Telenor Pakistan arranged an Iftar dinner for children of the SOS Shelter for Earthquake Affected Children in Rawalpindi in October 2007. The purpose of the event was for the children to have a good time by inviting two of our brand ambassadors who the children know well and love. The other purpose was to raise awareness of the SOS among the media so that they can highlight all the good work of the organization.

Guests invited to the Iftar included Telenor Pakistan senior management and employees, print and broadcast journalists and two of our famous brand ambassadors. Guests were encouraged to bring along their families too.

Led by President SOS Children's Villages of Pakistan Mrs Souriya Anwar, the guests were first briefed about the work of the SOS and then taken on a quick tour of the shelter. The well-maintained building, which is actually part of a new block of St Mary's School, has been leased by Rawalpindi’s Bishop Anthony Lobo to the SOS to accommodate children left homeless and orphaned by the 2005 earthquake.

Inside, the shelter has spacious playrooms, classrooms, a TV lounge, a computer lab, and dormitories for sleeping. There is also a doctor's room for health checkups of the children, and an office for the building in charge. More than 70 children, some of their mothers, and teachers are housed in the building.

Afterwards, the guests were led outside to the playground where chairs and tables had been laid out for the Iftar dinner and a stage set up for some performances by the children who were excited and full of energy. An air-filled jumping castle had also been arranged for the children.

Soon after Iftar, the program began with Kashif Hafeez from the Corporate Responsibility unit and Afsheen Naz from the People Excellence department moderating the evening's proceedings.

A child recited verses from the Holy Qur'aan followed by a small group of children reading a 'naat'. Souriya Anwar spoke to the audience about the work of the SOS and thanked Telenor Pakistan for its continuous support for their work.

Brand Ambassador Abrar ul Haq was then invited on stage where he interacted warmly with the children in the audience, encouraging them to sing with him some of his famous songs. As this was a guest appearance, no backup music had been arranged, but Abrar promised to soon hold a concert free of charge to raise funds for the SOS.

Our other brand ambassador, Jamal Shah, was then invited to speak. He spoke about the visual arts and how children could excel in them. He offered his free services to tutor those SOS children interested in learning any of the visual arts.

SOS children also performed on stage and sang songs, recited poems and told jokes and riddles. Their enthusiasm and colorful costumes added to the lively evening.

Towards the end of the show Kashif Hafeez sang a song 'Chalo Phir Se Muskuraaen' (Come, Let Us Smile Again, download from right side ). Written by Director Corporate Communications Syed Hasnat Masood, the song - a gift from Telenor Pakistan to SOS -- was sung with heartfelt emotion and warmth by Kashif. The way the children began to gather on the stage around him and tried to join in the singing, touched many a heart in the audience. And the way the children later ran and jumped (called 'Jadoo Ki Jhapee') into Kashif's arms, and then surrounded him in a gesture of their love, brought tears to a number of eyes.

The event was organized by the Corporate Responsibility unit.