PHILANTHROPY

What’s #AKiloOfKindness

and how does it concern you?

The Independence Day was celebrated with much zeal and fervour last week as the nation pledged to take the country forward against all odds. While many of these promises would be brushed aside and moved under the carpet, Mövenpick Hotel Karachi has planned a corporate social responsibility campaign marking the United Nations International Day of Charity (September 5). Their campaign, however, will run from August 21 to September 1.

The resort has chosen to support The Garage School (TGS), run by Shabina Mustafa, in Neelum Colony, DHA. Talking to Us, Amara Ashraf (Marketing and Communications Manager) reflected upon the financial assistance that a number of large educational organisations are provided with. TGS is not so lucky; the school and its students have not received much attention. There are around 400 students of various ages who are currently enrolled in different grades (primary to secondary) and are studying in a single building that is TGS. As such, some of the problems the organisation is facing in its expansion include lack of infrastructure. The commitment to help them deal with as many problems as possible is noble and worth anything you can invest.

Illiteracy is one of the root causes of all the evils prevailing in our society, one of which is child labour. If a child is educated, there’s no guaranteeing what he or she can and will achieve. If not, well , aged underprivileged (and underpaid) people aren’t exactly hiding, are they? Compare for yourself, for instance, the salary of an aged sweeper to a young girl working in a multinational company and you’ll know the difference quality education makes in a person’s life. Why can’t we then empower them? They are the youth, the future of our country, as well.

Which brings us to the activity in question: a kilo of kindness. Strictly speaking, ‘A Kilo of Kindness’ is part of Shine, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts global sustainability programme. With its activities based on three pillars – environment, employer and social sustainability – Shine’s goal is to give back to the communities where the company operates, especially if it concerns the field of education.

“A Kilo of Kindness is basically asking our guests, corporate clients, and any local person stopping by the hotel to donate whatever they can,” elaborates Amara. “It can be books, stationery, cheques, cash, uniforms, backpacks ... literally anything that you think a school-going child can profit from. As a ‘thank you’, the donors will receive a delicious scoop of ice-cream. 

“Our goal has always been to stimulate and engage the locals in our activities,” she stressed. The corporate sectors are always willing to contribute to specific causes, but it’s high time that Karachi ki awaam shoulders the responsibility, too. Given the cause is not just monetary and given, too, that new sessions have begun, giving away old books, notebooks, pens, pencils, and such to those in need is not asking much. What’s more, to ensure contributors are not stressed in any way, they are welcome to drop by 24/7 in the hotel lobby and add to #akiloofkindness.

“Only the founder and co-founder support those kids; nobody approached them as such,” Amara told Us. If you are interested to see this country move forward, you should be interested in seeing its youth educated, you should enable them to explore opportunities to develop and improve their standard of living.”