Fund Collection for EDHI Foundation
Their are stages in one’s life when a person thinks that their must be a purpose of our life. Now whether this question arises in early stages of our life or later on in our adult hood, it produces an urge to find that purpose and work on it irrespective of whatever hard work it takes because it is what gives the initiative to a meaningful and impactful life which all desire.
The same procedure was followed by a group of young students at AMAL Academy as they put a thought on the goals which they want to achieve in their life. They dug deeper in their thoughts and among a lot of goals they established to achieve in their life, they went in to complete one of them. That goal was to help the HUMANITY.
Following are the responses of every team member on the question about EDHI Fund Collection:
Barrira: -
How was the experience of collecting funds for a social cause?
I must say it was quite challenging for me. Being an introvert, I don’t have a big circle and I’m also not comfortable while communicating with people even in normal situation and now I had to ask for funding. I did many things that I never did before like; I never messaged in a group of university students this time I sent the message in group although I didn’t get any response from anybody. And I also texted personally to many people and ask about their health and routine to get comfortable to ask for funding and I got some positive responses this way but it took a lot of my time.
But after all these efforts I was amazed that I didn’t get much disappointed because of the great feeling of inner satisfaction that I’m bearing all this to make someone smile. May Allah accept our efforts.
Did you collect funds individually or in a group? How was it different?
I actually did both and the difference is that in groups or on social media people don’t take it seriously and also don’t even bother to reply but when we ask them personally it is little different, at least they give you a response either good or bad one. We have to bear with the bad response for the sake of getting good responses.
What challenges did you face? And how did you overcome those challenges?
· Cold Shoulder Response
One person I contacted already has a platform and circle for fund collection and a month before he approached me to ask for help for a girl who need to pay the house rent and I helped him without any delay. And now when I asked him for help in fund collection, he just ignored me.
· Rude Response
I approached another person who is really well off and I was sure that he would donate, not only he refused to pay but also, he made me feel that I’m working as a begging agent for AMAL and it was quite hurting.
After that I decided I’ll not ask any other person, but than my mother told me that it’s the test of your dedication and passion; if today you would surrender yourself in front of 1 or 2 people than how you’ll be able to stand tall in front of the whole society where there are many cruel people around us. So, the same day I messaged my friend and told her about the fund collection and the whole cause behind that and asked her to donate only 100 Rs and to ask her friend to do the same; because I realized people sometimes don’t have more amount and they hesitate to donate less so I specified the amount (100 Rs) by myself which is reasonable anyone can afford easily.
How has this experience helped you in accepting failure?
As I mentioned above that I received two rude responses and I was heartbroken after that; not because they didn’t donate but due to their comments and cold shoulder response. And my message was ignored by many people I was also sad over that but it pushed me to go extra mile to approach people in person and in an informal way to convey my message, I’m not very active in communication with my contacts so to many people I texted after months so I did an informal chit chat before explaining my purpose.
So, the experience helped me to accept all those challenges and failures and keep moving forward with passion.
Abdullah: -
How was the experience of collecting funds for a social cause?
It was quite a good experience for me. It gave me an opportunity to engage with my friends and relatives circle and to convince them for this noble cause. Some of the responses were excellent while some people just took it for granted.
But after all these efforts I was amazed that I didn’t get much disappointed because of the great feeling of inner satisfaction that I’m bearing all this to make someone smile. May Allah accept our efforts.
Did you collect funds individually or in a group? How was it different?
I actually did both and both have their pros and cons. On social media, we can connect with more people in less time but at the very same time people don’t respond or just ignore such kind of requests.
But in person we can clear our initiative in a better way and convince them to donate for this noble cause but the problem is we have to go in person with every one and it’ll take a lot of time.
What challenges did you face? And how did you overcome those challenges?
· Cold Shoulder Response
Well some of the people behaved so cold that I got demotivated. Some of them just “Seen” my message and never dared to reply me back. Some of them and refused straightly but that was okay, at least I didn’t wait for them then.
· Rude Response
I remember two people who got rude without any reason. Just because they didn’t find something beneficial and useful for themselves in this initiative, they thought it’ll be a wastage of time and money. Unfortunately, in educational institutes and even in homes, trend of making the youth to realize that charity begins at home is ending.
And new generation is not more interested in such things that’s what I noticed in past few days. I was demotivated, but then I talked to my family, my project fellow’s and my Amal fellows and I motivated myself. I came to realize that no matter how the “few” people behaved with me, the thing which matter the most is my loyalty towards my goal. I have to be a role model, so that no one feels the way I felt when I got negative or rude responses.
How has this experience helped you in accepting failure?
It made me mad in the start and I was disappointed but then I worked on it with the help of my friends. And I realized someone has to take the initiative, I should keep trying. Someone will definitely help me out for this cause. The cold responses and rude comments are the barrier for me but I’ll make my way towards my goal.
So, the experience helped me to accept all those challenges and failures and keep moving forward with passion.
Arfa: -
How was the experience of collecting funds for a social cause?
Overall, the experience was quite good because our circle member barrier made a poster and I posted it on my WhatsApp and also on Facebook. Although least of the people responded to me on the status then i decided to text them individually. At times I received responses and they fully agreed for donation although the amount was short because everyone was a student but I am happy that at least they were participating. That was a good thing, I think. I reached out to more than 200 people but I received few responses. But my family and friends fully support me.
Did you collect funds individually or in a group? How was it different?
Yes, I collect the funds from both of them. The difference was that when I posted the poster then very few people responded to me but when I texted them, they show a positive response and are ready for donation.
What challenges did you face? And how did you overcome those challenges?
Yes, I faced the challenge because most of the people were not willing to do this. They just read the text and show no response. Then I decided to motivate them and meet them personally in my university and they were ready to give me funds. Although they gave me 100 rupees, I was satisfied to do something.
How has this experience helped you in accepting failure?
Yes, that was a very difficult challenge, I also endured the rude response and totally ignored the people. But I am lucky my family members fully supported me and I collected the most of the funds from my friends and family.
