August 11th- 13th Fundraising in Downtown Montreal

For the past three days a whole bunch of us have been fundraising for seven hours a day on the streets of Montreal. We have also been selling baked goods and popsicles to people.

The success of these past three days can be illuminated by the funds we have raised, the contacts we have made, and the media coverage we have had. It is great to see the Montreal population caring so much about the floods and also seeing the media attempting to give life to this movement to help raise funds for the cause as well. A lot of people we met were very concerned about the cause and it was fantastic to see how much interest they took in what we are doing and also what we are trying to achieve, which is to generate funds, but more importantly to create awareness and attain some serious momentum for raising funds for the flood victims in Pakistan.

We have managed to solicit through fundraising activities and online donations a total of more than $5000 in the past three days. More than half of the money has already been sent in to Nur Foundation, Liaquat National Hospital and Sungi Development Foundation. Also, we have had interviews with CBC Radio and CTV National which should hopefully provide the cause with a lot of momentum.

We have to be reminded about the catastrophe that Pakistan is facing at the moment and it is the sole driving factor for our hardworking team of over 30 volunteers working day in day out on this movement. On August 14^th, Pakistan’s independence will be celebrated, but there is no point in time that I can recollect during which Pakistanis have been more in need and more dependent on the conscience and generosity of international support, which can only be garnered by an unfettered persistence to keep pushing every single day to present the urgent needs of Pakistanis. They lay suffering in the rain on the streets, under bridges, with their children, with no shelter, with no money, with no food, with no clean water, while the rains pour and floods gain further impetus.

To the students, to the youths - in Canada, in North America, in Europe, in Pakistan, in South Asia and all over the world; at this point in time you are the ONLY ones who can drive this initiative and help it succeed. Movements are made of collective efforts, and it is only through collective efforts that indifference can be shaken, and unconcerned authorities have their action revamped. Put in your time, put in all your efforts and we can make a massive difference in the lives of millions of people. 15 million people have been affected. A billion dollars worth of crops have been destroyed. Barrages, dams, bridges have been destroyed and further damage is expected. Further loss of life is expected. Disease will spread. Hunger will strike. In the end however, we must realize that we have the strength, capacity, and unity to alleviate all these troubles.

We urge everyone – no, we demand that everyone help out the people of Pakistan. Pakistanis, who have suffered endlessly because of the floods for over ten days, who have suffered at the hands of relentless blind terrorism and an inconsiderate government that assigns endless bureaucratic roles, but takes little actual responsibility, these Pakistanis need the compassion, the kindness and the charity that the whole world can exhibit.

A CBC Report from August 9^th illustrates the strong concerns with regard to the Canadian response, especially those of Pakistani Canadians.

Also to see a tiny segment about our team working on the streets of Montreal click here.