Knocking on Doors for a Cause: My Fundraising Experience with Akhuwat

When I first heard about the fundraising project, I thought, How hard can it be? You just explain the cause, ask for money, and people will donate, right? Turns out, it’s not that simple. Convincing people to give — even for something as noble as charity— is an exercise in patience, persuasion, and resilience.

The Group Experience

At NUML, all of us Amal Fellows teamed up and set out in small groups across campus. Collectively, we raised Rs. 33,000 for Akhuwat. In twos and threes, we approached students, explained Akhuwat’s mission, and encouraged them to contribute. Most people said no. Some flat-out ignored us. But we kept going, reminding ourselves that the cause mattered more than the awkward rejections.

One moment I’ll never forget was when a group of four guys handed us Rs. 40 and said, “Ye humari chai k paise hai.” I laughed and thanked them with a heartfelt JazakAllah. It was such a small amount, yet it felt big because they literally emptied their wallets out in front of us. On the other hand, I also remember approaching three girls who looked at us as if we were beggars. Their rudeness stung, but we shook it off and moved on. That balance of warmth and rejection made me realise how unpredictable people can be when it comes to giving.

Then there was the “couple hypothesis.” One of my group members half-jokingly said that if you want donations, just approach couples sitting around campus, because one of them almost always gives you money. We decided to test this theory just for fun — and to our surprise, it was right. About nine out of ten couples gave us something, even if it was just a small note or coin. None of them outright refused. After that, one of my friends basically made it their personal mission to target couples first. It became a funny highlight of the campaign and showed us how unpredictable (and sometimes surprisingly generous) human behavior can be.

Humari couples ki dushman

What I found is that fundraising in a group feels easier — you share the awkwardness, encourage each other, and even laugh at the rejections together.

The Individual Experience

On my own, the journey felt tougher. I walked into shops and small businesses hoping they might donate, but none agreed. I emailed several companies, but most didn’t respond. A few replied with polite refusals, saying they had already fulfilled their charity budgets.

Reaching out to family and friends was the most surprising part. I expected generosity, but instead, I was met with hesitation. People who wouldn’t think twice about giving me Rs. 100 personally hesitated when it was for charity. It shocked me to realise how differently people view money when it’s framed as “donation” rather than just a casual expense.

Still, I managed to raise Rs. 5,500 individually, mostly through persistence and not giving up even when the “no’s” piled up.

Lessons in Resilience

This project taught me resilience in a way that no classroom session ever could. Facing rejection — sometimes polite, sometimes harsh — pushed me to keep going without taking it personally. It also taught me creativity: lowering the “ask” to as little as Rs. 10 made people more willing to contribute. Most of all, it showed me the importance of persistence: every small donation added up to something significant for the community.

Fundraising wasn’t just about collecting money — it was about learning to keep your chin up, smile at the “no’s,” and keep moving because the cause is bigger than your discomfort.

In the end, we didn’t just raise funds — we raised our own capacity for resilience. And that, to me, is just as valuable.