Learning From Failure: Funds Collections for Edhi Foundation
Introduction:
Pakistan is a state which is in dire need of the social works as almost one-third of the population is living under the line of poverty. In these times of darkness and challenges, we have the rays of hope in the face of Edhi Foundation. In the words of Mirza Ghalib:
“ik sham.a hai dalīl-e-sahar so ḳhamosh hai”
The Amal Academy task for the collection of funds was assigned to our circles on April 18, 2021. Being the leader of Mega Circle 07, I am feeling quite accomplishing while penning down the activities, challenges and what we have learnt from this group task. This work makes us feel that we can also make a difference.
Our First Step:
The first meeting of our funds collection drive was held on April 21, 2021. In this meeting we discussed the mechanism of collecting the funds. We looked for the possible channels for the collection of funds. We also discussed the issues and challenges. We decided to use the tech forms for this noble cause.
Strategy for Funds Collection:
Our Mega Circle unanimously agreed to collect the funds in the way that each member will contact his/her family members, friends. The mode of interaction was decided keeping in view the Covid-19. We interacted with such people physically and also through the aid of social media. Our team has also contacted the strangers via social media.
We effectively used the Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp groups to interact with strangers. I have also assigned each member to contact the multi-national company through email and appeal them for the funds. It was also in our strategy to interact with nearby small and medium companies, commercial organizations and social centres for this cause. We also formed the posters for the funds. We collected the funds via Easy Paisa and Jazz Cash app. Those who collected the funds by hands also deposited them on the given account numbers.
The Journey:
The journey of funds collection started from the day when Madam Rabia, our programme leader, announced about the funds collection. This journey appeared as the pleasant experience for all of us. We interacted with each other and shared our challenges. The fellows provide the solutions. We met on Zoom for this activity for three times. We remain in touch with each other through the WhatsApp group.
Experience and Gains from Activity:
In the last meeting, every one of us was sharing the experience and connecting it to the qualities and gains like team work, positive attitude, learning from others, social services and much more. Here are the experiences of our worthy fellows of MC-07:
Experience of Arslan Mehboob:
As I have mentioned earlier, the experience was quite new and pleasant for me. It provide me with the satisfaction that I have done all of my time and energy for this project and efforts matters. I used all the pysical and social platforms for funds drive. The ignorance even from my dear ones helped me in learning about the social behaviors. The answers of questions asked by Amal Academy are given as:
- The experience for the collection of funds has been the mixed one. I was giving my energy and time but the response was quite embarrassing. Even the people to whom I contacted on the regular basis were also avoiding me. The people were hanging me on the waiting call. Some of my friends were acting in an artificial manner. Well, this is all about the human responses. I feel so pleased when we were donated by the people. I feel so lovely when my circle fellows update me that they have collected that amount of funds. This journey was just amazing with a number of emotions, challenges and their solutions.
- I have collected the funds in collaboration with my circle fellows. I contacted the people on WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. I also asked my friends to help me during this cause. I also took the help of my siblings.
- A number of problems we faced as a circle and individually. One problem was that the people were asking for our validity. We assured them that we will provide them with the receipt from Edhi Foundation. The other problem was that people were not responding us. I contacted them personally for their response. The third problem was the nonseries attitude of the people. I did my best to convince them to donate.
- The experience helped my a lot in accepting that I remained failed on a number of grounds. I accepted the failure with my generous heart. I did so by keeping in view the people’s behaviors and their commitments. I learned a lot from this.
Experience of Sadeem:
Edhi foundation has been working since 1951 for the welfare of humanity. Hardly there would be any person who doesn’t know about Edhi Sb and his contributions to humanity. To collect funds for such a welfare organization was a source of utmost pleasure for me. I felt great to work for such an organization that helps the needy people of our society, provides food to the starving, gives shelter to the disowned, gives love to the orphans, and supports the needy and deserving people in any emergency situation or in any situation of plight.
Edhi foundation has been working since 1951 for the welfare of humanity. Hardly there would be any person who doesn’t know about Edhi Sb and his contributions to humanity. To collect funds for such a welfare organization was a source of utmost pleasure for me. I felt great to work for such an organization that helps the needy people of our society, provides food to the starving, gives shelter to the disowned, gives love to the orphans, and supports the needy and deserving people in any emergency situation or in any situation of plight.
As the third wave of Covid-19 is going on and I live in a place that is declared as a hotspot district by NCOC, Pakistan, I collected the funds individually myself by contacting people through my mobile phone. I forwarded the donation call poster, made by one of our Mega Circle members, in almost all the WhatsApp group of which I’m a member. I also contacted personally with some of my close friends and family members. In this way, I reached up to 300–400 people. Unfortunately, I only got a response from some of my close friends and family members. But this didn’t demotivate me because no one refused to donate rather they said that they would donate to the Edhi foundation on their own or they had already donated somewhere else. I also contacted one of the leading superstores in my city but their response was also not encouraging.
I assured all the people that their money would be donated for a very good cause and they will be provided with a confirmation receipt when we would submit the collected amount to the Edhi foundation.
At the end of the day, I was able to collect Rs.1600 from 3 of my friends and Rs.6800 from my family members. So, I was able to collect Rs.8400 in total. My friends sent me the amount via Easypaisa and JazzCash app and my family members gave me donations by hand. I transferred this amount to one of my Mega circle fellows who was collecting the donations from all other members and was to donate the total amount to the Edhi foundation.
Collecting donations for such a noble cause in the holy month of Ramadan infused a spirit of helping the destitute and the deserving people of our society.
Experience of Murtaza:
How was the experience of collecting funds for a social cause?
It was good because we knew that whatever we collect will be used for a good cause.
Did you collect funds individually or in a group? How was it different?
We collected individually due to covid situation.
What challenges did you face? And how did you overcome those challenges?
One of the challenge was that many people just ignore it. So to overcome this I start sending in personal groups and from there some people show interest and appreciated but didn’t contributed. The reason can be that when someone can transfer it on their own then why will they involve a 3rd party.
How has this experience helped you in accepting failure?
I learnt that not everything goes as planned and you should be ready to face failure.
Experience of Maryam:
We were assigned a project of collecting Funds for Edhi Foundation. Our Circle leader divided our work amongst ourselves according to our circumstances . I was extremely happy for this project because I am a huge admirer of Abdul Sattar Edhi(late). I have been following his work since my childhood. This foundations every initiative and work is very close to my heart. So I instantly started working on it. I worked according to the strategy of contacting people in my neighborhood and people on my social media platforms. We made a poster and put status and posted about it.
Initially people did not respond so I approached them personally. Some responded and agreed for donations. Some straight away rejected because of reservations. Some people were of opinion that they would donate to Edhi Foundation by themselves. This did not disappoint me and I was not discouraged because we all know that people have their own opinions and rejection is a last of life.
10 people in my circle agreed to donate but only 3 people donated . Remaining said that they have already donated.
I also contacted some company's via email but still haven't received any response.
One thing I learned from this project is that how we overcome rejections and how I should handle this. I learned that we should respect other peoples privacy and opinions and we don't have to get defensive. We should not take rejection to our heart rather we should work with more passion and motivation
If we invest more time and with good communication we can persuade people that their money will not be wasted and they are donating for good cause.
I will not stop my work here and I will work with more determination for the betterment of humanity. These rejections highlighted that how tough it is for foundation to collect funds for smooth running of their operations. So we need to be more proactive to help Edhi Foundation in their work .
Experience of Saeed:
How was the experience of collecting funds for a social cause?
It was good and It was my first time that I start collecting funds and I also knew that it was for good purpose.
Did you collect funds individually or in a group?
I tried to get it from both but response was not because the circle in which I live they do not believe in terns of giving funds to indirectly.
What challenges did you face?
Many challenges faced like everyone ignored me and no responses and everyone like ok I will do it but not now.
How has this experience helped you in accepting failure?
At start it was not good but now it seems to like Its not wrong at all. Hesitation also have in mind right now.
Funds Collected:
We have collected Rs. 23426. I will appreciate all of my fellows for their energies and time for this great cause. The link of google doc for the details of funds is:
Conclusion:
In the last I am quite satisfied with the performance of my team. All of the members performed quite well. We learned a lot from each other. We learned from people’s behaviors. We understand the mechanism of social work. We learn about the challenges and issues. We solved the issued with our collected efforts. In the nutshell, the experience was rewarding.
