CEO of HDF Pakistan in Chicago – “Volunteer Spirit and Funds Have Positive Impact”

By Arshia Hasnain

HDF Chicago Network Chair

“Your volunteer spirit and your funds, hard-earned and given with kindness, have a positive impact on hundreds of thousands in Pakistan,” said Mr. Azhar Saleem, CEO of HDF (Human Development Foundation) Pakistan, at a luncheon held in his honor this Sunday, February 8, at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Oak Brook. The gathering was organized by the HDF Chicago Network to bring first-hand reports on the human uplift work that HDF is doing on the ground in every province of Pakistan.

The program began with a warm welcome by Arshia Hasnain, Chair-person of HDF Chicago Network. Takeda Pharmaceuticals received a special recognition award for their continuous support since 2006. Takeda has been a source of large sums of funds for HDF projects especially in the areas of health and education. Mr. Vicar Sayeedi of Takeda Pharmaceutical accepted this award on behalf of the company for their visible humanitarian concern and dedication towards HDF over the years.

Also recognized for his commitment, energy and as a continued source of inspiration to the HDF family, was Mr. Kevin McDermott, past Executive Director of HDF North America. His firm belief in HDF’s efforts echoed in the hall for everyone to hear. He told the audience that opportunity could only exist when all the basic building blocks of a functioning society are in place – health care, education, economic development and physical infrastructure. Having visited Pakistan twice he has seen firsthand how HDF holds true to this mission. To provide opportunity for human development by building everything that is needed for people to flourish.

The guest speaker for the event, Mr. Azhar Saleem, was visiting the US to participate in HDF board meetings on February 14th and to conduct information sessions and planning sessions with HDF North America and various networks throughout the country. He provided a great deal of information pertaining to the various projects HDF has recently completed in Pakistan as well as reporting on the advancements made since HDF was founded in 1997.

HDF brings about positive social change and community empowerment through mass literacy, enhanced quality of education, universal primary healthcare and grassroots economic development. A school that lacks a healthy community around it or a thriving community without a school must be provided the resources they lack to enable the complete development of each human being. All the ingredients are needed, health, education, social and community awareness and, yes, economic empowerment as well. The area where a school has been built should also think about providing job opportunities or job training to the children that graduate from the school, otherwise that school is not being used to its fullest potential.

HDF has adopted a very holistic approach to its projects which benefit the community as a whole. Its structure is simple. HDF North America, headquartered in Schaumburg IL, provides the majority of the funding as well as strategic direction and immense volunteer energy, through a small central office that coordinates the activities of a large number of local networks or chapters spread out all over North America and elsewhere. HDF Pakistan implements the programs, provides tactical guidance and manages one of the largest on-the-ground development groups in Pakistan.

Mr. Azhar Saleem’s presentations showed pictures of girl’s schools, boy’s schools, training centers, health care facilities and many other projects that HDF is involved in. He talked about how new teaching methods have been adopted and the children in these schools are competing with larger schools in their district and performing at a higher standard. All this development is being done very efficiently.

Many people in the audience were pleasantly surprised to hear about and see photographs of HDF projects beyond healthcare or education. HDF has partnered with the Government of Pakistan and other private organizations in building dams, roads, sewage systems, water wells and drainage system to help these communities survive and flourish. Dr. Azra Haq, a tireless and inspiring supporter of the HDF family, took a few moments to talk about how her village in Shamsabad had been transformed since HDF came to help the community. Her passion and sincerity towards her village’s progress was moving to hear. She had recently come back from Pakistan and encouraged everyone in the hall to go and see firsthand how the lives of these individuals and villages have changed for the better. There was a sense of pride and achievement in each villager, knowing that through education, health management and community empowerment everything was possible.

An informative, and long, Q&A session kept the audience and Mr. Azhar Saleem in thrall. Detailed questions as well as practical questions were asked by many senior members of our community, who have been blessed with success here in the US, but who also recognize the debt that they owe to the places of their birth. It was inspiring to see the passion they brought and how HDF can help connect that bridge.

Mr. Azhar Saleem ended by saying that on their next visit to Pakistan, the audience may want to take a few days out of their precious personal vacation to visit HDF projects. What a visitor will receive in return will be the energy reflected back at them from the successes HDF is having in improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of wonderful people.