to my luggage which took almost hours to appear. I did miss my flight. I was devastated.
Karachi's luggage is going to be the last one to appear, the lady standing beside me said to me, I looked up with my miserable face and asked if she was from Karachi, yes she replied and told me that she had noticed me from the Karachi airport itself. soon waiting for our luggage we got into a huge discussion and soon she was offering all sorts of help. She gave me the number of United Airlines, calling them was not a single help. I called the Unreasonable Institute and let them know. They let me know how it was easier for me to go explain it to the Airlines and see if I get help. walking with heavy feet I was already thinking up how would I be arranging the next flight and how it all is going to be so tough when this lady at the United Airlines told me how she took pity on my lonely soul to be so away from my home country and quickly put me up on the next flight. I was amazed at the generosity.
So there I was with my plane just about to be flying in an hour, this announcement came chanting through the airport: This certain flight to Denver is delayed by 4 hours. Wow I thought, what else could go wrong. and so here I am sitting at the airport waiting for my flight, writing this blog post and keenly looking forward to be the record broker on the longest travel one could ever do through air~
8 days left until the first ever Unreasonable Institute begins.... the thought itself is scary and exciting! However the most noticeable thing is right when things are being whole lot of a rush for the Unreasonable Institute official team, their enthusiasm keeps growing with it.... tough people, I was thinking while reading down the ever inspiring emails coming on our way while we now pack for Boulder, Colorado!
For me this is just the first of its kind experience where thrilling set of expectations, hopes, fears and odd enough... confusion come along. 10 week stay with worlds most high-impact ventures is nothing that I have experienced before! Of course YouthActionNet(R) Retreat is an exception which has shifted the paradigms of us fellows in just 8 days! I cant forget the time when I was training my team for a whole month on what I had learned during my short time in DC ! 8 days impact was overwhelmingly visible and now we are talking about 10 weeks in a row, We might in fact overflow with skills and expertise:)
While discussing our preparations, one of the fellows pointed out it was quite hard to wrap up while we prepare to take off to Boulder.... I had contemplated on this statement for so long I almost lost its meaning, but then again the importance remained. Total devotion to our ventures is needed at the Unreasonable Institute and it could not be made possible with our mind still strolling back to un-done things back in our countries. However for me wrapping up came with a little more of a different meaning, while I too am wrapping up my work here at Sughar, I am also concentrating on emptying my cup for the Institute..... I dont know if this means I am putting all my expectations on the Institute but for me the sole reason is the rarity of such experiences in my life where the offer was far too high and thus I don't mind being selfish enough to empty my mind off every little bits and pieces of whats inside to take in each second of what I learn from the Unreasonable Institute:)
Now when I pack for this great adventure ahead I leave behind every thing except for the vision, to create a society where women are NOT killed for "honor" but are honored and given equal status and rights.
For me this is just the first of its kind experience where thrilling set of expectations, hopes, fears and odd enough... confusion come along. 10 week stay with worlds most high-impact ventures is nothing that I have experienced before! Of course YouthActionNet(R) Retreat is an exception which has shifted the paradigms of us fellows in just 8 days! I cant forget the time when I was training my team for a whole month on what I had learned during my short time in DC ! 8 days impact was overwhelmingly visible and now we are talking about 10 weeks in a row, We might in fact overflow with skills and expertise:)
While discussing our preparations, one of the fellows pointed out it was quite hard to wrap up while we prepare to take off to Boulder.... I had contemplated on this statement for so long I almost lost its meaning, but then again the importance remained. Total devotion to our ventures is needed at the Unreasonable Institute and it could not be made possible with our mind still strolling back to un-done things back in our countries. However for me wrapping up came with a little more of a different meaning, while I too am wrapping up my work here at Sughar, I am also concentrating on emptying my cup for the Institute..... I dont know if this means I am putting all my expectations on the Institute but for me the sole reason is the rarity of such experiences in my life where the offer was far too high and thus I don't mind being selfish enough to empty my mind off every little bits and pieces of whats inside to take in each second of what I learn from the Unreasonable Institute:)
Now when I pack for this great adventure ahead I leave behind every thing except for the vision, to create a society where women are NOT killed for "honor" but are honored and given equal status and rights.
“For me my whole faith existed because of the belief that my family will always be safe, loosing my 5 children all at once led my trust fall badly over the Indigenous wisdom, traditional knowledge and predictions” (Zar Gul)
Zar Gul, a 55 year old indigenous woman and mother of 7 children belongs to a small village of Union Council Pashta Khan of District Khuzdar.
Zar Gul is one of the unfortunate victims of unexpected flash floods of recent past in the “drought hit” areas of Mountains of Moolla, District Khuzdar, When the sudden waves broke into the small village in the deep of night and took away with them great property, human lives including the 5 children of Zar Gul who were deep in slumber when disaster struck.
“It isn’t like we never faced floods before, but we have always relied with the core of our hearts on the traditional predictions that told us when to move up to the mountain tops with our family and sheep before any floods did came”. Says Zar Gul
The community like other surrounding communities of the district follows traditional practices of living, Medicines usually come from shrubs which are prepared in a certain way to cure even worse kind of infections and illness, weather predictions and seasons of cropping and harvesting are predicted by the indigenous wise people who have lived their whole lives in these mountains.
However most unfortunately at present when not only natural disasters are coming unpredicted the traditional pattern of cultivating land is also at great risks in Balohcistan, where the province mainly relies on “Khuskaba” and “Sailaba” patterns of land cultivation. The people in the upper areas usually wait for rainy seasons and work hard the whole year in preparing the land until rain falls on time, while people in the low lands prepare their lands to wait for floods to use water for cropping. These patterns have severely been under risk as rains show up right in the times of harvesting, or while crops are in the time of blossoming.
“Its all revenge of Allah that fells upon us”, Says one of the neighbors of Zar Gul, “our sins hold so much weight to let us face these horrible disasters and rain when we don’t even want it”.
Sughar a civil society organization from District Khuzdar have been working with these communities to raise awareness about Climate Change which to them is “God’s revenge”, the organization have been influencing the people to do their share of mitigating or adapting to the new patterns, and while helping them to cope Sughar have provided Alterative livelihood measures in the form of 5 goats to each poorest of poor women and Embroidery Centers to help sell their traditional products in the huge markets around Pakistan and abroad.
Climate Change in Balochistan came as unconsciously as these floods that cost many lives, the province already facing severe droughts and harsh weather had seen drastic changes in the climate pattern from the very beginning of the century.
And while work is in progress, the faith of these people keeps lessening day by day on the traditional practices, which being a challenge for them locally is also a great challenge to the whole world and to its massive diversity including the very truth that the world is getting short on its most important as well as reliable source of knowledge and wisdom.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The above case study is a part of my Climate Change Awareness-Visit to almost all of the villages in District Khuzdar as a part of the The Climate Project (TCP) and Australian Conservation Foundations (ACF) Presenter activity and Sughar’s Reclaiming our Climate Campaign. I am proud to share that I also belong to a small community of Khuzdar and am most pleased to share this case study and open to any ideas and comments that come on my way.
With Respect,
Khalida Brohi
Sughar Pakistan-
"Narrating a child's words about life, in future"
Glancing down the shining green
waves of meadows with shimmering hue
My grandpa tells me of a world
A world that was Green and Blue...
Singing in the pleasant mode
Where birds with beautiful feathers flew
Dancing down the dirt roads
Shepherds whistles blew
A world where ladies walked with glee
Baking flour breads for whining Woo
Where sky glimmered with delight
and yet all this is true....
My thoughts come back to my existing time
My world as now and the life I will live through
Why things changed and its all gray now
When the world was green and blue...
I love my electric pen and my robotic toys
Even my robot at my service, serving me stew
I do love all these "pleasures" I have
But I envy, oh grandpa I envy you
I would rather have none of these
I would rather make my own stew
But I heart the sky thats never gray
and its all mighty blue
Can you feel the sad that I feel
The tears that I shed each morning too
cuz I know I am not lucky
Like grandma jolly, nor like you....
10th March 2010.... Its still unbelievable for us at Sughar to go see the venture profile at the Unreasonable Marketpace to be fully funded!....we made it at last!!!
Realizing the whole process of Fundraising behind it was just the past month, when our first meeting at Sughar took place to plan the whole thing, it was like start of a revolution where my warrior team members were my true pride!
The month went on like a rush! Contacting hundreds of people in and out Pakistan, getting in touch with friends, supporters, mentors, stakeholders and beneficiaries and reaching out to various networks! It was more then we could actually take at a time, the experience was nothing short of an amazing adventure!
I seriously found the whole fundraising idea one of my life's rare moments when the support that was showered from all across the world brought us tears, smiles and reasons to celebrate. In fact the fundraising campaign never actually remained a fundraising campaign, it transformed itself into a journey where learning, sharing and fun all came together…. And more important among all, the love and support from people whole believed in us and our vision of Sughar. I remember reading emails replying me with;
“anything for your cause, we believe in the vision and concept and the truth that Honor Killing does have an end.... and Sughar would be one of those reasons behind that end”..
“Sughar’s team is perhaps the most inspiring people around! The enthusiasm is what drives us to support”..
These are the things that kept us going, more then the funds itself it was the encouraging words and the kindness and the belief of people in us was what made the whole thing a rare experience of our life!
Let me put forward the fact that the support of these very people has led us to reach out to 4600 people in the past month!!!
during our halfway journey the support led me to write a big note of thanks to all of them, though I missed a lot but here is where my thanks goes to all of you for believing in us!
http://khalida-brohi.blogspot.com/2010/02/unreasonable-road-till-now-moment-to.html
The main ACT of Sughar!
http://khalida-brohi.blogspot.com/2010/02/pdis-door-to-door-unreasonable.html
Following the successes just recently International Campaign against Honor Killing gave us the privilege of publishing Sughar's fundraising call to their website! This was one of the biggest success and recruited a lot of support!
SGB International published about Sughar on their website!
Betty of whatgives365.wordpress.com/ was the last kind supporter! she did a wonderful blog on Sughar and our achievements as well! http://whatgives365.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/week-2-of-unreasonable-propositions-ending-honor-killings-in-pakistan/
And finally when 70% of Funds were reached out, Unreasonable Institute announced about the Finalist Selection Fund (FSF) which was a grand support from a partner and was directed towards the marketplace. Then is when we the finalists got to vote towards ventures we believed in, by today everyone sent out their votes to the Unreasonable Institute and this morning the results proved themselves in a lot of other ventures and Sughar being fully funded!
I am simply touched by the generous support and kindness of finalists at the Marketplace, who believed in Sughar and its impact. With their help and the support of people around I have finally made it as an Unreasonable Finalist today and am honored and proud to be part of this amazing batch of people who get to meet and work this summer in Boulder in the Unreasonable Institute~
Here is to making BIG change and HUGE impact that starts with mere encouragement…
-->
Ok here I am... compelled crazily to write about the "adventure" that I and my team at Sughar went through the few days back. We are still not done with the whoops! hurrays! and yays! of the selection trauma, however I could get myself snap out of that and come back to track and see what exactly is going to happen NOW. Of course before we all do look on that unreasonable road further I am delighted to tell all of our supporters, friends, mentors and all those who care, about how we went through the fundraising process and how it was an adventure unforgettable for us!
Memories go back to two months ago, Sughar in the semi-finalists was unbelievable enough for us to take until we came to know about being finalists! happiness doesn't have its limits and I cant describe how the Sughar team felt that time! We couldn't believe Sughar was acknowledged unreasonable even though we took pride of the word for years without being officially recognized.
However the true competition was yet to start and we were all well aware of the Fundraising ahead to raise 6,500 USD that makes 5,48000 PKR... It was time for us to immediately reach out to the friends of Sughar, networks, partners, supporters and family members.
But our main fear was the issue we put forth... to fundraise we had to use Media and the desperate need was to be avoided because of the risks that each member of Sughar saw within it. Many ideas crossed our minds, many were suggested and much more stood there to profit us but the main risk attached to publicity led us back in planning our funraising campaign... And we had to stick to usual sort of concept writing, silent meetings and personally contacting donors.
Luckily or let me say oddly It wasn't one day when our plans changed, the reason behind it most obviously was the "Sughar team". The 43 young, energetic, capable and most inspiring team of Sughar who had fought through opposition previously and this time if they arrive weren't new. We couldn't have been more proud! and thus our second plan followed in four main points of planning:
Memories go back to two months ago, Sughar in the semi-finalists was unbelievable enough for us to take until we came to know about being finalists! happiness doesn't have its limits and I cant describe how the Sughar team felt that time! We couldn't believe Sughar was acknowledged unreasonable even though we took pride of the word for years without being officially recognized.
However the true competition was yet to start and we were all well aware of the Fundraising ahead to raise 6,500 USD that makes 5,48000 PKR... It was time for us to immediately reach out to the friends of Sughar, networks, partners, supporters and family members.
But our main fear was the issue we put forth... to fundraise we had to use Media and the desperate need was to be avoided because of the risks that each member of Sughar saw within it. Many ideas crossed our minds, many were suggested and much more stood there to profit us but the main risk attached to publicity led us back in planning our funraising campaign... And we had to stick to usual sort of concept writing, silent meetings and personally contacting donors.
Luckily or let me say oddly It wasn't one day when our plans changed, the reason behind it most obviously was the "Sughar team". The 43 young, energetic, capable and most inspiring team of Sughar who had fought through opposition previously and this time if they arrive weren't new. We couldn't have been more proud! and thus our second plan followed in four main points of planning:
- Treasure: (What is already there we got)
- Opportunities: (What could be attained)
- Obstacles: (risks and how do we avoid or fight them)
- (Plan B)(We felt like having a plan B acts as a life saver sometimes and thus it did!)
1. Treasure: (What is already there we got)
- This the message and how powerful it is. (believe me a powerful message is the very treasure needed to approach millions)
- It also includes all those people, organizations, supporters and family members whom you know will support in funds or in spreading the word
- Your Team is the 3rd treasure item available, these are the people who forget living, eating, sleeping properly for the mutual goal and that's the true beauty of it.
- Family and those close ones to whom you rope up, these always stand there to make you feel good. Even if not financial helping the encouragement, love and support and the very thought that some one behind you is there to hold you strong if you fell is enough to make you successful.
- Willpower: Its you, yourself, and the belief in your mind and soul.
2. Opportunities: (What could be attained/used to attain)
- Media first and foremost is an opportunity, reach out to as much as publicity you care
- The friends of your friends, the big plan always must have its detours, if your friends cant support could "his" friend support? just try it!
- Supportive (rich) people: There are millions of people out there in this world who want to put there money for a good cause, locate them and let them know about your message and why do you exactly need help.
- Put forward a reward for those who support, search how you or your organization can reward a certain person organization who funds you, it dosent have to be a return ticket to New york but you can offer as much as you can provide.
- Obstacles: (risks and how do we avoid or fight them)
Always count obstacles, fears, risks, blunders, barriers and each setback before you step ahead. NOT to be afraid of those but to be cautious of those.
The point that I want to make clear at the moment is.... many times usually we search for obstacles in our planning and our accusing eyes try as much as to make visible the forces who would try to harm us or our plan. but have we ever thought that to reach a goal, or to succeed the main obstacle in reality is "ourself". We are the true enemies of our desires, goals and dreams when we start disbelieving our success.
4. Plan B! (We felt like having a plan B acts as a life saver sometimes and thus it did!)
This is the time when you use force! (kidding*)
Plan B usually includes our power to be flexible to the environment we are fundraising in, if we are flexible enough we might end up reaching to our same goal but through a different road, and there is nothing bad to it. A mission as you know always includes persistence to succeed but when we add experimentation to persistence that can lead us to gaining even more then we ever wished for because that helps us learn new structures and strategies.
For Sughar plan B did became a part of our reaching out for the funds. After the continues hard road of trying outs, when we did see that it perhaps was taking us all our lifes to reach out for the money we "went" to the money our-self! We initiated a door to door knock-knock! campaign and knocked at the doors of offices of civil society, media workers, policy makers, famous people*, rich people* and anyone we could get our eyes on in about 4 districts where we operate in Sindh and Balochistan and violla! we made it!
5. Say thank you!
In the end as the rule goes, "always say thank you" and we must. People who support you are those who have believed on our vision, on our perception and on how we see things, these people have put their money or any other support not just to please but to contribute towards change that you are eager to make and you must let them all see that very change happening! Say sincere thanks and keep in touch to let them in on the journey they chose to come alongside with you and your team, life becomes marvelous when supportive people join us~
....Writing all this I am compelled to think back about all the generous help and support that came from all around the world for Sughar, the unbelievable trust people put in us and right now we are taking our first steps towards paying them back by keeping their trust and fulfilling the vision we long see. We promise we wont disappoint anyone.
Here's to an equal and sustainable society for all~
-->10th March 2010.... Its still unbelievable for us at Sughar to go see the venture profile at the Unreasonable Marketplace to be fully funded!....we made it at last!!!
http://www.unreasonableinstitute.org/finalists/index.php?action=about_pro&proId=163
Realizing the whole process of Fundraising behind it was just the past month, when our first meeting at Sughar took place to plan the whole thing, it was like start of a revolution where my warrior team members were my true pride!
The month went on like a rush! Contacting hundreds of people in and out Pakistan, getting in touch with friends, supporters, mentors, stakeholders and beneficiaries and reaching out to various networks! It was more then we could actually take at a time, the experience was nothing short of an amazing adventure!
I seriously found the whole fundraising idea one of my life's rare moments when the support that was showered from all across the world brought us tears, smiles and reasons to celebrate. In fact the fundraising campaign never actually remained a fundraising campaign, it transformed itself into a journey where learning, sharing and fun all came together…. And more important among all, the love and support from people whole believed in us and our vision of Sughar. I remember reading emails replying me with;
“anything for your cause, we believe in the vision and concept and the truth that Honor Killing does have an end.... and Sughar would be one of those reasons behind that end”..
“Sughar’s team is perhaps the most inspiring people around! The enthusiasm is what drives us to support”..
These are the things that kept us going, more then the funds itself it was the encouraging words and the kindness and the belief of people in us was what made the whole thing a rare experience of our life!
Let me put forward the fact that the support of these very people has led us to reach out to 4600 people in the past month!!!
During our halfway journey the support led me to write a big note of thanks to all of them, though I missed a lot but here is where my thanks goes to all of you for believing in us!
http://khalida-brohi.blogspot.com/2010/02/unreasonable-road-till-now-moment-to.html
The main ACT of Sughar!
http://khalida-brohi.blogspot.com/2010/02/pdis-door-to-door-unreasonable.html
Following the successes just recently International Campaign against Honor Killing gave us the privilege of publishing Sughar's fundraising call to their website! This was one of the biggest success and recruited a lot of support!
SGB International published about Sughar on their website!
Betty of whatgives365.wordpress.com/ was the last kind supporter! she did a wonderful blog on Sughar and our achievements as well! http://whatgives365.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/week-2-of-unreasonable-propositions-ending-honor-killings-in-pakistan/
And finally when 70% of Funds were reached out, Unreasonable Institute announced about the Finalist Selection Fund (FSF) which was a grand support from a partner and was directed towards the marketplace. Then is when we the finalists got to vote towards ventures we believed in, by today everyone sent out their votes to the Unreasonable Institute and this morning the results proved themselves in a lot of other ventures and Sughar being fully funded!
I am simply touched by the generous support and kindness of finalists at the Marketplace, who believed in Sughar and its impact. With their help and the support of people around I have finally made it as an Unreasonable Finalist today and am honored and proud to be part of this amazing batch of people who get to meet and work this summer in Boulder in the Unreasonable Institute~
And the the road of Unreasonabilitiy continues for Sughar while destination isn't far~
http://www.unreasonableinstitute.org/finalists/index.php?action=about_pro&proId=163
Realizing the whole process of Fundraising behind it was just the past month, when our first meeting at Sughar took place to plan the whole thing, it was like start of a revolution where my warrior team members were my true pride! The month went on like a rush! Contacting hundreds of people in and out Pakistan, getting in touch with friends, supporters, mentors, stakeholders and beneficiaries and reaching out to various networks! It was more then we could actually take at a time, the experience was nothing short of an amazing adventure!
I seriously found the whole fundraising idea one of my life's rare moments when the support that was showered from all across the world brought us tears, smiles and reasons to celebrate. In fact the fundraising campaign never actually remained a fundraising campaign, it transformed itself into a journey where learning, sharing and fun all came together…. And more important among all, the love and support from people whole believed in us and our vision of Sughar. I remember reading emails replying me with;
“anything for your cause, we believe in the vision and concept and the truth that Honor Killing does have an end.... and Sughar would be one of those reasons behind that end”..
“Sughar’s team is perhaps the most inspiring people around! The enthusiasm is what drives us to support”..
These are the things that kept us going, more then the funds itself it was the encouraging words and the kindness and the belief of people in us was what made the whole thing a rare experience of our life!
Let me put forward the fact that the support of these very people has led us to reach out to 4600 people in the past month!!!
During our halfway journey the support led me to write a big note of thanks to all of them, though I missed a lot but here is where my thanks goes to all of you for believing in us!
http://khalida-brohi.blogspot.com/2010/02/unreasonable-road-till-now-moment-to.html
The main ACT of Sughar!
http://khalida-brohi.blogspot.com/2010/02/pdis-door-to-door-unreasonable.html
Following the successes just recently International Campaign against Honor Killing gave us the privilege of publishing Sughar's fundraising call to their website! This was one of the biggest success and recruited a lot of support!
SGB International published about Sughar on their website!
Betty of whatgives365.wordpress.com/ was the last kind supporter! she did a wonderful blog on Sughar and our achievements as well! http://whatgives365.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/week-2-of-unreasonable-propositions-ending-honor-killings-in-pakistan/
And finally when 70% of Funds were reached out, Unreasonable Institute announced about the Finalist Selection Fund (FSF) which was a grand support from a partner and was directed towards the marketplace. Then is when we the finalists got to vote towards ventures we believed in, by today everyone sent out their votes to the Unreasonable Institute and this morning the results proved themselves in a lot of other ventures and Sughar being fully funded!
I am simply touched by the generous support and kindness of finalists at the Marketplace, who believed in Sughar and its impact. With their help and the support of people around I have finally made it as an Unreasonable Finalist today and am honored and proud to be part of this amazing batch of people who get to meet and work this summer in Boulder in the Unreasonable Institute~
And the the road of Unreasonabilitiy continues for Sughar while destination isn't far~