Green Wave for Sabika Sheikh - Tree Plantation Projects

YES alumni Pakistan carried out a month-long “Green Wave for Sabika Sheikh – Tree Plantation Projects” campaign in remembrance of the late YES student Sabika Sheikh. The alumni teams gathered in various cities and regions of Pakistan nationwide and engaged students, teachers, community members and other likeminded individuals in planting trees, flowers, and saplings of all kinds. The projects carried out under this theme were aimed to not only remember the achievements of late Sabika Sheikh, but also highlight the importance of healthy environment for the betterment of the community members. The activities served as a foundation for the participants to play their active role in making their surroundings greener and healthier. In addition, a maximum number of YES alumni participated in these activities to provide their support and strength to the fellow YES alumni in this time of grief. Nearly 60 alumni participated in 13 cities including Attock, DG Khan, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Ghotki, Karachi, Lahore, Mansehra, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi and Sawabi and engaged nearly 700 students, teachers, community members and likeminded individuals.

The activities were appreciated widely by the YES alumni as it brought them together for a common cause. They said that Sabika Sheikh was a brave, confident and independent girl with full potential to realize her dreams. They said that they would strive towards carrying forward her legacy and keep it alive through their activism in benefitting the communities around them. They also added that through these plantation activities, the memory of Sabika Sheikh will always be with us. Other participants of the activities also pledged to make their surroundings greener and healthier in pursuit of a better environment.

The activities undertaken in this series were also showcased on social media including Facebook and Twitter in an effort to include the web-based audience in the discussion and encourage them to participate in this cause as well. Overall, the activities were a great success altogether.

Eid-ul-Azha Celebration Projects 2018

YES alumni from Faisalabad, Gilgit, Islamabad, Lahore, Mansehra and Rawalpindi carried out the project "Eid-ul-Azha Celebration" projects focusing on visiting the children at orphanages and underserved locations as well as spend time with the elderly people at Old Age Homes on the occasion of Eid. The alumni distributed small Eid gifts among them along with playing board games, sing songs and spend an excellent time with them. The alumni distributed candies, sweets and juices among the participants, shared henna and bangles as well as played outdoor sports with them. Overall, it was a fun day for the participants as they celebrated Eid which usually would have been a dull occasion for them. Nearly 20 YES alumni participated in the project along with benefiting nearly 300 people.

The project was widely appreciated by the children and other participants. They said that they never expected their Eid to be so colorful. They were thankful to the YES alumni for taking the time and spending their Eid with them. The elders of the community also appreciated such steps and said that efforts like these bring people closer to each other and strengthen the notion of peace, love and harmony. Overall, the projects were a great success.

YES 2017-18 Re-Entry Seminar (Karachi & Islamabad)

Karachi, June 29: The event was a celebration of the successful completion of the year 2017-18 of the YES Program in Pakistan as 27 alumni from the latest returning batch of YES Program belonging to Sindh and Baluchistan attended the event and shared their experiences. The event was also attended by guests from U.S. Consulate General Karachi, staff at iEARN Pakistan and outgoing students of the YES 2018-19.

The event was a chance for the latest returned alumni to learn about the YES alumni activities, project management and project proposal/report writing in order to get involved in their communities. The alumni were officially welcomed to the alumni association by Hassan Saeed and Umair Mughal, the Program Officers working at iEARN Pakistan. The alumni learned about the projects happening nationwide and how they can get involved in the process to benefit their communities at large.

The alumni learned about how to design projects at grass-root level and continue with the spirit of service learning and volunteerism. The participants also learned about Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN) and educated them about the various opportunities available at PUAN for the YES alumni at large.

The alumni also met the students from the outgoing batch of YES 2017-18 and shared their exchange experience with them. The Chief Guest of the evening was the honourable Deputy Council General of the U.S. Consulate Karachi Mr. John Warner. He talked about how each one of the recent returnee played a role of cultural ambassador in U.S. and now their responsibility continues as they will invest their time in the communities and address their needs. He also encouraged the outbound YES students to be at the best of their behaviour while in the United States and exchange the culture of Pakistan with their counterparts in United States to have a fruitful experience altogether.

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Islamabad, June 26: The event was a celebration of the successful completion of the year 2017-18 of the YES Program in Pakistan as 48 alumni from the latest returning batch of YES Program belonging to Punjab, KP, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir attended the event and shared their experiences. The event was also attended by guests from U.S. Embassy Islamabad, staff at iEARN Pakistan and outgoing students of the YES 2018-19.

The event was a chance for the latest returned alumni to learn about the YES alumni activities, project management and project proposal/report writing in order to get involved in their communities. The alumni were officially welcomed to the alumni association by Hassan Saeed and Umair Mughal, the Program Officers working at iEARN Pakistan. The alumni learned about the projects happening nationwide and how they can get involved in the process to benefit their communities at large. The alumni learned about how to design projects at grass-root level and continue with the spirit of service learning and volunteerism.

The participants also learned about Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) from the concerned staff named as Mr. Shahid Waseem, who is the Alumni Affairs Coordinator at U.S. Embassy Islamabad, and Waqar Khan, who is the Alumni Outreach Officer at United States Educational Foundation for Pakistan, and educated them about the various opportunities available at PUAN for the YES alumni at large.

The alumni also met the students from the outgoing batch of YES 2017-18 and shared their exchange experience with them. The Chief Guest of the evening was the honorable U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. David Hale. Other distinguished guests from U.S. Embassy Islamabad were also present. They talked about how each one of the recent returnee played a role of cultural ambassador in U.S. and now their responsibility continues as they will invest their time in the communities and address their needs.

The event was also attended by two U.S. National soccer team players named Tony Sanneh and Lorrie Fair. They encouraged the outbound YES students to be at the best of their behavior while in the United States and exchange the culture of Pakistan with their counterparts in United States to have a fruitful experience altogether. The event concluded with group photographs.