Momal Mushtaq, Founder ‘the Voice of Youth’, shares her experience on winning Runner-Up World Summit Youth Award 2011
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We had four flights to Islamabad, Pakistan from Graz, Austria. Both of us knew that it’s probably the last time we visited Graz. If not the last, we were sure that it’d take us a very long time to get to visit this city again, but we stayed silent. Not a word was spoken regarding this as we flew all the way back to Pakistan and shifted from Austrian Arrows to Emirates to Pakistan International Airlines. It’s only when we finally reached Islamabad and drove back to our home, the reality struck and it did hard. As soon as Seemal and I stepped inside home, we burst into tears. We couldn’t help it. Our parents looked at us worriedly and asked if everything was alright. With tears flowing down my cheeks, I responded, “Papa, who duniya dekhne k badh Pakistan ko dekh kar boht afsos o raha hai! Humara mulk boht peche hai!” (Translation: Father, it’s sad to see Pakistan after seeing ‘that’ part of the world! Our country stands way behind!”).
It’s been four days now. I can’t get over Graz. I can’t get over its near to perfect public transport system. I can’t get over its flawless shopping stores. And most importantly, I can’t get over the fact that I could safely walk around the city at 2 a.m. in the morning. It’s sad that Pakistanis can’t enjoy such luxuries even in their capital city Islamabad.
World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) Festival 2011 was a life-changing experience for me. The nights I spent crying in the bathroom (‘cause I so badly wanted to win it), the day I promised myself I’d never give up on ‘the Voice of Youth’ (‘cause I didn’t win it), the moment I ended up being announced as a Runner-Up (when I least expected it) and the dozen times I walked daily from one place to the other (to secure funding for the trip)… everything… every bit of it… WAS WORTH IT!
Thank you team tVoY for the great work you do! Here, I’d like to especially thank Fahaad Humayun, Fakiha Hassan Rizvi, Hira Zainab, Majid Mahmood, Mohammad Qamar, Naveed Hassan, Omar Iftikhar, Tayaba Iftikhar and the newest additions to the team!
Thank you team WSYA for making it possible for me, Seemal and ‘the Voice of Youth’ to make it to an international platform!
Thank you Rector NUST, Dean NBS and all those in between!
And most importantly, thank you, dear parents, for helping me be who I’m today!
I’d also like to request Pakistani youth to explore opportunities and to represent Pakistan at world forums. We’ve got talent; let’s work together to bring about a change. Pakistan badly needs us as the future of this country lies in our hands. Do something please.
Sincerely,
Momal Mushtaq
© 2011 – 2012, the Voice of Youth. All rights reserved. On republishing this post you must provide link to original post.
Hey, I'm Momal Mushtaq, Editor-in-Chief tVoY. Wherever there's tVoY, there's Momal. Catch me on tVoY's official Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn ID. In case of any queries, write to me to ed@thevoiceofyouth.com.
Dear Momal,
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us.
I was deeply moved by your article.
Please never give up dreaming about a better world, together we can achieve everything!
All the best for you, your team and the Voice of Youth!
With deep respect,
Anna (World Summit Youth Award)
The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land, it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land. ~G.K. Chesterton :)
great report about a great experience!
thanks for sharing your very personal views with us.
hope one day cou can extend this experience again and come visit us :-)
but dont forget: there is good things, bad things and most importantly: things worth to fight for in every part of the world!
Wow. I would’ve never known it would be THAT much of an emotional journey for you. I hope now, you can look back at it with tears of joy, not of anxiety. There should be no more nervousness, because now, you’ve shown us what we’re all about.
As for Pakistan being a backward country, I don’t think it’s out of our reach. Look at where tVoY got to in a year. Let’s just keep optimism by our side =).
Oh, and I would like to say, good luck Momal, for your future endeavors.
Pakistan sucks dont it?
You deserved it
:) :) and it’s really nice of you to mention me although my contribution to tVoY so far is really tiny winy :S :P Any how let’s make Pakistan , a better place than Graz :)
agreed to fahad :) lets make PAKISTAN better than GRAZ :)
we have talent we have passion we have dedication.. the only thing we lack in are PATIENCE and OPPORTUNITIES… many get awesome opportunities which might bring change in the country but circumstances oppose them to avail.. :(
according to me, if we will be able to create sufficient opportunities for the youth, we can make our country better than any corner of the world :)
agreed to fahad :) lets make PAKISTAN better than GRAZ :)
we have talent we have passion we have dedication.. the only thing we lack in are PATIENCE and OPPORTUNITIES… many get awesome opportunities which might bring change in the country but circumstances oppose them to avail.. :(
according to me, if we will be able to create sufficient opportunities for the youth, we can make our country better than any corner of the world :)
just want to say: grab idealism firmly…
and “MATURITY WITH PURITY IS SURETY OF SUCCESS”
WE MUST LEARN TO APPRECIATE
Loved your write up Momal…
Let’s promise to make this country a better place to live!:)
well said syed ahmad raza… we must learn to appreciate :)
A heartfelt page from the diary of Momal Musthaq which makes us feel what she felt.The feelings….they’re so touchable(that’s the expression i’d like to use)!
I am very happy that your hard work paid off Momal Aapi! You deserve this.
Dear Momal,
I was very touched when I read your article. It made me realize that things we take for granted here in Austria, are sometimes a huge privilege in countries like Pakistan.
I hope we stay in touch!
Magdalena