What is Ismaili CIVIC? Ismaili CIVIC response to COVID-19 in South London, UK Led by Azim Jetha, the SLJK taskforce has been actively involved in serving the Jamat and local community. With their team of 16 people, they are quick to respond to those requiring support. With the emergence of coronavirus, and the lockdown measures imposed, the team have jumped into action to help assist the most vulnerable in the Jamat and the local community.
Within 24 hours of receiving this call to action, the SLJK team were able to rally their 16 person taskforce to respond. Thirty bags of clothes were donated, and a team of three people, Rahim Abib, Shakil Ukani and Karim Virji collected and delivered these bags to the CVA. This incredibly quick response was greatly appreciated by the CVA team and the local community whom they have helped. “Any act of kindness, no matter how big or how small, as long as you do it with good intentions, it is more than satisfactory “ said Karim Virji of the SLJK team. This service has been an on-going effort throughout the pandemic lockdown period. The team have worked tirelessly and we applaud this generosity of time and resource in providing an excellent service to the Jamat and the wider community in which they live.
Ismaili CIVIC is the global brand under which voluntary service is rendered by the Shia Ismaili Muslim community. Ismaili CIVIC engages and unites the community around a mission to serve humanity, by improving the quality of life in the societies in which we live. This international endeavour reflects the community’s ethic of civic engagement and good citizenship, exemplifying Islam’s core values of service, peace, compassion and care for the vulnerable. Some notable previous engagements in the UK include volunteering at the Brighton Marathon and with Hands on London’s ‘Wrap Up London’ campaign. We were also proud to provide a number of Games Makers during the London 2012 Olympics.
Through conference calls, the team planned a strategy of how to support vulnerable people around them. Starting by identifying those unable to leave their homes, they then set to work to collect and distribute food packages and medicines to those affected. Through all of their work, their primary concern was the safety of those who they were assisting. “We made sure to wash our hands regularly, leave all packages at doors and remain two meters away when delivering packages” said Karim Virji, a member of the taskforce.
They then reached out to the local community to see who else could utilise their support. They were put in touch with the Croydon Voluntary Action Group (CVA), who were looking to assist the homeless through this crisis. Hostels have been opening their doors to safely house people who are homeless during this crisis. Along side this, groups including CVA have been assisting in providing clothes and other resources to the homeless. CVA appealed for help in the collection of these materials.sljk_team.jpg
As well as the homeless, the CVA have been assisting with feeding vulnerable children in the area and donating to the local food banks. In order to make sure local children were keeping a balanced and healthy diet, the team gathered donations of fresh fruit and vegetables, whilst schools are still closed. Tinned and dry food were also donated to local food banks, as well as any surplus PPE that the team could spare.
South London Jamatkhana Serving the Local Community Through Coronavirus
Voluntary service has been one of the guiding ethics of our faith for a thousand years. As well as serving the Jamat, this service extends to the communities in which we live through Ismaili CIVIC. This ethic of good citizenship and civil society has been exemplified by a team from South London Jamatkhana (SLJK).
SLJK team members Rahim Abib, Karim Velji and Shakil Ukani
