New club gives West students a chance to make a change

The Humanity First Student Organization (HFSO) plans to make waves of change as the volunteer organization takes root at West. President Hiba Malik and other members have taken action in spreading awareness of the club’s existence with colorful flyers and the Hangout for Humanity, a game night hosted on May 14. 

HFSO is focused on global and local problems that need to be tackled, a cause Vice President Kainat Maryam is passionate about. 

“Humanity First is a global humanitarian organization that operates under the guidance of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,” she said. “The core mission of Humanity First is to serve humanity in need, regardless of their race, religion, or background. It focuses on addressing basic human needs such as access to clean water, education, healthcare, food, and emergency relief.”

The organization offers a selection of specific humanitarian focuses that student chapters can choose to pursue. 

“HF has eight core causes,” she said, “including Global Health, Disaster Relief, Water for Life, Orphan Care, Community Care, Food Security, Gift of Sight, and Knowledge for Life.”

Each chapter provides members with unique opportunities to give back to the community.

“Being involved with Humanity First offers active participation in improving lives of those less fortunate, whether that’s through direct aid or raising awareness for important causes through food drives, charity events and awareness campaigns,” Maryam said. “Additionally, the club can organize educational events, guest speakers, and community outreach projects.”

Malik started the club by spreading the word through flyers, finding an advisor (Jessica Hansen), and recruiting like-minded individuals like freshman Lanyah Norman. 

“I got to know the club through Hiba, who is the perfect fit for the job. I also think that joining the club served as a wake-up call that there are various things that need to be done in the world,” she said. “As a student, this is a great way to start.”

The actions and intentions of the organization align with the Islamic values it was founded with.

“Many members are passionate about the core values of empathy, kindness, and charity that are promoted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,” Maryam said. “Joining Humanity First is motivated by a deep desire to give back to the community and make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.”

However, the club serves as an open door for students from all walks of life such as freshman Addison Otradovec.

“The club is for anyone who wants to make an impact or change something,” she said. “The point of HFSO is making small changes at a time to make big ones.”

In order to reach out and create a footprint, the new club hosted Hangout for Humanity, a game night that took place at West on the night of May 14 full of enjoyable and impactful opportunities for students to take part in.

“It was a laid-back game night with concessions catered to popular choice,” Malik said. “People come in by themselves, with friends, family, anyone from the public including teachers. They could talk, play games, and visit our informational table or sign up to join our Humanity First Student Organization.” 

The event aimed to bring awareness to the values and goals of HFSO.

“The goal was to provide a space for individuals to learn more about the missions of Humanity First, connect with others who share similar values, and contribute to charitable efforts in an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere,” Maryam said. 

West’s Humanity First chapter aims to expand its reach in the community while helping members establish and grow in their roles. 

“For the student chapter, growth might include increasing the number of participants, expanding the range of projects and events, and building stronger ties with other communities and organizations,” Maryam said. “The club may also focus on creating more opportunities for members to take leadership roles, allowing them to guide initiatives and plan future events.”

Junior Jazbia Farooq, PR Director of West’s HFSO, believes that Humanity First stands out in the building for its steadfast dedication to action on a local and global scale. 

“Humanity First is really action-based; we actually put in the work to help people. We collect funds toward the initiatives and causes that we are working on,” she said. “While others are working locally, we are helping global causes.” 

To go along with the benevolent initiatives the club will support, being a part of HFSO has its additional perks. 

“HFSO gives you options and can help with volunteer hours,” Otradovec said. “This can help you stand out if you are applying to jobs or colleges, showing that you are willing to help out in the community and make impacts.” 

Malik emphasized that being a committed member of the group allows one to reap the most benefits from HFSO. 

“You have professional networking, volunteering, and recommendation letter opportunities. You get to help people in need, build social connections, and find a community for you among West Wildcats, too,” she said. “Of course, the more you hang out with us and the more you commit, the more you will have chances to excel.”

In the coming years, the organization has plans to inflate and define its presence in the school and elsewhere. 

“For the student chapter, growth might include increasing the number of participants, expanding the range of projects and events, and building stronger ties with other communities and organizations,” Maryam said. “The club could also further develop its outreach programs, such as fundraising for international humanitarian projects or collaborating with schools and other organizations.” 

Norman believes that through growing action, the club will flourish and take well in West’s fruitful environment.

“It’s a very tight-knit community right now, and we’re just going to keep going from there,” she said. “After all, trees don’t just pop up, they start out as seeds. It’s really cool to see that we’re starting as seeds, but with donut sales and food drives, we’ll grow into another large part of West.”

by Phoebe Fletcher

Published May 19th, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue VIII