Pakistan

Syed Yassir `06 distributes a Ramadan relief package to a needy family.

During the Muslim holy month of Ramazan, alumni decided to donate food and clothing during Eid Al-Fitr to impoverished families. Working in the village of Gulistan-e-Jauhr, the alumni identified deserving families with one of the village leaders. Gulistan-e-Jauhar is a slum area where people struggle to get by in tents without running water, sewage or electricity. Tents in the slum are overcrowded with as many as seven to eight people living in them, making this village one of the most underdeveloped in Pakistan. The alumni ordered groceries at a local store to be distributed, and purchased clothing items. Together the group bagged the groceries and organized the clothing items into gift packets. Fifty families were chosen to receive the food packets and clothing. During the distribution of the packets, alumni talked about “life skills” and advised each representative of the family about the benefits of education and hygiene to help eliminate the spread of disease. After the donation distribution, the group broke fast at the home of Syed Mehdi `04 who prepared a traditional Ramazan Iftar dinner for all of the alumni volunteers.