Zeina @ at JAAGO

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

My name is Zeina-Rachel, I'm from Canada, and I study International Development at the University of Ottawa. At the beginning of my university career, I was blessed enough to find the most caring group of friends who live for nothing but to create greater good for the greater amount of people. With these friends, we formed a group called 'Unity for Action' and throughout the years, we have put on shows and fundraisers for different causes. Through this, my knowledge of Jaago began to unfold.

There had been so much talk about Jaago; what Jaago is, what it has done for the people, and how we are going to help them. The name 'Korvi' was also always thrown into conversation as if we actually knew the man personally. Truth be told, you can talk about Jaago and Korvi all you want and everything you say or hear will always be good, but no words will ever be able to describe just how amazing the two actually are. After hearing so much about this school, I cancelled my trip to Europe and made my way to Bangladesh with my best friend to see for myself exactly what it is that we are trying to help. At the age of 19, I think it's safe to say that this was the smartest decision I have ever made. Around mid-May, I was ecstatic to walk into the Jaago School for the first time and finally meet Korvi Rakshand – my hero. We sat down in his office and everything he said went in one ear and out the other; I was so excited that my brain couldn't register anything he was saying. All I did was smile and nod…it's the only thing you can do when you’re speechless.

I spent just a little over 3 weeks at Jaago and there was never a dull moment. There are endless opportunities of projects to work on and numerous ways a person can help out. The school itself is a work of art. As I try imagining how Jaago looked like before all of the paint and desks, it doesn't even seem possible that they managed to turn this place into a school from scratch. But then again, the staff at Jaago can make wonders happen out of the slightest thing, so I really shouldn't be surprised. My second week there, I was lucky enough to encounter a girl named Bithi who helped me see Jaago through a completely different lens than my own. She sat me down and explained how her life once was and contrasted it to how it is now. She continued by telling me that the most important year in her life is 2007 – the year she started at Jaago. The final touch to this conversation was when she described Jaago as 'Paradise'. I sat there for a minute, confused as to how someone could think of a school as Paradise, and then I suddenly realized that Jaago isn't just a place for a child to receive an education, it literally becomes like home to them. It's where they make many friends and people become like family; it's where they make the happiest memories; and it's where their dreams start. I excused myself from our conversation and ran downstairs only to find myself breaking down in tears in front of some of the staff. It was strange because I was crying not at how terrible Bithi's life had been prior to her enrollment in Jaago, but I was crying at how happy she is now because of Jaago. I remember being a kid in elementary school and dreading the fact that I had to spend 5 days a week at that place. Had my school been like Jaago, I wouldn't have been so eager to leave.

The Jaago staff is magnificent and always willing to lend a helping hand. It's truly inspiring to see such a large group of young people working towards bettering their communities, yet having a strong impact both nationally and internationally. All of the workers and volunteers are the stepping-stone to making hard work a fun time. There is an incredible bond between everyone at the foundation and supporting each other is always a priority. Every time I was in need of help, I always got it. If you ever have any questions about anything going on around Jaago, Farah is exceptionally knowledgeable and provides you with answers to everything. If you fall in love with a child and want to sponsor them, go see Samiul. Thanks to him, I now sponsor Nila and I am eternally grateful for being introduced to her.

Simply put, Korvi Rakshand –the founder of Jaago– is by far the most amazing man I have ever met. Many people have written reviews about Korvi and summaries tailing his life and journey throughout his fight for Jaago, but most of these are written on more of a macro level compared to a more personal one. If someone were to ask me to describe Korvi in just one word, I would find it nearly impossible. There are so many qualities and great things to his name, and in the short month that I spent in Bangladesh, all of these came to light. Countless people dream of helping the world and the people around them, but not many actually follow through with this. Sometimes that dream simply stays as a dream; sometimes they face obstacles and impediments and can no longer make this a realization; and sometimes people can be too indolent to execute a plan. Korvi, on the other hand, defied all the odds and conquered any barriers that stood in his way of realizing what is now globally known as a thriving foundation. In a span of 4 years, Korvi has proved that if you truly believe in a cause and have enough drive, change can happen. He isn't, however, just an ordinary social worker. He is filled with endless knowledge and for the most part, he seems to have an answer or solution to any question or problem. Despite all of his accomplishments, he does not act as your superior, but instead, his encouragement is enough for a person to feel as if they can achieve a great amount in life. Korvi is open and flexible to any idea or thought and is always someone you can count on. With a heart as big as his, he plays the role of not only a world-known social worker, but he is also a father to the kids who lack one, a brother to those around him, and a friend to anyone who needs it. It blows my mind that one human being can be all of this and more, yet still be so down to earth.

I'll go back soon. I have to. As cheesy as it is, I left my heart at Jaago. In a short amount of time, my experience at Jaago helped see so much of life I would have never seen at home. I have learned a great deal about the world and what goes on in it, and almost 20 years later, I have learned a great deal about myself; who I am, what kind of person I want to be; and what I hope my life holds for me in the future.

I encourage everyone to visit Jaago and to see, for themselves, all of the amazing things that go on there. With that, I leave you with this: "The greatest revolution in our generation is that of human beings, who by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives". Get involved; it's in you to do.