“Work no words.”
This short motto uttered by Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah is engraved on pins worn by dedicated individuals across the country. It is a deeply symbolic reminder that volunteerism and service, or seva, is a fundamental ethic of Ismailism.
On July 11, the combined Southwestern Jamat poured in through the doors of NRG Center in Houston to commemorate 60 years of Imamat. In preparation for this momentous day, volunteers contributed thousands of hours to help plan, coordinate, and facilitate the event. As a result of the volunteers’ efforts, the full day of celebrations was seamlessly executed.
Volunteers, both uniformed and non-uniformed, mirrored the diversity of the Southwestern Jamat — all ages, skills, and Jamatkhanas were represented. “There is just so much diversity among the volunteers and everyone just seems to be so genuinely happy to give of themselves,” said Natasha Mehdi.
Another attendee, Farhan Ajanee, echoed: “From the moment I entered the parking lot, I was greeted by the smiling and familiar faces of Ismaili volunteers. Whether it was in viewing the Homage Ceremony, attending Jamati services, eating dinner, or viewing the various exhibits, there were volunteers at every step — it’s inspiring to see the involvement of so many different people in putting on such a big event like this.”
Each volunteer, played a significant role in the success of the event. Experienced safety volunteers, like Nishita Rojani from North Houston Jamatkhana, went through training with 200 of her colleagues for this event.
Millennials, like Saqeeb Ali and his friend Shohaib Ali, from the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center in Sugar Land, helped with the “Jubilee Snaps” section to take pictures and create lasting memorabilia for attendees.
We owe our volunteers a huge debt of gratitude for the success of the 2017 Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The youngest members of the Jamat, also the most eager volunteers, were in charge of the seating area. Making sure people were seated with their family and friends as they enjoyed their dinner was their top priority. The medical staff was also staffed with volunteer registered nurses and doctors for any on-site emergencies.
Various duties and time-slots were given to the volunteers so that they could attend the festivities with their families, while also balancing their service-based goals. Families also volunteered together, like Ayan Zindani and his younger brother, Aahan, who spent the day fielding visitors through the “My Journey to Homage” exhibit. Another volunteer said: “My whole family is volunteering right now — we’ve been here since 11 this morning and will probably be back here tomorrow to help clean up. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and we’re happy to serve the Jamat and Mawla.”
Altogether, the event was a success because of the countless hours of time, energy and devotion of every volunteer.
