Ayaz Latif Palijo

Cohort-7

"We came to Vancouver and Whistler from different places and different backgrounds, but the program Sessions and debates have shown that areas of agreement are greater than the disagreements."

MEHJABEEN ABIDI-HABIB

Cohort-6

"Although I had been working in the environmental field prior to my training, LEAD has added to my experience and has updated my knowledge," maintains Mehjabeen Abidi, Provincial Coordinator (Punjab) for the United Nations Development Program (Life/GEF).

Before joining LEAD, Ms. Abidi was working as a freelance consultant, engaged in a project for the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Her work primarily deals with the environment and development. "I work with the Global Environment Facility/ Small Grants Program. My employer views the exposure to LEAD as a rich addition to the global perspectives required in my work."

Ms. Abidi feels that LEAD has had a large impact on her personal and professional life. "At LEAD I was among a small group of professionals in Pakistan who share a vision of sustainable development. Now I have not only added to my knowledge of vital information in what is going to shape the future, but I also feel that I am part of a large family of LEAD fellows all of whom share a vision for the future. I realise that such a training is an essential part of my professional growth."

Ms. Abidi also acknowledges that LEAD has changed her perspective on ecological issues. "I am now familiar with the resource persons and institutions that can influence sustainable development in the country. I also have a clearer framework of why development has been skewed in Pakistan. For example I know more about the federal bureaucracy that makes decision making so complex."

 As far as the skills learnt during her training are concerned, Ms. Abidi asserts the update on the broad range of environmental issues, both national and international are useful. But more useful has been the possibility to practice the art of working together with other professionals, and the exposure to leaders in the real world and their personal experience of how they got there. Ms. Abidi is in touch with both national and international LEAD fellows. It has helped her to refer to initiatives in the development sector with confidence, so much so, that she is thinking of undertaking a joint project with a group of international fellows. Ms. Abidi browses LEAD-Net once a month to gain a sense of being connected to a world dialogue.

“LEAD has been a privilege to participate in, even though it was strenuous and demanded time. And there is room for improvement in its curriculum. The broad introduction to sustainable development issues need to be reduced and focused more by cutting repetitive subjects.”

Mr. ALTAF A. ABRO

Cohort-5

Mr. Abro is currently teaching at the Sociology Department of University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Though his present job is not directly related to environment, he recalls his days as the social economist for the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LOBD) Project. 

"When I was selected as a LEAD-Pakistan associate, I got a whiff of new environment-friendly ideas and approaches," said Altaf Abro. The productive part of my relationship with LEAD was that I learnt multi-dimensional ecological concepts and immediately tested them on ground by incorporating deeper ecological concerns arising in the wake of the LOBDs' implementation.” 

In his present job at the University of Sindh, Mr. Abro is utilizing his knowledge of the environment to build linkages with other societal dimensions. He does this by encouraging his students to explore whether ecological dimensions play a role in the formation of social attitudes and behaviors.     

Although Mr. Abro holds a Master's degree in Rural Development Planning from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok and has written a dissertation on waste management, he feels his multi-dimensional vision concerning the environment was broadened only after attending LEAD's international and national training sessions, and particularly through interaction with other Associates from around the world. “The LEAD links often help me in my consultancy work with different organizations,” he added.

 Based on his experience with LEAD overall, Mr. Altaf Abro values his association with LEAD-Pakistan and intends to figure out more meaningful interaction with other LEAD-Fellows. 

NAILA HUSSAIN

Cohort 4

“Joining LEAD was very refreshing for me, as it took me back to my subject, with the added advantage of providing wider perspectives on environmental issues. The experience transcends boundaries. It was interactive, intellectually stimulating and challenging.”

When she was selected for the LEAD Program, Ms. Hussain was working at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) as a Communication Officer and had an opportunity to jointly edit the country’s first Citizens Report on Sustainable Development. “Even before joining the LEAD Program, I had motivation and passion for the environment.” With a Masters’ degrees in Journalism and Environmental Resources, she is presently working with Shirkat Gah.  Her areas of interest are women and sustainable development. Her passion for environment has earned her two publications: first a report on the Baja Line Incident (an environmental catastrophe in Lahore) and a second report on Cotton Pickers. “In fact, my recent work on the problems of cotton-pickers pushed me to contact LEAD colleagues in Zimbabwe and in Mexico who have similar problems.” Again LEAD’s strength in networking has proven useful.

Being part of the first cohort in Pakistan, I felt the program lacked a few vital components, such as field work at the national level, and more importantly, LEAD’s initial impression was that of being an elite organization,” she said. “However, that’s not the way things seem now.”

“I am involved with the Lahore Lead Club, which is a good initiative. These regional chapters should ideally select small projects, which should lead to small success stories. It will be a shift from talking to action."

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