[The Thaakat Insider]

Spring into Thaakat

#lethedreambe Campaign Updates
The campaign for the Kachra Kundi project has been extremely successful thus far, gaining popularity through social media networks and spreading like wildfire through spoken word. If youve checked out the campaigns Facebook page, you might have noticed that the campaign has raised over 50% of the $16,400 goal only a month after launch date! While 20% of the funds raised have come from online donations, via the Crowdrise page, a whopping 80% have been donated by Thaakat Chapters and individuals. One such chapter was the University of Illinois chapter, which raised $1,550 for the project through a BBQ! Hajera Azam, founder of the Illini Thaakat Chapter, said Our mission was to make others feel what we feel, and place full faith in our dream. Another successful fundraising effort was made by Omar Salim, Director of Community Development on Thaakats National Board. Omar pledged to shave his head in front of a live audience via livestream if he was able to raise $1,000 in 10 days! In this short amount of time, Omar exceeded his goal and raised ~$1200 for the Thats not even the start of it. Sameeha Qureshi, a Thaakat member and teacher at the Islamic Foundation School, talked to her 2nd grade class about the project and the campaign. There are numerous stories of the efforts individuals have taken to help fulfill the dreams of those waiting anxiously for this school site to open in Kachra Kundi. In addition to getting water supply for the school facility (costs $5,600), the money raised so far will aid in setting up just about four full classrooms (costs $1,200 each). A HUGE thank you to Wahaj Tariq, Faraz Hamedani and Aleena Zaidi for their generous donations! We still have a ways to go but Im confident that we will reach our goal in no time with your support! project! After the live broadcast, Omar commented Dont let anyone ever tell you your idea wont work! Believe in yourself and the rest works out on its own. As simple of an effort it was, it left everyone inspired. each to their school members and raised $425 for the campaign! Check out the short video message put together by the class here: http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=gt76EZzhfww

May 2012 Volume 1, Issue 6

Inside this issue:

#lethedreambe Updates Nonprofit Spotlight: NYAWC Illini Thaakat Dares to Dream Caryns Fight Chapter Highlight Thaakat Chapters: Whats New Five Facts 1

3 3

Check out these websites:

Stay up-to-date with Thaakat on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Thaakat.Foundation Thaakat on Tumblr: www.thaakat.tumblr.com Thaakat on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thaakat Thaakats current global projects on Crowdrise: www.crowdrise.com/ thaakatfoundation Follow #lethedreambe www.facebook.com/ #lethedreambe

Upon hearing about the project, these kids were determined to help in their own way. The group made lunches and sold them for $5
1

Nonprofit Spotlight: New York Asian Womens Center

By: Uzma Bawany-Ali, Founder, Thaakat Foundation

When I first moved to New Jersey, I scoped out a few places I thought it would be important to form a relationship with and here is where I came across the New York Asian Womens Center (NYAWC) . I wanted some insight into how we could help the center and these women and children who were struggling. After a few conversations and our promise to remain loyal to our efforts, they welcomed us with open arms and are always thrilled when we return. They even offered us the partnership of the

upkeep of their "Peace Garden" which we visit to help re-plant each year. The center houses women and children and offers

services and support to help them get back up on their feet. In recent years, the center has shared they have seen a sharp increase in the population of South Asian women, at some times, 80% or more of the women there being of South Asian decent. These increasing numbers tell a terrible story. In times we've visited, many of the Urdu and Hindi speaking women have been in tears as we depart, sharing that it is the first time in months they have been able to communicate with outsiders in their own

language. Seeing the visible problem of domestic violence, not only here but abroad in our countries, we've been working behind the scenes on an initiative called "Break the Silence". This is an awareness campaign, we hope to launch to bring these terrible numbers to life and let people know not to be afraid to talk about it what is going on in our communities. We are responsible for stopping this. Learn more about NYAWC

Illini Thaakat Dares to Dream

By: Hajera Azam, Founder, Illini Thaakat

We all sat around a long conference table and put the laptop at the end, turned up the volume, and waited for the #lethedreambe campaign video to air. When it did, we all watched in silence until the very end. I think that was the moment when it hit all of us. There are people literally living in a wasteland, and finally we knew how serious that was. Education is an immense power that we all take for granted. But when we realized that hundreds of children are living completely destitute of education in Kachra Kundi, we grasped how precious it really was. Living in our society, we knew that we had the ability to help. We decided to have a benefit barbeque on our campus to raise funds for the project. After pleading our case to

several sponsors, the entire

Kundi. Our mission was to make others feel what we feel, and place full faith in our dream. And with that, the donations started pouring in. People generously

We were not trying to sell 10 dollar tickets to an all you can eat barbecue; because in our minds, that was just a perk. Hajera Azam

the cost of the barbeque was covered, we went out in our community and did our part. The key was to educate ourselves and then reach out to others. After doing more research, we were all well versed on the exact details of the Dreams for Kachra Kundi project. We were not trying to sell 10 dollar tickets to an all you can eat barbecue; because in our minds, that was just a perk. We were selling tickets to allow others to join us to help build a sanitary education facility for the children of Kachra

donated money, food, and time to our event, and made it more successful than we ever imagined. With all this help, we were able to raise $1,550 for Kachra Kundi. We are so grateful for every single dollar we raised. We know that this money is the first step to giving a child the gift of hope and restoring their faith in the future. We will continue to stand up for this cause and do our best to let the dream be.

Caryns Fight for Thaakat

By: Hira T. Khan, Keeper of the Blog, Thaakat Foun dation

Co-founder of Thaakat Atlanta, Caryn Dreibelbis slipped on her red boxing gloves and entered the ring at Atlanta Coporates Fight Night on Friday, April 19th. Her mission? To raise money for Thaakat Foundation, the charity of her choice. Caryn faced off against Renea Neal who was fighting for Black Kids Can Learn, in

the fifth fight of the night. While Caryn did not win her match, her efforts raised a good chunk of change for Thaakat and created more awareness about the group on campus. Thaakat Atlanta even received a Deans Award for their incredible efforts! Congratulations on a job well done Caryn!

Learn more about Caryn and the Atlanta Corporate Fight Night here and here.

Photo credit: Ayesha Lodhia

Chapter Highlight: Rutgers New Brunswick Thaakat

This chapter was founded in 2010, as the first Thaakat chapters to originate on a college campus. With a large member base, Rutgers New Brunswick is a chapter that doesnt hesitate to give its all to a new project or cause. From fundraising with talent shows to volunteering at soup kitchens and elderly centers, RU definitely brings the thaakat around in numbers! I asked founder of the chapter, Murad Ali, what inspired him to create a Thaakat chapter and here is what he had to say I saw this as an opportunity to escalate Thaakat to the next level raise awareness about the wonderful things these guys are doing. Never in a million years did I think that the small step I was taking with my friends would lead the way for the future of the organization.

Whats New With Thaakat Around the Nation

Thaakat Atlanta: Registered nearly 60 people during Swag the Swab on April 2nd. VP Caryn Marie fought in a boxing tournament on April 19th. They also received a Deans Award from their University. Congrats Thaakateers! Thaakat Bradley: Registered 60 people during a Bone Marrow Drive earlier this semester and held a Multi-Sport Tournament in April. Illini Thaakat: Held a BBQ fundraiser and raised $1,150 for #lethedreambe campaign. Thaakat Rutgers New Brunswick: Held an end of semester Movie Night for their members. Northwestern University Thaakat: Partnered to SWAB for HOPE bone marrow drive, volunteered at a Soup Kitchen and fundraised all in April! To all our other chapters: Thaakat Baruch, Thaakat Florida, Thaakat Houston, Thaakat Loyola, Thaakat Rutgers Newark, Thaakat UIC THANK YOU for a superb school year! Thaakat has been blessed to have chapters that are so dedicated to the cause!

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2012! May you continue to spread thaakat wherever you go!

host a bone marrow drive Marrow for Marrow.

Thaakat TCNJ: Held a

Five Facts: Did You Know?

By: Sehrish Khan, Thaakat Insider, Thaakat Foundation

Does anyone else out there pop open a Snapple bottle and read the Snapple Real Fact before taking your first sip? Ive always been curious about them and after all, how else would I know that a jackrabbit can travel more than 12 ft in one hop (#218)? Numbers and statistics put these facts in a place where I can fully understand their impact

and for whatever reason, makes these facts more real to me. Here are some facts I learned, or re-learned, recently: 1. The literacy rate of youth (ages 15-24) in South Asia is 79%, compared to 89% in the world.1 2. 783 million people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water.2

3. 70.9% of the population in South Asia in 08 was living on less than $2 per day.3 4. Of the 2.2 billion children in the world, 1 billion are in poverty and 121 million are out of education.4 5. Life expectancy at birth in South Asia is 65 years, compared to 70 years in the world. 5
4

If you havent gotten involved yet, why wait? Get involved today! Visit Thaakat Foundations blog for all the latest: thaakat.wordpress.com

These are some scary numbers. There are numerous projects Thaakat is involved in that