Impak Updates

The US and Pakistan - new governments and their role in development

Hiba — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:11:15 +0000

With a new political party in power in Pakistan, and a new administration set to come in by the end of the year in the US, it is important to address the implications of each new government's role in the development of Pakistan. With Pakistan receiving over one billion dollars in foreign direct investment in 2005, with 24.7% or approximately $254,335,900 contributed by the US; exhibiting the crucial role that the US has historically played in funding the development of Pakistan.

The government of Pakistan has increased its investment in development in recent years, including a 52% increase in the budget allocation for development in 2007, an essential step toward enhancing its social sector. Yet, Pakistan still only spends $16 on defense for every $1 spent on education. It will be interesting to see how the new governments of both countries collaborate to bolster the growth of the Pakistani economy, health, and education system. Historically, the ties between the civil societies of these two countries has always proven to be fruitful as can be seen through the pooling of resources in the 2005 earthquake relief efforts.

Impak, other service corps and non-profit organizations working in Pakistan play a key role in facilitating the interaction between these two countries. It is an important role to play in fostering understanding and dialogue between the citizens of the US and Pakistan in a post 9/11 world.

Hopefully the result of continuing the development efforts in Pakistan by NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, the US and other nations will assist the government of Pakistan in providing equal opportunities for its growing population.

Hiba Arshad is an M.A. candidate studying International Education and Human Development. She volunteers for Impak, assisting with education programs.

Now Hiring: Program Manager

Impak — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:24:13 +0000

Impak is in search of a highly skilled manager to help set up and manage a staffed office in Pakistan.

The Program Manager will develop, from the ground up, and manage Impak's operations in Pakistan. The position requires someone who is highly resourceful and a self-starter. We are open to receiving applicants of all backgrounds and experiences.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Overseeing and implementing the vision laid out by Impak's board
Serving as the core facilitator for Impak visiting fellows
Establishing projects with partner organizations
Hiring and managing staff for administration, logistics, and communications
General networking for partnerships, resources, and other opportunities

Program Manager Key Attributes

Operations experience (NGO or private sector) and familiarity with a variety of Pakistani organizations
Demonstrate strong initiative with the ability to take complete ownership of an assignment and add value; a self-starter who emphasizes quality
Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills in both Urdu and English, including the ability to communicate with staff and potential donors
assignment and add value; a self-starter who emphasizes quality
Experience living and working abroad is preferred, but not required
Basic office management experience a plus, but not required
B.A./B.S. (preferably a Master's) in business, economics, international relations, public administration or a related field, or relevant work experience

To apply please submit your resume/CV and a cover letter to jobs@impak.org.

Labor Day Weekend: Open House Chicago

Impak — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:43:00 +0000

Download Flyer

Impak invites you to engage like-minded individuals who are interested in making a difference.

This Labor Day weekend, come to Chicago in the backdrop of ISNA's annual conference and join us for some activities where you can learn more about Impak and get connected.

RSVP Now: Facebook | EventBrite

We look forward to seeing you there!

Looking on to 2008 and Beyond

Impak — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:09:12 +0000

There’s no typo—we have decided to jump ahead a year! What about a 2007 program? Well, after two successful programs that have been put together by many dedicated individuals, we believe that we can still do better. For Impak to grow and develop into a permanent fixture in Pakistan, we need to take some time off from our regular programs and strengthen the organization’s structure. From the fall of 2006 through 2007, Impak’s goal has been to enhance its governing structure, bring in key stakeholders, and raise funds for the organization’s long term viability.

Some of the benefits that you can anticipate following our restructuring are the following:

Structured summer placements with challenging projects
Significantly reduced program fees
Extended application time and earlier decision notice
Professional mentorship and guidance throughout the experience

Therefore, Impak will not be holding a summer program for 2007. If you have the time and are generally interested in exploring Pakistan for the upcoming summer, we recommend that you connect with our partner organization, UK-based TravelPak.

If you have more questions, please check out our 2007 summer program FAQ first before contacting us.

Growing and Evolving

Impak — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 17:31:13 +0000

In 2005, Impak came to the international stage with the Pilot Summer Program, presenting a new way to bring volunteerism to Pakistan.

In 2006, Impak contributed to the earthquake reconstruction effort with the Quake Relief Summer Program, sending volunteers to serve communities in need.

This year Impak continues its tradition of bringing innovative and effective programs, but with a focus on specialized placements. We believe this new initiative will help us expand into niche areas while also allowing us to focus on building a strong foundation as an organization. We're still working on finalizing plans and we'll let you know on our website if there is any availability. Most likely, we will be recruiting directly through partner organizations.

Please note that there will be no applications posted online for the 2007 program. However, in 2008 we aim to bring back our traditional summer placement program in addition to some new opportunities.

Impak Repackaged

Impak — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:44:59 +0000

Notice anything different? We have been busily working in the background on improvements that will Impak a stronger, more sustainable organization.

Our new website reflects how our approach has grown. Not only are we focused on facilitating a service corps experience, but also we want to build bridges between communities in Pakistan and abroad. We want to create dialogue and engage individuals and institutions. In other words, we want to bring our vision to you.

Over the next year you can anticipate a few changes, some may surprise you. It's all a part of being a growing organization that is solidifying its foundation so that it can continue to grow and cover new ground.

We're humbled by the wide range of challenges that we and the people we work with face; together, with your support we hope we can not only continue to build an organization but work toward a movement for bringing positive, meaningful change.