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Feature

BRAC University keeping it Hit and Fit!

By Shayera Moula

The BRAC University Social Entrepreneurship Forum (BUSEF) is a club that started just a few months ago. The first phase of activities for this forum had been a trip to Turkey by three students and a faculty member, all of whom were selected through rigorous interview. It was in Turkey that these individuals observed how University students could initiate different awareness programs and help community development. The second phase took place a few months back when professional volunteers from Turkey (TOG Community Volunteers) came over for a training session with enthusiastic students of BRAC University (BU). The objective of this training was to learn the processes involved in carrying out such projects. The result a small but fun project dealing with “Health Awareness” aimed at the BU students!

That's right, instead of jumping into the streets to promote awareness of various issues, BUSEF decided to take a baby step first and see the extent to which people are actually willing to listen to us. So we bugged the students in our own campus to try and adopt a healthier lifestyle. The motto: Keep it Hit and Fit!

The key is not to join a gym and spend Tk. 2000 a month. Nor is it about eating lots of vegetables and fruits. Nope, wrong again, it's nothing to do with a complex dance course either! It's simple and very very easy! JUST USE THE STAIRS PEOPLE! Let's face it, if you can climb seven floors up and down just once every day, you have sweated a decent amount of fat out of your body! So think about it, you lose calorie and the elevator saves some energy. Not convinced? Then at least use the stairs going down, it will save time for ten other people trying to go up!!

These were the kind of messages given out across the campus as part of the program. The students had put up posters with lines like “when was the last time you were close to someone” showing two old fat individual unable to hug each other! Get fit = get closer!

On 17th September, a two-hour long campaign was held to encourage students to stay fit and use the stairs. How was that done? Well, their heights were measured, their weights were taken and then a chart was consulted. If they didn't fit into the proper balance of height and weight then they were given a pamphlet on how to stay fit and also an apple (!) Isn't that amusing? We, the organisers felt really glad that the students were such good sports about it. While it was more difficult to catch girls to hop on the machine (what's it with you girls?), many students didn't mind a little knowledge about their “figure” and where it's going! Of course a little music and a few motivating lines announced in the microphone every now and then really helped! Obviously, these two hours didn't suddenly make people sprint up the stairs but it got them thinking and whenever they notice all those posters staring back and telling them to use the stairs for a change - they just might! It is that small change of thought that really counts.

Though this campaign was simple and on a small scale, BUSEF wanted to gauge the response they could get while telling others what to do. It's not always easy to convince people but the response we got was fantastic. BUSEF members had fun and so did our audience (the free apple always helps). But it doesn't just end here. This is just a beginning. Members of BUSEF are all set to proceed with their next project. We won't give out the secret now. The thing we must all remember is, if young, educated and privileged students of Universities don't try to inspire a better future then no one will. Till the next project completes I am off!