D!NCHACK LIFE

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Archive for the ‘Contribution’ Category

Inspiration from Dookaz

Posted by Mush Panjwani on May 24, 2013

IMG_2506I bumped into Dookaz website when looking for good quality t-shirt suppliers for Dinchack. That’s how I met the owner, Iris Chan, whose story is nothing short of inspirational, and something I must share…

Iris is a qualified nurse who always wanted do something bigger and better, something that helps the community. So she founded Dookaz a few years ago, with a promise to:

  • make changes to our environment by doing what is right
  • encourage and conduct fair trade, fair business, equality and justice
  • encourage and protect our environment
  • spread positive messages all round

IMG_2502That’s quite an undertaking for a t-shirt company. After the initial challenges of any new business, her work became known in Hong Kong. They were the first company to offer anyone to print their own design, logo or message on t-shirts, without any minimum quantities – as long as the message was positive. Iris started teaching under-priveleged children and adults to learn how to make t-shirts and make a living. Business expanded to printing bags and shoes and labelling services, but still ensuring that none of the material or process would cause any harm to the human body or the environment. Her team grew to over 20 designers and workers, all of them as passionate as her to do good.

Then few months ago, her machinery broke down. With no money for repairs, business depended on handmade stuff only, and soon started to decline. She lost the entire team one after the other, but continued working all by herself to serve her existing clients as best as she could. Then last week, she broke her arm. All her family and friends told her this is a sign that she should finally close down the business. But Iris said, ‘I still have one arm, and the other will be ok soon’. And there she is, making t-shirts all by herself, with just one arm, serving her clients with a smile, and making a difference!

Iris is likely to read this piece, so please feel free to share your comments with her.

Posted in Contribution, Happiness, Inspiration, Life, Motivation | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

International Literacy Day 2010

Posted by Mush Panjwani on September 8, 2010

Today, 8th September was the International Literacy Day 2010.

Worldwide, there are more than 770 million illiterate adults, two-thirds of whom are women. In addition, there are over 100 million children not currently enrolled in primary school and millions of others not currently enrolled in secondary school. Education is a lifelong gift that empowers people to ultimately improve socioeconomic conditions for their families, communities, countries, and future generations. Through the opportunities that only an education can provide, we can break the cycle of illiteracy, one child at a time.

The Literacy Site and Room to Read, are two of the organizations that provide books to children in some of the poorest regions of the world, including Tibet, India, Vietnam, and Laos. Check out their websites to see how you can help.

If you like reading this blog, subscribe for email updates. You may connect with Mush on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or YouTube.

Posted in Books, Contribution | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Power of the Human Will: 100km Trek for Fundraising

Posted by Mush Panjwani on August 23, 2010

Three university students, Hamza, Tom and Chris, trekked the 100km MacLehose Trail of Hong Kong to raise funds for the millions affected by the floods in Pakistan. It’s the same trail that’s attempted by over 10,000 people every year who participate in the Oxfam event – only 3,000 or so are able to complete it within the 48 hours time limit, despite many months of training.

Hamza, Tom and Chris walked and climbed for 38 hours, without much rest or sleep, in extreme weather conditions (hot and humid during the day; cold and stormy at night), without any training, experience or professional gear! There were times when they wanted to give up due to bad weather, dehydration, blistered feet, sprained ankles, sleep deprivation… but it was sheer will power, absolute commitment to the goal, and the support of family and friends that kept them going. And their only purpose was to raise awareness and funds for the millions affected by the floods in Pakistan. So far, they have raised GBP5,000 against the very ambitious target of GBP10,000! You can read the full story and still support them here.

What’s also inspiring is that three men from three different countries and faiths could be so committed to a humanitarian cause, and to making a difference.

[Photo taken on Friday 20th morning when we met them to replenish their supply of water and snacks. From L to R: Chris Tsao, Tom Owens, Hamza Mush. Some more photos here.]

Update (3rd Sep. 2010): JustGiving named them the Fundraisers of the Month for raising GBP8000 in just three weeks, without much planning or previous experience! Read the story here.

If you like reading this blog, subscribe for email updates. You may connect with Mush on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or YouTube.

Posted in Contribution, Motivation | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Inspiring Quotes: Making a Difference

Posted by Mush Panjwani on August 18, 2010

Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.  ~Author Unknown

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little – do what you can.  ~Sydney Smith

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.  ~Mother Teresa

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.  ~Author Unknown

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.  ~Winston Churchill

It’s easy to make a buck.  It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.  ~Tom Brokaw

You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.  ~Kahlil Gibran

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.  ~Mother Teresa

Inspired by Hamza’s plan to raise funds for the 20 million people affected by the floods in Pakistan. Hamza and his two friends, Tom and Chris, will be hiking the 100-km MacLehose Trail in Hong Kong on 19th August. It’s one of the toughest hikes that takes up to 36 hours to complete; they plan to do it in 24 hours. They are making good progress towards their target of raising GBP10,000. You can make a difference too – check out details here.

Posted in Contribution, Motivation | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Book Recommendation: Three Cups of Tea

Posted by Mush Panjwani on August 16, 2010

A very inspiring book by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. There are hundred of beautiful reviews of this book on the Internet. The following represent my views most closely:

“Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.” (Tom Brokaw)

“Three Cups of Tea is beautifully written. It is also a critically important book at this time in history. The governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan are both failing their students on a massive scale. The work Mortenson is doing, providing the poorest students with a balanced education, is making them much more difficult for the extremist madrassas to recruit.” (Ahmed Rashid, best-selling author of Taliban: Militant Islam)

“Mortenson and Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Captivating and suspenseful, with engrossing accounts of both hostilities and unlikely friendships, this book will win many readers’ hearts.” (Publishers Weekly)

If you like reading this blog, subscribe for email updates. You may connect with Mush on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or YouTube.

Posted in Books, Contribution, Motivation | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Looking for a Cause?

Posted by Mush Panjwani on April 25, 2010

Did you know that there are 41.2 million refugees and internally displaced people in the world? And 12 million stateless people living in limbo without citizenship rights? Recently, I had an opportunity to do a motivational session for a youth refugee group in Hong Kong. And I realized that people forced from their homes by conflict are among the world’s most vulnerable who all have individual stories of loss, heartache and survival.

Officially there are 6,500 refugees in Hong Kong. Most of them are asylum seekers who have suffered human rights abuses, persecution, torture or sexual violence! They usually come from South Asia (Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan) and Africa (Somalia, DR Congo, Eritrea, Burundi, Rwanda, Cameroon, Ivory Coast).

Ever since I have heard about these people and met some of them, it’s been almost impossible to complain about my small problems and challenges in life. The things that we take for granted – home, family, friends, job, food, clothes, education etc. – are daily struggles for these people. We are extremely blessed if we haven’t experienced war, famine, violence, displacement or other such calamities, and we should be very grateful!

If you are looking for a cause to support or an opportunity to contribute, you should consider Refugees International or Hong Kong Christian Action who are helping thousands of refugees with their basic needs.

Posted in Contribution, Life | Tagged: , , | 3 Comments »

 
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