By Rimsha Ali Shah
Twinkling eyes, hearty hugs, and insatiable enthusiasm aptly characterize the tenor of the annual reunion of the KP – FATA chapter. Sounds of ‘So glad to see you!’ resonated throughout the hall, but the clicks of the cameras and amused laughter rang loudest in one corner: the photo-booth that was stacked with top of the line props in vibrant colors and a young man with a selfie stick. Move ahead, and a group of actors dressed as the stereotypical image of a Pushton family rehearsed for their skit that was going to be performed later. Amid all this hustle and bustle sat the newbies – eager, but shy to mingle with the exchange alumni from across the province. They sat twisting the registration cards they had received at the reception. At that time, the newest cohort of the exchange alumni were unaware of the significance of the red, blue and green color on the cards that were part of the ice-breaker that was designed to break the silence and push alumni as old as those who joined PUAN in 2006 to the fresh additions from 2015 to connect and exchange.
Momina Shahid receiving the award for an active show of community service
President of the KP- FATA chapter and alumnus of the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) Faisal Shahzad appreciated the efforts of the organizing committee for the reunion and applauded the efforts of the 1300 exchange alumni that make up the KP – FATA chapter. In 2015, the alumni of the chapter successfully initiated and executed over 15 community service projects. These projects included tech week, feast day, a conflict resolution workshop, a dental and oral hygiene awareness session, art activities with children, and women rights promotion, among others.
Ejaz Haider, an alumnus of the Community College Initiative Program (CCIP) said,
“This is my third reunion and each year while it is great to reconnect with alumni from our cohort, it is much more energizing to meet the new faces as their energy energizes us.”
The alumni awards lauded the efforts of distinguished alumni for their commitment to community service. The reunion also featured two short plays: one was a satirical performance on the use of social media while the other was a humorous play, cooked up by the logistics team in just an hour, on the theme of cultural exchange. The live Pushto folk music pulled in the crowd of alumni for a performance of Attan, the cultural Pushtoon dance, perfectly synced to the beat of the tabla, harmonium, and sitar.
Check out pictures from the reunion here.
