NEEM Magazine

Lights. Camera. Literacy. On December 12, 2009, the ever ambitious YOUR DIL organization succeeded once again in its efforts to raise awareness and funds for literacy in Pakistan. The gala, one of New York’s most glamorous festivities, proved well that a good cause can attract a diverse audience. Held at the exquisite Prince George Ballroom in New York City, the gala featured a well organized silent auction, which exhibited an assortment of jewelry, art, fashion, and cultural artifacts to raise money for a cause that desperately needs attention in Pakistan. Merely half the adult population in Pakistan has the ability to read and write, with the child population adversely affected due to labor and poverty conditions in Pakistan. YOUR DIL, an offshoot of Developments in Literacy (DIL), is one organization in the United States which seeks to rectify this injustice by providing quality education to Pakistan’s next generation, specifically the underprivileged children and girls, by establishing and operating schools in underdeveloped regions.

With a strong focus on gender equality and community participation, the gala served as fertile ground for passionate supporters to contribute to improving Pakistan’s institutional development.

The gala’s silent auction greeted attendees in the lobby, where designers such as Eva Khurshid and HSY made their presence known through their ornate clothing, while special guests such as Ali Eteraz promoted his seminal book, Children of Dust. The charitable mood certainly didn’t dull New York’s glitz at the event. Ballgowns, dresses and suits illuminated the neo-Renaissance ballroom, which featured a full dinner and live entertainment. Music provided by Etienne DeYans, the audience glided across the dance floor into the night after Michelle Bloom’s fortune-telling and magician Eric Walton entertaining the crowd.

A running slideshow depicted literacy issues in Pakistan and Your DIL’s work.

Nida Shekhani, a board member of Your DIL’s New York Chapter, aptly captured the organization’s mission, stating that YOUR DIL “shows power through education, and only through collaboration can we spread the word on illiteracy in Pakistan.”

Nida marveled at the event, saying that it was “completely sold out, with an army of volunteers and people helping the organization reach its cause.” Indeed, a cause which no other organization besides YOUR DIL has truly promoted in the U.S. Faraz Rana, a New York board member, said that “the [gala] is all about the development of Pakistan. Pakistan is at a crossroads right now. Education is a fulcrum of Pakistan’s future, and given all that is happening in the country, the youth is really energetic about making sure Pakistan has a bright future.”

Author Ali Eteraz said that “YOUR DIL is a worthwhile intitaitve for Pakistanis in the diaspora to support as literacy in Pakistan remains one of the most paramount challenges in the 21st Century.” A country of nearly 170 million, Pakistan encapsulates unique challenges within its porous borders. Founded in 1947 as a result of the bitter partition of British India, Pakistan has seen tumultuous times during its existence. Faced with a revolving-door of military and political governments, socio-ethnic fragmentation, and persistent feudal lord entrenchment, the country has been unable to provide upward mobility for its frustrated citizens. Politics remains an erosive element in the makeup of Pakistan’s governance, perpetually hindering institutional growth in areas of education and the rule of law. As an organization made up of mainly expatriate, impassioned Pakistani-Americans, YOUR DIL is a crucial force spanning nationally to serve the undergrowth of Pakistan’s development.

By no means is YOUR DIL stopping at the success of the gala to fulfill its objectives in improving Pakistan’s educational system. With the 2010 heralding the start of the new decade, Shekhani said that while the gala is a critical effort, it is “merely a drop in the bucket. YOUR DIL’s real work comes afterward.” We couldn’t have said it better.

–

Developments in Literacy (DIL), is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization. Money raised by Your DIl is contributed 100% to DIL accounts. DIL was founded in 1997 and YOUR DIL was founded in New York in 2005. In its short four year history, YOUR DIL has grown to become a national organization with eight chapters in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC. YOUR DIL has recently opened its first college chapter on the Baylor University campus and is expanding internationally.

— Sheheryar Sardar, NEEM Media & Policy Editor