PSA Mobilizes to Assist
Earthquake Victims
A PSA group |
Fairfax: On October 8, a major
earthquake struck Pakistan, killing over 40,000 people and
causing millions of dollars in damage to the entire northern
region of Pakistan. Many students at George Mason University
(GMU) are of Pakistani origin and have family there. This
earthquake has caused great grief and has created an immediate
urgency in the Pakistani-American community to mobilize
fundraisers, clothing drives, and other forms of charity
to help people back home.
At George Mason University, the Pakistan Students Association
(PSA) has been in constant contact with many concerned Pakistani
American citizens in trying to organize relief drives for
the victims of the earthquake. The PSA feels it is their
obligation to help the victims in Pakistan. While attending
classes, working part-time jobs, PSA students have so far
collected over $4000 in donations from the community at
GMU and is planning to take more action to help aid the
victims in Pakistan. The actions include: setting up kiosks
at the university to raise awareness and collect donations
for the victims, a general supplies drive in the next 2-3
weeks in collaboration with the Human Development Fund (HDF)
to collect medicine and clothes among other supplies, a
fundraiser dinner on the November 6, and a students-organized
charity show on November 20 which will feature the comedian
Azhar Usman. The name of this show is “Jazbaï”
which will portray the passion these Pakistani students
hold for their mother country.
PSA Kiosk |
The PSA hopes to create as
much awareness in the media as possible to help with its
relief efforts to aid victims in Pakistan. Additionally,
the PSA would like to garner as many sponsors as possible
for the upcoming charity show on the November 20. All proceeds
will be sent to the earthquake victims in Pakistan. The
PSA is planning to take even more action but needs more
awareness and financial help. Although the relief effort
will take a long time, the PSA is determined to spend the
rest of the year raising money and supplies to help the
earthquake victims in Pakistan.
PAKISTAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
CABINET 2005-2006
President: Marwah Khalid
Vice President: Kashif Malik
Secretary: Sarah Waheed
Treasurer: Sajjad Maqsood
Historian: Sophia Naqvi
Public Relations: Shamaila Iqbal
Public Relations: Furhan Qureshi
ISU Representative: Zainab Ashraf
MSA Representative: Farhan Khan
Technical Support: Ahsan Ayub
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