Life - The coming

Rise of Heroes

Dar ul Sukun - The beginning

Nature’s biggest gift

The human mind is undoubtedly a miracle and a gift bestowed upon us by the Creator. The beauty of thought, the intrigue of imagination and the power of reasoning are a few of the many attributes that a well trained brain enhances. Through these natural endowments, we learn and develop self control, the art of planning and abstract thought.

It is said that ‘the human eye is utterly passive, only the brain can see’. This means that all our bodily functions are controlled by the brain. Simple body movements like raising a finger to standing up on our two feet could not have been possible without the brain, which controls the entire nervous system. In essence, all of us are completely dependent upon the complex and ingenious biological mechanism that resides in our skulls and processes information seamlessly to construct the most perfect of bodily integrations.

Yes readers, a properly functioning brain is a miracle, a miracle that we take for granted. Take a moment to think about life without it. A life without thinking, a life without reasoning, a life without purpose! Now think of people who are mentally challenged. What lives do they lead? What purpose do their lives have? What fault is theirs in being dependent upon someone else, to be taken to the toilet and be cleaned after? 

It is not their fault that they have not been granted with this greatest of nature’s gifts. Yet they are special, special because they need us, we who have the mental power to look after them and not shun them but accept them with open arms and love them. Yes such a branch of special people reside in Dar-ul-Sukun in Karachi.

When I went there with the rest of my classmates for a university project, till the time I actually entered Dar-ul-Sukun, it was just a project. Like every student, I wanted my marks and to get done with the course smoothly but believe me the moment I entered that institution, my mind was engulfed by the strongest feeling of helplessness I have ever experienced. I could not believe that a world like this could exist, that injustice of this manner could be done to such a magnitude by nature.

The special people over there need us, need our love and affection. All that they crave for is a little bit of our precious times. The patients over there have varying degrees of mental illness, and some can react more and are more aware of their senses than others. All in all however, all occupants are incapable of living normal lives and becoming a part of normal society. That is why when we went there to have a little party, with snacks and music and a bit of dancing, they swarm in flocks and took our lead. We all became a merry little group, ignoring the outside world and making a temporary little world of our own there.

The little world that we built then, needs to be made more often and you can’t build it by money, for they are only bills at the end of the day. Cash donations along with personal interaction can bring smiles to the faces of many special children in Dar-ul-Sukun, across Pakistan and throughout the globe. Let’s come together today to make a pledge, for doing whatever we can in our capacities to bring moments of happiness and joy to those who have forgotten how to laugh and smile.

Use your mind well, for you are lucky to have it!

Obaid Patel

Life gifted to us by God… Are we happy about it?

Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and our words into instruments of love and hope.

-Tom Head

Imagine life as a part of the big game which revolves around five imperative features to which we tend to give importance and value. You must be wondering what are those five factors on which our life is based upon? Our life is linked with those factors and we all tend to compete with each other for that with the greed for more, but is this what life is all about?

These five factors are work, health, family, friends and spirit. All we care about is these things in life, only think about ourselves but what about those people who are living in dark, who are waiting for us to give them light and hope. Imagine the life, pain and suffering that special people go through. All they crave for is love, tender care, want to be heard and interact with the rest of  the world and share their pain.

Even though we all are living a lavish life but are we happy and content with all that we have? We aern’t and we still crave for more, we have a propensity to only think about ourselves and compare and compete with others. People with disabilities need our special attention since they are neglected by us and are deprived of love and recognition by the society.

By our support, love and care we can change their life, we can make them part of our community, network and helping them to forget all their worries and sufferings. Today’s youth is passionate about changing the gravest issues of our society and working for its betterment and welfare. Lets join hands and work together in promoting LIFE! Life for all special people around us. Make a difference in their life, who need us and are underprivileged.

Join http://twitter.com/#!/letsgiveLIFE and help us to change their life. Remember, your support to the cause will bring a huge difference in their lives and will lead to a big change in the society and how we treat the special people in it. So what are you waiting for, JOIN in!!..

Zubeda Rafiq

SZABIST

Life as we know it… Or is it?

“I'm speaking of course of the disabled. They have stated they don't want a handout but just a hand. We are happy to give them one.” 

-- Carl Karcher

It was a simple day in October, when a group of students, including me visited, Dar-ul-Sukoon, a local home for the mentally challenged, for our university project. A day that was supposed to be just ordinary actually turned out to be an eye opener.

We live in a world, where our worries range from what shoes to wear, to how to get our assignments done on time or to come up with an excellent excuse, which we can give our parents to stay out late. There are probably more, but I’m presuming, most of you get the point of what I’m talking about.

Every morning, we wake up, ready to face everything the world has to offer, whether good or bad, but it is what we do. Ever wonder, that there are people, who wake up, to nothingness? Ever wonder, that there people who may never know, what life is all about? Ever wonder, that there are kids who do not even know what it feels like when you put your head in your mother’s lap and all the worries of the world just seem to fade away? Ever wonder, that there are people, who if know what a family is, crave for just a glimpse of their own? I’m sure some of you do think about it but haven’t gotten a chance to do something about and then there are some who are completely unaware. It’s okay; there is still time to change it.

That one day at, Dar-ul-Sukoon, believe it or not, showed me how to appreciate the little things life has to offer. I am not going to go on and on about what it was like. I’d rather show you.

Dar-ul-Sukoon, was just the beginning. It’s never too late take the first step. Put your hand forward and help those who are truly in need. All that they need is a little love and support.

Join http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_120330404694877 and help us promote the cause. Make a difference in the lives of those who truly need it, wherever you are.Remember, it is the little things in life that matter. Your one little step, will lead to big change in someone’s life.

By Reem Arif, SZABIST

PROJECT: Life For Everyone

Mankind. Despite all our technology and our scientific breakthroughs, remains to be a fragile species. We refuse to acknowledge all that was and has been given to us. Simple things we take for granted, such as intellect, the ability to rationalize, question and to judge.

Some people are not that fortunate. They have not been bestowed with the same gifts as we have. But that does not imply that they are any less value to the Society. It is from these individuals that we learn the art of humility and the we learn to gauge the phenomenal value of all that is given to us. As humans given this gift, it is our responsibility to spend time with these individuals who're often shunned to one side as outcasts as they are unable to fend for themselves. As students but most importantly, as inhabitants of this planet given the ability to think, it is our moral duty to make these individuals feel as if they are still a part of society. Life is given to everyone. Live it for everyone.