Leading the way through music

Zoe Viccaji performing at the event 'Jam for a cause' organised by Rahnuma Schooling Project at T2F, Karachi. — Photo by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com

KARACHI: Rahnuma, a student-based charity organisation founded by students from Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture, hosted a musical event at T2F in Karachi on September 23, 2012.

Rahnuma used music as a medium to rally supporters in its current effort to raise funds for a schooling project for the underprivileged.

Although not a pioneering concept, similar models have been used globally to gain support for myriad causes.

Student - based band, 'The Quasars' performing at 'Jam for a cause' at T2F, Karachi. — Photo by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com

A year after receiving a great response, Mahwish Khan, co – founder of Rahnuma and project administrator of the Rahnuma schooling project along with Amafah Mubashir and Fahad Naveed (project coordinators) teamed up with the famous music artist Zoe Viccaji to bring the youngsters a night full of pleasant tunes and a warm comforting atmosphere.

The event took an early start with instrumentals by the ‘Storytellers’, a student based band to kick off the evening followed by another band which goes by the name of ‘The Quasars’.

A teacher of the Rahnuma, Mariam Paracha also decided to bring her own element to the night singing with the crowd accompanied by Mustafa Khan on guitars.

(L) Mustafa Khan and (R) Mariam Paracha performing at 'Jam for a cause'. — Photo by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com

Zoe Viccaji performed last with a great track selection starting off slow with Lana Del Rays ‘Blue Jeans,’ moving on to Michael Jackson’s ‘Black or White’ in dedication to our society.

Zoe Viccaji performing at the event 'Jam for a cause' organised by Rahnuma Schooling Project at T2F, Karachi. — Photo by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com

Shifting from pop tunes, Viccaji took the music up a notch, with the crowd cheering to ‘Dog Days’ by Florence and The Machine and ended the night with a banging rendition of ‘Yaaron yehi dosti hei.’

Approximately 80 people attended the gig and the response was great.

Zoe Viccaji performing at the event 'Jam for a cause' organised by Rahnuma Schooling Project at T2F, Karachi. — Photo by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com

THE EFFORTS

The Rahnuma Schooling Project has been running since a year. Students of the IVS take out time to teach and design the curriculum for children in the surrounding areas, mainly the Shiri Jinnah Colony.

Students of the Rahnuma Schooling Project attend a class at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi. — Photo courtesy of Rahnuma

“Each person within their own capacity should try and contribute whatever they can for the under privileged. If someone has the will to bring about change, all they need is a little courage and effort and the rest is all theirs to achieve. Despite the taboos, despite the fear of losing and obscurity, a person should find it within themselves to move past their reservations and do what they can to bring a change in any little way possible,’’ said Mahwish Khan.

Students of the Rahnuma Schooling Project attend a class at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi. — Photo courtesy of Rahnuma

The funds raised in last night’s event will be put to use for basic running costs of the school. All supplies including meals, stationary, books and extra curriculum resources are provided by Rahnuma.

Pedagogical training for teachers is also arranged under the operational objectives of Rahnuma.

Mahwish and team members have made it a point to take the children on casual field trips in order to expose them to different environments.

Sessions on subjects such as hygiene and cleanliness are all conducted for the underprivileged at the IVS campus on weekends

“We encourage them to adopt skills and moreover arrange counseling sessions for the students. One thing which we constantly aim to maintain is a relationship with the families of the children to ensure that they are supported and taught at home,” Mahwish Khan.

Rahnuma stems from a noble vision, and with a little support from various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of multinationals, there is no reason why their efforts can't have a halo effect and become a beacon of hope for our entire society.

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