The Volunteer Services Department at Aga Khan University, Karachi commenced in April 1987. Instituted under the aegis of the Resource Development Department, its members are volunteers who give their time and involvement without any consideration to rewards. These volunteers include young men and women fresh from school or college as well as the elderly. The driving force behind this is the will to serve humanity in a professional way by working in tandem with the faculty and staff.

 

Professional voluntary work is a novelty in Pakistan, and through this volunteer movement at AKU, a new awareness has been created. Along with assisting employees in the discharge of their duties, the Volunteer Services Department runs three totally volunteer managed projects on the Stadium Road campus. From a small band of volunteers who pushed wheel chairs around, AKU's Volunteer Services, over the years, has steadily grown in strength and numbers to managing the Gift, Flower and Tuck Shops. Volunteers have contributed substantial amounts towards AKU’s Patient Welfare Programme for the sick and needy out of the shops' proceeds. To date, more than 6,000 volunteers have given their precious time and dedication to the University and its services contributing a total of  more than three million hours of valuable voluntary services.

 

Requirements to apply for volunteership

Candidates wishing to serve as volunteers can send their applications to AKU's Voluntary Services Department. Applications are reviewed to ensure that the candidates meet the following minimum requirements for enrolment:

Selected candidates are then interviewed periodically to ascertain their knowledge, skills and attitude. A reference check is also done from other relevant institutions.

 

The approved candidates list is then compared against the requisitions received from various departments within AKU, and the candidates who match the requirements are deputed to the concerned department.

 

All AKU volunteers are expected to comply with the Volunteer Code of Conduct and wear the prescribed uniforms (smocks). These are issued to the volunteers when resuming duty for the first time against payment of nominal charges.

 

The Department facilitates volunteers by providing them van services for pick-up and drop-off from specified points subject to capacity. Free economy lunch coupons are also provided.

The volunteers are provided hands-on training in various areas where they serve. In addition, some volunteers are also deputed to participate in formal training and language courses organised by AKU.

 

Recognition of volunteers

Upon completion of a specified time duration of voluntary service, contribution of eligible volunteers is acknowledged by awarding appreciation letters, gold pins and/or diamond studded pins depending on the number of hours of voluntary service.

 

Summer Programme

Last date to receive documents is January 31, 2013.

 

Contact

For more information about Volunteer Services, please email us at voluntary.services@aku.edu or call +92-21 3486-2947/2913.