Pakistan Changemakers Hub

June 27, 2011

Why Am I Closing the Pakistan Changemakers Hub

Dear friends:

Thank you for having joined the Pakistan Changemakers Hub Facebook page, blog, and Google Group -- in great numbers, lately. Clearly, this is an indication that a need for change is felt. So, you may find it paradoxical that I have intended to close down this page, this project.

Why?

Because I no longer believe in this project. I think its direction is outwardly: on changing the exterior circumstances, the situation of the world, the given. I believe there was a time for that. This is not that time.

This is the time for absolutely dropping all fixing and manipulation and wishing and avoiding we humans are doing, and to immediately redress our inner situation. Which is to say, our 'software', our beliefs, our outlook, our minds.

If that is not fixed, nothing in the world is fixed. We are in times of increasing darkness, and we can face another 1000 years of such darkness if we do not decide to change ourselves.

There are two ways to achieve this:

1/ everyone gets out to fix the other. This is what is happening globally in many places, and most particularly in Pakistan. This is the route of violence, exhaustion, ineffectiveness, hurt, loss which looks like gain.

2/ each person reflects upon themselves -- finding what prejudices, flaws, and mental blocks they can remove from within themselves. This is the path of peace, harmony, effectiveness, achieving results, love, and gain which may temporarily look like loss.

When I started the Changemakers project, the definition of a changemaker in my mind was that of a person who has gone through this "inner cleansing" as it is called... and thereafter, they knew with which particular personal gift would they like to contribute to the world. I wanted to create a platform to identify, connect, and broadcast these changemakers.

What I am realizing, though, are several things:

1. A great number of people, especially in Pakistan, needs personal growth and development. They are far from being changemakers.

2. In such a situation, changemakers cannot thrive by exposing themselves to excessive neediness.

3. While people are undergoing personal growth, they need nurturing. Overwhelming them with exposure to problems that are beyond their scope means delaying their maturity. In other words, far more people need to focus on improving their own condition and making themselves useful, than to worry about problems at large.

4. The new frontier of the change is The Home. This is also precisely where the potential of many is blocked. Rather than fixing the world, people need to renegotiate personal contracts with their selves, family, and friends.

5. Too many people shouting about too many issues is an ineffective way for change -- or let's call it "evolution". What I observe is this: a few folks become heroes in the process, and many become zeroes. This is not the way to facilitate the evolution of this nation. Each person needs to take up their personal responsibility.

In sum, I believe the individuals need to stop looking for messiahs and create immediate shift in their own lives, their families, their neighborhoods, their work. For this, the work needs to be done closer home. Instead of looking for ways to make the world better, we ought to do the simpler but far more courageous work of making ourselves, our relationships, our offerings better.

Peace, and thank you for coming with us thus far!

.ramla

Founder,

Pakistan Changemakers Hub

http://ramlaakhtar.com

~

Special thanks to:

Sawant Shah, for setting up the Changemakers directory. See: http://pch.sawantshah.com/

Ozair Rao, for listening to my endless iterations of the Changemakers idea

Asim Fayaz & Samuel Janis, for getting the word out; Sha Chaudhry for hosting the first meet-up

Fariha Akhtar, Habeeb Mengal, and other regulars at the Virtual Chopaals hosted by Pak Changemakers Hub who cheered PCH on

And everyone else who rooted for this idea, and for me. Thank you.

Filed under // Change Change-For-All Changemakers Directory Conversations For Change Pakistan

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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June 30, 2010

Change: For All, By All

Change-For-All is the radically simple notion that the fate of all people can change for better if millions of people take small actions right where they are, acting within their own capacity —in doing so not only improving the lot of the other, but also their own life.

This crystal-clear idea just occurred to me!

This definition has great implications. Some of these, right off the top of the head:

Social media can be used to connect to people where they are, in their own spaces....
.... and facilitate them in becoming part of a lager whole through....
.... atomic (small for the collective, significant for an individual) contributions....
.... that are personally meaningful to each individual.
Which means that contributing to the collective good is not just a way of doing good, but also a way of personal growth and fulfillment.

Win, win, win!

I've always believed that Change has to be meaningful, authentic, and even a joyous experience for the participant. If it is laborious and not driven from the heart, it's not happening for there is no genuine energy in it. Once we re-frame Changemaking, divide it down into easy-to-do, enjoyable parts, Change can happen faster, with much more energy and personal fulfillment for each person involved.

.ramla

Founder

Pakistan Changemakers Hub

http://changemakers.pk

Filed under // Change-For-All Citizenship Wikinomics

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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June 21, 2010

NEW! Gift a MENTOR HOUR through PCH Facebook Page!

The Pakistan Changemakers Hub Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/changemakers.pk) is becoming an active agent of Change itself. The FB page is being used to connect and inspire the community.

The latest offering at the page is the Gift a MENTOR HOUR program (http://bit.ly/aTPncI). This program beings a mentor with experience in Changemaking together with someone who wishes to learn the ropes. This program grants the mentor viral Facebook visibility -- a goodwill boost that Changemakers and their projects would love! Head to the page to find out more.

Filed under // PCH Facebook Programs

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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June 5, 2010

Exclusive Preview! The Changemakers Directory #changepk

via twitpic.com

Revealed now, for your preview and feedback, the Changemakers Directory that is the Step 1 of PCH's 3-Step plan for change in Pakistan. Through this directory, we will identify, list, sort the Changemakers. The directory is generated by the public -- the more contributions, the better.

We are using the UShahidi platform. Sawant Shah is the man behind the deployment.

I promise you: if you have any doubt about the potential for massive positive social change in this country, it will vanish after you look at this directory.

Take a look, and give your feedback. Write to us. If appropriate, your feedback *will* be incorporated.

Together, for Change!

.ramla
P.S. As you'd know, it was the night of the Phet cyclone and the rains here in Karachi. But I have a promise to keep -- and come rain or cyclone, PCH will stay at work. (Insha'Allah.)

Filed under // #changepk Change Changemakers Directory

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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June 5, 2010

Conversations Make Change Viral #changepk

via amplify.co.nz

This graph, that all started with one black dot (can you spot it?), shows exactly what Conversations For Change should look like. The word spreads... from one person to the other (and their community) to the other (and their community) to the other (and their community)...

One single person may never know this, but they become part of a vast network of good, of Change.

That's the power of infectious conversations.

Filed under // Conversations For Change

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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June 5, 2010

An Echo Chamber of Change #changepk

Yesterday, at #TEDxKarachi, I had the opportunity to share the idea of Pakistan Changemakers Hub with fascinating individuals. It was the kind of gathering where you'd want to share big ideas and dreams.

And so I spoke about Change-For-All projects. The first project -- breaking news, folks! -- is Conversations For Change.

It was during the past two weeks when a series of catastrophic events took place in Pakistan, and tensions ran high over the issue of censorship, that it occurred to me that we are not listening enough. And we aren't listening because the conversation is not coherent, it is not organized, and it turns aggressive in the absence of an etiquette. That we are not making proper conversation because we are not armed with knowledge of what to speak about.

This, of course, is not about the particular events in Pakistan but about our civic issues in general. What do we know about food? About healthcare? About markets? About women's and children's issues? About the environment? What do understand about urban policy? Diversity? The place of arts & culture?

It occurred to me that we need to first understand the subject at hand, the current issues related to it -- and cultivate an ability to 'see' before we can take actions. It occurred to me that once we have 'seen' the issue and gained a perspective, we need to make it part of our colloquial. It occurred to me that the place to start, at this time, is Conversations.

We need to talk about Change as we make it happen. We need to get ourselves and our companions on board. We need to converse not simply with ideals and what-ifs, but with knowledge rooted in real-life information. We need to understand our issues, and make them common issues (challenges, opportunities) through creating an echo chamber of Change.

An echo chamber of Change. That's what conversations for change are: the voice of Change ringing from all parts of Pakistan. Individuals speaking with their families, friends, colleagues -- their circles of influence -- about real, fundamental, issue-based Change.

Keep watching the Pakistan Changemakers Hub (blog), and we'll share with you exactly what we're doing, how, and more importantly: how you can be a part of Conversations For Change in whatever capacity you choose, wherever you are.

Filed under // Change-For-All Projects Conversations For Change

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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June 3, 2010

Technology For Social Good: The WOW Factor! #changepk

DISCOVERY is easily the best part of my job as the cheerleader-in-chief for Change-For-All. And what do I discover? People. People with thoughtfulness and skill and passion for a fundamental, character-driven Change. I've been exchanging notes and tweets about Change with several folks since Pak Changemakers Hub has launched. This is what ARIF HANIF wrote in from Multan, Pakistan in response to our conversation about the great social good communication technology can do.

ICT4G [Information and Communication Technology for (Social) Good] is what this soft revolution is all about. We are unconsciously becoming part of a radical shift, as you call it. Going through notable change events during past century one can easily observe that the most difficult tasks for changemakers was to spread the word and prove its endurance and capability. This had to be done with physical gatherings, extensive touring, discreet meetings, propaganda tactics, building up common opinions after adversities, hardships, hurdles and lot of other unwanted troubles due to delays, miscommunication, conspiracies etc. Efforts of a lifetime would then result in one collective and grand move to change the course of things.

How do we see it now? We sure are part of this amazing phenomena that communication & IT turnaround has brought about, but, we are, unaware and uninterested! Bang! We don't even know who is using us and why?! Once we are convinced that this is ultimate power in our own hands and this really is a revolutionary solution, wow! Can you imagine everyone realizing the infinite power hidden in his presence and strength factor of availability of such easy tools for quick, effortless and effective networking, be it anything in the ambit of modern technology. Its discouraging to realize how we underestimate our potential and avenues to hit the road, instantly. We are unconcerned and entirely unmoved to events drastically effecting us and continuously molding our future. Powerful yet paralyzed.

Giving a conscious and premeditated meaning to this wonderful chance can really change things. We must learn to capitalize on our miseries and only way to do this is look for ways to express and respond. When our response is powered by an efficacious channel and our voices are aligned in one harmony, nothing can halt the change. It's inevitable and waiting, using right medium in appropriate direction can really make it happen. We can educate the unconcerned to be prudent, look around for ways to be receptive as well as responsive to effect the change.

-- Arif Hanif

From Multan, Pakistan

Great thoughts!

Filed under // ICT4G

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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June 3, 2010

#changepk

Are you on Twitter? Well you better be, because we're starting Conversations for Change right on Twitter using the hashtag* #changepk. You can now hastag #changepk stories of Pakistani Changemakers, ideas for change, and connect with one another. You can also find the prevailing conversation about Change-For-All in Pakistan.

*A hashtag is an active link on Twittter. When you click on it, you'll find all Twitter conversations featuring that hashtag. For instance if you click #changepk, you'll find all conversations which feature #changepk. That's a cool way to find topics in conversations!

Filed under // #changepk

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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May 31, 2010

عظیم تبدیلی کیا ہے؟

عظیم تبدیلی: انسانی علم اور جدوجہد کے ثمرات ہر انسان تک پہنچنا

یہ انسان کا وہ خواب ہے جو وہ ابتداء سے دیکھتا آیا ہے. مگر اس خواب کی تکمیل آج تک ممکن نہ تھی.

انسانی علم اور وسائل عرصہ دراز تک محدود رہے . انسان، انسان سے جدا تھا. یہ جدائی جغرافیائی بھی تھی اور نتیجتاً نظریاتی بھی تھی.

مختلف انسانی گروہ مختلف خصوصیات رکھتے ہیں جو انہوں نے زمین پر رہتے ہوۓ، کام کاج کرتے ہوۓ، اور حالات و واقعات کے ساتھ تبدیل ہوتے سیکھیں. ایک زمانے تک، ان خصوصیات کا تبادلہ طویل سفر کے بغیر ممکن نہ تھا. سفر بذات خود خطرے سے بھرپور تھا. موسمی اور زمینی حالات اگر مسافر کو چھوڑ دیتے تو غیر مانوس انسانی گروہ اس مسافر کو گھیر لیتے.

تبادلے اور مواصلات کے برقی ذریعے ہزاروں سال کی انسانی تاریخ میں مقابلاتاً نئی ایجادات ہیں. یہ ایجادات بھی ہر ایک کی پہنچ سے باہرتھیں. مزید یہ کہ یہ ہر ایک کے مطلب کی نہیں تھیں
.
مگر آج کی دنیا کو ایک انسانی ایجاد نے تبدیل کر ڈالا ہے: اس ایجاد کا نام ہے 'انٹرنیٹ'. مانا کہ آج بھی تمام انسان انٹرنیٹ پر نہیں، مگر تقریباً ہر رنگ، نسل، زبان، علاقے اور نظریے کے انسان انٹرنیٹ کو ضرور استعمال کر رہے ہیں. افریقہ سے لے کر آسٹریلیا، اور عرب سے لے کر برازیل کے افراد انٹرنیٹ کے ذریعے مربوط ہیں. آج انٹرنیٹ کا ہر صارف اس سے اپنے مطلب کا کوئی بھی کام لے سکتا ہے.

انٹرنیٹ کے وسیلے سے انسان، انسان کو جان گیا ہے. اس سے مانوس اور مربوط ہو گیا ہے. اور کچھ ہی عرصے میں یہ ممکن ہوجائے گا کہ ہر انسان اپنی صلاحیتیں انسانیت کے کام لاسکے.

اس کے ساتھ ہی ساتھ انسانیت کے ایک پرانے خواب کی تکمیل ممکن ہو گئی ہے: آج تک حاصل کۓ گئے انسانی علم اور اس کے فوائد کو ہر، ہر انسان اور ایک، ایک گھر تک پہنچایا جائے. یہ وہ کام ہے جو قبائل اور حکومتیں نہیں کرسکتیں. اس کے لئے صرف لوگوں کے لوگوں سے رابطے اور تبادلہء خیال کی ضرورت ہے. اربوں انسانوں کو بیک وقت باہم مربوط کرنے کی صلاحیت اب انسانیت کے پاس موجود ہے.

سوال یہ ہے کہ اس صلاحیت کو انسانیت کے بہترین فائدے میں کیسے لایا جائے؟ یہ سوال صرف تکنیکی نہیں، بلکہ سماجی بھی ہے.

اس سوال کا ایک جواب ہے: "تبدیلی ساز".

تبدیلی ساز ہر معاشرے میں بسنے والے وہ افراد (یا گروہ) ہیں جو انپے حلقہء اثر و عمل میں قائدانہ کردار ادا کرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ انپے عملی میدان میں جدت ساز ہیں. پرانے مسائل کے نئے حل تلاش کر رہے ہیں. علم کے دروازے کھول رہے ہیں. انسانیت کو نئی تخلیقات سے روشناس کرا رہے ہیں. اور سب سے بڑھ کر یہ کہ ان فوائد کو عام انسان تک پہنچانے کی جدوجہد میں مصروف ہیں. ان کے پیش نظر اپنا ذاتی فائدہ نہیں، بلکہ اجتماعی انسانی بہتری ہے.

تبدیلی سازوں کا یہ کام اس قدر وسيع ہے کہ آخر کار ان کو باہمی اشتراک اور سہولت اور ہمّت افزائی کی ضرورت پڑتی ہے. اس وقت دنیا کے کئی ممالک میں تبدیلی ساز برادریاں بنا رہے ہیں، الگ، الگ کام کرنے کی جگہ باہم کام کر رہے ہیں. ایک دوسرے کی مدد کرتے ہیں،تبادلہء خیال کرتے ہیں، سیکھتے اور سکھاتے ہیں. انٹرنیٹ تبدیلی سازوں کا اہم مددگار ہے.

یہ جاننا ضروری ہے کہ تبدیلی ساز چھوٹے یا بڑے کام کرتے ہیں، مشہور بھی ہوسکتے ہیں اور بے نام بھی. ہو سکتا ہے وہ خود کو تبیلی ساز نہ سمجھتے ہوں نہ کہتے ہوں -- مگر ان کا کام تبدیلی سازی ہی ہے.
ان افراد یا ارادوں کا کام اپنے اپنے حلقہءعمل میں ہے. کوئی تعلیم کے میدان میں سرگرم عمل ہے اور کوئی صحت کے. کوئی معذوروں کے لئے کام کر رہا ہے تو کوئی توانائی شمسی سے بجلی بنا رہا ہے اور لوگوں کو پہنچا رہا ہے.

غرض، تبدیلی ساز ہونے کے لئے کسی عہدے، کسی مخصوص کام، یا اجازت کی ضرورت نہیں.

پاکستان میں بھی دنیا بھر کی طرح لاتعداد تبدیلی ساز مصروف عمل ہیں. ہمارا ارادہ ان تبدیلی سازوں کو جاننا اور ان کو باہم مربوط کرنا ہے. اس طرح ہم تبدیلی کو تیز کر سکتے ہیں. وہ تبدیلی جو سب کے لئے ہو. اس ہی میں ہم سب کا بھلا ہے.
. .

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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May 29, 2010

‘Service’ Lets The World Stay Round | Triple Bottom Line Magazine

Published on 28 Mar, 2010 by Ramla Akhtar in Csr: Strategizing for the future, Features

‘Service’ Lets The World Stay Round

Business, academia, communities, individuals – if they act to serve, not only will there be many needs fulfilled and bonds created but so, too, will there be less physical junk in the world.

Service. Service keeps our relationships cyclic, in action – service keeps us connected as people and as organized groups.

Service. This is what makes a human of whichever station or status useful and therefore connected to other humans.

Service. This is going to make life (more) sustainable – for sustainability is nothing more than ‘elements of life in an effortless perpetual cycle’, a definition I proposed in my article ‘Why We’re Failing to Sustain – and How Can We Succeed, Right Now’ published in tbl in July 2009.

via tbl.com.pk

The world changes for the better when individuals shift their attitude to Service.

Service even makes one intelligent as the Self learns to adapt to the Other -- which is, by design and definition, more than the Self.

Posted by Ramla Akhtar

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