Fundraiser organised for SOS Children’s Village

Islamabad

A volunteer is described as a person that that actively takes on a task, responsibility, or project on his or her own accord without needing to be assigned, ordered, or told to do so. Raising funds for the project they work for is part of the duties volunteers take on happily, so it was that committee members who oversee the running of the SOS Children’s Village in Islamabad, organised an event featuring ace designer Nida Azwer, who showcased her striking, ‘The Summer Palace Collection,’ which was recently shown in Beirut. 

Welcoming the attendees, Chairperson, Management Committee, Fareeah Abid Hasan thanked them for their support. “Your generosity has enabled us to make SOS village Islamabad a centre of excellence for the most vulnerable in society - children without parental care,” she said. “Our village has more than a 100 children, each of them hoping and dreaming for a better future. Last year we were able to complete a primary school, an auditorium and a secondary school, thanks to your support and the generosity of the Washington, DC and UK chapters of the SOS support group.”

She went on to say that at the opening of the primary school, which was financed by the Washington, DC chapter, they were pleasantly surprised by a special message to the children from President and Mrs Barak Obama which said, "You are tomorrow’s leaders and your generation gives us hope for the future. Remember to believe in yourself and to keep looking out for others. As long as you focus on school, work hard and never stop looking for the next thing to learn, there are no limits to what you can achieve. We are rooting for you."

Adding that Islamabad village needs a new bus and they want the village to go solar, she said fundraising was important and money can sustain a child’s basic needs but love is what develops the mind and the soul. “I urge you to visit the village. Help us not only with your generosity but by donating your time. Make these children a part of your family, a part of our Islamabad family,” she said “This is what SOS is all about, the importance of family in the life of a child, so thank you for being a part of the SOS family.”

She then went on to thank the Austrian Ambassador, Dr Blaha for her support; a group of ‘very lovely ladies’- the friends of SOS- who have gone out of their way to interact with the children at SOS. They meet once a month; collect funds and are present at the monthly birthday parties of the children. “We at SOS are indebted to them for their kindness and their generosity,” she said then went on to thank Nida Azwer being part of this fundraiser; CEO Serena Aziz Bolani and his wife Waqar; the Floral Art Society; Fahad Panni for the setup; Tariq Amin for the styling and makeup and Fayeza Amin for the choreography. A special thank you went to Uzair Jaswal. 

Ambassador Baha spoke about the SOS villages, an independent, non-governmental international development organisation founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria, which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949. She concluded by lauding the ladies for doing a good job with the village under their supervision and thanking everyone involved for their support.

Needless to say the show was fabulous, with an aesthetically set up stage; outfits which are sure to be on the wish list of many of the women present; a ‘feel good’ atmosphere and a bonus performance by up and coming musician, Uzair Jaswal who sang a special song accompanied by some of the village children. The MC for the evening was General Secretary, Rabya Qadir, while a ‘Thank you for Caring,’ display of boards carried by the younger children was touching.

SOS Children's villages have been working with children and their families in Pakistan since 1975. SOS Children's Villages provides permanent support in the form of health care, education and counselling to families in need. At present, there are 15 villages in Pakistan, besides youth facilities, Hermann Gmeiner schools; vocational training centres; social centres; a medical centre and two emergency relief programmes.