Jamatkhanas across Atlanta celebrated Earth Day by learning the importance of sustainability and recycling. Environmental stewardship and sustainability is an ethic of Islam. Human beings are charged with the responsibility to safeguard Allah’s creation and protect the environment. 

 
The Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board organized fun activities in metro Atlanta Jamatkhanas for families on Earth Day, under the Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering (ICERV) initiative. Volunteers created bird feeders from used water bottles, planted trees, and built recycling bins for use at home. 
 
The Earth Day activities started with the sharing of information on the Aga Khan Development Network’s programs in environmental stewardship, followed by discussions and explorations of an individual’s role as global citizens in serving humanity and preserving the environment. “Being able to serve our community and our Jamat is a wonderful feeling and a great experience,” said Maha Jalia, age 16.
 
Under the initiative “Sustainable Nation,” which started in all metro Atlanta Jamatkhanas several years ago, the carbon footprint of the Jamatkhanas has been reduced through the use of reusable bags, recycling, and initiation of a water filtration system to reduce usage of plastic water bottles. The Earth Day activities further expanded on these earth-friendly initiatives and explored the environmental issues the world faces today. "The project taught me the best ways to preserve and help the environment is not to let pollution take over the world, always recycle,” said Sahil Mithani, age 10. 
 
The projects concluded with a recycling and repurposing activity. Sahil said, “My favorite part was making the bird feeder itself! I donated it to I-CERV to help out the community here." The teams collected used water bottles and taught volunteers how to cut out sections for birds. Volunteers then attached string and decorated their bottles. All that remained was to add the birdseed, and the feeders were ready for participants to take home.
 
Youth volunteers had an opportunity to not only help the environment but also to work with Jamati members they would not have otherwise met. Zishan Dodhyani, age 15, said, “Working with I-CERV was really nice, I got to meet a lot of new people and work with a different age group, which I really enjoyed.”