Adil Najam
For the last many days we have been carrying a Public Service Announcement banner in the comments section about the upcoming 10th Anniversary Convention of the Human Development Foundation (HDF).
I thought that I should say more about this and urge our readers in North America, and especially those living in and around Chicago, to seriously consider attending the Convention - to be held (US) Memorial Day Weekend (May 25-28, 2007) in Chicago. I know that the HDF team has been working very hard of putting together an exciting program which includes a thoughtful and thought-provoking set of panels and discussions but also a poetry session with Ahmad Faraz, music performances and a ‘Grand Bazar.’
Importantly, the Convention aspires to host meaningful discussions on social issues and human development in Pakistan with a clear focus on not only talking about important issues but designing action opportunities to do something about them.
I say all of the above not because I myself will be at the Convention as a speaker, but because I have long admired the work being done by HDF and have tried to contribute in whatever way I can. More than that HDF has a decade long track record of actually doing what it says; and doing it extremely well. It is this track record that the Convention wants to celebrate.
The HDF (not to be confused with the National Human Development Commission, which is a government outfit in Pakistan) is an independent US-based organization of Pakistanis which now operates multiple initiatives in Pakistan. While researching for my book on Pakistanis in America I found that HDF is one of a handful of organizations which command wide and deep respect amongst Pakistanis for its sustained performance in the social welfare sector. This assessment is further validated by Charity Navigator which has evaluated HDF as an ‘Exceptional’ charity and one that “exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.”
I believe that HDF is a vanguard example of Pakistanis in and out of Pakistan - one amongst many (e.g., DIL, Citizens Foundation, Edhi Foundation, etc.) - who have decided that it is not only that they can do something, but that they must.
On their 10th anniversary, HDF hopes to celebrate that which they have done in the last ten years but they also hope to discuss that which they and all of us can and should do in the next 10. It would be good for the ATP fraternity to also think about this question - what can we do - both here and, hoepfully, at the HDF Convention in May.
Here is a video clip of the beginning of the PBS documentary on HDF in their series called ‘Visionaries.’ The rest of the documentary is available on YouTube.
Here is the video ad for the HDF Convention now being shown on Pakistani media in North America.
[P.S. I hope other Pakistani bloggers in North America can also spread the word about the HDF 10th Anniversary Convention].
Dear Brother Salam-O-Aliekum
Brother I am jobless from long time and I need so badly job to survive my family. We are living on rent flat which rent is 4000Rs per month and i am become in deprresion due this rent every month in this jobless condition. I am having some extra ordinary problems in my life which Allah knows and my suffering family. I am unable now to pay rent and school fees and utility bills due to jobless condition. I am hand to mouth condition.
I need job brother to have normal life.
Allah bless on you always
Yours Brother
Shakeel Hussain
Lahore city
With Retd Chief justice, Mr Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui coming in as keynote speaker, i think the convention will have some interesting points to raise about Legislative autonomy in Pakistan.
The speakers and topics are impressive.
oops Samdani
thanks smadani , I will forward your comment to hdf staff,
I am also a fan of HDF and have donated to them before. They seem to be dedicated people. I see a number of ads for this convention on this page but can you please tell them that their ads have a spelling mistake.”Hosting” is spelled “Hsoting”. Does not look good.
I have both volunteered and worked HDF in the past; the team members are doing a wonderful job. Thanks for sharing the clip, it great seeing HDF getting recognition for its efforts.
Mr. Akif, you have mentioned about that government owned organisation as NHDC which I am afraid is not the right abbreviation. It is infact NCHD, the National Commission for Human Development.
Regards,
Human development foundation is not for profit registered in Illinois
Human development Paradigm
Definition
The basic purpose of development is to enlarge people’s choices. In principle, these choices can be infinite and can change over time. People often value achievements that do not show up at all, or not immediately, in income or growth figures: greater access to knowledge, better nutrition and health services, more secure livelihoods, security against crime and physical violence, satisfying leisure hours, political and cultural freedoms and sense of participation in community activities. The objective of development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives.”
Mahbub ul Haq
Human development is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. It is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations. Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value. And it is thus about much more than economic growth, which is only a means �if a very important one �of enlarging people ’s choices
Fundamental to enlarging these choices is building human capabilities �the range of things that people can do or be in life. The most basic capabilities for human development are to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living and to be able to participate in the life of the community. Without these, many choices are simply not available, and many opportunities in life remain inaccessible.
Philosophers, economists and political leaders have long emphasized human wellbeing as the purpose, the end, of development. As Aristotle said in ancient Greece, “Wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking, for it is merely useful for the sake of something else.�
In seeking that something else, human development shares a common vision with human rights. The goal is human freedom. And in pursuing capabilities and realizing rights, this freedom is vital. People must be free to exercise their choices and to participate in decision-making that affects their lives. Human development and human rights are mutually reinforcing, helping to secure the well-being and dignity of all people, building self-respect and the respect of others.
In reading the above it is imperative to reflect that what is than the end goal of HDF movement
Is it-increased literacy? For it clearly begs the question literacy to what use
Is it Health: long healthy lives to grow opium and sell it to others?
Poverty reduction—- become rich and than drive your pajero over other people
It is clear that the primary components of project Pakistan are essential and possibly foundation/ pillars towards a society, which can be called developed, but not the end. These itself would not yield an impact until they lead to a free, democratic, society where there is rule of law and respect for others
Human rights and freedom and ultimately Human dignity or at a fundamental level Humanity are the end results or end goals
These goals can only be realized if we now endeavor to do more, Include the less obvious but equally critical Pillars to a viable movement for social change
If the above is to be reached than I propose a strategy for future should include some type of a model that incorporates public advocacy and a think tank or a learning center that develops the future direction and views people at the center of it
Project Pakistan — continue within the areas we are in but increase the focus on the DO and VDO and organize to help them network with each other where they can coalesce to become a voice for themselves
Public Policy Advocacy
Public advocacy as it should be does not exist for Pakistan, or I should say Pakistani People. The platform is full of people advocating for different reasons, but not truly for the people, People being the end goal, than it is natural for a human development movement to advocate for policies both at home and in USA .The goal in Pakistan being dual
a) Influence and advocate for policies that incorporate people and their development as a fundamental goal
b) Create a populace that demands that from the state — example united states citizens expect and demand its government to evacuate them from Lebanon even when they are there of their own will but Lebanese can’t even demand security and peace with in their own homeland.
It is here that the HDFNA also can play a fundamental role, US enjoys a monopoly on influence worldwide. By Extension the Pakistani Americans can enjoy that same. At present the limited advocacy that is being provided by the types PAK PAC and other sorts have yet to figure the difference between advocacy for people and advocacy for the Govt. of Pakistan.
These advocacy Groups also lack a real support of people behind it. For advocacy of people by only a select few with no real grass roots involvement is more of a sham or at best has no teeth.
HDFNA should strive to fill that gap directly or by alliance with these groups providing the grass roots support but also determining the direction of advocacy. Namely advocate for the people and not the Govt. or the powerful few.
Human Development Institute
The multitude of questions, policy direction and needs and future adaptations which would be inevitable in this changing world, require development of an learning center that primarily focuses on formulating thought and principals that clearly view people and there goals as the end and focus on only one agenda and no other Development is about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value