3729.9 miles – the distance from the UK to Pakistan, and the distance PLAnet ambassador Jawad Shah is asking people to walk to raise funds for those affected by flooding in Pakistan. Read on to find out more about how a former award winner is making a difference and being an inspiring role model to others in his community.

Jawad won the award in 2007 with a community organisation called Youth Action, based in his hometown of Blackburn. He was part of an inter-generational, inter-racial project that worked to gain recognition for war veterans from Africa and Asia who fought for Britain in World War Two. He is still in touch with Youth Action, who have since grown into a larger organisation running four or five different youth groups. He says winning the Philip Lawrence Award meant a lot, bringing recognition and helping them get funding. The trophy is still proudly displayed in the reception of their new building.

At the moment, Jawad is busy running a brand new project which he set up himself to raise funds for those affected by the flooding in Pakistan. He’s organising “3729.9 Miles: Mission – Aid: UK to Pakistan”, an event getting people together at a local park to walk, cycle or even backflip the distance from the UK to Pakistan as a sponsored event. The event is planned for September, just after Ramadan, when everyone has stopped fasting and able to do the walk, and is expected to involve more than 300 people.

Jawad came up with the idea himself and developed it with a couple of friends. “Rather than door to door fundraising I wanted to do something different, where you’re actually getting people together, doing something for the community and raising money at the same time.”

From Jawad’s initial idea, the mission has grown with lots of volunteers wanting to help out. There’s now a group of core group of about 30-40 young volunteers, and in the three days since launching, their Facebook page got over 200 people signed up wanting to take part. The mission has developed now to include lots of small fundraising events in the lead up to the main event, and they are keen for anyone who wants to get involved in any way they can.

Jawad says that his involvement in the Youth Action project and the Philip Lawrence Awards Network was a real help and inspiration in deciding to start his project. Jawad was moved to do something to help those affected by the flooding, but rather than just donating to the cause, his experience of seeing so many young people making a real difference in their communities meant that Jawad knew he could do something much bigger.

Jawad sees PLAnet as a platform not only to spread the messages about the Philip Lawrence Awards but also that young people can use to help themselves go further. “It’s not just about winning the award and saying ‘ok, we’ve done our bit’. It’s about being part of the fellowship and using that brilliant platform of a national award. That’s a big platform you can use, and as opposed to making a small difference, make a really big difference. With PLAnet, there’s definitely the opportunity to do something big.”

To get involved or make a donation, visit the 3729.9 Miles: Mission – Aid: UK to Pakistan on Facebook.

If you’re involved in a community project, why not enter the awards, and be in with a chance of winning £1000 and getting recognised for what you are doing.