Sabeen Mehmud was indeed an inspiration. All she ever aimed for was to change the world for the better. In 2007, she left behind the corporate world and started her peace initiative. Peace Niche described Peace Niche as not an NGO but a social platform enabling the good to multiply. Peach Niche projects include Faraar – A Playground for Creative Expression, Science Ka Adda, T2F (Formerly Known as the Second Floor) and the Urdu Poetry Preservation Project.
In 2007, under the leadership of Sabeen Mehmud, Peace Niche kicked off with its first project ‘T2F’ (The Second Floor). The two-storey space for T2F was donated to Peace Niche by a devoted fan. The upper floor comprises of wooden-floor cafe. Sabeen Mehmud used to earn the revenue by running the cafe and holding tabla, guitar and other classes at T2F. Since the inception of T2F a number of gigs, discussions, debates, exhibitions on arts, politics, music, culture and social issues have taken place there.
Through T2F, Sabeen Mehmud made a huge contribution in revitalizing the cultural landscape of Karachi by providing people with non-exclusive, free for all open community space to have intellectual, cultural, social, political discourse. Sabeen Mehmud made the most out of twenty year experience in graphic design, new media, and technology and used social media to spread awareness about her initiative. She never believed in mainstream advertising and wanted only interested people to come to T2F.
Sabeen Mehmud provided the citizens of Karachi a place to openly express their opinions and concerns, an opportunity for them to learn and group and most importantly, a space to meet like-minded individuals.
Honours:
- She was the Secretary of the South Asia Foundation (Pakistan Chapter)
- She was a member of Citizens for Democracy (An initiative that seeks to mobilize public opinion against extremism and intolerance).
- She was a member of the Asia Society’s India-Pakistan Regional Young Leaders Initiative (A movement for encouraging peace between India and Pakistan)
- Sabeen Mehmud was also the founding member of the Citizens Archive of Pakistan along with Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.
- She also served as the president of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE) (Organization on a mission to foster entrepreneurship by creating networks for young entrepreneurs).
‘TODAY WE HAVE LOST A VOICE, A VOICE THAT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN WITH US, TODAY AND FOREVER. AS FOR WHAT SABEEN HAS DONE FOR US, NO ONE WILL EVER’.
