Kamal Ahmad Rahman lived in Pakistan for the first 23 years of his life. Now 45, the College Station resident is asking his new home to help out his old neighbors in their time of need.
"It's like debt on my shoulder, because I was born in that country," said Rahman, who owns Texas Business Exchange in Bryan and graduated in 2001 from Texas A&M with an agricultural business degree. "I was born there. I will die here. This is my homeland now."
Monsoon flooding in July and August left one-fifth of the country submerged and has rendered more than 2 million people homeless, officials said. Floodwaters have yet to recede, and the country is in need of assistance.
U.S. officials said this disaster has impacted more people than the Haiti earthquake, the 2004 Asia tsunami and the 2005 Pakistani earthquake combined. Even so, the American Red Cross has collected just $2 million compared to $100 million for the Asian tsunami and $230 million for Haiti.
"People are a little reluctant to give money to third world countries because they think that the money will be wasted," Rahman said, adding that $10 can feed a large family for a day in Pakistan. He said even $1 goes a long way in third world countries.
Just more than 40 Pakistani students were enrolled at Texas A&M in the fall of 2009, according to International Student Services. Meanwhile, Rahman said there are more than 1,000 Pakistanis living in Bryan-College Station.
"When you are doing something for the sake of humanity, it does not matter if you are Pakistani, Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Jew. We are all people," he said.
Rahman has partnered with local businessmen, the A&M International Students Association, the Muslim Students Association and the Pakistani Students Association to raise funds for the flood victims. His goal is $5,000.
"My goal is very sober," he said. "If I raise $5,000, I will be a happy man. If I raise $1,000, I will still be happy."
Rahman said he's donating through Humanity First and Focus Humanitarian Assistance because they have partnerships for fund-matching, but he will take checks written to other charities, including the American Red Cross, and forward them to the charity.
He said he doesn't want to miss out on an opportunity to help someone in need.
"You make your living by what you get. You make your life by what you give. That's my message for the people of College Station," he said.
Local efforts to help the Pakistan flood victims:
• Thursday: 4 to 7 p.m. Bring checks or a money order made out to Humanity First, Focus Humanitarian Assistance or another charity to the Holiday Inn Express, 1203 University Drive East in College Station.
• If you can’t make the fundraiser, local businessman Kamal Ahmad Rahman — who is organizing the local fundraiser — is asking that checks be made to the Flood Relief Fund and sent to 1910 Labrisa Drive, Bryan, Texas 77807.
• E-mail Rahman at kamal@texasbizx.com
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