This project started as an initiative to help build a school in India; but in the past few months, this project has grown to reach borders we have not yet imagined. This project is now becoming a peace project. Habitat for Humanity international agreed to have this project with us this December. Habitat for Humanity India and Pakistan are in it as well.
Sometimes I wonder how this project is coming together but it seems like another Power is helping us and guiding us to keep going.
Adnan said this project is going beyond just us and I pray that I will keep growing to not just astonish us but impact the whole world to create service projects to change the world. One of my favorite quotes is by M. Gandhi “The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others”. I don’t know India. I was born in Nazareth and moved to Michigan in the year 2000. I have been doing service projects in Detroit, my community. But, I never imagined that I will be helping others across the world and going beyond borders so soon. It started from a student's dream that grew from an inspiration by another student that now is being connected to other students here and across the nation.
Through this project, I am going to learn among other, about India and Pakistan, about service and humanity and about myself and others. Even now in the planning stages, I am learning so much from my fellow students who I am working with for this project. I have been inspired by them all and they changed my perspective on so many things. In every step of this project a lesson is understood, a spark of inspiration occurs, and a birth of a new life.
Tomorrow we are having a meeting with students that are interested in being in this project and that are interested in helping us. I am so excited to see the new faces that will change the world in few months. I can’t wait to share this project with them with the help of the AWB Team.
“Be the change you want to see in the world” M. Gandhi
Monday, July 28, 2008
Something bigger than ourselves...
Hey everyone!
Welcome to the new blog where everyone can share their thoughts on the project, the entire planning process and the outcome that we want to see from it.
It's been an honor working on this project for the past couple of months. We started this project in late May and right now were entering August, with the projected date of travel in December. We have made amazing progress in this project so far, doing something that would take a year or two years to plan in six months (now 4 months left), there definitely is something special happening. It's a learning process, with a learning curve because this is something that our team hasn't really been apart. Things are just clicking at the right time, and it's the determination that our team has put out so far and will continue to do so throughout the duration of the project.
I've said this personally to Zehra and Amal, but I will make sure I will say it again...we are doing something bigger than ourselves and we may not even grasp it's impact just yet. It's tough to explain but something just feels right about this project, and it's not about the aspect that we are helping others, but the fact that we are helping ourselves in a way. I just know that if we stay determined enough, we will make this project successful.
Definitely would love to hear your responses, please feel free to send us any ideas or fundraising opportunities for this project.
Looking forward to hear from you!
-Adnan
The Inspiration
My name is Amal Hassan and I am part of the Alternative Winter Break-International Planning Committee. I wanted to start this blog so we can share our experience in planning this service project with you. It is been an honor for me being on board for this project and I look forward to see it come to life.
The seeds for this project were planted in March by Zehra Imam, a student of the University of Michigan -Dearborn. She participated in Alternative Spring Break-Detroit as I did too. It was hosted in Detroit for the first time by United Way of Southeastern Michigan. through this experience , my whole understanding of life was changed. When Zehra brought the idea of an alternative winter break project, I was thrilled and very inspired by the idea. Adam Harris was the man who started Alternative Spring Break Detroit when no one expected that it will ever happen. He was inspired and worked hard for his dream which made Zehra believe in her dream as well.
Zehra Wanted to take Alternative Break into the next step, to go international. She wanted to do so much more after ASB-Detroit. When we first brought the idea up, everyone was doubtful .But, through people's doubts and fears, we gained power to go ahead. In the next few months, the committee and I will do our best to give our thoughts and explain to you our steps into this journey to India. We look forward for your feedback and your comments.
With much gratitude,
Amal Hassan
Alternative Winter Break International
The seeds for this project were planted in March by Zehra Imam, a student of the University of Michigan -Dearborn. She participated in Alternative Spring Break-Detroit as I did too. It was hosted in Detroit for the first time by United Way of Southeastern Michigan. through this experience , my whole understanding of life was changed. When Zehra brought the idea of an alternative winter break project, I was thrilled and very inspired by the idea. Adam Harris was the man who started Alternative Spring Break Detroit when no one expected that it will ever happen. He was inspired and worked hard for his dream which made Zehra believe in her dream as well.
Zehra Wanted to take Alternative Break into the next step, to go international. She wanted to do so much more after ASB-Detroit. When we first brought the idea up, everyone was doubtful .But, through people's doubts and fears, we gained power to go ahead. In the next few months, the committee and I will do our best to give our thoughts and explain to you our steps into this journey to India. We look forward for your feedback and your comments.
With much gratitude,
Amal Hassan
Alternative Winter Break International
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)