Our outstanding alumni have been making waves with kickstarting of our National Internship Program, heartfelt reunions, dynamic chapter activities, impactful initiatives under country projects, and inspiring Alumni Small Grants. From May 19-31, 2024, they’ve been bridging cultures and making a difference. Here’s a sneak peek into their extraordinary journeys and the vibrant communities they have been building.
PUAN National Internship Program Begins
Our PUAN National Internship Program 2024 has begun, connecting 67 passionate young alumni with incredible mentors across diverse fields and organizations. Over the period of three months, we will be witnessing the power of mentorship as these future leaders are gaining invaluable experience and building connections that will shape their careers.
PUAN South AJK Chapter Celebrates Connections at Annual Reunion
Celebrating connections that cross borders and hearts! The PUAN South AJK Chapter’s recent Annual Reunion brought alumni together to share their stories, rekindle friendships, and celebrate dreams. With Commissioner Mirpur Division as Chief Guest, PUAN Country President as guest of honor and participation of representatives from Embassy & USEFP, chapter leadership did a great job arranging this fun filled gathering.
RELO Program Celebrates 20 Years of Achievements in Reunion Event at Karachi
Consul General Tribble recently joined teachers and students in Karachi to celebrate the English Access Scholarship Program turning 20 years old! Started way back in 2004, the program has helped over 27,000 Pakistani students across the country learn English, develop leadership skills, and open doors for their future academic and career goals. In Sindh and Balochistan alone, Access has empowered more than 8,000 alumni by leveling up their English skills and prepping them for the future. Learn more about the event proceedings here.
Networking Nirvana: Journeys Recounted, Relationships Rekindled at Jamshoro
Calling all alumni from PUAN Jamshoro chapter! Our recent annual chapter reunion was a blast! It was all about reconnecting with old friends, making new connections & celebrating the power of PUAN! Inspiring talks, cultural performances & a walk down the memory lane were the key highlights. Indeed it was pleasure to see seasoned veterans swapping stories with recent graduates of exchange programs, sharing tips and tricks, and sparking ideas that could change the world (well, maybe at least a corner of it!). Find more about the reunion proceedings here.
#ASGImpactingLives: Committed Changemaker – Aisha Lareb’s Fight for SRHR
Remember Aisha, our UGRAD rockstar from Kamber? Well, she’s breaking the ice on periods and reproductive health of women! Her Alumni Small Grant project, “Empower Health,” is all about creating a safe space for women to chat openly about stuff they might not normally. Here’s the cool part: Aisha’s project is shattering those awkward silences! Women can finally ask questions and learn about things like periods, birth control, and staying healthy – no judgment zone! And it gets better! Aisha knows money can be tight, so she focused on helping women in communities that might not have easy access to healthcare. She taught them about affordable options and gave them the knowledge to take charge of their health. Learn more about Aisha’s initiative as over 300 women got a major boost, and tons of others learned through ripple effect.
ASGImpactingLives: Theatre Director’s Passion Project-Echoes from Earth Inspires Change
How about celebrating Earth Day with a bang – not by just typical sharing of random quote on your socials, but witnessing powerful performances and artistic creations that make you think! That’s exactly what Safeer Ullah Khan, IVLP alumnus and a theatre director with a big heart for the environment, did with his recent project, “Echoes from Earth.” The project kicked off with a writing workshop where aspiring writer met at Theater Walay Den and honed their words to create compelling stories and literary pieces about the environmental issues. This was followed by an art workshop where artists got creative using recycled materials for raising awareness about climate change. Learn more that how these efforts culminated in a grand event featuring dramatic readings of creative expressions created earlier alongside the eco-art exhibition.
#ASGImpactingLives: Bookworms to Bridge Builders-Connecting Cultures Through American Authors
Adnan Ahmed Memon, a talented linguist from Khairpur, Sindh, and an alumnus of the English Works program (class of 2022) recently completed an Alumni Small Grant (ASG) project titled “Exploring America Through Literature,” to foster cross-cultural understanding. This project was more than just reading books. Adnan introduced 40 young participants in Khairpur to American literary greats, sparking critical thinking and cultural exchange. By exploring the works of these authors, participants engaged in meaningful discussions that transcended borders, fostering mutual respect and tolerance. Learn more that how his ASG participants are gaining a new appreciation for American values and the power of words.
#ASGImpactingLives: Nazeer Arranges Workshop on Promoting Diversity
Nazeer, a 2013 E-Teacher alumnus, is giving back by leading workshops for young women in conflict zones. Under Alumni Small Grant, he is “Promoting Diversity” project that is equipping them with life-changing skills like confidence, communication, and leadership. ️These girls are breaking stereotypes and becoming the leaders their communities need! From education to conflict resolution, they’re gaining the tools to reshape their futures.
#ASGImpactingLives: Bilal Makes the Web Safer for Pakistani Women
Imagine scrolling through social media, excited to connect with friends, only to be bombarded with creepy messages or worrying about your information being stolen. This fear is a reality for many Pakistani women online. However, Bilal Farooq Khan, an alumnus with a purpose, is on a mission to change that. Learn more that how his recent recent Alumni Small Grant project, WISE (Women’s Internet Safety and Empowerment), tackled a super important issue: keeping women safe and sound in the digital world. Participants weren’t just there to listen – they actively learned about stuff like how to avoid online creeps, what their rights are, and how to keep their info safe from hackers. They even got tips on creating super strong passwords (because seriously, who wants a weak password?)
#ASGImpactingLives: Haris Shinwari’s “Localizing the Democracy” Project Makes a Difference
60 elected representatives from Khyber and Peshawar districts recently gathered for a transformative session led by Haris Shinwari, an English Works program alumnus. His Alumni Small Grant (ASG) project, “Localizing the Democracy,” is aimed at empowering these leaders with practical governance skills. The highlight was a mock assembly session, where they practiced calling sessions, proposing resolutions, and crafting budgets.
#PUANCountryProject: A Glimpse into PUAN Sukkur Chapter’s Initiatives
PUAN Sukkur Chapter, in collaboration with Lincoln Corner Khairpur, hosted a transformative event on “Clean Energy Transition and Sustainable Infrastructure.” With 50 participants from diverse fields and an engaging session by Engr. Abdul Shakoor Shaikh, the event under the country project inspired innovative solutions for a greener future in Pakistan.
#ChapterActivities: TEA Alumna Arranges Climate Awareness Seminar
Zainab Khalid, E-Teacher alumna, organized a powerful climate action seminar at COMSATS Abbottabad! Students, activists & experts came together to discuss solutions & raise awareness. A captivating stage performance highlighted the issue! PUAN Country President & COMSATS Director joined the inspiring event. Learn more about her initiative.
#PUANRisingStar: Professional Fellows Alumnus Striving Hard for Youth Economic Uplift
Meet Sajid Ali is a social entrepreneur from Naushahro Feroze. He recently conducted an entrepreneurship session for 150 students from across Sindh, collaborating with RELO Pakistan. Sajid (Professional Fellows alumnus 2019) is founder of The Learners’ Tree (TLT), an organization that has impacted over 14,000 students in over 10 years! His mission? To ensure every young person has the opportunity to become a leader and turn their dreams into reality. Sajid also actively promotes U.S. culture by sharing his knowledge on applying to U.S. universities.
Nazeer, a 2013 E-Teacher alumnus, is giving back by leading workshops for young women in conflict zones. Under Alumni Small Grant, he is “Promoting Diversity” project that is equipping them with life-changing skills like confidence, communication, and leadership. ️These girls are breaking stereotypes and becoming the leaders their communities need. From education to conflict resolution, they’re gaining the tools to reshape their futures.
Humphrey Alumna Farhat Javed’s Documentary The Last Wakhi Shepherdesses Wins Gracie Award
Humphrey Fellow and BBC Correspondent Farhat Javed’s documentary “The Last Wakhi Shepherdesses” won the 2024 Gracie Award in the documentary category. The awards recognize exemplary programming created by women, for women, and about women in media and entertainment. The documentary, produced and directed by Farhat, is part of BBC 100 Women and follows the last Pakistani Wakhi shepherdesses on their journey up the Pamir pastures in the Karakoram mountains, one of the most dangerous treks in the world. For years, these courageous women have trekked to remote mountains to graze their flocks and produce dairy products, generating income that has supported healthcare, education, and infrastructure development in their valley. Farhat attended the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University from 2020 to 2021 as part of the Hubert H. Humphrey Program.
#OpportunityAlert: Applications Open for CEE 2025
Join a global network of young leaders in over 100 countries who are driving change at a local level in the areas of Youth Engagement, Environmental sustainability, Women and Gender Issues, Civic Dialogue, Peace Building, and Open and Participatory Government. Go to bit.ly/CEElearnmore and apply today to strengthen your leadership capacity, network with established community leaders, and tap into a community engagement ecosystem that can help you make an even greater impact.
#UpcomingAlumniReunions: Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Meet-ups
Lots of Annual Chapter Reunions are on your way allowing the alumni to revive connections and celebrate shared achievements. Please note the dates and get in touch with you respective chapter coordinators by clicking here.
- June 1, 2024: South Punjab Reunion
- June 8, 2024: North AJK Reunion
- June 9, 2024: PUAN ISB Chapter Reunion
- June 1, 2024: Access Reunion Islamabad
- KP Reunion-Date yet to be decided
- June 30, 2024: KP Reunion in Peshawar
- PUAN Gilgit Chapter Reunion- Date yet to be decided
- June 29, 2024: PUAN Quetta Chapter Reunion
- PUAN South AJK – Date yet to be decided
- Karachi Reunion – Date yet to be decided
#PositionsVacant: Job Opportunities at Embassy and Consulates
U.S. Mission Pakistan is an equal-opportunity employer seeking eligible & qualified applicants for full-time positions. To view the vacant positions accepting applications, please visit the website. Note: Please note that under no circumstances PUAN can or will influence the process of hiring. Therefore, reaching out to the concerned via the link is advisable.
Keep an eye on our socials i.e. Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn for more updates.
