THE MAKERS OF DIFFERENCE

The time has come for those who are different to stand united

---X-men 2 tagline

 A movie tagline should not stop us from applying it to our lives and work.

 We members of the TDC FRIENDS OF LEARNING openly say that we are different. We believe that the children of Pakistan deserve better. We believe that it is possible to reach out to them with an education that allows them to lead meaningful lives.

All of Pakistan’s educational travails can be summed up in two lines.

Pakistan’s education system is in chronic crisis.

Those who know what to do, don’t care enough to do it.

 We declare our difference here. We know what to do and we care enough to do it.

That’s point one.

 Our second point is phrased very well by Brazilian poet Mario de Andrade. MY SOUL IS A HAT --- excerpts.

I counted my years

& realized that I have

Less time to live by,

Than I have lived so far.

I have no time for endless meetings

where the statutes, rules, procedures

& internal regulations

are discussed,

knowing that nothing will be done.

I want to live next to humans,

very realistic people who know

How to laugh at their mistakes,

Who are not inflated by their own triumphs

& who take responsibility for their actions.

In this way, human dignity is defended

and we live in truth and honesty.

We have two lives

& the second begins when you realize you only have one.

We are not in a hurry, because haste makes for impulsive decisions. We will not be distracted by the scale of the issue because that makes us despair.

 We are very clear about what needs to be done, and who should do it. We shall go ahead and do what needs to be done ourselves.

Our first aim is clarity. Clarity of purpose and goals and vision and direction. We do not hope for everyone to agree with every dot and dash of what follows. Clarity is based on conversation. On the exchange of ideas through words, exchanged with respect and decorum. Exchanged with good will assumed on all sides.

 This is an invitation to contribute to the process… of learning and leading.

The time has come for those who are different to stand united.

 ABBAS HUSAIN

RAFIAH MUDASSIR CEO Noor ul Huda Foundation