DIL Retreat 2006

(From L to R: Back Row - Mehar Jawad (DIL DC), Samar Shaheryar (YD Prez), Tasnim Shaheryar (DIL Prez), Fiza Shah (Chairperson), Jameelah Fakhri (DIL LA). Front Row - Hashmat Saeed (Treasurer), Sara Abbasi (Secretary), Najmi Sarwar (DIL NYC), Saeeda Fancy (VP))

This year I had the pleasure of joining the DIL Executive Board on their annual strategy retreat over the fourth of July weekend. We spent two days discussing fundraising, our five-year plan, the progress of our schools and how to improve them, basically how to take DIL to the next level. It was an eye-opening experience. The leaders of this organization are all dedicated, intelligent people who take significant time out from their busy schedules to give back to Pakistan. And getting a direct update about the schools from those who visit most of them annually was heartening. When there is a problem with a school it is tackled head-on. Every project is under meticulous scrutiny at all times, test scores and graduation rates are closely watched, and almost all expenses have to be approved by the board in the US.

YOUR DIL as a chapter, thanks to all of you, our wonderful patrons and volunteers, is doing remarkably well. We have beaten most fundraising targets and continue to grow. I'm incredibly proud of our team and the generous people who attend our events.

DIL wants to roughly double by 2010, educating 20,000 students by then (currently 11,000). We hope with your support, YOUR DIL will continue to contribute significantly to the growth of DIL. We have chapters in Chicago, DC and LA currently in the works. If you are interested in being a part of any of these, or want to start a chapter in your own city, please drop me a line at samar@yourdil.org.