Pakistan’s widespread little one YouTubers, Muhammad Shiraz and Muskan, have utilised their social media earnings for a constructive trigger, reworking their village of Ghursay’s old style into a contemporary academic establishment, supported by main donations.
Their journey highlights using social media affect in the direction of constructive change. Shiraz’s father, Muhammad Taqi, first highlighted the college’s poor state in a YouTube video, exhibiting youngsters finding out outside with out uniforms, footwear or fundamental amenities.
Regardless of the household contemplating a transfer to Islamabad for higher residing circumstances, Taqi mentioned they selected to remain and work for the village’s enchancment. “Ghursay is much in Gilgit-Baltistan, and there are only a few fundamental amenities,” Taqi mentioned in an interview.
“Allah has given Shiraz fame, and so I had two choices: Both I keep right here with my household in a spot with out fundamental amenities, or we transfer to Islamabad, the place we will get them. We have now stayed within the village to work right here and make it higher.”
Who’re Shiraz and Muskan?
Hailing from Ghursay, a small village of about 2,000 individuals on the foothills of Siachen, Shiraz gained international consideration via vlogs capturing stony streets, Persian-style homes, native festivals and on a regular basis life.
Muskan’s cheerful appearances additional boosted the channel’s reputation. “We’re making an attempt to point out some good and profess it,” Taqi mentioned. As their viewers grew, admirers praised the siblings for offering pleasure and cultural perception.
Whereas Shiraz and Muskan invested their very own earnings, Taqi credited benefactors Fauzia Zaki and her niece Zehra Zaidi for making the transformation doable. “There have been large hurdles,” he mentioned.
“We would have liked the encompassing land, which needed to be purchased, and it is extremely chilly, so doing work throughout the chilly is all the time troublesome. Development of the college and shopping for the land, it has been one and a half, two years of labor,” he defined.
“Fauzia Baji acquired concerned after which took it upon herself to speculate and open this college. They took accountability for this college’s land and building efforts.”
The brand new college, named Zaki Academy, now supplies spacious lecture rooms, normal academic amenities, leisure areas and a safe studying surroundings.
Broader contributions
Fauzia and Zehra have additionally funded a rudimentary dam, put in pumps for clear consuming water, added photo voltaic panels and arrange a fundamental well being help system that features an ambulance and medical provides.
What started as a tribute to Fauzia’s father and maternal grandfather, Captain Mohammed Zaki, has grown right into a legacy fulfilling his dream of serving the group.
Regardless of these enhancements, challenges stay. When Shiraz met Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Might final yr, Taqi requested a correct dam to guard the village from flooding.
“Once we met the PM, we requested him this: that in case you are pleased with the kid’s content material, then please work to maintain the village protected from floods,” he mentioned. “Sadly, this has not but occurred.”
The villagers have since constructed a brief dam in time for this flood season, however a everlasting resolution remains to be wanted.
Shiraz’s message
In a current video, Shiraz urged fellow creators to make use of their platforms for public good. “Whichever area you’re employed in, hold your intention clear. Allah will make you profitable. However all the time hold it in your thoughts that it’s important to make issues simpler and higher for others, even in small methods,” he mentioned.
Taqi echoed the sentiment, stressing that content material creators should keep in mind the tons of of 1000’s of people that watch their work and keep away from inflicting misery. On social media, the household’s initiative has drawn large reward, with customers calling them a beacon of hope for the nation.
