Trading in Hope: 4-H in Pakistan

July 11, 2017

The first day of the 2017 Global 4-H Network Summit saw 4-H Pakistan Program Coordinator Aliya Ejaz meet with delegates to speak about the different approach they take with the organization.

4-H Pakistan started operations two years ago after a group of students from the Millennium Roots Schools, a school organization in Pakistan that focuses on academic excellence, took an educational trip to an event in Seoul, South Korea.

Some delegates from 4-H attended the event, which is where the Millennium Roots Schools CEO Faisal Mushtaq first learned about the organization. He saw the potential benefits that 4-H could bring to Pakistan and decided to bring the idea home.

Soon after, Mushtaq launched 4-H Pakistan on Aug. 13, 2015. Meshing local ideologies with the 4-H brand, a hybrid version of the organization emerged. While the focus is still based off of the 4-H pledge, the organization is also split into four distinct groups: Arts and Crafts, Community Service, Media, and Science.

“Students were so excited about the concept of 4-H. This gave student the chance to expand their skills and interests outside of school hours,” said Ejaz. “These sub-groups help to give variety of choices for individual interests.”

The largest emphasis for 4-H Pakistan is put on Community Service, with the Trading for Hope project being the key focus.

Trading for Hope aims to create a link between senior citizens in old age homes with orphans, with the goal of providing both groups with emotional nourishment, guidance, and a chance to bond with members of different generations.

Pakistan has faced many hardships, particularly over the past two decades. The country has been inflicted by war and terror, with many families losing their homes, livelihood, and relatives.

The drastic increase in the population of orphans, as well as elderly members of the community that lost their caretaker or family because of the country’s conflicts, led Mushtaq to try and create something that will rebuild the communities from the inside, out.

Young children who lost their parents have the opportunity to seek guidance, life lessons, and more from the elderly, and in response, the children give a sense of purpose and social interaction to the senior groups. This mutual relationship is key to rebuilding the rich culture within Pakistan.

Trading for Hope is a large part of 4-H Pakistan, but not the only aspect to it. Three other groups within the organization are catered to impart members with values, develop skills to succeed in life, learn new things, practice responsibility, flourish creativity, and much more.

Using fundamental values that 4-H instills, 4-H Pakistan is helping their country grow for the better.

“We are very grateful for the opportunity to tell our story here at the Global Summit,” said Ejaz.

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