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With reference to iEARN
Pakistan's Youth Volunteering and Community Service Program. A group of
students belonging to City District Govt. Girls High School Shadman lead
by their teacher Kalsoom Akhtar planned to spend a day at a children's
hospital.
A week before the activity Ms.
Kalsoom an active iEARNer explained the purpose of the activity to her
grade VIII - X students making them aware of reaching out and helping
others and how and why there is a need to institutionalize this activity.
As it is the responsibility of every individual to help improve the
standard of living of each other.
Kalsoom Akhtar shares the
details of her students community service activity: |
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Students showed keen interest in
this program as they don’t normally get chances to get involve in such
activities. So the number of students got increased to 20 which were
initially decided to be 10 students. All of us decided as to what kinds of
activities we will be doing with those sick children and what materials
would be needed to conduct the activities. We came to a conclusion that
more eatables and toys should be brought to them so that it would be easy
to make friends with them (patients).So everyone registered her name and
the item she would be bringing that day. I feared that we might run short
of things that day because these students are not from well off families.
They promised to bring the items but might not get permission from
parents. But to my utmost surprise and pleasure, on the activity day we
had so much with us that we planned to extend our activity to other wards
too.
 On
the morning of 4th of April we gathered at The City District Govt. Girls
High School, Shadman.Students were very excited and enthusiastic. After
getting the final approval of their principal we boarded the Alif Laila’s
colorful bus. We were 23 in number out of which 20 were students, one of
their school teachers and two from Alif Laila Book Bus Society. We left
for the hospital in a very happy mood but students were bit confused
regarding the attitudes of the patients and their family as we’ve been
told that they might not approve this. We bought some more toys on our way
to hospital.
The bus reached hospital around 10:30am in the morning but we were kept
waiting for more then half and hour just because the doctor whom we had
talked about our activity plan hadn’t arrived yet. The students had to
wait in the bus all the time and they got bit irritated by the delay.
After almost which seemed an eternity we were able to find the ward which
would meet our requirements. But the hospital crew was very cooperative,
the reason for delay was just that as it’s a big hospital and there are
many wards so it took a while to look for the one which would suit our
activity plan. As there were only 4 or 5 patients in one ward and they
were of different age group so we got allowed to move patients of similar
age group from one ward to another. All the while sick children and their
family members seemed surprised and intrigued in what was happening but
students introduced themselves and told them that they were here to spend
a day with them and those children were surely going to have fun.
The condition of those patients was very saddening and they were no shine
in their young eyes and no smile on their faces even when the students
greet them. So it was necessary to make friends with those children first.
We asked them that what has had happened to them and how long have they
been in the hospital? Some were there as long as two months and this has
greatly disturbed their studies. And they are not able to enjoy life as
they used to since they’ve been admitted in the hospital. This gave the
students a point where they could twist the twig, so we asked them if they
want to play and have fun while lying on their beds with new friends. From
that on there was no reluctance among students and patients. Together they
made masks, colored drawings, played with toys, shared jokes and stories
with each other. The patients in other wards also got interested so we
went to them as well. Parents of those ill children were very happy and
one mother exclaimed that her son is been admitted here since five days
and didn’t sit on his own but today he is not only happy but also pull
himself up and sat! Students distributed eatables (juices, milk packs,
chocolates, candies, biscuits) and coloring books and school bags among
children. They helped with their connecting tubes as well. How three hours
passed nobody noticed, and the time came for our departure. Students
wanted to spend more time but they were supposed to be back at their
schools on time. Before leaving we took an oath from those patients that
they would pay visit to some sick person after they’ll recover because now
they understand that how it feels when someone comes to see you when you
are not well and confined to your own bed.
On our way back we were all filled with a sense of fulfillment and
satisfaction. Everyone was amused and exclaimed that all their efforts and
awaiting time was worth it!! The smile which they lend them and the light
which was being lit in those empty eyes would be long remembered!
No. Of students participated from City Disatrict Govt. High School is 20.
Activity was facilitated by: Kulsoom and Sabah Rehman
The teacher incharges
have posted the project reports in the iEARN Student Unlimited forum. |