Service is a core ethic of the Ismaili Community, and year after year volunteers around the world showcase how deeply embedded it is within the Jamat. Last year for GICD over 100,000 Jamati members spread across 30 countries came together to celebrate a year of incredible voluntary efforts. From tree planting, blood drives, organising free medical screenings and many more activities, Ismaili CIVIC efforts last year had a significant positive impact on the environment and people’s lives.
The 2024 Global Ismaili CIVIC Day marked several exciting firsts, with China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Switzerland joining the initiative for the first time. This year also strengthened existing partnerships and saw the creation of new ones. A notable example is the collaboration between Ismaili CIVIC and Global Encounters to launch the "Roots for Change" initiative—a global campaign focused on environmental stewardship and conservation. This initiative will culminate in the Global Encounters Festival, set to take place in Dubai in 2025.
In addition to numerous activities, this year, Ismaili CIVIC volunteers and partners have continued their efforts to create a safer and greener planet. A large number of activities fall under the umbrella of environmental stewardship, focusing on climate change, food insecurity, disaster relief, and advocacy and awareness.
Their incredible efforts have gained them recognition in the country's local media. In Dhaka, Bangladesh, Ismaili CIVIC volunteers provided humanitarian assistance towards flood victims, whereas in Hyderabad, India, volunteers were recognised for creating a health camp for construction workers. The Times of India also covered Ismaili CIVIC volunteers helping with a coastal clean-up. In Kenya for example, volunteers partnered with numerous agencies including Diamond Trust Bank, Aga Khan University Hospital and Aga Khan Foundation in a host of activities to mark the day. In Portugal, volunteers provided food aid to the fire department in response to the wildfires, and also participated in tree planting and beach cleaning.
Key activities that took place over the weekend included planting trees in a public park in Luanda, Angola, and an art auction to provide support for schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Also in the DRC, Ismaili CIVIC took part in the UN Global Compact Initiative which partnered with the Ministry of Environment. Additionally, volunteers visited four orphanages to provide back-to-school supplies and food items. The initiative was in partnership with organisations such as OSEPER, Orphelinat La Samaritaine, Operation Smile and Maison Famille in Kinshasa helping more than 400 children.
Tree planting also took place in Kenya, Uganda and Canada. In Kenya, 500 trees were planted by roughly 200 volunteers. Blood drives were organised in Mozambique and India helping save many individuals' lives. In Mozambique, more than 200 volunteers also gathered to distribute over 1500 meals. In Tanzania, climate change awareness sessions were organised for the jamat.
Volunteers in Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Syria and the USA hosted various clean-up drives. In Sweden, participants from Gothenburg and Stockholm partnered with Keep Sweden Tidy. In Copenhagen families banded together for a clean-up at Superkiln Red Square, and in the Netherlands, volunteers helped clean up local parks in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. For elderly members of the Jamat luncheon sessions were held in Japan, Hong Kong, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
In Australia, tree planting took place in partnership with Maroondah Council in Wombolano Park. Here, volunteers planted 100 native trees as well as picked out 20kg of weeds, counting a total of 120 hours of voluntary service. Sixty hours were also spent cleaning up local parks and creeks along with the Dandenong Council where volunteers managed to remove 10kg of rubbish. In Syria, volunteers came together in Aleppo, Al-Suun, Bari and other regions to clean public areas. In Salamieh, volunteers also united to provide relief support to the residents during the recent earthquake emergency.
In Canada, there were several park clean ups, and in France, many river clean ups contributed towards a cleaner environment. In Pakistan, thousands of volunteers participated in climate action awareness sessions, tree planting and cleanup drives, a no-plastic campaign, and pledged to safeguard the environment for a better future. In partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Pakistan team also released a short video on environmental stewardship. The CIVIC team also produced a short Urdu drama to raise awareness about the effects of climate change.
Many of the projects were made possible with the support from partners including the Aga Khan Foundation, WWF, Prince's Trust, Operation Smile, National University of Singapore, Habitat for Humanity, and multiple provincial and municipal governments who helped make an even greater impact.
Another incredible year celebrating Ismaili CIVIC’s global efforts! We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our global Ismaili CIVIC volunteers for their time, service, and dedication, embodying the true spirit of our values and ethics.
