Written by: Alina Ali
This year, Make A Difference day, which falls on the fourth Saturday of the month every year, took place on Saturday, October 26th. Created in 1992 by USA Weekend magazine and Points of Light (a nonprofit organization dedicated to service), this day gives individuals the opportunity to celebrate offering service. Fortunately, as Ismailis, service is a part of our daily practice, providing us many opportunities to make a difference.
Volunteer Opportunities Within the Jamat
The volunteer corp empowers many members of the jamat, even younger ones, to serve and learn the importance of seva early in life. From helping out in naandi, to cleaning jamatkhana, to maintaining orderliness of services, service (or seva) opportunities are plentiful.
REC and ECDC offer teaching opportunities, and summer camps such as Mosaic and Al-Ummah routinely seek counselors. These opportuniteis not only help us positively influence the lives of young students and children, but they also allow us to glean new skillsets and knowledge that we can transfer to other roles and areas of our lives. For example, mentoring others not only helps create bonds, but it also helps us learn about the human psyche and better understand the different ways people think and learn. Subsequently, our efforts can help those we educate to advance in their personal and professional lives.
Volunteering outside of Jamatkhana
Finding service opportunities within but also outside of the jamat can bring happiness, as well as a sense of satisfaction. According to Volunteer Match, volunteering opportunities can include being a virtual mentor or tutor to teens, or helping at an animal shelter, among other options. Getting involved outside of Jamatkhana within the broader community not only provides a sense of satisfaction and purpose, but it also helps us fulfill Mawlana Hazar Imam’s vision of building bridges with the broader community. Institutions like Ismaili Civic, focused on environmental sustainability and community outreach, provide plenty of opportunities to make a difference through partnerships with nonprofits and the larger community.
However, if making time to physically serve isn’t an option, there are still other ways to make a difference, such as listening to someone when they need to be heard, contributing time or resources to a charity, or simply practicing kindness and empathy. Even the smallest form of service can not only help someone else but, according to Berkeley WellBeing, it can also foster happiness within us. This is because feeling like we have a purpose or larger significance in the world lends a sense of satisfaction and contentment.
However, it's equally as important to feel good about the way you're contributing. According to Time Magazine, volunteering for a cause we’re intrinsically motivated about is more rewarding than volunteering for a cause we’re not passionate about. The publication also reveals that giving time to a voluntary act is more rewarding than giving money. Additionally, when choosing to donate monetarily, an intrinsic motivation (believing in the cause) is more rewarding than extrinsic motivation (donating out of obligation or reluctance). Hence, when volunteering, it is best to find something that feels meaningful and important to you, personally. Any small act of service will greatly support not only your mental health, but the community at large--making a ripple effect of difference.
