Feature

HANS The Power of The Youth

Mahdin Mahboob

These days, a large number of young people are involving themselves in different sorts of community service activities. As much as these activities work for the development of the society, in more ways than one, they also inspire other young people to come out and do something for their country or their society. HANS or “HELLO's Association of Neophyte-Students” is one such endeavour. The organization, in addition to its many other activities, is trying to help the autistic children of the country in many different ways.

With the motto 'In quest of enlightened community', HANS began its journey on October 12, 2005 with a group of some young people. All its activities are run by some devoted and qualified neophytes who are very motivated to create an enlightened society. HANS wants to prove the truth that youths have the power to bring a good change in our society and pave the way for success.

HANS has several sides of its activities. This association is working towards bringing out the hidden qualities of the students. HANS provides training programs for its members & also works as a platform for the students who want to prove their talent. Through its activities, the organization has devoted itself towards creating some worthy citizens of Bangladesh who will make this country proud. It consists of four clubs for improving the skills of its members. The clubs are-

a) Computer Club
b) Organizers' Club
c) Debating Club
d) Volunteers' Club

HANS provides ample opportunities for the members so that they can successfully walk ahead towards having a career full of prosperity. Every Friday, members of HANS get together. Classes of Spoken English, Computer Club and Debating Club are held during that time. Sometimes there are short meetings about the activities. Members also share their opinions and suggestions for the improvement of HANS. Members of the Computer Club has designed the websites of some of the leading institution's debating clubs.

Hans has a wide range of social activities. From the beginning, the aim of this student's association was to work for the betterment of the backward section of people in our society. As a first step, HANS has started working for the Autistic people because of the lack of such organizations in Bangladesh excepting the few autistic schools that works for them. Firstly, the founder President of HANS Ishtiaque Shahriar took the attempt to work for the special children who are named as Autistic. Sad but true, autistic children are often considered as a burden in our society and sometimes by their own families. Family members often hesitate to expose them in front of the society because they are not treated well in our society as they are mentally disordered by birth. HANS with all its members expanded its helping hands towards those neglected autistic children quite a few times. This included visits to four of the autistic schools in Dhaka (AWF, SWID Bangladesh, SWAC, KALYANI) and merged with those innocent children. The members of HANS passed some enjoyable moments with them in order to deliver a sort of happiness among the autistic children at least for a little while. In the schools, some of the children recited poems, sang beautiful songs and drew extraordinary pictures in front of HANS's members. It's important to note that, some of the autistics are exceptionally gifted. One of the students at the schools could precisely tell the day if somebody asks him a specific date in any calendar year. One of them sings beautifully. HANS wants to bring those children with miraculous powers to be brought in front of all so that people can know about their extra ordinary abilities.

HANS has now more than 300 members and its activities are more widespread. It is led by its chairman Meer Sohrabul Hossain Sohail. The working committee works in the form of a panel which changes yearly. Panel for 2006-07 consists of Ahmed Tanwir (President) who is a student of DU (Pharmacy), Umar Abdullah (General Secretary), Sylvia Sekandar (Vice-President) and Sabbir Ahmed (Asst General Secretary).

As a part of raising awareness among general people about autism and autistic people, HANS already have arranged a cultural program called “Share With Innocence” on 21 July 2006 with the participation of the autistic children last year which was glorified with the presence of some honourable personalities. HANS is determined to organize same type of program this year as well. Besides, HANS has arranged a different type of ART EXHIBITION in Drik Gallery with the arts of some creative autistic children on 10-12 September 2007. HANS believes that autistic people have that capability to lead a normal life like others. The only need is a little assistance from their family, from the people around them. HANS is working to grow that little affection for the autistic people that will help them to go ahead and lead a natural life.