“My birth name was Mehreen Azmat, but after a series of misfortunes and tragedies, I decided to step up, go to my own funeral and walk out as Mehr Azmat: short, sweet, determined and fiercely ambitious in fulfilling every bucket item and ambition of my life, that is Bazeecha- changing lives of those that matter the most.”
Accepting that particular moment in your life, which led to the creation of Bazeecha- a beacon of hope for the underprivileged children. It was at F 11 Markaz in Islamabad, at a ritual coffee morning meeting at Coffee Planet that I formed my family of friends that included adopted street children and young over-protective brothers. These children had been forced to grow up much beyond their years to become responsible men earning to support their families. They literally didn’t have those moments of playing like other children their ages, didn’t have toys in their homes, yet I have found them to be more positive and amazing than any grown up. “It seemed like to me as if these young men were waiting for someone to take their hands and guide them to prosperous lives.”
“Let me tell you more about the little men in my Bazeecha family – they don’t beg, offer their prayers and possess great moral and family values they have possessed since generations. they were more morally and ethically balanced than some of the adults I know. Once they believed in our family – they would anxiously wait for the Red Vitz to make a honking entry into Markaz like Piped Piper in a way calling its students to class.”
Their transformation by this point has become my personal mission! I have been trying to help them in adapting their habits, changing their outlook from garbage collecting boys smelling full of odour or shoe polishing boys, to cool dudes, as well as being their fashion consultant and designer. I see the magic when I experience their changed lives, as their efforts have brought out their self-confidence and enabled them to visit Malls, and McDonalds’ like the rest of the kids. Ten years down the road, I am living my dream of educating the underprivileged while continuing with my workaholic life that includes working as a product designer, furniture designer and a very ambitious interior designer. “I am glad that I am truly able to live the dream I dreamed,” gratefully.
“I sometimes feel I have lived my life and now I am just focused on the future goals for each of my student to study, earn, take their mothers for Hajj and be responsible citizens of Pakistan. Please don’t applaud me or tell me how good I am doing, I am just fulfilling my dream and honestly, we don’t need to be praised but we need each one of you to step out of their designer clothes, expensive cars and restaurants and feel if this was your child.”
“It all happened on a nice Sunday evening while sitting on the water tank on the rooftop at the NCA hostel. It was a moment when I would contemplate on my life and what my purpose is on this planet. It was then that I vowed to change this unfairness of life, to try to give every child, irrespective of his monetary background, the same chance to live, a right to education, to play and learn. THIS IS WHAT BAZEECHA IS ALL ABOUT ... :)
