I still remember I was 15 years old, full of enthusiasm, dreams and ambitions when I encountered the first experience with this guy. People referred to him as a Motivational speaker. His energy, his optimism and his confidence in me, I can never forget. He kept repeating that we all have the power and the potential to change the world. We all are blessed with a gift. All one has to do is find it. The belief he showed in me, and the lessons he taught me, I never thought would have such a profound impact on my life!
Fast Forward… Days went by and I got lost. The ambitious kid who dreamed big started turning into ordinary. The mediocre one. One like many in the crowd, following the same monotonous routine, going to school, passing out from college and then came the BIG DECISION.
What career will I be pursuing? That’s no tough decision. We have a few options which most of us pick. And you are gonna do the same. And without my consent, I was pushed onto that track.
“You are too young to decide…” OR “We know better” were the statements I got from elders when they ignored my passions not taking into account what I enjoyed and how that is the main factor for you to excel.
Time kept flying and I kept adjusting. I worked hard but could never excel because I never loved what I do. I graduated and got a job and spent 3 years asking myself, should I waste this beautiful gift called life by following a path that wasn’t meant for me or achieve happiness and contentment by following the true reason for my being.
A sound whispered “you know the answer” and I realized this was the sound of the same 15-year-old me whom I had lost along the way. The 15-year-old me who did believe he could change the world.
That was the turning point when I took a leap of faith and decided to walk on the road less travelled. The path where your passion guides you.
The story continues…
——Arsalan Ajmal——
Another corner of the world…
I was spending a successful life. I was living in one of the most advanced cities of the world, I possessed all luxuries and was serving a corporation that is considered to be a global giant.
Despite having all, something had been missing. I was successful (in a way the world looks at success). But I didn’t have internal peace.
What was the purpose of my existence? Was it having all for myself and just keep planning the next holiday spot?
I wanted to explore new domains, find my passion, learn, test new waters, grow and more than anything, CONTRIBUTE.
People felt I was successful because I had a lot of money but that was not my definition of success.
For me, success is doing something meaningful and contributing to others lives. And I was doing was doing nothing like that.
Despite having everything, I still felt stuck.
That was the point when I decided to leave my comfort zone and follow my passion. That was then when this roller coaster ride of a journey of learning, growth and contribution began.
The story continues…
——Mohsin J——
THE STORY CONTINUES…
Arsalan and Mohsin took 2 different paths but their paths converged at a point when they met. They met with an idea to create a team of entrepreneurs. Finding individuals who had the same beliefs and values. Nurturing a team of talented and passionate individuals who wanted to change the world.
But the more they met different individuals the more disappointed they got. Young individuals, who belonged to very well known academic institutions of the country, were LOST just like a herd of sheep with no passion, direction and fire inside them. It was not only outside, but the same stories were also inside their families. And it was their young ones who were the victims.
They realized it wasn’t only them who were the victim of the flawed education system. We were destroying our future generation by pushing them into a broken system.
A REALIZATION…
What we need to teach our kids is self-awareness, finding their passions, trying new things, embracing failures, learning from every step in life and using your gifts to give back to the world.
Most of us have been a victim of a flawed and obsolete educational system. A system that was designed to fulfil the needs of the industrial era. We have destroyed talented individuals by pushing them into a broken system.
We have a term for that. It is called Entrepreneurship.
CHOTTAY SIKKAY WAS BORN…
Chottay sikkay is a dream – a dream to create KID ENTREPRENEURS. Giving kids a platform to do what they are born to do.
A platform where kids will begin a journey to follow their passion. They will play, learn, experiment, fail, live their dream, explore their potential, push their boundaries, try and test new things and use their gifts to create a better world.
It is the failures that take you one step closer to success right? 😉
We do not only celebrate success here – but failures will also be encouraged and celebrated.
We do not want to create an army of robots who are uniform. We want to flourish humanity by nurturing unique individuals from an early age.
DISCLAIMER
We teach them they way they want to learn i.e.fun first learning later.
We immerse kids in the emotionally charged experiences of learning.
We are anti-school.
WHO ARE WE?
- Have you been part of a circle that believes in finding your purpose. The natural ability that only you possess. Passion that drives you?
- Have you ever met a bunch of individuals, who continously keep challenging the status quo?
- Have you experienced company of individuals who have decided they wont settle for less and will keep pushing their boundaries and will keep growing?
- Ever seen people who not celebrates failures. Because they consider Failure as an opportunity to learn something new and start again in a better way.
- Did you ever sit with a group of people, who believe in giving back. Giving back to create a better world.
VALUES
TEAM
I was once a kid with immense potential and crazy intrigues and yet it was wasted every single day because of the lack of resourceful places and mentors to help me navigate.
However, I did one day find my chance to learn from many mentors and resources that I used to the fullest and at just 16 years of age, it changed the way I looked at the world. The impact of these mentors was so strong that it still helps me in countless ways.
When I came across Chottay Sikkay as an adult, I knew this was my chance to make way for the newer generations. To help these kids have a sense of purpose and direction that they need to transform their lives and make a better future for themselves and their coming generations.
One kid at a time.
AHSUN BHATTI
Having experience of working with some of the finest organizations (like P&G, Standard Chartered, Audi, L’Oreal and many more) in Pakistan and the Middle East, Abdullah Nasim is now excitedly creating startups in his motherland. Also known as the “Idea Machine”, Abdullah Nasim has proven his worth by producing ideas for a wide array of industries, from fancy cosmetic brands all the way to bland Real Estate Agencies. A doer with an amazing thought process, brilliant sense of attention to detail, and a flair for technology makes him nothing less than a digital revolutionary.
ABDULLAH NASIM
I wasn’t the best student while growing up and frankly I don’t remember much of what I learned in school except for the poem “The Road not Taken” by Robert Frost. By having the courage to make decisions this poem not only changed my perception about myself but no matter how big or small the decision is, it has an impact on your life and the world around you.
Creating Chottay Sikkay and being a part of it is the best decision I took despite having a long and continuous career I have as an HR Professional. And through Chottay Sikkay I want every child to have the courage, knowledge, and understanding that they matter, and in every step of their life they will see divergent roads ahead of them to choose from just like I did and “I took the one less traveled by, and that made all the difference.”
SYEDA LARAIB SHAH
Mohsin has one single question for everyone he meets. We are born with all kinds of barriers in our society. They might be social, emotional or mental. Its these barriers that push us to do certain things in life. And that one question is… “If you had no limitations, no barriers – what would you do with your life? You, reading there, whats your answer? Mohsin J is a serial entrepreneur and a visionary. He calls himself an Ignitor. An Ignitor whose main goal is to ignite the fire inside you. Whether its pioneering in establishing first ever specialized social media agency of Pakistan and middle east or its selling 14.5 million US$ worth of cars through digital. Mohsin has done it all. He ignites individuals to get out of their comfort zone and explore the unexplored.
MOHSIN JAFRI
Ali is a born entrepreneur. A young chap, full of life who has been part of entrepreneurial ecosystem from a very young age. Whether it is starting his own venture at the age of 15 or volunteering for renowned name like NEST IO, Ali has done it all! Passionate about tech and cars, Ali feels this is the skill, which is a must for the future.
ALI AHMED
Have you ever seen a pink elephant? Or a 50 floor building standing on a pin? Yes! You havent seen them but you were able to imagine it. This is how powerful our minds are…. Arsalan Ajmal is an entrepreneur who believes in pushing people and helping them exceed their limits. Initially an electronics engineer who took a leap of faith when started walking on less travelled road which was his passion that is"Developing Individuals". He has collaborated with organizations, NGO and Academics to train individuals. “We have underestimated potential of children and its high time that we explore that potential” quotes Arsalan. Arsalan has a dream, of creating a better society by creating young entrepreneurs…. A message of Arsalan to everyone reading this - Dare to explore the unknown and write the story of life the way you imagined it to be.
ARSALAN AJMAL
"A language enthusiast by heart, and a believer in human’s potential to create magic through education, Kalsoom Syed is an emerging talent in the design and L&D industry of Pakistan.
With a track record of working on 80+ design projects for local and international clients as a self-taught designer ranging from universities to women-led startups in North America, she's developed the expertise to guide young designers and entrepreneurs. Apart from her creative work, she's also trained professionals and students in 23+ countries and learned five languages within two years of graduating as a Linguist. She is a multipotentialite who seeks opportunities to develop high-quality educational resources for youth and actively advocates for the value of self-directed learning for people of all ages. People often call Kalsoom a bumblebee because even though she is tiny in real life, she can bring any room alive with her buzzing energy and is always ready to take on challenges."
KALSOOM SYED
MENTORS
Mehdi Raza has many years of experience, bringing new brands into FM107 and helping the current client relationships grow. As part of his global responsibilities, Mehdi heads up Syndicate Entertainment beyond borders, a division charged with ensuring that our entire network's resources are applied in service of international advertisers based in the United States. Mehdi Raza has previously led award-winning work for some of Media Com's largest international clients, including Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Universal Music, Oracle and Shell.
MEHDI RAZA
Nanji has had an illustrious career spanning of over 30 years specializing in Marketing & Sales in both MNCs and leading food companies. Working with names like Walmart, Unilever, English Biscuits, Nanji is without any doubt the change agent who brings out of the box strategies and growth in companies when needed most. Utilizing his vast experience Nanji sells his vision and ideas at a stage where no one can even imagine doing it. He takes the best of ideas and turns them into real-life experiences. Nanji has given speeches in international conferences, has experience in teaching, and also successfully anchored 2 television shows. Does it get any better than being guided and coached by a seasoned professional such as Mahmood Nanji?
MAHMOOD NANJI
PARTNERS
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Chottay Sikkay is an extraordinary and unique initiative aimed at developing the entrepreneurial spirit in kids at an early age. The idea is fascinating as it not only makes kids independent, but also plays an integral part in creating a better Pakistan. Transforming kids into Entrepreneurs is what they do and this is exactly what is needed!
EHTISHAM
CEO of an Aspiring Startup in UK
Entrepreneurship isn't a skill or profession, but a lifestyle, a lifestyle that helps one vision, act, and react for a higher purpose than just breathing and making money. Chottay Sikkay is an impressive startup as it aims to instill this lifestyle in our generation when they are in their prime time. It will not only polish the mindsets of the next generation, but help them explore what they are best at and how they can improve the world with their potential; an act capable of making better tomorrows.
JAVED JAFRI
Head of Media and Digital in a Renowned FMCG Multinational
Age is not a measure of Knowledge, Wisdom, or even Experience. Passion is a drive, which embarks you on a journey of Exploration, Challenges, Excitement, Knowledge, and above all Self Awareness.
Chottay Sikkay is that voyage of Self Awareness for our Young Ones which would help them to unravel their Passion and their Strength, and express their Personality with a whole new Introduction!
I believe this because I am a father of two and have been a little part of Chottay Sikkay myself. I know the honest intention, relentless research, hard work, and team's fervent zeal behind it. Chottay Sikkay is very close to my heart and I am very proud of this connection.
I am convinced that it's imperative that our children discover their unique abilities by diving into their Why, What, When, Where, and How? Not much later, but Now!
EHSAN GOHAR
Engineering Professional in a Telecom Firm (UK)
I am very excited and honored to be a contributor to the project. Children need to be acclimatized to Entrepreneurship from a young age. They need to develop the ability to tune their minds to think freely and creatively, beyond conventions. A system that will give them this ability will become the educational system of the future.
FARHAN AHMED
Head of Communication in a Multinational Bank
WE ARE A ZUMBEEL GROUP COMPANY
