Beyond the Code: My Journey of FundraisingBeyond the Code: My Journey of Fundraising

For the last 3 weeks, we were assigned to collect funds for a social cause as part of our fellowship. Since my schedule was super busy, I didn’t have the time on my hands to go out to markets or public places. Instead, I just focused on reaching out to my uni fellows on campus.

Here is a quick look at how it went, the surprising things I learned, and how it changed my perspective.

Talking to People: Groups vs. One-on-One

I tried asking people both in groups and individually, and the difference was huge. When you drop a message in a group, it usually gets ignored because everyone assumes someone else will reply.

Reaching out one-on-one was much better, but the reactions were a complete mix. Some people straight-up refused, which was tough to hear. On the flip side, some really supportive friends donated on the spot without asking questions. And then, of course, there were many who gave the classic, “I’ll do it later” which usually meant they weren’t going to do it at all.

The Biggest Shock: Edhi and Akhuwat

The most interesting and honestly shocking part of this whole experience was when I started talking about the organizations we were collecting money for: Edhi and Akhuwat.

I understand that Akhuwat is a bit newer, so it makes sense if some people haven’t heard of it. But Edhi is one of the oldest, biggest, and most popular welfare organizations in the country. I was genuinely shocked to hear that people didn’t even know what the Edhi Foundation is!

Because of this, my biggest challenge wasn’t just asking for donations. I actually had to stop and educate my fellows about who these organizations are and the amazing work they do before I could even ask for their help.

Learning Not to Give Up

This experience was a huge lesson in resilience for me. Getting rejected, hearing “I’ll do it later,” and having to explain the basics of huge organizations like Edhi really tested my patience.

But it taught me not to take a “no” personally. Everyone has their own reasons. Dealing with the rejections and finding the energy to ask the next person taught me how to keep pushing forward, even when it felt like I was getting nowhere.

Final Thoughts

Fundraising is not easy, but it really opens your eyes to how much people around us actually know about social causes. A huge thank you to everyone who stepped up and donated on the spot!