The moment I see a child not holding school bags but begging on streets — shakes me. I decided to do whatever I could, even a minor act of teaching one child. In my Summer break 2019, I devoted my time in volunteering for Alumni Development Program (ADP) at The Citizens Foundation (TCF), Secondary School Bedian Road, Heir Campus, Lahore. It was 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. three-week-long from June 24, 19 to 20 July 15, 19.

TCF vision of change through education ‘to remove barriers of class and privilege to make the citizens of Pakistan agents of positive change’ motivated me to volunteer for them. The reason I choose TCF for my volunteer experience is that TCF provides a well-structured volunteer program along with orientation and training. The aim of the ADP to motivate the TCF alumni for further studies captured my attention as most of their students after Matriculation left their studies.

As a volunteer at TCF school, I taught Mathematics to alumni students, conducted diagnostic tests, quizzes and in-class activities. From diagnostic tests, I realized some students were struggling with their basic math skills. One of the fundamental problems they were confronting is of language. They have studied in Urdu medium and ADP syllabus was in English. Before teaching I asked them the Urdu terms of symbols written on board and then translate it to English. To make this a fun activity I said to them I will learn the Urdu terms of Mathematics from you and you will learn English terms from me. In this way, the students became interested in knowing English terms otherwise hard for them.

When I made practice problems, I tried to connect math to the students’ interests. One of my favourite memories was when Bisma, a student I had been teaching for a week, shared with me she enjoyed the word problems about pets; I had created using her name. Then she formulated math problems for other students. It helped them to improve their math skills along with the self-development. When I asked the students to come on the blackboard, she raised her hand and enthusiastically to create math problems for other students. Another unforgettable memory is when on the way to school we were jammed in traffic due to rain and were late almost an hour, but all students were waiting while sitting in their classroom. One of the students, Bint -e- Kulsoom, still calls me and said she wants me to teach her in future too. Her wish is that I will come to their school again.

The part of the community service accomplishment that I’m most proud of is the visit I planned to the school library. Students could not issue books from the school library. I asked the administrative staff member to keep records of the students and allow them to issue book for at least one week. This visit was important for me as I tried to develop a habit of reading among students. For exchange of ideas after the library session the next day, I asked them to share their thoughts in class. To encourage them to get good grades in quizzes, I also gifted magazine to all the high achievers of the quiz.

Along with other volunteers, we conducted biweekly a hourlong informative and awareness sessions. In one session, I told them the story of the only woman who got Nobel Prize twice in two different fields ‘Marie Curie’. In another session, I shared the transformation story of Nadeem Hussain, a TCF alumni currently working as World Bank Technical Assistant to the Government of Sindh. The purpose of conducting such sessions was to motivate them to work hard despite all odds.

One and the half-hour journey in the scorching summer days: the journey to school for volunteer teaching while perspiring from head to toe in the van made me more patient and grateful person.  Teaching could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate others and be more willing to come in front when I see someone needs help. The grass-root level exposure in the challenging area of Pakistan developed a sense of gratitude in my personality and made me an empathetic observer. 

It allowed me to explore the unprivileged sites of our country. On the way to school, in the heart of an urban slum, I came across broken roads where children were roaming around and playing with tires. On the flip side, students were also waiting for us in their classrooms. The huge campuses there did not provide a nurturing environment. I recognized that dedicated students do not deserve what they are getting.Though TCF is a great initiative of community service and making a difference in lives of many students belonging to unprivileged sites, I was shocked when I conducted a reading activity and some students of grade 10 unable to read simple words. I felt like the organization focus is on the increasing strength of students and not the quality of the education. 

"Voluntary worker Dr. Aizan Sofia Amin is a firm believer in the saying “that which does not kill us makes us stronger”.

Aizan Sofia, who lost her right leg to bone cancer at 16, refuses to let her physical disability stop her from dedicating her time, resources and energy to volunteer for humanitarian activities.

The senior lecturer at University Kebang­saan Malaysia (UKM) in psychology counseling, disability, and social work is a recipient of the Tokoh Pekerja Negara 2019 award for the disabled category.

Ever since she graduated from Inter­national Islamic University Malaysia with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in her early 20s, her days have been packed with volunteer work. “In university, I was isolated by my peers and bullied. I had low self-esteem. People discriminated against me and I felt alone."

“But when I became a volunteer, I felt alive. I felt like I could contribute something and that made me feel valued,” she said in an interview.

Aizan Sofia, 36, was trained in public speaking by Makna founder Datuk Mohd Farid Ariffin and soon started giving inspirational talks aside from doing administrative work in the office as a volunteer.

“I used not to be able to look at people in the eye when talking to them. I was not confident about my English, but my experience as a volunteer at Makna helped me develop communication skills. It changed my life,” she said.

Not long after that, she also volunteered for the Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM) doing fundraising and charity sales.

In 2010, she pursued a Doctorate of Phil­osophy focusing on disabilities at Glasgow University, Scotland, where she was also involved in fundraising for activities for Muslims there.

After completing her studies and returning to Malaysia, Aizan Sofia continued to volunteer with the IRM.

She was recently named the IRM Human­itarian Icon 2018-2020 alongside celebrities such as Irma Hasmie, Diana Amir and Ashraf Muslim.

At the national level, Aizan Sofia is a member of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and a Transformasi Nasional 2050 ambassador.

She also provides training on basic counseling skills to other volunteers.

“When we volunteer, it looks like we are contributing to other people, but we are actually contributing to our own self-development. We don’t lose anything by giving."

“My message to the youth is for them to be active and proactive, and to do something outside of their comfort zone.

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