Khurshid Ahmed

Good Job and keep it up

Khurshid Ahmed

Environment is an integral part of our life and where ever we go, we will find an environment around us. All the living and non-living thing around us, make our environment. Though our earth is a grand habitat for all living things, however with a highly developed brain, human being enjoys a clear superiority over all other creatures. Whatever we do, it does make a direct or indirect impact on the other living beings around. The fact put a huge responsibility on our shoulders for acknowledging not only the share of all the living beings over this only living planet but also to maintain the resources that are essential for their healthy living. This would not only provide a proof for the better administration of human but is also essential for the survival of the human being itself. In the current scenario, where the race for development has made us destroy our immediate environment, this has become even more essential to impart the message to all folks of life.

A number of organizations have been working to highlight the importance of healthy environment and awareness among various sections of society, however very few are found in the field of educational institutions. To sensitize the young students and to impart necessary information regarding nature, biodiversity and environment, Society for Nature Clubs in Schools has been established under the Master Action Plan initiated during the month long course at Pakistani Educational Leadership Institute at Plymouth State University, New Hampshire USA. The main objective of the Society is to establish Nature Clubs at school level as an informal means of education. Under the current curriculum, Environmental education could not got a place as a separate subject however, it is taught either as part of another subject or at Postgraduate level as a separate subject.

After the initiation of the Society, the first step towards achieving its objectives was to organize a One – Day workshop involving teachers from various schools. Due to easy accessability to all the participants, the Workshop was held at Hayatabad Model School, Phase VI, Hayatabad. Invitations were sent to a total of eight schools, however due to heavy rain and bad weather a total ten teacher from five schools could participate in the workshop. The main resource persons of the workshop were Mr. Khurshid Ahmed, the Chairperson SNCS and Ms. Shabana Haider M.Sc. Environmental Sciences and working as a Gender Officer with World Wide Fund for Nature – Pakistan (WWF – P).

The registration of the participants was started at 09:30. A total of 10 teachers from 05 schools attended the workshop. Due to heavy rain, the workshop started at 10:30 am instead of the given schedule; and came to an end at 03:30 pm. Master Khalid, a student of Hayatabad Model School recited a few verses from the Holy Qura’an. Since the participants of the workshop belonged to different schools, they were introduced with each other in an interesting manner. (Annex – 1). Mr. Tahir Javed Malik, Director Hayatabad Model School threw light on the aims and objectives of the workshop. (Annex – 2). After that a code of conduct was designed through mutual consultation which was written on a chart and hanged on the most prominent spot on one of the walls. (Annex – 3). The participants were asked about expectations and concerns regarding workshop which helped the resource persons to plan their way of presentations accordingly. A brief on the purpose of the workshop was also delivered by Mr. Khurshid Ahmed. The first presentation was delivered by Mr. Khurshid Ahmed under the topic “ What is environment?”. (Annex – 4). It was followed by a short tea break while the 2nd presentation was delivered by Ms. Shabana Haider on “Ecological Foundation of Environment” (Annex – 5). To made them clear about the concept of food chain, an activity was conducted in which all the participants were involved. (Annex – 6). The next session was started by the Presentation of Mr. Khurshid Ahmed and the topic was “ Nature Clubs in School – Initiation, administration and organization”. (Annex – 7). At 01:30 pm a lunch break was announced, however due to ready made lunch packs, the participants insisted to let the proceeding of the workshop be continued. A group activity of all the participants was conducted in which all the participants were grouped into three groups A, B, and C. All the groups were assigned the task of developing a work plan for the activities of a Nature Club as well as exchange information regarding Natural resources of Pakistan, threats posed by them, reasons of these threats and the possible remedies for such issues. After the given time, all the group leaders presented their findings. Mr. Nasir Azam Sahibzada, the Program Officer UNHCR, being the chief guest delivered his thought regarding the usefulness of the workshop. The workshop came to an end after a session of questions – answers which was followed by the evaluation of the workshop through a printed proforma. Vote of thanks being the last activity of the day which was delivered by Ms. Farhana, the Principal Hayatabad Model School. At 03:30 pm the workshop came to an end.

Khurshid Ahmed
University Public School
University of Peshawar

I wonder if you could guide me to make access to the Lamson LIbrary. It would be very kind of you if you could make it as simple as possible. I shall be needing the following steps:

1. How to access the library?

2. How to make access to a specific book?

Please guide me in small steps.

thanks

Khurshid Ahmed

I am Khurshid from Peshawar (well! almost Peshawar, since its the capital of N.W.F.P) actually my village is situated about 45 km away from Peshawar, named “TANGI” with a pure culture of typical Pathans clan (the Muhammadzai’s).

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I entered the profession of teaching accidently however soon I began to love it. May be it was due to the one of the best school of Pakistan that gave full support in almost all disciplines of teaching-learning process. I have been working as a senior Master in University Public School (One of the three schools run by University of Peshawar). I am the poineer in establishing the computer Lab. in the school in 1986 and eversince, the teaching of computer never stopped (Now a fully equipped lab with 38 P4s). Besides taking classes with senior students in Biology, I also coordinate co-curricurlar activities including 13 clubs (Nature Club, Science Club, Art & Craft Club, Debating Club, etc which are run each by two relevent teachers).

In 2003, I joined WWF-P (World Wildlife Fund for Nature- Pakistan) as an Environmental Education and Communication Specialist. With the experience of UPS (University Public Schoo) in hand, I travelled to the very remote and difficult areas of District Muzaffarabad (Azad Jammu & Kashmir) and imparted awareness regarding conservation of the resources of the nearby National Park (the Machiara National Park).

All this was in progress quite smoothly when the calamity of the October 2005 occured and everybody had to suspend their routine duties except to rescue, provide relief and ensure rehabilitation of the affected communitieis. I was lucky enough to reach the most affected area through a sortie and remained there until February 2006. Its a long story (I shall be sharing it with you bit by bit later) how I rescued the critically injured, established field hospitla/dispencaries, Provide food and blankets (of course with the colloboration of WFP and IOM) and established a very friendly relation with the local commnities.

The most promising task (I think), is to treat the local school children regarding the psychological affects (PTSD) of earthquake.

Now I am back to my school and (God knows! visiting USA may be a reward for the efforts I made for the poor communities of Muzaffarabad) with a huge collection of images, videos and reports regarding Environmental Education, Rescue, and Rehabilitation.

I am also very enthusiastic to learn from the visit regarding modern techniques of imparting ‘activities based education.’ ( Well, I am the author of 3 books on EE which are totally activities based but those were my own approaches and not of the experts).

(I made few attempts to insert some images but in vein. It would be very nice of anyone who could tell me about the process)

See you all soon

Khurshid Ahmed

Uncle! Don’t go away!

It was the noon of 27^th October when we picked up a group of about 20 people from Bheri who were either critically injured or had an injured person to be attended. While flying back from Serli Sacha the chopper was almost empty but now it was so overcrowded that I along with some of my other fellows had to stand against the door opening to the pilot cabin. A number of injured people were lying down on the floor while a few minors were held in arms of their elders.

While standing against the door, I was trying to have some snaps of the people when a child of about four captured my attention. He was in the arms of a young man and had a white strip on his forehead, bearing his name, address etc. The worn out brownish shalwar qamees reflected that he had a narrow escape from a collapsed school building. He seemed weak and hungry but the wounds on his left leg would not let him think about these problems. He was gazing me while I was taking shots. I looked at him and give him a brief smile. His eyes glittered and I felt the return of my smile. I again became busy and took out my video camera but I couldn’t help to throw a glance on him once again. The dirt on his face and hair could not veil the innocence and purity of his eyes and face. Suddenly I felt that I was feeling something very close, like I had known him, for this injured kid. The feeling which I missed for the last four – five days due to keep watching people in agony and pain in almost every village of this area. I tilted towards him and asked about his wounds but in the roaring noise of the chopper I could not even heard my own voice. He didn’t move for he couldn’t but he returned me a silent ‘ hello!’ I give away to talk to him for it was useless however, he was fully attentive to me and kept watching me as I took a shot of him as well.

I felt the chopper landing on the ground and suddenly every body panicked. I also started preparation of putting myself off board. The big back door of the chopper was opened while we came down from the front smaller door.

As we were standing aside and watching the people unloading their relative and loved ones off the chopper, I totally forgot the kid I just exchanged smiles with. All the injured were guided and taken away by the army Jawans, when the young man with moustaches came towards me holding the same child in his arms. He started asking something, which I understood, was about the medical camp. I pointed towards the medical camp run by the German team of doctors at one end of the huge Stadium used as a helipad. He stopped and said ‘ No Sir! This kid is mine. I came here with my injured mother!!’ I didn’t understand for short while what he was trying to say. ‘ Then who is this kid?’ I asked in a casual voice. ‘ He has nobody to care. None of them survived’

I began to feel a little tension when an army Jawan came and took the kid away from the young man. ‘Don’t worry we have a number of such cases. He will be kept in a very good care until someone come to get him’. He took the kid and started walking towards the medical camp. ‘ Uncle! Don’t go away!’ I heard the voice of the injured kid behind my intentionally kept stiffed neck. It was heart – piercing and I could not withstand against the strange wave of emotions starting from my feet and creeping up to my head. ‘ How come I became your uncle? I know you hardly for a few minutes? Please don’t repeat it again. Please!’ I tried to keep myself standing by getting support of the opened backdoor of the chopper, never looking back for I know I was the only person whom he felt belongingness with after that nightmare.