Content Tagged with Volunteerism
With Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee visit quickly approaching, thousands of volunteers are working all hours, preparing to host Jamats from Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and across the UK.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming Diamond Jubilee Mulaqat with Mawlana Hazar Imam, the Jamats of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Côte d’Ivoire have set up special programmes to prepare for and celebrate the auspicious occasion.
Hurricane Harvey has been referred to as a "1,000-year flood," with its 50 inches of rainfall exceeding all records for the continental USA. It is estimated that damage from the storm will surpass that of hurricanes Sandy (New Jersey 2012) and Katrina (Louisiana 2005) combined. Volunteers have worked to reach Jamati members and others affected by the flooding, and to provide assistance with the recovery process.
A little over a year ago, the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for Pakistan launched a sports training programme, which proved to be popular and successful ahead of the 2016 Jubilee Games. This winter, the Youth and Sports Board expanded the programme to include golf, ice skating and ice hockey.
Thanksgiving in the United States is when family and friends gather to share a meal in their homes. But the national holiday is also an opportunity to join with neighbours in offering service, and across the country, American Ismailis did exactly that.
Across India this 15 August, Ismailis celebrated their nation’s independence through acts that contributed to the wellbeing of society. Members of the Jamat planted trees, cleaned up local monuments and put on street plays to educate about traffic safety.
Approximately 2 000 volunteers from the United Arab Emirates and abroad gathered in Dubai to make the 2016 Jubilee Games a reality. This video pays tribute to them.
To help everybody usher in 2016 on a positive note, a group of Ismaili volunteers in Dubai visited the Rashid Hospital Trauma Center to bring new year festivities to the patients.
This summer, 160 Ismaili students and volunteers gathered in Mombasa to take part in Global Encounters 2015. Now in its third year, the programme brought together youth and young professionals from 24 countries to renew a tradition of global citizenship and experience living as part of an international community.
When the Ismaili Muslim community in the United States was invited to assist with the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, the Jamat embraced the opportunity. Volunteers took on numerous roles, including hosting the delegation of athletes and coaches from Bangladesh.
Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Azim Mitha is a matchmaker of sorts: he matches offerings of time and knowledge made by volunteers with the opportunities and needs of Jamati and Imamat institutions. In doing so, he helps qualified and capable professionals in the Jamat to offer meaningful voluntary service in their own field, while strengthening institutional capacity.
Today’s opening of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games marks an historic moment for the city and for modern sport gatherings. Approximately 680 members of the Ismaili community registered to help in the Olympic effort, and will take part as drummers, dancers, torch bearers and Olympic Ambassadors.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty generously praised the Ismaili community at a gathering of Jamati and civic leaders held at Toronto’s Headquarters Jamatkhana in April. Recognising the long-standing relationship and common values shared between the Jamat and the province, he presented certificates to the Presidents of the Ismaili Councils for Canada and Ontario.
Described as grassroots because they are led by concerned citizens rather than governments or established institutions, such community action initiatives can be a powerful means in addressing difficult issues. Some Ismailis are successfully using grassroots action to magnify the impact of their volunteer work.
Service to humanity is at once an ethic deeply rooted in the Islamic tradition, as well as a fundamental expression of American civic values. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the September 11th tragedy in partnership with their fellow Americans, Ismaili Muslims across the United States will volunteer in a wide range of service activities in their local communities.
Thirty Ismaili volunteers extended a hand of friendship and support – and many bottles of water – to some 8 000 runners at the 2011 Brighton Marathon. The event was an opportunity to get involved and give back to the wider community.
When Salim Mohamed started his Time and Knowledge Nazrana assignment with AKDN project and construction management company PCM, the civil engineer brought decades of experience to the East African construction projects he was tasked with overseeing. He in turn gained valuable experience working in an African setting, and an understanding of what it’s like to work for an AKDN institution.
Thirty Ismaili volunteers extended a hand of friendship and support – and many bottles of water – to some 8 000 runners at the 2011 Brighton Marathon. The event was an opportunity to get involved and give back to the wider community.
Despite the magnitude of the disastrous flooding in Pakistan and the impact on its people, many in the international community remain unaware, and the attention garnered early on has waned. Through individual and organised institutional efforts, many Ismailis, together with others in Pakistan and around the world, have sought to raise awareness and funds to support flood relief efforts.
This year, the annual PartnershipsInAction Walk in the United States launched with a green theme that draws attention to the impact of climate change. Underscored by the recent flood disaster in Pakistan, the Walk’s message has taken on an even greater urgency, and is echoed by volunteers across the country as they seek to raise awareness and support.
