He is also no stranger to teaching, as he has facilitated several courses for The Walt Disney Company since joining the organization in 2010. Thus, it was not surprising that he was chosen to participate with other field professionals as a teacher and mentor at the University of Central Asia (UCA) Naryn Campus' “Connecting Your Discipline” program in May 2017, which offered a series of engaging workshops, guest lectures, career panels, interactive activities, simulations, and real world applications to help students navigate their undergraduate specializations. I had the opportunity to ask him about his Time and Knowledge Nazrana (TKN) experience at Naryn in July, following the Diamond Jubilee (DJ) Imamat Day celebrations.
Alif, how was your experience teaching computer science to the inaugural class of 65 students at the UCA Naryn campus for one week?
It was a wonderful and an amazing experience for me. It was a chance to see a place I had never seen before, and a chance to interact with individuals whom I don’t normally get to meet, perhaps ever. I had the opportunity to participate with students from all sorts of cultures and backgrounds and it was a lot of fun.
What is your advice to the youth as it relates to TKN?
You don’t usually truly understand how valuable your experiences and abilities are until you start giving it to others, when you see the looks on their faces, and the lives that you change. Secondly, people—especially young professionals—often struggle to justify or prioritize giving back in the form of TKN or anything that is longer than a couple of hours, but once you have a chance to truly see or experience the fulfillment that you receive—and the fulfillment that you give—I think that it becomes a no-brainer.
How is the TKN advancing the Imam’s vision for the Jamat and humanity in general?
Hazar Imam has said that those who are fortunate enough to be blessed with the ability to receive a great education are then responsible for serving others. I am paraphrasing, of course. That is one of the reasons why I want to give, not only because of what our Imam has said but also how it makes me feel when I help others. Two of the Diamond Jubilee goals are helping the international Jamat, and improving the institutions of higher education internationally within the AKDN. My TKN assignment directly related to these goals and fulfilling this vision.
Any further advice that you can give to the youth and millennials as it relates to volunteering and serving the Jamat and humanity in general, what it means to them, and others they are serving?
If you have not yet spent a lot of time volunteering, that is completely fine. It does not take an international trip to a university to make a difference. The difference can be made even with half an hour of time in your local community or inside your Jamatkhana. That is all it takes. If you enjoy it, which I hope you do, there are many more opportunities you can further involve yourself in bettering the community and the Jamat worldwide.
So even if many millennials and students say that they don’t have the time, it only takes a few minutes of one's day to get started to and serve, and that service can be immensely fulfilling to the individual, the community and the Jamat?
Right! Young professionals—including myself—are always trying to “make it” in the world. You are trying to focus on your career to become successful and you feel that this is the time you need to focus on that. This leaves no room for anything else, but you soon find that (even in my case) a lot of the opportunities that are received come from volunteerism and personal encounters. I would never have received those opportunities had I not volunteered. So, I think that it goes both ways. It is not that you cannot volunteer while you are trying to become successful, instead they go hand in hand.
