Engineer, Educator, and Mother Urges Public to Focus on Everyday Acts of Support Over Performative Charity
SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESS Newswire / August 7, 2025 / Chemical engineer and educator Tajila Mullahkhel is using her voice and platform to advocate for a quiet but powerful idea: that giving back doesn’t need to be public to matter-and that simple, everyday actions can build more resilient communities than large, attention-grabbing efforts.
“Some things are better done quietly,” Mullahkhel said. “When you give without being seen, you remember why you’re doing it.”
Raised in Pakistan after being born in Afghanistan, and now living and working in the U.S., Tajila has lived through cultural transitions that taught her empathy, discipline, and the value of listening more than speaking. After years of working in healthcare engineering at Fresenius Medical Care, and teaching Pashto at the University of Utah, she now runs her own consultancy, Azhar Enterprises, and writes about science, family, and culture on her personal website.
But beyond her technical career, she’s become a thoughtful advocate for low-visibility, high-impact giving-an idea especially relevant in today’s era of social media activism.
“Giving should be private,” she said. “In a world where people share everything online, I think the most meaningful acts are the ones no one sees. It’s more about the intention than the attention.”
Why It Matters
According to a 2023 report by Giving USA, charitable donations in the U.S. dropped by 10.5% (adjusted for inflation)-the largest decline in decades. At the same time, online fundraising campaigns have grown more visible, often focusing on one-time events.
Tajila Mullahkhel believes this gap points to a deeper issue.
“Real support happens in the background,” she said. “It’s the meals you quietly drop off. It’s checking on a neighbor. It’s mentoring someone who doesn’t have access.”
Her view is rooted in personal experience. As an immigrant who started over in a new country as a teen, she knows what quiet support looks like. “I didn’t always feel like I belonged,” she said. “School gave me structure. But it was people-not programs-who made me feel seen.”
Small Acts, Big Impact
Tajila’s approach to service isn’t theoretical. Her own life is full of small rituals that reflect her values-whether it’s baking with her kids to teach patience, or walking daily to clear her mind.
“Even just a walk around the block helps me reset,” she said. “That rhythm keeps me focused. That’s how I show up for others.”
These personal choices echo a growing body of research around “everyday resilience”-the idea that consistent, low-stakes actions build stronger mental health and community ties over time.
In a study published by the American Psychological Association, researchers found that people who perform small, unrecognized acts of kindness report higher long-term well-being than those who engage in performative giving.
What You Can Do
This is not a call for a donation campaign. There’s no fundraiser. No viral hashtag. Tajila’s message is simpler:
“You don’t need a platform or a plan. Just do one thing for someone-without telling anyone.”
Her suggestions:
Make a habit of checking in on someone quietly.
Offer help even if it’s not asked for-and don’t expect recognition.
Give time, not just money-tutoring, listening, sharing skills.
Model kindness for kids through actions, not lectures.
Keep a private list of good deeds-not to brag, but to remind yourself they matter.
About Tajila Mullahkhel
Tajila Mullahkhel is a self-employed chemical engineer, former engineering project manager at Fresenius Medical Care, and language instructor at the University of Utah. She is the owner of Azhar Enterprises and resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her work focuses on engineering, culture, sustainability, and education. She writes athttp://www.tajilamullahkhel.com.
Don’t wait for a campaign. Don’t wait to be asked. Find one quiet way to help someone today-and keep it to yourself. That’s how real change begins.
Media Contact
Tajila Mullahkhel
http://www.tajilamullahkhel.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajila-mullahkhel-8b6310b0
SOURCE: Tajila Mullahkhel
