 |
Human
Development
Foundation |
APPNA Annual Summer Meeting July
4-7, 2002
By Valarie Simich
Chief Operating Officer
Human Development Foundation
It had been nearly ten years since
my husband Jon and I had visited Manhattan,
including a stop at the observation
deck of the World Trade Center, while
on our honeymoon. It had been nearly
a year since I assumed the position
of Chief Operating Officer with HDF.
Now we were back in New York, this
time to attend the Association of
Pakistani Physicians of North America's
(APPNA‘s) annual summer meeting.
It was my first experience with HDF
in an exhibitor’s role at a
major convention. The experience was
gratifying.
General
view of the booth |
The HDF booth, located in the convention
bazaar, became my primary workstation.
There, it became my pleasure to meet,
in person, several members of the
HDF family that I had previously known
only by telephone, email, or other
impersonal contact. The booth was
well positioned, and was visited by
many. I believe that our presence
achieved the anticipated goal of enhancing
HDF’s exposure within APPNA,
developing a more educated awareness
of our abilities, accomplishments,
and needs. The booth also attracted
cash donations. I’m grateful
to each of you who took the time to
visit us at the bazaar. I would like
to offer a special thank you to Naureen
Zafar who was our New York coordinator,
and to all the volunteers she recruited.
Their efforts were intrinsic to the
success of the booth, and truly reflected
the spirit of the HDF mission.
Panel
of speakers during Human Development
Seminar on Friday |
HDF conducted its own breakout session
Friday afternoon presenting an impressive
list of speakers followed by a spirited
question and answer session. Dr. Atiya
Khan, member of the HDF Board and
Foundation Secretary, conducted the
meeting. Speaking were Dr. Omar Atiq,
Chairman of the APPNA SEHAT Program,
Mr. Omar Noman, Deputy Director of
the Human Development Report Office
– United Nations Development
Program, Dr. Nasim Ashraf, member
of the HDF Board and Chairman of the
Pakistan National Commission on Human
Development (NCHD), Ghani Khan Marwat,
HDF Country Chief Executive Director,
DR. Mohammad Suleman, member of the
HDF Board and President of the APPNA,
and Dr. M. Khalid Riaz, Co-Chairperson
of HDF.
Dr. Atiq presented an update on
the APPNA SEHAT projects. HDF has
provided funding to APPNA SEHAT in
addition to our programs. APPNA SEHAT
is a Non Government Organization (NGO)
delivering health care in all four
provinces of Pakistan. Mr. Noman presented
a compelling statistical portrait
of Pakistan’s status and needs,
maintaining that any long-term development
success in Pakistan will require the
cooperative, hand-in-hand efforts
of both the Pakistan government and
NGO development agencies, like HDF.
Dr. Ashraf discussed the NCHD mission
and its anticipated relationship with
HDF. Mr. Marwat presented an update
on all HDF Pakistan projects. Dr.
Suleman discussed APPNA's involvement
in human development and how APPNA
was significant in developing and
founding The Human Development Foundation
of North America. Dr. Riaz spoke regarding
the challenges facing Pakistani-Americans,
or as he suggested may be even more
appropriate, “American-Pakistanis”.
Group
picture after the seminar |
The convention ended early Sunday
afternoon. Ghani Marwat was not scheduled
to begin his return to Pakistan until
Monday morning. This gave Jon and
I an opportunity to spend several
hours with him. Those hours were priceless.
Ghani led us through a complete discussion
of his role in Pakistan, including
a detailed description of the “Development
Organization” model used by
HDF. I wish there was some way that
everyone interested in the HDF could
share that same three hours with Ghani.
His presentation was educational and
inspirational. My experience at the
convention was the cake, and that
last three hours with Ghani was the
icing.
Throughout the convention Jon and
I had both noticed how well mannered
and beautiful the children were. From
the toddlers to the teens, all the
attending children were respectful
and worthy of praise. It was obvious
that they had been raised with values
that were so extraordinary as to draw
our attention. We vacationed in Manhattan
for four days after the convention,
visiting many places including an
emotional trip to “Ground Zero”
where ten years earlier Jon and I
had stood together in awe of a breathtaking
view from much higher above. It was
never clearer to me that my personal
growth ideals and the mission of HDF
were fully compatible.
Drs Khalid
Riaz & Shahnaz Khan, Co-Chairs
HDF, at the booth |
It was our last day in New York.
We were headed to the lobby in the
hotel elevator along with our luggage
and a helpful bellhop. The bellhop
asked what had brought us to New York
and I mentioned the APPNA convention
that had ended four days earlier.
The bellhop rushed to assert, without
prompting of any kind, “that
in his many years at the hotel he
had never experienced such a large
gathering of children that had been
as well behaved. The parents of those
children should be proud.” If
every parent were as dedicated to
shaping the values of their off spring
the troubles of the world would, in
time, be healed peacefully. Community
awareness can be accomplished not
only through verbal communication,
but also through action and visuals,
as in this case. The children were
wonderful Ambassadors for the Pakistani
community, people noticed and enjoyed
them.
Thank you for the opportunity to
serve such a dedicated group and such
a worthy mission.
Date/Time Last Modified: 9/30/2002 2:09:33 PM
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