Content Tagged with Community

The Covid-19 pandemic has put economies around the world to the test. Unemployment has reached alarming levels, many industries have seen massive declines in revenue, and business models once thought reliable were disrupted. Surviving these circumstances required building new skill sets, adjusting career plans, and revising business strategies at an unprecedented pace. Inspiring stories have emerged of Ismailis who met these challenges with resilience as well as community institutions that stepped up to support the Jamat through times of hardship.

When the pandemic struck and forced a nation-wide lockdown, it decimated thousands of small businesses across India. Gripped by uncertainty, and burdened with the costs of rent and inventory, many small businesses struggled to survive. As an immediate response to support the Jamat’s financial needs, the Ismailia Co-operative Credit Society Limited, Hyderabad (ICCS), launched a new series of financial products, offering a much-needed financial lifeline to the Jamat during this time.

Azan Virji from Kenya and Ashiana Jivraj from Canada aim to help other international students navigate their journey in higher education in the USA.

Take any highly successful person and chances are that person had a mentor to guide his or her journey, but when Kenyan-born Azan Virji set out to obtain a world-class medical education in the United States, he didn’t know whose path he could follow.

Abdul Saboor Farid shares public health guidelines with his students to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

As the global community faced unforeseen challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools and universities were required to quickly implement remote learning in order to maintain social distancing and other Covid-19 safety protocols.

A message from the Presidents of the Ismaili Councils of Angola, Democratic Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzanian and Uganda

The phrase, Log kya kahenge meaning ‘what will people say,’ highlights a mindset within South Asian communities about the way people act, hold expectations, or even choose to participate in programs. This mindset has also been a contributing roadblock for many people when talking about and seeking out mental health support.

The Mosaic virtual camp reached over 80 participants aged 11-17 years across the UK and Europe.

Sensitive to the needs of our young Jamat in a time of uncertainty, and in the absence of regular in-person camp offerings, the virtual Mosaic camp was an example of innovation and dedication from a small group of volunteers in the UK, looking to inspire and educate leaders of the future.

Welcome to The Ismaili Magazine 2020: A Year of Extraordinary Service. This digital magazine provides a whistle-stop tour across continents, highlighting the various programmes, initiatives, and events organised by AKDN and Jamati institutions around the world over the past 12 months.

Since Navroz this year, every special occasion in 2020 has been celebrated quite differently to what we are used to — and this New Year’s Eve will be no different. With many stuck at home and large gatherings prohibited around the world, The Ismaili TV is pleased to provide the opportunity to celebrate the start of 2021 as One Jamat — in your very own home.

Many of us spend our weekends having much needed downtime, catching up with chores or spending time with family. How willing would you be to give that up? Yasmin Heath from Brighton Jamatkhana in the UK did just this when she served on a TKN assignment in Europe. For one weekend every month, for six months, Yasmin travelled to Germany to voluntarily help murids from Afghanistan learn English language skills.

Whether you define it as seva, khidmat, or serviço, the ethic of offering service has been at the foundation of many selfless institutions and individuals around the world. This ethic is seen within our community and beyond, which can help to foster an active and healthy civil society. Youth leaders from around the world have adapted this very mindset: enabling communities through ‘building bridges.’ This phrase of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s is vital to forming a knowledge society, in which best practices — such as the ones used by Shagufta, Aly, and Sara — are shared and implemented worldwide.

These pictures and tiles were created by participants of the Bridges programme, reflecting various Islamic patterns and structures.

This summer, an Aga Khan Education Board collaboration unveiled Bridges, a six-week programme focused on learning and improving communication skills, while connecting students between the ages of 13-17, from across the globe.

It is with the greatest happiness and shukrana that the Jamati Institutions announce the reopening of Jamatkhana using a gradual  and carefully considered approach.

As the Jamat around the world looks forward to commemorating the 84th birthday of our beloved Mawlana Hazar Imam, The Ismaili is pleased to present a two-day Salgirah programme on The Ismaili TV. Featuring a variety of content — from an inspiring theatre production to a special birthday party organised by children — we hope to entertain and inspire the Jamat on this joyous and special occasion.

International Volunteer Day 2020

Reshit, situated in the Hunza District of Gilgit-Baltistan, is the oldest village of Chipurson, and known as the central village of Chipursan Valley.

The Ismaili Council for Pakistan's Socio-Economic Development Programme supports access to quality education, so that children like Sadaqat can achieve their dreams and empower their families.

Occupying the area comprising the Northernmost part of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and China, the Chipurson Valley hosts over 500 households with an approximate population of 3,000.

Sadaqat aspires to become a writer. Although he suffers from a childhood impairment and the distance from his village to school is two kilometres, he does not allow his condition or the stretch of road to hinder him on the path to achieving his dream.

Aziz Nathoo presents at the United Nations in New York City on the role of civil society and specifically on civil dialogue in interfaith spaces.

"I spend a lot of time learning about my faith and trying to be an exemplary ambassador of Islam in the world,” said Aziz Nathoo, who has immersed himself in teaching, dialogue, peacemaking, tolerance, and promoting pluralism for the past 20 years.

A throwback to Sahil’s days at IIT. Sahil Sorathiya (extreme right) won the TSP to pursue his undergrad at IIT Kharagpur

Want to pursue a great education but need financial support? For many years the Aga Khan Education Board’s (AKEB,I) Tertiary Scholarship Programme (TSP) has helped support the hopes and aspirations of students from the India Jamat. Three TSP alumni share their story on how the scholarship programme has helped bridge the gap between dreams and reality.

Modern challenges and global disruptions, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have impacted children around the world, both in terms of their physical growth and mental development, as well as their quality of life. On this World Children’s Day 2020, our pledge is to prioritize and contribute towards the holistic development of our children and the children of the Jamat worldwide. Let us invest in our children’s future by providing them with enabling environments and opportunities to realize their aspirations amidst the pandemic and beyond.