Content Tagged with Volunteerism
Sixteen-month-old Jimla Kasenga and 61-year-old Mukadi Kabengele both have a reason to smile. Each of them underwent facial reconstructive surgery at Operation Smile’s recent medical mission to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The week-long mission was broadly supported by members of the local Ismaili community.
In March 2010, the the Jamat in Afghanistan observed Volunteer Week, a week-long celebration of volunteerism. It was an opportunity to showcase the impact that volunteers have on the Jamat’s wellbeing, and increase the unity and collaboration among them, as well as within the wider Jamat.
On 11 July, the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe was the venue for an Imamat Day reception hosted by the Aga Khan Development Network in Tajikistan. The event, which also marked the 15th anniversary of the signing of an Agreement of Cooperation between the Government of Tajikistan and the AKDN, included a cultural show as well as a three-day exhibition of AKDN’s projects in the country during the past 15 years.
In December, ten Ismaili Muslim Boy Scouts in Texas earned the prestigious Eagle Scout Award for performing outstanding community service that demonstrated initiative, commitment to help those in need, and extraordinary leadership skills. This prestigious rank is achieved by only five per cent of all Boy Scouts in the United States.
In January, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake shattered the Republic of Haiti. Horrified by the disaster, countries, civil society organisations and individual donors responded with desperately needed help. Among them were many Ismailis who used their resources and skills to find creative ways to provide timely assistance to Haitians.
When the fertile farming district of Bududa was devastated by mud-slides that swept away hundreds of lives, the Ismaili community of Uganda were quick to mobilise assistance. Within a week, donations of food, medical supplies, clothing, and sanitary supplies – together with volunteers – quickly made their way to Bulucheke Camp.
As a Muslim community, giving of our time and helping others is integral to our way of life. From a young age, Ismailis are surrounded by examples of volunteers in action. In the UK, the Youth, Cultural and Social Network has launched an initiative that provides opportunities for the Jamat to give back to the society in which they live.
As a Muslim community, giving of our time and helping others is integral to our way of life. From a young age, Ismailis are surrounded by examples of volunteers in action. In the UK, the Youth, Cultural and Social Network has launched an initiative that provides opportunities for the Jamat to give back to the society in which they live.
As the 2010 Winter Olympic Games got underway in Vancouver, hundreds of Ismaili volunteers officially became ambassadors to the world. Donning green-coloured jackets, these Olympic Ambassadors have been welcoming tourists and athletes, providing information and directions, and managing queues and crowds in Vancouver City Centre.
Concluding a two-part series, Eboo Patel, the Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core, discusses how his organisation overcomes the faith line and promotes religious pluralism by bringing young people together to engage in dialogue and service to the community. (Read the first part of this interview here.)
In the first of a two-part series, TheIsmaili.org spoke with Eboo Patel, the Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core, an organisation that promotes mutual respect and pluralism among young people from different religious traditions. Patel shares his understanding of religious pluralism and explains what motivates him in his work.
When the Olympic Cauldron was lit at BC Place Stadium, the fire that set it alight came by way of 25 members of the Ismaili community. Like thousands of their fellow Canadians, they were chosen to carry the flame as it made its way across Canada in the months leading up to the Games.
Canadian kindergarten educator Shamim Murji recently returned to her country of birth, Uganda, where she volunteered with the AKF Madrasa Resource Centre. She shares her impressions of their preschool programme and the impact it is having on children, teachers and their communities.
The South Asian Chamber of Commerce of Houston, Texas recently honoured Focus Humanitarian Assistance for their disaster response and relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, Rita and Ike that affected the Southern United States. Chief Guest and CNN business anchor Ali Velshi presented the award.
In May, Focus Humanitarian Assistance celebrated its 15th anniversary with An Evening with Focus, held at the Ismaili Centre, London. The event created awareness of the integral role that FOCUS and its volunteers play in communities around the world.
East Meets Western, a new television documentary about the Ismaili community and the Calgary Stampede, describes two seemingly disparate cultures that have built a successful relationship based on shared values. The film showcases the volunteerism, creativity and organisational skills of the Jamat, and highlights the historical role that the Stampede has played in promoting cultural pluralism in Calgary.
Reflecting on Mawlana Hazar Imam's speech at the 2009 Conference of the Global Philanthropy Forum, Asif Penwala explores the connection between philanthropy, the ethic of compassion and voluntary service. He observes how this relationship comes together within the Jamat, as well as the wider sphere of the Ismaili Imamat.
