In the next few days, we will reflect on the speeches made at KIU on the 6th of June, 2023. Some key points will be taken out and edited.

Dear all, it is an honor to give you this speech. The main points that we are discussing today will be of

1. Disability Awareness –Raising

2. Understanding each other for cooperation and collaboration

3. Introducing Gilgit Baltistan Goodwill Movement’s vision.

Like many other disabled-related organizations, the vision of GBGM is for Persons with Disabilities to work for themselves and establish, manage and lead their organizations. Of course, through our efforts we want GB society to realize that they have a responsibility to provide an enabling environment to PWDs through encouraging and supporting them in all possible ways.

Before GBGM, I had hands-on experience working for and with disability-related causes. I founded the First Disabled Students Network in my former college, the City of Glasgow College https://www.citysa.co.uk/get-involved/sports-societies/society/dsn-test/. I am also a member of the Glasgow Disability Alliance https//gda.scot. I know what it is like being in a disabled-led organization.

While my parents are from the region, it was not until when I supported disabled-related causes in GB that this idea of GBGM was designed as an organization. I already started some social media awareness under this name back in August 2019. The GBGM GB team is made up of mostly educated disabled students who have not been employed due to their disability.

Like any professional organization GBGM first – 1. Collected data and liaised with local disabled persons organizations. This was done by meeting the local and relevant organizations that were working for persons with disablities and at the same time visiting the families of PWDs. 2. GBGM reached out to the neediest people with disablities in areas like Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Puniyal and Astore. This was at the same time as Registration where Persons with Disablities were themselves able to register an organization by visiting government offices and etc.

Our long-term project is working on the skills development of persons with disabilities in Gilgit City. I believe that research has proven that such training improves the employability skills of PWDs. We train PWDs in the following skills IT, Music, LED Bulb Making, etc but due to a lack of funds, we are not able to support a bigger cohort.

As I have been brought up in Glasgow, UK, I want to replicate the Scottish model of disability governance within GB. This will require governmental, individual, and organizational funding. I want to also let people know that in January 2023 on our Islamabad trip, we made links with :

•AKDN/ AKAH

•Hashoo foundation

•PPAF

•STEP

•NAV –Tech

•Reputed Experts in the field

If given more funding, we can professionalize GBGM and hopefully continue expanding our skills development project.

In a world often consumed by self-interest, volunteering stands as a powerful way to break free from the mundane and make a lasting impact. Whether it’s lending a helping hand to those in need, supporting a cause close to your heart, or contributing to the betterment of society, becoming a volunteer is an extraordinary opportunity for personal growth and social change. This article delves into the transformative journey of becoming a volunteer and explores the numerous benefits it offers to both individuals and the communities they serve.

Gilgit Baltistan’s Goodwill Movement is a nonprofit organization that works for the betterment of disabled people in society. GBGM has tried to work on broader objectives such as skills development, poverty alleviation, and education over the last two years.

In the 21st century, life moves on; individuals move to cities, countries, towns, or villages; team GB GWM noticed that there was no work for the disabled communities who have been excluded from society. Society is defined as a social product created by the actions of individuals that then exert a coercive social force back on those individuals. Through their collective consciousness, Durkheim argued, human beings become aware of one another as social beings, not just animals. Can a society prosper if some people are excluded from social life?

As witnessed during this pandemic, we all need doctors, especially our disabled community. For example, during the first wave of COVID-19 in Gilgit Baltistan, two doctors helped us identify a Ghizer patient who was hypoglycemic and had some form of Autism or mental health issues. The patient’s family desperately needed medications ranging from 25,000 PKR to 30,000 PKR.

The Gilgit-Baltistan’s Goodwill Movement GB GWM is an organization working on community and skills-based development for persons with disabilities in Gilgit-Baltistan.

This recently registered organization is being run by persons with disabilities, primarily students keen to showcase their work on a national, regional, and international stage. Today, we are joined by Ghulam Muhammad Baig, CEO of GB GWM, Farhan Baig, President, and Abrar Ahmed, General Secretary.

Please listen to the tunes of Nizam Uddin and Shah Zohaib, a student of the Goodwill development center.

Muhammad Ali once said ‘ If my mind can conceive it if my heart can believe it–then I can achieve it.” Of course, a boxer from an ethnic minority in the USA was unthinkable in the 1950s and 60s America, but no matter what his circumstances were, he always fought on; that\\\’s what we need to do in our society.

With all due respect to Amjad Hussain, the Leader of the Opposition, for raising a voice about persons with disablities, we do not accept the fact that special persons should only receive a stipend of 2000 Pakistani rupees (10$) per month. This is a highly irresponsible comment to say within these economic circumstances. Instead of giving us 10$ per month, why does the government not introduce educational, skills-based programs that we can use to empower ourselves.