Every man dies - Not every man really lives.

– (William Ross Wallace)

These infamous words were the essence of Wallace’s struggles against the British regime to free Scotland. His cause was not fuelled by the desire to rule the people of Scotland but to help them win their freedom back. And this selfless act of his is what made him an icon in history, and though he sacrificed his life for the people of Scotland, he continues to live till now in the hearts of those who cherish their freedom.

The purpose of life, more than being happy is to matter, to live in a way that you are productive, useful and are able to make a difference in the life of those around you. The difference made, no matter how minute, will ensure that you have served the purpose of your life.    

For Kinza Shafique Ahmed, student of National College of Arts (NCA) the turning point in her life came when she, on the urging of her friends, went to celebrate New Year with the kids at SOS Village. Though always the one to feel the pain of others, she had not yet found a way to really make a difference.

On New Year’s Eve, Kinza and her friends were not in the mood to do what everyone else was doing. They wanted to do something different, a memory that will last them a life time. “Someone from our group came up with the idea of visiting the kids at SOS Village, Ferozepur Road and spending time with them,” shares Kinza. Though at first it seemed a little odd, the more they thought about it, the more it appealed to them.

Thus without wasting another minute they loaded themselves with the necessities and got ready for their visit to SOS Village. They played games, sang songs and had a small tea party with the kids. “The reaction of the kids was astounding. We never expected them to be this delightful,” shares Kinza.

Elaborate discussions with these kids opened doors for Kinza and her friends, who realised that a small effort on their part could make a huge difference in the kids’ lives. To formalise the initiative, Kinza along with a close friend, Lalarukh Wahid Cheema, started their own label under the name of ‘Inspiration’.   

“As our first initiative under the label, we wanted to do something for the kids of SOS, since they are the inspiration behind our work.” While touring the houses, Kinza and her friends came up with the idea of beautifying the space and turning the verandas into study area for the kids.

However, they knew that this would be a major project and would require adequate funds. They decided to contact Master Paints as they knew the company with regards to its prior CSR activities.  Luckily for them, the management agreed to sponsor the event at once. According to Kinza, “We have been very lucky in terms of sponsorship; the entire team has been extremely helpful and has supported us to the extent that they gave life to our whole idea.”

The activity that took place last month dealt with providing basic facilities to the children as per the recommendation of SOS administration and faculty. Moreover, they provided them with toys, clothes and books to make them feel that they are no different from other kids of their age and can enjoy a normal childhood, too.

However, the major part of the project revolved around refurnishing their study area. There were 18 houses each divided into a living space, two rooms, a kitchen and a veranda. The students, along with hired help, repainted the veranda and then drew cartoon characters and inspirational quotes to give the place a livelier look and feel. 

Though, the project is now completed, the kids are still excited about the renovations and the gratification they received with this community service as they have volunteered their services throughout the event.

For Kinza, this is just the beginning. She wants to bring about positive changes, so that when she looks back years from now and evaluate what she has achieved, she can proudly say that she has fulfilled her responsibility as a human being.