Changing Perspectives through Serving America's Youngest Citizens

On Jawad’s first day volunteering at the Child Development Center in Chadron, Nebraska, a throng of children greeted him with a volley of snowballs. By the end of the day, the children had not only made Jawad a snowman, but they had also changed his perspective about working with young people.

As part of their community service requirement, nearly one quarter of Global UGRAD-Pakistan fellows opt to work with children. Through their experience at organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, AmeriCorps, and Girl Scouts of the USA, they learn valuable teaching and mentoring techniques that they can one day apply to their home communities in Pakistan.

Jawad’s activities at the children’s center range from tutoring to storytelling and teach him how to work more effectively with children: “Sometimes people think that you can teach children by being harsh with them,” Jawad said. “That method works to some extent but its side effects are bad because either the child gives up or he loses his confidence. At the child development center, I learned how to teach the children with love.”

At Graceland University, Akhtar and Fawad perform their community service at the Alley Kids Center in Lamoni, Iowa, to raise awareness about Pakistani customs and traditions. Akhtar and Fawad transform after-school activities into a cultural exchange, sharing their games and dances and learning about American games in return. Fawad said that the experience helped break down his stereotypes about American children. “My first perception was that American people, especially children, are always busy with video games and other irrelevant things. Now I see that it is quite the opposite.”

Talal, on the other hand, helped change children’s perceptions of Pakistan through working at an international festival for local Girl Scouts at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska. Talal broadened the perspectives of 80 Girl Scouts by writing their names in Urdu and explaining Pakistani culture. “In the US I have met people who are 80 years old but never heard of Pakistan much. After this festival, I am glad that young kids are exposed to interesting things about my culture at an early age.”

As fellows strive to break down barriers between Pakistan and the United States, passing along cross-cultural knowledge to the youngest citizens of both countries may prove to be one of the most effective ways to breed mutual understanding that will sustain itself far into the future. The community service inspires fellows to launch similar children’s initiatives in Pakistan: “I am really impressed and want to open the same kind of community center for kids in Pakistan where they can utilize their time in healthy atmosphere, instead of doing bad things or wasting time,” Fawad said.

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State, and administered by IREX.