“Joining Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) is a lifetime package,” Maryum Qasim, an alumna of the Kennedy Lugar – Youth Exchange and Study program explained to Dr.Katherine Brown, Executive Director of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy while discussing her work as an alumna with PUAN. Qasim was among the group of seven alumni who were present to discuss their PUAN success stories, community outreach activities, small grant projects, thematic conferences and the mentorship program with Dr. Brown on April 18, 2016.
Dr. Brown appreciated PUAN’s work and their resilience in such trying times. “I am amazed by all the projects led by PUAN and the impact it has had on communities at large.”
“My exchange program helped me find myself and my true calling of being in the development sector and working with persons with disabilities, instead of as a computer sciences major,” said Sumaira Malik, an alumna of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD) who was hired after a successful Mentorship Program at Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) with Mr. Atif Sheikh, an alumnus and mentor of the Disabilities Exchange Program..
Arshad Bashir, an alumnus of the Fulbright Specialist program, spoke about how exchanges help to build professional linkages, and shared his personal example about a leadership course he is preparing in the form of an exchange program between Pakistan and Russian academic partners.
Hussain Haider, an alumnus of the Emerging Leaders of Pakistan program and founder of Beydaar Society, highlighted his recent experience as part of the planning committee for the recently held PUAN International Youth Activism Conference. Haseeb Kiyani , an alumnus of the Legislative Fellowship Program and current President of PUAN – Islamabad Chapter, shared the journey and overall achievements of PUAN since 2008.Ahsan Mukhtar, co-curator of TedxIslamabad, an alumni small grant project, spoke about the grant application process. All alumni of various exchange programs are eligible to apply for the alumni small grant of up to $5000 USD for projects focused on empowering communities. Some of small grant projects concluded, include TedxIslamabad, Juniper Preservation Project, Empowering Women through Organization and Development and Cyclone. For more details on applying for the alumni small grants, please visit: www.pakusalumninetwork.com/grants
Additional participants included Asma Mohsin, Program Manager, USAID Training for Pakistan Project, Islamabad, General Secretary, PUAN ISB/RWP Chapter, Legislative Fellow alumna; Prof. Zabta Shinwari, IVLP alumnus, Dean, School of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Senior Executive Member, PUAN ISB/RWP Chapter (2015 UNESCO’s AVICENNA Prize for Ethics in Science); Ahsan Mukhtar, Program Manager, i2Invest, Islamabad, ECA-PUAN Grantee TEDx Programs 2014 & 2016, IVLP alumnus; Sumaira Malik, working at Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP), Islamabad, Global U-Grad alumna; Hussain Haider, Executive Director, Beydaar Society (Youth led organization to promote education) and ECO Change, Islamabad, Emerging Leaders of Pakistan alumnus.
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