Running 1,400 km for Education | TCF | How to Get Funding for US Universities

Podcast with Uzair Younus | Pakistonomy

I sat down with Uzair Younus to discuss my educational journey, my passion for increasing access to education in Pakistan, and my current project of educating 7,000 out-of-school kids by raising $1 million for The Citizens Foundation through my 1,400-kilometer run across Pakistan.

In our conversation, we discuss:

• My educational journey 🧑‍🎓 

• How to get funding for US universities 💰️ 

• The inspiration behind my 1,400-kilometer run across Pakistan 🏃 

• The Impact of The Citizens Foundation 🚺️ 🚹️📚️ 

• Engaging the global community 🗺️ 

• Balancing physical endurance with mental focus 🧠 

• Key lessons from my finance career 💹 

• My book recommendations 📖 

Key Highlights from the Conversation

1. Educational Background:

   • My educational journey began at Cadet College Hassan Abdal in 2009 as an 11 year old after which I moved to IBA Karachi for my undergrad, and later did my Masters degree from Northeastern University in Boston. I also hold the CFA charter.

   • I started my career as an equity research analyst at a hedge fund called Vitality Capital and I am currently working as a Turnaround and Restructuring Consultant at AlixPartners in the New York office.

2. Passion for Education:

   • Both Uzair and I share a strong passion for improving access to education, especially for girls in Pakistan.

   • I've been actively helping Pakistani students secure scholarships and financial aid to study in the U.S.

3. Education Funding in the US:

   • In the podcast we talk about how Pakistani students are unaware of the financial resources available for studying abroad, limiting their opportunities for higher education.

   • To address this, we talk about student loans, PhDs being funded, and getting tuition waivers by getting hired as Teaching Assistant (TA) and Research Assistant (RA) at many state schools.

4. Running for a Cause:

   • We discussed in detail our project to run 1,400 kilometers across Pakistan to raise $1 million for The Citizens Foundation (TCF).

   • The goal of this project is to build schools and support the education of 7,000 to 8,000 children for a year.

5. Challenges and Training:

   • I've been preparing for this run since February and will be accompanied by a crew in an RV throughout the journey.

   • I talked about the importance of strength training, maintaining a high-calorie diet, and managing hydration and sleep.

6. The Citizens Foundation:

   • I explained the great work The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is doing as it operates nearly 2,000 schools across Pakistan, offering free education in areas where basic necessities like drinking water and electricity are scarce.

   • TCF is the 2^nd largest employer of women outside of government in Pakistan with an all-female faculty.

7. Call to Action:

   • I encourage everyone to support this cause by donating and spreading the word. Every small contribution makes a big difference.

   • Please always think about education in your communities and consider how you can help, even if it's just by providing resources like old laptops or books.

8. Book Recommendations:

   • I find these books invaluable: "David and Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell, "The Richest Man in Babylon," and "Built to Last." These books offer insights on turning disadvantages into advantages, personal finance, and building successful companies.

In this podcast, we covered:

• (0:00) Introduction

• (3:20) Tabarak’s Journey

• (14:45) Resources for Getting an Education in the US

• (20:30) Running 1,400 Kilometers

• (26:30) Training Regimen

• (32:00) How to Help

• (38:10) Reading Recommendations

For contributions you can visit tabarakruns.com/donate

For partnerships, you can reach me at [email protected]