LETTER OF MOTIVATION
Availing from developing country Pakistan, security and peace have always been sensitive topic. This is because Pakistan is not a self sufficient country; it has always been dependent on IMF, World Bank and China to keep its economy running. This is the result of Pakistan being more susceptible to security concerns such as human trafficking, armed conflicts with neighbouring countries and child labour; to peace with sectarian and religious extremism and violence; to development issues such as poor urban planning and substandard governance policies. In order to understand why Pakistan lags behind in so many areas, I chose Social Sciences as my undergraduate major, where I learned about Bhutan's economy. Bhutan is a small, underdeveloped country that is thriving thanks to amazing kings who have worked relentlessly to improve the kingdom while carefully combining economic progress with social development, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation. They call it a holistic approach to governance known as GNH (gross national happiness), and it all falls under the framework of good governance. A forward-thinking vision that aspires to increase their people's happiness and well-being. They are able to do so because they properly manage limited resources and remain committed to GNH's primary objective that is 'development with values'. As a result, I chose the ILGSPD programme to study multidisciplinary techniques in order to approach global security, peace, and development holistically and create the agenda to pursue GNH values with the relevant organisations.
As a woman in my area, I believe I am the best fit for this programme because women and young girls are the most affected gender in terms of security, peace, and development. They have long been treated as second-class citizens, and this attitude persists in the household, the workplace, and marital relationships. As a woman, it is my duty to help women in need, to give them a voice, and to improve their well-being. For this purpose, I joined the IMVolunteer organisation at my university, which aims to help drug-addicted women in getting into treatment centres and petitioning the government to build shelter houses for disadvantaged young women and girls. Pakistan is the second-most impoverished country in the world, after India. Due to the government's and NGO's inaction. Young activists, including myself and a few friends, are now advocating for women's rights and demanding the government to pursue legal action. With this opportunity in ILGSPD programme, I believe I can help and reach women in masses and make their concerns hear and empower them with the position and platform I'm given with this opportunity.
My study focus would be on how to handle and control natural resource insufficiency in both developed and developing countries in order to lessen climate change's impact. Climate change is a worldwide problem, and it is no exaggeration to state that a threat to the ozone layer is a threat to human safety. Our global economic system, which is built on extracting and burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, is the leading source of global warming, accounting for two-thirds of all carbon emissions. In my opinion taking an initiative at grassroots level, there are good solutions on the table that political leaders may implement in policies, such as implementing carbon taxes and abolishing fossil fuel sector subsidies. For that, my ambition is to work with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to better understand how to address particular countries' socioeconomic challenges. I believe I can learn more on experiencing with leaders and policymakers in identifying and creating solutions to achieve greater living standards, full employment, and economic and social progress because it ties to my research interests of how we can address resource scarcity while also promoting state welfare.
I would like to study International Economics, Sustainability, and Governance at Leuphana University in Luneburg for my third semester. Germany was one of the first countries to reach carbon neutrality, and it has collaborated with the UN to set new emission reduction targets for 2030. Agora Energiewende, a German organisation, has initiated a divestment campaign. Divestment is basically a boycott in which funds are withheld from the fossil fuel sector in order to shift to a more sustainable economy and stop generating greenhouse gases as a result of how we live and manufacture commodities, i.e., to move away from a fossil fuel-based society. This will improve energy efficiency by lowering our energy requirements, including through green retrofits of existing structures. To increase renewable energy, we need to transition to green electricity, which means we need to switch from fossil-based fuels to green electricity in all aspects of our lives, like using electric heat pumps for home heating and electric cars for transportation. These efforts inspired me to continue my further specialisation and dissertation in Germany.
I watch TED talks and listen to podcasts about key organizations to learn more. Adam Grant "Turning adversity into opportunity," left a profound impression on me. My nation, Pakistan, is notorious for terrorism and extremism, but I think that by participating in programmes like ILGSPD, young dynamic individuals like me may change this perspective. The ILGSPD program's learning objective emphasises this notion and corresponds to what I wish to pursue for higher education. I'm always on the lookout for ways to rediscover my goals and passions.
This is how I see myself as a Pakistani youth who is taking on the task of meeting the ILGSPD program's highest educational standards - helping to build a healthy community with other ILGSPD students and contributing to the strengthening of the EU-Pakistan connection. The ILGSPD program's multidisciplinary nature interests me greatly. I'm looking forward to immersing myself in European culture alongside other scholars that share a similar purpose and viewpoint.
While I'm learning how global security, peace, and development affect local and external parties in order to build and maintain peace. Studying in a consortium of renowned educational institutions is both a pleasure and a responsibility, one which I accept in order to positively represent my nation Pakistan and inspire youth.
