By Rimsha Ali Shah.
“Lahore, Lahore, Ae!” (Lahore is Lahore) sums up the colorful cultural vistas of this historic city. Lahore, also known as the “Walled City,” holds vestiges from the Mughal Era, including 6 of the original 13 gates, historic mosques, and magnificent forts. The city’s rich cultural heritage has earned Lahore the title of the “heart of Pakistan.” On May 22, 2016 this incredible city hosted alumni from across Punjab for the first-ever reunion of Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) – Punjab Chapter. Aptly called “Sangat” or “companionship,” the two-day reunion provided over 400 alumni of various U.S. State Department exchange programs the environment to connect, explore, and celebrate the cultural diversity this city holds through breakout sessions, dialogues, networking activities, and a city tour.
To nurture this companionship, U.S. Consulate General Lahore Public Affairs Officer Rachael Chen, encouraged all alumni to connect with at least 10 new alumni. “Access students, this is a great opportunity for you to learn how to apply for exchange programs like Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES), Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD), Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) and Fulbright, straight from the exchange alumni themselves,” she added.
Faisal Malik, the country President of PUAN noted in his remarks, “Such events provide a chance for alumni to connect with one another and learn more about the funding opportunities available to alumni.”
Fireworks, a selfie booth, interactive networking games, a display of the rhythm and talent of the alumni and an informal discussion with senior alumni from various programs kept the crowd of 450 exchange alumni energetic and active. Samra Shakir, an alumna of the Cultural Immersion Program, thought the reunion was “quite impactful. It also gave us the chance to meet alumni in-person, many of whom we had been interacting with on social media,” she added, recalling one such connection she had made through the online networking groups available for Pakistani exchange alumni.
For Samia Farooq, an alumna of UGRAD, Sangat 2016 paved the way for her to meet up with fellow UGRAD alumni from Lahore, Multan, and Bahawalpur. “Meeting up with the UGRAD folks was a trip down memory lane that made the evening all the more memorable!”
The breakout sessions were designed to help alumni exchange their experiences and connect with one another.
“I learned a lot about choosing the right profession and career development in general. Mr. Waseem Anwar’s breakout session gave us a lot of insight in to understanding our professional and personal growth in today’s globalized economy,” said Zoya, an Access alumna from Bahawalpur.
The reunion also commemorated the efforts of the volunteers, leadership team, activity leaders, executive council members, and speakers through tokens of appreciation.
Waqar Ali Khan, Alumni Outreach Officer and Rimsha Ali Shah, Communications Officer at United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) – PUAN gave brief presentations on applying for the alumni small grants and PUAN’s digital outreach.
As part of PUAN’s country-wide celebrations on “Cultural Diversity in Pakistan,” the second day of the reunion celebrated the colors of Lahore through a tour of the walled city. Excited alumni visited Alamgiri Gate, Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, and a Sikh Gurdwara in an effort to promote interfaith harmony via heritage, culture, and tourism, while celebrating Lahore’s diversity.
Check out photographs from the event by clicking here.
