When students cross borders, build bonds

Cultural exchange

Eight-year old Sidra Akram from Pakistan visited India for the first time to meet her penfriend Prachi.

All of 2014 they had exchanged letters, sharing tit-bits about their respective cultures, ethnicity and heritage before embarking on a journey of friendship and bonding. Many other children, along with Akram had come to meet their penfriends in India with the help of an Indian NGO, Routes2Roots in collaboration with The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.

“I am extremely excited to meet my friend, I have never seen her and I don’t know when I can come again,” said a cherubic Akram.

Qurrat ul Nasir studies in Class IX in St. Mary’s School, Rawalpindi, who had also enrolled herself in the friendship program told Metrolife that not everyone from her school were allowed to come to India and a certain procedure was followed before the students were selected.

“From my school, only three students were selected. First we had to fill a form and answer general MCQs about India and then, after the exchange of letters, we also appeared for an interview before the final selection took place. I think I got selected because I was the most excited among the lot,” says Nasir.
'Exchange for Change 2013-2015,’ the programme is again making a difference with the visit of 50 delegates including 30 students of 15 schools from Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Islamabad with an aim to strengthen relations, spread peace and friendship between the two nations.

Indian students from Dev Samaj School, Okhla, DPS Shushantlok, Gurgaon, welcomed students from Pakistan showcasing greetings, letters, collages and videos at Pakistan High Commission in the presence of the Pakistan High Commissioner  Abdul Basit, Rakesh Gupta, founder R2R and Tina Vachani, co-founder R2R. Pakistani students also shared their experience in India along with their Indian friends.
The Pakistan High Commissioner said, “The youth of both countries is the hope of the region. Their courage, curiosity and spontaneity will surely bring a change. Young people on both sides are aware how important peace between India and Pakistan is to realise our potential. I am confident they are ready to work together to achieve the shared objective of peace and prosperity.”

"This excellent learning opportunity typically leaves students with better understanding of people and their lifestyle," says Rakesh Gupta, Founder, Routes2Roots.

"The programme Exchange for Change has brought about visible change in the perception of the young participants from both the countries. These students will be the leaders of tomorrow, so it is actually a positive step towards a peaceful future."

Swaleha Alam Shehzada, Citizens Archive of Pakistan, said, “Crossing over with Pakistani students and teachers through the historic gates of Wagah-Attari was a special moment for the EFC participants. It brings us one step closer to our friends across the border, one step closer to appreciating each other and a final step towards a lasting commitment of friendship.”

Nimitha Bellur from DPS Sushantlok said, “I am eager to catch up before my friend Payal leaves for Jaipur tomorrow.”

The Pakistani students visited various monuments in Delhi and other parts of the country. Said Nasir, “I don’t know what to say, it is all so beautiful, it is just like our country. Sometimes, I can’t believe that I have already come to India.”

Richa Sharma, English teacher from Dev Samaj School said, “The same kind of preconceived notions were in my family also. They did not want me to go to Pakistan. They did all they could, they scared me that I will be denied visa for US, but I did notpay heed.”

While more than 20 schools across India articipated in the exchange programme, all except five in Delhi, agreed to send students to Pakistan. “It is also because of the Peshawar incident,”

said Sharma. “While travelling to the neighbouring country I didn’t even know where India ended and Pakistan started. When we told the people at the restaurants that we were from India, they were ready to give us free food,” she exclaimed.

“Pakistanis are beautiful people, serene and quiet. When we visualise people in Pakistan we imagine quite the opposite. Every woman does not wear a burqa, they are advanced both in their lifestyle and perspective. I was surprised to see how clean their roads were,” says Sharma.