Opportunity to Listen: Why Everything Must Change

By Abid Virani

Each and everyday, educational institutions welcome guest speakers to share their knowledge with students. Speakers range dramatically, from young determined activists to former politicians turned humanitarian. Students should take every opportunity to listen to these speakers “not only to hear them, but also listen to them.

It is vital, in this day and age, for students to gain an understanding of multiple perspectives. Although a speaker may not intrigue you “they may be too right wing or left wing“ it is still a valuable experience to listen to them. By doing so, students are better prepared to understand their own beliefs and perspectives.

Occasionally, there is an outlet that consistently shows various perspectives. Speak Up for Change not only addresses hundreds of issues, from literacy to technology, but it is also one of the many outlets of knowledge that cannot be ignored. On October 23 - 24, another outlet for students was available in Oakville, Ontario.

Fatmire Feka, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Founder of Kids Club for Peace, is amongst the list. There are best-selling authors, CEOs and Presidents of non-profit organizations. Organizations represented include Student Reach International, Nelson Mandela's Children Fund, Gender Equality Incorporated, Opportunity International Canada and Habitat for Humanity. The conference is called, "Why Everything Must Change".

How fortunate we are to be a drive away from such knowledge and experience. Let us never doubt the powerful impact of, not hearing, but listening. Let us always remember that our ability to listen and learn is perhaps the strongest weapon in our arsenal for a making positive and lasting change in this world.

As youth in Kosovo, we worked hard. We didn’t change the world, nor did we change our country, but we did have an impact on our communities, on our peers, and we did plant a powerful seed of hope in people’s hearts.

- Fatmire Feka, in her keynote address at WEMC 2008

Helping Others

From June 10-August 24, various members of Student Reach International are traveling through Africa visiting Lesotho, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Speak Up for Change is bringing you a selection of their on-location blogs, and invites you to follow their full journey on their 2009 Africa blog.

By Abid Virani

Amidst the busy final days here in Tanzania, Pinky and I had the opportunity today to simply chat with some of the children from IMUMA. We video taped some interviews – but one stands out in my mind. I knew this boy was great in English and loved his geography. I started by asking him who was the first president of Tanzania. Then, the second. Then, the current. Each he answered with a bold sense of pride. I asked, do you want to be president on day? He responded with no – he wants to be a movie actor. Certainly, for he sure knows how to command a camera’s attention.

We continued to interview and I came to my question about school. I asked him why he wants to go to secondary school. He responded by saying he wants to go to secondary school because he wants to help his parents, he wants to help IMUMA and he wants to help his life. I saw Shariff, founder of IMUMA, smile big and hold his hangs together tightly. This young boy has it right.

Education is one’s greatest asset. This boy of fifteen knows that with education, he can help himself. But he doesn’t stop there – no – infact, helping himself came third when he listed it. He wants to help his parents and IMUMA. Why is it that at fifteen, this boy already lists others before himself? Who has taught him this lesson?

I often talk about those inspirational moments I’ve had in Africa – moments showing hope and potential. Still, we cannot forget that there are people who need a helping hand. Kassimu must see it everyday of his life and probably has since he was born. That must be while he lists himself third and not first. Since he is not listing himself first, I will put him first on my list along with the other children at IMUMA.

Ask yourself, who is first on my list?

Abid Virani is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree at McGill University, majoring in International Development. He is a recipient of the TD Canada Trust National Award of Merit and is a Millennium Laureate. Abid has found a passion for writing and public speaking, specifically in regards to how students can have an impact on the world. Abid has travelled to Uganda to visit the birthplace of his parents and has spent time volunteering in Tanzania.

Read more on the Student Reach International 2009 Africa blog!

Poa! Thoughts on a journey to Tanzania

From June 10-August 24, various members of Student Reach International are traveling through Africa visiting Lesotho, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Speak Up for Change is bringing you a selection of their on-location blogs, and invites you to follow their full journey on their 2009 Africa blog.

By Ashley Bondad

Among the menagerie of words that comes to my head when attempting to describe this place, one stands out with incredible accuracy, “poa.” This Swahili expression is often used as a greeting, after the common “mambo” (equivalent to “hey” or “hi” in English). Conveying several ideas, “poa” is most used as a synonym for “cool”, “good”, “chill” or “sweet”, but even translating the word into English sounds ridiculously improper. (Would a middle-aged woman you pass on the street respond “chill” to your “hey”? Most likely not, but “poa” is used by just about everyone.) As well as its literal translations, the phrase carries an implicit sign of standardized cultural benevolence and respect. Whomever it is, wherever it is, whatever the situation, a “Mambo!” awaiting a “Poa” is never too far away. What’s most extraordinary, however, is the vast truth in this little three-letter word. Seems like everyone out here is pretty “poa” almost all of the time, and I truly believe it. There is so much that can be said about the beautiful landscape, the cheerful and honest faces, and outstanding culture of Bagamoyo, Tanzania, but what’s greatest is that no one ever forgets just how poa it all is.

The most poa of it all is what has become our second home and possibly the coolest place that ever stood, Mtoto Mchoraji. I first came upon it during our “Amazing Race – Bagamoyo Style”, an orientation activity Pinky and Abid had set up for us newbies. Meaghan and I rushed in expecting to be out of there in less than 5 minutes, only staying to finish the next Bagamoyo Yetu task. However, the moment we stepped in, we were immediately sidetracked by all the stunning outwork displayed along the inside of the hut’s walls. The vibrancy and cultural creativity in the paintings and crafts illuminated the art centre with personality I’d never before witnessed in any other sort of art gallery. Poa sana (very cool) to say the least. But things only get more poa from here.

Founded four years ago, Dickson Chiuja started this art centre as a means to provide children in the community with a variety of opportunities. “The Boys” at the centre, Dickson and 11 other young men, use a portion of their art sales to pay for 35 children’s tuition fees, school supplies, basic health and medical needs. On top of this, The Boys teach kids in the community skills from drumming and dancing, to painting, to even cooking. I can’t describe the bliss on the children’s faces when they’re at Mtoto, dancing during a jam-session, playing cards waiting for a lesson, or even stopping by to grab a bite to eat (The Boys always generously make enough for children that may stop by and join in on a meal with them). Nor can I describe the utmost respect I have for The Boys and all that they do. Not only do they do such great things for the community; they are simply outstanding individuals. The most generous, honest, and real people I’ve met. Their personalities, however, don’t stray much from the rest of the community here. Bagamoyo is filled with a unique air of friendliness that I honestly had not found until now. If you’ve ever had one of those “I feel like this is exactly where I should be – this is exactly what I should be doing” moments, these last few days have pwned all. And I mean PWNEDDDD! No doubt.

So what can I say about first impressions? The place, the people, the everything… Poa. Poa sana.

Ashley Bondad is a Chair of the Board of Directors Co-founder of Student Reach International. This summer, she has joined other SRI members on a trip to Bagamoyo, Tanzania. The team is there for several weeks to conduct work at the IMUMA orphanage, including the development of a feeding plan.

Follow them on the Student Reach International 2009 Africa blog and track them on Google Maps!

What do you hope for?

By Abid Virani

I would like to share a quote I read in a book by the Aga Khan, titled Where Hope Takes Root:

“We inhabit an overcrowded planet with shrinking resources, yet we share a common destiny. A weakness or pain in one corner has the tendency, rather rapidly, to transmit itself across the globe. Instability is infectious. But so is hope.”

Hope is fluid, it changes from person to person and it weighs more to some than to others. There is no doubt that however unique our hope may be, we share a commonality with all those who have hope. When we hope, we believe in our reasons. Still, what we hope for is not as important as the underlying fact that we have hope.

Pluralism can perhaps be defined as the acceptance of diversity. In Canada, we celebrate pluralism in our daily lives. In this nation, citizens embrace other cultures, languages and traditions just by going to school, to the workplace or to a social outing. Tolerance is not the creed of Canadians – it is acceptance.

I sense something spreading in the air, a mixture of acceptance and hope. When each Canadian believes in hope and has hope in something, we will be taking steps. When each Canadian shares that hope with another, we will be making great progress. When each Canadian embraces the hope of another, we will have arrived at our destination. We will be in the presence of not only hope, but in the presence of pluralistic hope. The birds that travel overhead will hear a beautiful song of unity and diversity, thirty three million citizens will be singing – we have hope.

To arrive at this destination of pluralistic hope, it is vital that we begin to share our hopes. Only then will others have the opportunity to embrace it. Our hopes do not need to be philosophical or elegant, but simple and precise.

I remember being in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, one day last summer visiting an orphanage. It was my first time going to one and beforehand, the only impression of an orphanage I had was from the play Annie. When we arrived, I remember feeling confused because this orphanage seemed more like a school. Over two hundred children were housed, each of them special in their own way.

Some of the children were unable to speak or hear, others were immobile or had missing body parts. This was not what I expected. Every single child was what would be considered here as a special case. There were children that had been abandoned, children that had no family and children that were diseased. Still, somehow, there was laughter, chatter and excitement upon my arrival.

I vividly remember walking into a room filled with elderly women. Each of them was disabled, small and aging. On a table to the side of the room was a young girl, perhaps aged 5 or 6. Upon seeing her, a tear slid quickly down my face. She was sitting on the table with both legs in full casts. Connecting the casts was a wooden stick covered in some sort of grayish plaster. She sat with her lower body motionless but her upper body swayed while her arms were shaking. I had never imagined someone could experience such pain. She gripped my hand tightly and I still wonder what she was thinking when she saw me.

She has grown up unable to separate her legs from each other. As a method of rehabilitating the girl, giving her a chance to walk one day, the orphanage nurses would forcefully separate her legs and plaster them away from each other. After two weeks in a cast, the girl was given two weeks without a cast, a continuous cycle that was to continue until she was better.

I hope that no child ever has to suffer like her.

So, with dreams of a pluralistic hope, I ask... what do you hope for?

Reach in, reach out, reach beyond

After writing a passionate blog post in 2005 expressing his frustration with child hunger, Abid Virani of Guelph, Ontario started a youth-lead organization with his friend Ashley: Student Reach.

A non-profit organization, Student Reach is dedicated to providing students with humanitarian opportunities. Focusing on children and their rights, they envision students playing an integral role in overcoming global poverty. By providing means to show compassion and global awareness, Student Reach motivates students to better the lives of communities, families, and children who are living in impoverished conditions. They believe that encouraging students to be aware and involved will have a lasting impact not only in communities overseas, but also in local communities in Canada.

"My greatest belief is that students, the young people in Canada, will inspire the nation to stand up against global poverty. Students can and will change the world as we know it." - Abid Virani, Executive Director and Co-founder of Student-Reach

Student Reach was founded in 2007. It has motivated hundreds of students to take advantage of humanitarian opportunities. Through public speaking arrangements and workshops, Student Reach is inspiring young people to Reach In. Each day, their campaigns empower students to Reach Out. By supporting and assisting students with their humanitarian efforts, Student Reach is encouraging young people to Reach Beyond.

The Apathetic Student

By Abid Virani

Originally published in the Ontarion on October 30, 2008

There is only one thing more exciting than somebody deciding to change the world: a student deciding to change the world.

Every single day, students engage in and commit themselves to an array of efforts but still, many see students as unconcerned with world events and politics and merely interested in pop culture and materialism.

Voter turnout is often used as evidence to prove apathy amongst young people, but I would not attribute a disappointing turnout to this. In fact, it is possible that our desire to see a responsive and concerned government is why our turnout is so low. When there is a candidate that puts forth innovative solutions to global issues, student turnout will rise.

On this campus though, the incredible amount of political discussion and excitement has proved to me that there is an interest. Hundreds of students worked on campaigns and thousands showed their support by exercising their right to vote. Although many students may not have voted, some shared their opinion by posting signs on their residency doors, encouraging others.

As a first-year student, my eyes have been looking out for the different ways students can get involved. In the month of September alone, I have seen countless incidences of students responding to various situations around the world and have noted how they are very much concerned about what is going on in our society. Last month, donations from Skip-a-Meal went towards supporting 19 local organizations, hundreds of students volunteered in the community through Project Serve, the organic farming centre opened and students contributed immensely to the Who Gives A Buck campaign. Additionally, the driving force in the Masai campaign were the students here at the University who not only lived up to their commitment of raising $100,000, but have continued to stay involved while the campaign prepares to become a national initiative.

As students, we realize that we have the ability to make a difference and are therefore responsible for doing so. Others need to see that we are not a generation of technology addicts and are not obsessed with reality television. As Craig Kielburger has said, "We are the generation that we have been waiting for."

Each generation leaves a legacy on the world, whether it is of being hippies or of winning a war. In our generation, I see a student outcry for sustainability and less strain on the environment. I see students demanding for more accepting and inclusive societies. I see revolutionizing yet simple world-changing ideas introduced by students, like wearing red and white beaded bracelets to save a country from the AIDS virus. I see students yearning for political leaders willing to challenge the status quo. I see students making a commitment to civic consciousness. I see students wearing organic clothing, posting stickers on light switches and using recycling bins. I see student dedication to global citizenship and social responsibility. I see a legacy of bringing hope to a world that so desperately needs it.

I do not see an apathetic student.

Abid Virani is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Student Reach. A recipient of awards including the TD Canada Trust National Award of Merit (2008), he is currently a student at the University of Guelph, Ontario. To learn more, visit www.student-reach.com