December 2, 2004

It does not really make a difference whether you are a journalist, a teacher, a doctor, an artist, a sportsman or for that matter, a home-maker or even a student. You can still help others by investing just an hour or two every week in anything you are good at, and let them reap its benefits. I am talking about the idea of a ‘time bank’.

Back in 1978, I spoke on the idea in a speech at a convocation of the Pakistan American Cultural Centre. I don’t exactly remember how the idea came into my mind; perhaps I had read about it somewhere, or someone might have mentioned it during a conversation. Nevertheless, the idea was appreciated by everyone there. The applause that followed still rings in my mind. I wonder why no practical step was taken by someone to implement it then. Some people might have, but I’m not aware of it.

My wife has almost nothing to do at home except watch movies on the cable network. Sometimes, she writes as a freelance. At others, she bakes. Her baking skills are really fabulous. But otherwise she just vegetates.

Before her marriage, she used to work on an honorary basis for Lady, a well-known monthly magazine at that time. Later she worked, but not for free, for an ad agency and then for a weekly. I suggested that she could spend her time in a more fruitful way if she taught children for free. “No way.” She said. “I hate teaching.”

“How about doing some social work?” I pressed. “Think what you like doing and do that to benefit the community. You would discover your hidden talents. You can even join or start a voluntary or charity organization with your friends.”

“I would rather give baking lessons but I don’t have a big kitchen,” was her reply.

“Well, you could go to Ida Rieu school for the blind and read to them,” I said and she liked the idea. She promised that she would do it for an hour daily, five days a week.

The idea of investing time and reaping its benefits is marvellous, and there is a whole lot of ways in which you can indulge. If you like sports, you can coach a cricket or football team. If fashion is your thing, sit with girls who are interested in it and see what comes out of that — a new design for the next season, for instance; a fashion shoot or an exhibition at a local hotel. Don’t underestimate your own talent or skill. The activity is surely a reward in itself.

More professional people can dedicate an hour or two every week to give lectures to an interested audience. The topics may range from ‘emotional IQ’ and ‘Stephen Covey’s seven habits of successful people’ to ‘improving your writing skills’ to ‘how to keep your blood pressure under control’. Young people may be more interested in ‘how to get more marks in a viva voce’.

You can give your time to an NGO of your choice, a patient welfare group or a counselling service to solve social problems. It is a great volunteer activity, and the possibilities are restricted only by your imagination. A more practical way to organize the activity is to set up a ‘time bank’. This will match your interests and skills to volunteering opportunities. A small group of professionals or experts can offer free advice and support.

Let’s think of using the idea in a way that more and more people benefit from it. Imagine; you can even discover great friends that way.

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