Pakistani Student Organization raises money for flood victims
Fun events such as a mock wedding and a mythology showcase carried a somber purpose for UNC Greensboro’s Pakistani Student Organization (PSO). They were more than an opportunity to share their culture on campus. They may provide a lifeline to people across the world.
From April to September 2022, record monsoon rains swept away hundreds of thousands of homes. More than a thousand people died in the flooding, and survivors were left with nowhere to sleep. They still deal with the aftermath; families face food shortages, unusable farmland, and the risk of diseases spreading through the stagnant water.
When UNCG’s PSO heard the news, they sprung into action. Partnering with the Panni Project, they set out to create events at UNCG that would help raise funds to help those in need.
Headed by Adnan Aurangzeb, a senior majoring in Chain supply management, PSO is proud to announce that they’ve hit their fundraising goal of $2 thousand. They would like to thank everyone that came out to celebrate and raise funds with them.
University Communications caught up with Aurangzeb to ask about how they made the fundraiser a success:
How did you get started in the Pakistani Student Organization?
The club was founded during my freshman year. In my junior year, I contacted the PSO account. I wanted to know if I could do sports events and other activities through the club. They made me Event Manager last year. We did a basketball tournament, among other events. From there, I was elected President.
Our club advisor, Michael Sloane, has helped us a lot. Last semester, our club could have been terminated because we didn’t have an advisor following COVID-19. At the time, he was my teacher in the Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality, & Tourism, so I reached out to him, and he agreed to help. He’s a great teacher and the best advisor we could have asked for.
What is your personal connection to Pakistan?
A good amount of my family lives in Pakistan, and they’re all affected by the flooding. Even for those not involved directly, the rising costs of food such as tomatoes and rice will affect the cost of something else. Medical treatment is affected, too, because now healthcare workers have to prioritize the people who were affected by the flood.
What was it like to plan a fundraiser?
We just started about two months ago, and the fundraiser kicked off. And the goal was to hit $2,000, thankfully we were graced to hit that goal, and we will continue to raise funds. By the end of this year, December 31 at the end of the day, the fundraiser will end.
At the beginning of the school year, we all got together and had our first meeting. We were all talking about the flooding that was going on and how we wanted to help things. We strategically planned out events we thought people would care about.
What kind of events did you host?
We had a potluck which was a collaboration with the Nepali Student Association here at UNCG. It was an open event. People came by for our food and had a good time. All of us networked with new people who got to enjoy our music.
We collaborated with six other Asian student groups on campus for an event in which each club showcased an essential myth of their country and culture. We partnered with the Chinese Culture and Language Association, Filipino American Student Association, Jalwa: Bollywood Dance group, Japanese club, Korean Student Association, and the Vietnamese Student Association. It was fun to see other clubs like our own come out and celebrate culture.
The biggest event of this semester was our Dhol Bajay, a mock Pakistani wedding. We wanted a traditional dress code for everyone, so people from our club lent their clothes. Traditional Pakistani food was provided by our board members. They emphasized having vegetarian and halal options. We had a special event, the presentation of the bride and groom, and then we had rituals and performances that are common in our culture. We opened the dance floor and everyone had a really great time.
How can people donate to the fund?
The money is going straight to the Panni Project through the link supplied on our website. Right now, we are only taking monetary donations. In the future, we hope to do a canned food drive and other projects.
