Pakistan has an abundance of talented people, there is not doubt about that. Not all of those talented people, however, get to showcase their talent or even hone it because of a lack of opportunities and resources. A bunch of girls who are part of Pakistan’s first all-girls boxing club in one of Karachi’s most notorious neighborhoods, Lyari, are one such example of talented folks who haven’t gotten the opportunity their talent more than deserves.

This is where Pakistanis come in. Generous, compassionate and resourceful Pakistanis. Like Sanam Maher. Who is Sanam Maher and how does she feature in the story of these girls, you ask? Well, read on:

What is the story of these girls from Lyari?

Sanam Maher, a journalist based in Karachi, got acquainted with these girls when she did a story on them for Women in the World, a platform to showcase talented women from across the world, in collaboration with The New York Times.

In her story, Sanam introduces these girls as, “part of the first-ever official training program in Pakistan to teach women how to box. The First Women Boxing Coaching Camp has been organized by the Sindh Boxing Association (SBA) in Lyari, Karachi”.

Source: Sitwat Rizvi

Younis Qambrani coaches the girls and they practice in a “small, under-construction building with just one floor, naked light bulbs, no fans or bathrooms”. But they feel secure there as it is closed off and allows them the little place to practice their passion, away from the travails of the bustling metropolis they live in.

But these girls don’t have proper equipment or gear

Sanam noticed that the girls practice in slippers, sandals and everyday clothing, which is usually the only items in their wardrobes. In order to be able to polish their boxing skills and compete on an international platform, their coach Hussain Qambrani says that, “[t]hey need to learn to fight in a ring, to see what life within those ropes is like”.

Source: Sitwat Rizvi

How is Sanam showing generosity towards these boxer girls?

After publishing her story on these girls, last week, Sanam felt that she wanted to do something for them. She set up a crowd funding campaign to collect donations for equipment, clothing and proper gear for them.

Why is she helping these girls?

In conversation with MangoBaaz, Sanam said, “this is the first time I’ve raised money for a cause. Previously, I’ve tried to get the word out and to help people through writing about them, and by trying to have their stories heard.

However, the more time I spent with these girls and, just as importantly, the men who support them – the president of the Pak Shaheen Boxing Club (Lyari), the coach and the 2013 Sindh champion Nadir who helps out with their training – I found that the girls just needed a little boost and the right foundation. They were training very hard and their coach wasn’t letting up on them just because they were training in cheap Converse knock-offs or chappals. The girls have all the ingredients to be successful and to achieve their goals – they’re passionate, dedicated, they have a coach who completely believes in them and they truly want to pursue this sport and excel at it. In order to focus on their training, they need to not worry about having the right equipment or the right amount of money.”

Source: Sitwat Rizvi

“I wanted to translate Facebook ‘likes’ into something that would mean something tangible to these girls.”

According to Sanam, these girls, unlike many of the other subjects of her stories, never asked her for money or support. She says they were happy by her just turning up to support them and tell their story to the world. This unselfish motive of the girls, in part, motivated to return the generosity that they had shown in letting her be a part of their world.

People have responded to her generosity in throngs

Sanam’s original goal was to raise $2850 (Rs300,000) for the all-girl boxing team in Lyari. The fundraiser online just reached $2977 (Rs313,999), within 5 days only. Including cash donations, the total is $3545 (Rs373,999). All additional funds will be used for inter-club games and tournaments, so the girls get as many fights under their belt as possible.

You can become a part of this cause too. Here’s how:

If you would like to see Pakistani girls not only compete internationally but also raise the Pakistani flags higher by beating (literally) the world in an international sport, you can become a part of Sanam’s generous cause

(1) by donating to her campaign here.

Or

(2) by contacting her here, in person, if you are unable to donate through the campaign or want to contribute in a manner other than monetary donation.

Source: Sitwat Rizvi

Sanam told us she is open to donations of any kind. She said, “I’ve been approached by people who have got cash contributions or cheques together just through word-of-mouth and harassing their friends and family. Anything works – cash, cheques, bank transfers – and I’ve been in touch with people to work out the best/easiest way for them to help. The owners of some sports goods companies have also approached me wanting to help in kind, by donating equipment or first aid kits etc, while others have wanted to donate T-shirts/shoes etc. That’s amazing and it just means that any cash that is leftover can be used to sponsor tournaments/fights for the girls.”

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