Session on Spirit of Volunteering By The Citizens Foundation (TCF)

On 21st February 2018, Ahsan Ali Asif, Manager Volunteers & Alumni at The Citizens Foundation (TCF), visited Lahore School of Economics to conduct a session on "The Spirit of Volunteering". He started off with the importance of volunteer work, telling the students how it boosts self-confidence and inculcates a sense of responsibility when you go out to help the community. He also mentioned that having volunteering experience benefits the students when they apply abroad as universities favor students who have volunteer experience. He also said that volunteer work is not limited to a specific age group as they currently have volunteers from ages 40 to 50 as well who are enthusiastically working with the foundation.

He introduced 4 of TCF's volunteer programs:

1. ADP (Alumni Development Program): Volunteers prepare the students for applying to best universities in Pakistan by conducting helpful classes.

2. Summer Camp: Volunteers spend 2 weeks with the students and carry out extra-curricular activities.

3. Rehbar: Under this Program, volunteers become guides for students at TCF and help them plan their future and answer their queries. In this program they talk about decision making experiences.

4. Career Counselling: Under this program, volunteers act as counselors and give guidance to student about career options they can opt.

Mr. Ahsan also told us that TCF Alumni's successfully got into one of the best institutions of Pakistan such as IBA and Lums. They aim to groom and prepare under privileged children for the competitive world and help them secure a place as educated, confident and responsible citizens of the society. The session ended with Mr. Ahsan asking the interested students to sign up for TCF and invited them to have an experience of a lifetime.