Fayyaz Hussain, associate professor in the Center for Integrative Studies and an alumnus of the Department of Sociology in the College of Social Science at Michigan State University, has donated $25,000 to his former school in rural Pakistan after a visit to the country last year.
After discovering that many of the school’s classrooms resided outdoors, only able to be used when weather allowed, Hussain contacted his friend and a fellow former student of the school, Syed Abul Hasan Kazmi, to assist with the funding of Hussain’s project, which has provided four new indoor classrooms, accommodating about 300 students.
“The project would not have been completed without the dedication and hard work of the school principal,” Hussain said. “He monitored the entire project and supervised the contractor, and made sure there was no cheating and that the work is of very high quality.”
Construction was overseen by Hussain’s nephew, Rashiq Ahmer, who works as a civil engineer for the Government of Pakistan in the Department of Archeology. Due to their generosity, Hussain and Kazmi were honored by the community with an elaborate inauguration ceremony.
“The ceremony was amazing,” Hussain said. “Red carpet, flowers, guard of honor, emotional speeches, warm welcomes in each school room and lot of hugs were priceless. We can never forget this beautiful emotional ceremony. Our families were in attendance and ikt was a great celebration for the people of this community.”
Hussain plans to do more work with the school in the future, and hopes to establish a link between the school and MSU.