Since Navroz, all of us, one way or another, have been occupied with the COVID-19 outbreak. After the significant efforts of the governments in the Far East, we are now in a more stable situation. Activities have resumed in all Far East countries and economies have been re-opened. Life can now become closer to “normal” as long as we take necessary precautions. As you are aware, four out of our nine centres have re-opened, and additional centres are likely to re-open in the next few weeks and months as local government restrictions are lifted.

However, we should not assume that we have defeated COVID-19. The pandemic is likely to be with us for at least a year more or longer, depending on when a vaccine is developed and is made available. So we need to become used to operating in this new environment. There are also several countries globally showing “second waves” of cases. We also need to be ready for continued difficult economic conditions. There will be many business closures and job losses.

In these times, we are fortunate and blessed to have our beloved Hazar Imam to guide and lead us. We must remain united as one community. We should reach out to each other and the institutions if we need advice or assistance of any kind. Please keep as much liquidity in cash as possible as many experts predict the current economic recession will last until 2022, or longer.

In the past few months, our institutions have been extremely busy. We launched our extremely successful Eid programme that received record participation and viewership. We held several online sessions on the economy, upskilling, mental wellbeing, digital technology in the early years, and the impact of physical health on mental health. ITREB held several successful programmes as did our talented BUI teachers and students. Some of these have been aired on Ismaili.TV, putting us on the global map. We even held Bollyfit dance classes and a coding class for the youth! We successfully initiated an English language course for overseas workers in Malaysia. With your support, we completed our annual Quality of Life questionnaire, the results of which will help guide our programmes moving forward. In addition, we held several meaningful outreach programmes in the wider community through Ismaili CIVIC in Singapore and Malaysia.

Today we join the Ismaili Professionals Network (IPN) worldwide by launching, for the first time IPN Far East. This network will enable professionals to forge connections, build partnerships and enable career advancement by sharing knowledge and best practices. We look forward to your continued participation in our programmes. If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to hear more about or discuss further, you can contact any of my colleagues on the various institutions, or myself. We remain available for you, any time.

Meanwhile, I hope that you are able to spend some quality time with your families over this Imamat Day weekend and pray that you and your families remain happy, healthy, safe and united.

With best personal regards,
President, Council for the Far East