LAHORE – A successful session of the Khwaja Sara’s Support Programme was held at the Fountain House, led by #KashafAlvi, on Monday.
It was the first time the young tech enthusiast, author and #GlobalShaper was hosted at the venue, leaving a memorable impression on the audience.
Fountain House, a day-night rehabilitation unit for persons with mental illness, is named after Fountain House in New York. Managed by the not-for-profit organization Akhuwat Foundation, it operates based on respect and diversity.
The team at Fountain House specializes in addressing serious mental illnesses and recovery for men and women who live there—including transgender members—as well as creating opportunities for them to learn, work, and engage with the community.
In a spirited and informative session, Alvi relayed lessons on tolerance and peace, and a short presentation on eCommerce, delivering knowledge that could help the transgender community lead a better quality of life.
The session was conducted in sign language by Kashaf and interpreted in Urdu. The audience primarily consisted of transgender members of Fountain House, including deaf and mute, and disabled transgender members.
When asked about what kind of training should be provided to the transgender community, Kashaf Alvi replied, “Just as we teach them physical hygiene to help preserve their physical health, for a happy and peaceful mind, we need to teach them about emotional hygiene – how to tackle their destructive emotions. Emotional wellbeing should be a priority to help them achieve peace of mind, clarity, and a focused outlook towards earning a sustainable livelihood in this fast-paced, digital era.”
This was one of the many steps Kashaf Alvi has taken for a minority community in Pakistan. A Global Shaper, the first differently-abled Microsoft Certified Associate in the country, and a contributor of fine literature, media, and technology works, Kashaf Alvi are amongst the best young change-makers in Pakistan.
