iHope Batch 36: Choosing Growth, Building Courage, Creating Impact

iHope Batch 36 unfolded as a week of discovery, responsibility, and real-world learning, bringing together 87 student volunteers from schools and colleges across Karachi at the Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN). The batch was designed to move beyond observation, allowing young people to experience what it truly means to serve with empathy, preparedness, and purpose.
Participating volunteers represented a wide range of institutions, including Adler College, Alpha College, APSACS South Campus (APDC), Aptech Learning – Shahrah-e-Faisal Center, Bahria College, BAMM PECHS Government College, Bay View High School, Beaconhouse Cantt Campus, Beaconhouse School System (including Johar Campus), BVS Parsi High School, Cedar College, Cedar College DHA, City School, College of Emerging Technologies, Dawood Public School, DHACSS Seaview, DHACSS SKBZ, DJ Sindh Government Science College, Education Bay School, Foundation Public School, Gazali Public School & College, Generations College, Generations School, Government Degree College, Guards Public College Korangi, Habib Public School, Happy Home School, Happy Home School O Level Senior, Haque Academy, Heuser College, Karachi Grammar School, NCR CET College, NED University, Nixor College, Reflections School, St. Peter’s School, The Avicenna School, The Citizens Foundation, The Indus Academy, The Learning Tree School, The Ivy School, Titan College, Vali Ul Asr Comprehensive School, and Whales College.
The journey began with an orientation session, introducing volunteers to the mission, values, and nationwide impact of IHHN. This foundation was followed by an immersive hospital walkthrough to key service areas such as the Physical Rehabilitation Center, Blood Transfusion Services, Pediatric oncology department, Play Area, and the Indus Kay Sitaray School. For many, this was their first close look at how a healthcare system functions beyond the clinical lens.
As the week progressed, learning shifted from observation to action. Volunteers participated in life-saving skills training, including CPR and First Aid, equipping them with practical emergency response skills and reinforcing the importance of readiness in critical moments.
Human connection remained central to the iHope experience. Through guided patient interactions, volunteers listened to personal stories and reflected on realities far beyond their own. Sessions conducted by the psychosocial team helped students understand how empathy, sensitivity, and respectful communication form the backbone of compassionate healthcare.
Storytelling emerged as another key pillar of the batch. In a dedicated session with Khurram Khan, volunteers learned how to translate lived experiences into meaningful narratives, recognizing the power of stories to create awareness and inspire action.
The program then focused on decision-making, career readiness, and self-awareness. A motivational talk by Syed Mashhood Rizvi, Executive Director – Communication & Resource Development, encouraged participants to reflect on the choices they make and the path those choices shape. This was complemented by hands-on CV reviews and mock interviews led by the HR team, providing students with practical guidance for future professional journeys.
Career exploration continued with an insightful session by Zaki Rizwan Usmani, who is the General Manager at the Resource Development Department, alongside sessions on Voices Against Tobacco and Ergonomics, broadening participants’ understanding of health, prevention, and well-being beyond hospital walls.
The week concluded with a Certificate Distribution Ceremony, marking the formal close of iHope Batch 36. It was a moment of reflection and recognition, celebrating growth, courage, and the collective journey of learning undertaken by all 87 volunteers.