Learn Good SWAHILI: Step by Step
by Zahir Dhalla
The proceeds from this book go towards helping the needy children in Tanga, the author's hometown.
A 600+ page textbook for anyone new to Swahili or wants to improve or brush up. Step by step explanation with examples and exercises, plus index and a 3,000+ bidirectional vocabulary with mini-thesaurus.
If you are going to East Africa, this is the text book you need.
https://www.amazon.ca/Learn-Good-SWAHIL ... B01H5VC1YO
VOLUNTEERS - SEVA - SEWA - TKN
Feeding the Hungry
The test of our progress is not whether we add more
to the abundance of those who have much.
It is whether we provide enough for those who have little.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Jesus preached more and taught more about helping
the poor and the sick and the hungry
than he did about heaven and hell.
Shouldn't that tell us something?
- John Grisham
Jesus said: "When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you."
- Luke 14:13-14
Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality.
- Arthur Schopenhauer
A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
- Jesus of Nazareth (John 13:34)
The test of our progress is not whether we add more
to the abundance of those who have much.
It is whether we provide enough for those who have little.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Jesus preached more and taught more about helping
the poor and the sick and the hungry
than he did about heaven and hell.
Shouldn't that tell us something?
- John Grisham
Jesus said: "When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you."
- Luke 14:13-14
Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality.
- Arthur Schopenhauer
A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
- Jesus of Nazareth (John 13:34)
Valuable time, invaluable service
Every single day, over 200 volunteers come to the Aga Khan University to make a difference.
To date more than 9,300 dedicated individuals have generously shared their time and knowledge to support the University’s vision of promoting human welfare.
In activities as diverse as raising funds for new research facilities, to running staff facilities on campus, to assisting the teaching hospital during busy periods; volunteers play a vital role.
To celebrate the contribution of these men and women, the University held an appreciation event at its auditorium. At the ceremony, AKU’s vice-president of Human Resources, Carol Ariano, lauded the diligence and selflessness shown by volunteers and shared how some have worked at the AKU for 5,000, 10,000 and even over 20,000 hours!
https://www.aku.edu/news/Pages/News_Det ... EWS-000199
Every single day, over 200 volunteers come to the Aga Khan University to make a difference.
To date more than 9,300 dedicated individuals have generously shared their time and knowledge to support the University’s vision of promoting human welfare.
In activities as diverse as raising funds for new research facilities, to running staff facilities on campus, to assisting the teaching hospital during busy periods; volunteers play a vital role.
To celebrate the contribution of these men and women, the University held an appreciation event at its auditorium. At the ceremony, AKU’s vice-president of Human Resources, Carol Ariano, lauded the diligence and selflessness shown by volunteers and shared how some have worked at the AKU for 5,000, 10,000 and even over 20,000 hours!
https://www.aku.edu/news/Pages/News_Det ... EWS-000199
How volunteering may improve mental outlook
A new study shows a correlation between volunteering and improved mental health for those age 40 and above.
Volunteering may lead to improved mental and physical health, a new study reports.
A survey conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom found a positive link between unpaid volunteer work and mental well-being for those age 40 and above.
"There is a general consensus that volunteering is beneficial to everyone regardless of the age," lead author Dr. Faiza Tabassum, of Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute, told Reuters Health. "However, our study has shown volunteering may be more strongly associated with mental well-being at some points of the life-course than others."
More....
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/20 ... al-outlook
A new study shows a correlation between volunteering and improved mental health for those age 40 and above.
Volunteering may lead to improved mental and physical health, a new study reports.
A survey conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom found a positive link between unpaid volunteer work and mental well-being for those age 40 and above.
"There is a general consensus that volunteering is beneficial to everyone regardless of the age," lead author Dr. Faiza Tabassum, of Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute, told Reuters Health. "However, our study has shown volunteering may be more strongly associated with mental well-being at some points of the life-course than others."
More....
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/20 ... al-outlook
The world’s most generous nations
Slide show:
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/news/the ... b9#image=1
Who gives most generously?
The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) released the 2015 Giving Index, which offers a global picture of how generous people around the world really are. The index measures the average percentage of people who donated money, volunteered, or helped a stranger in the previous month in 145 countries (around 96% of the world’s population). Read on to find out who makes the top 20 most generous countries this year.
Slide show:
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/news/the ... b9#image=1
Who gives most generously?
The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) released the 2015 Giving Index, which offers a global picture of how generous people around the world really are. The index measures the average percentage of people who donated money, volunteered, or helped a stranger in the previous month in 145 countries (around 96% of the world’s population). Read on to find out who makes the top 20 most generous countries this year.
Blessed in Abundance
We attract abundance when we ask from a compassionate heart.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
- Matthew 7:7
In our willingness to give that which we seek,
we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.
- Deepak Chopra
When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure
that you are always blessed in abundance.
- Joel Osteen
Life in abundance comes only through great love.
- Elbert Hubbard
We attract abundance when we ask from a compassionate heart.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
- Matthew 7:7
In our willingness to give that which we seek,
we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.
- Deepak Chopra
When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure
that you are always blessed in abundance.
- Joel Osteen
Life in abundance comes only through great love.
- Elbert Hubbard
Renaye Tejani, a 12 Year Old Ismaili Girl in Mumbai Spreads Joy Through Baking for Charity
October 2, 2016
Prepared by Abdulmalik Merchant with the assistance of Rheanne Tejani
Few can resist the temptation of freshly baked goodies. They take you back to your childhood and bring a smile to your face. At an age where children are obsessed with the latest video game or phone 12 year old Renaye Tejani, an Ismaili girl from Mumbai, India, with her talent and love for baking is trying to spread this sweetness and joy a little further by baking for charity.
Renaye with her charity stall at an En Vogue exhibition at Taj Lands End Hotel, Mumbai.
Renaye used to watch her mum bake and got inspired by her. While helping her she realized she enjoyed baking and started experimenting with recipes. She then started sharing these bakes with her friends and neighbours who were so impressed with the results that they started paying her for them.
Like any other child her age Renaye was very thrilled as this would have been a great means of earning some extra pocket money, but she then remembered the local street children she used to see studying on the sidewalks near her home and thought about helping them with stationary packs and books. Thus, started Renaye Tejani’s endeavour of baking for charity.
Renaye’s bake sale
Renaye strongly believes that every child should have a right to education. Seeing the joy on the children’s faces motivated her to take this endeavour of hers more seriously. Since then she has used the proceeds of her baking for multiple charities ranging from orphanages, old people’s homes and even giving baking demos to other NGOs to add to new products to their sale catalogue.
SPREADING JOY AND SWEETNESS
Spending time with the elderly ladies on Mother’s Day at YWCA Asha Kiran, an NGO that strives to enable and empower women.
Gifts for the children at YWCA, giving them bags books and stationary
Feeding the children at Sneh Sadan, a home for the homeless at Andheri East
Renaye giving a demo at Kshitij, an NGO which helps make challenged children financially independent. Here she is teaching the children to make cookies which they would sell for corporate gifting.
Apart from her mom, Renaye gets her baking inspirations from cookery shows and books. She follows Cake Boss, The Ultimate Cake Off, and Nigella Lawson in addition to surfing the net for new recipes. Seeing her potential, a local business has also come forward to support this young Social Entrepreneur by featuring her customized desserts and cookies on their menu. Event management companies such as En Vogue support Renaye by showcasing her talent at their high profile exhibitions.
Signature dish.
Renaye (right) is pictured with her teenage sister, Rheanne, whom she counts as her official quality control and taste master as well as her packaging and marketing consultant. The twelve-year old takes a lot of pride in her older sister’s work, whom she considers as her pillar of strength.
This 7th grader burns of all her baking calories with swimming and volleyball and aspires to continue to spread joy with her baking and heading her own NGO one day.
Date posted: October 3, 2016.
https://simergphotos.com/2016/10/02/ren ... r-charity/
October 2, 2016
Prepared by Abdulmalik Merchant with the assistance of Rheanne Tejani
Few can resist the temptation of freshly baked goodies. They take you back to your childhood and bring a smile to your face. At an age where children are obsessed with the latest video game or phone 12 year old Renaye Tejani, an Ismaili girl from Mumbai, India, with her talent and love for baking is trying to spread this sweetness and joy a little further by baking for charity.
Renaye with her charity stall at an En Vogue exhibition at Taj Lands End Hotel, Mumbai.
Renaye used to watch her mum bake and got inspired by her. While helping her she realized she enjoyed baking and started experimenting with recipes. She then started sharing these bakes with her friends and neighbours who were so impressed with the results that they started paying her for them.
Like any other child her age Renaye was very thrilled as this would have been a great means of earning some extra pocket money, but she then remembered the local street children she used to see studying on the sidewalks near her home and thought about helping them with stationary packs and books. Thus, started Renaye Tejani’s endeavour of baking for charity.
Renaye’s bake sale
Renaye strongly believes that every child should have a right to education. Seeing the joy on the children’s faces motivated her to take this endeavour of hers more seriously. Since then she has used the proceeds of her baking for multiple charities ranging from orphanages, old people’s homes and even giving baking demos to other NGOs to add to new products to their sale catalogue.
SPREADING JOY AND SWEETNESS
Spending time with the elderly ladies on Mother’s Day at YWCA Asha Kiran, an NGO that strives to enable and empower women.
Gifts for the children at YWCA, giving them bags books and stationary
Feeding the children at Sneh Sadan, a home for the homeless at Andheri East
Renaye giving a demo at Kshitij, an NGO which helps make challenged children financially independent. Here she is teaching the children to make cookies which they would sell for corporate gifting.
Apart from her mom, Renaye gets her baking inspirations from cookery shows and books. She follows Cake Boss, The Ultimate Cake Off, and Nigella Lawson in addition to surfing the net for new recipes. Seeing her potential, a local business has also come forward to support this young Social Entrepreneur by featuring her customized desserts and cookies on their menu. Event management companies such as En Vogue support Renaye by showcasing her talent at their high profile exhibitions.
Signature dish.
Renaye (right) is pictured with her teenage sister, Rheanne, whom she counts as her official quality control and taste master as well as her packaging and marketing consultant. The twelve-year old takes a lot of pride in her older sister’s work, whom she considers as her pillar of strength.
This 7th grader burns of all her baking calories with swimming and volleyball and aspires to continue to spread joy with her baking and heading her own NGO one day.
Date posted: October 3, 2016.
https://simergphotos.com/2016/10/02/ren ... r-charity/
Volunteer Contributions Towards The University of Central Asia
"Permit me to also acknowledge the intellectual contribution and hard work of UCA’s Board Executive Committee; the University’s Construction, Academic, and Operations teams; the contribution of over 100 Time and Knowledge Volunteers from the Ismaili community globally who have given selflessly of their time and professional knowledge; and of course the generosity of our esteemed donors."
SPEECH DELIVERED BY
Mr. Shams Kassim-Lakha
http://www.akdn.org/speech/mr-shams-kas ... ryn-campus
"Permit me to also acknowledge the intellectual contribution and hard work of UCA’s Board Executive Committee; the University’s Construction, Academic, and Operations teams; the contribution of over 100 Time and Knowledge Volunteers from the Ismaili community globally who have given selflessly of their time and professional knowledge; and of course the generosity of our esteemed donors."
SPEECH DELIVERED BY
Mr. Shams Kassim-Lakha
http://www.akdn.org/speech/mr-shams-kas ... ryn-campus
Dalai Lama: Behind Our Anxiety, the Fear of Being Unneeded
In many ways, there has never been a better time to be alive. Violence plagues some corners of the world, and too many still live under the grip of tyrannical regimes. And although all the world’s major faiths teach love, compassion and tolerance, unthinkable violence is being perpetrated in the name of religion.
And yet, fewer among us are poor, fewer are hungry, fewer children are dying, and more men and women can read than ever before. In many countries, recognition of women’s and minority rights is now the norm. There is still much work to do, of course, but there is hope and there is progress.
How strange, then, to see such anger and great discontent in some of the world’s richest nations. In the United States, Britain and across the European Continent, people are convulsed with political frustration and anxiety about the future. Refugees and migrants clamor for the chance to live in these safe, prosperous countries, but those who already live in those promised lands report great uneasiness about their own futures that seems to border on hopelessness.
Why?
A small hint comes from interesting research about how people thrive. In one shocking experiment, researchers found that senior citizens who didn’t feel useful to others were nearly three times as likely to die prematurely as those who did feel useful. This speaks to a broader human truth: We all need to be needed.
Being “needed” does not entail selfish pride or unhealthy attachment to the worldly esteem of others. Rather, it consists of a natural human hunger to serve our fellow men and women. As the 13th-century Buddhist sages taught, “If one lights a fire for others, it will also brighten one’s own way.”
Virtually all the world’s major religions teach that diligent work in the service of others is our highest nature and thus lies at the center of a happy life. Scientific surveys and studies confirm shared tenets of our faiths. Americans who prioritize doing good for others are almost twice as likely to say they are very happy about their lives. In Germany, people who seek to serve society are five times likelier to say they are very happy than those who do not view service as important. Selflessness and joy are intertwined. The more we are one with the rest of humanity, the better we feel.
This helps explain why pain and indignation are sweeping through prosperous countries. The problem is not a lack of material riches. It is the growing number of people who feel they are no longer useful, no longer needed, no longer one with their societies.
In America today, compared with 50 years ago, three times as many working-age men are completely outside the work force. This pattern is occurring throughout the developed world — and the consequences are not merely economic. Feeling superfluous is a blow to the human spirit. It leads to social isolation and emotional pain, and creates the conditions for negative emotions to take root.
What can we do to help? The first answer is not systematic. It is personal. Everyone has something valuable to share. We should start each day by consciously asking ourselves, “What can I do today to appreciate the gifts that others offer me?” We need to make sure that global brotherhood and oneness with others are not just abstract ideas that we profess, but personal commitments that we mindfully put into practice.
Each of us has the responsibility to make this a habit. But those in positions of responsibility have a special opportunity to expand inclusion and build societies that truly need everyone.
Leaders need to recognize that a compassionate society must create a wealth of opportunities for meaningful work, so that everyone who is capable of contributing can do so. A compassionate society must provide children with education and training that enriches their lives, both with greater ethical understanding and with practical skills that can lead to economic security and inner peace. A compassionate society must protect the vulnerable while ensuring that these policies do not trap people in misery and dependence.
Building such a society is no easy task. No ideology or political party holds all the answers. Misguided thinking from all sides contributes to social exclusion, so overcoming it will take innovative solutions from all sides. Indeed, what unites the two of us in friendship and collaboration is not shared politics or the same religion. It is something simpler: a shared belief in compassion, in human dignity, in the intrinsic usefulness of every person to contribute positively for a better and more meaningful world. The problems we face cut across conventional categories; so must our dialogue, and our friendships.
Many are confused and frightened to see anger and frustration sweeping like wildfire across societies that enjoy historic safety and prosperity. But their refusal to be content with physical and material security actually reveals something beautiful: a universal human hunger to be needed. Let us work together to build a society that feeds this hunger.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibet and a Nobel laureate for peace. Arthur C. Brooks is president of the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing opinion writer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/04/opini ... dline&te=1
In many ways, there has never been a better time to be alive. Violence plagues some corners of the world, and too many still live under the grip of tyrannical regimes. And although all the world’s major faiths teach love, compassion and tolerance, unthinkable violence is being perpetrated in the name of religion.
And yet, fewer among us are poor, fewer are hungry, fewer children are dying, and more men and women can read than ever before. In many countries, recognition of women’s and minority rights is now the norm. There is still much work to do, of course, but there is hope and there is progress.
How strange, then, to see such anger and great discontent in some of the world’s richest nations. In the United States, Britain and across the European Continent, people are convulsed with political frustration and anxiety about the future. Refugees and migrants clamor for the chance to live in these safe, prosperous countries, but those who already live in those promised lands report great uneasiness about their own futures that seems to border on hopelessness.
Why?
A small hint comes from interesting research about how people thrive. In one shocking experiment, researchers found that senior citizens who didn’t feel useful to others were nearly three times as likely to die prematurely as those who did feel useful. This speaks to a broader human truth: We all need to be needed.
Being “needed” does not entail selfish pride or unhealthy attachment to the worldly esteem of others. Rather, it consists of a natural human hunger to serve our fellow men and women. As the 13th-century Buddhist sages taught, “If one lights a fire for others, it will also brighten one’s own way.”
Virtually all the world’s major religions teach that diligent work in the service of others is our highest nature and thus lies at the center of a happy life. Scientific surveys and studies confirm shared tenets of our faiths. Americans who prioritize doing good for others are almost twice as likely to say they are very happy about their lives. In Germany, people who seek to serve society are five times likelier to say they are very happy than those who do not view service as important. Selflessness and joy are intertwined. The more we are one with the rest of humanity, the better we feel.
This helps explain why pain and indignation are sweeping through prosperous countries. The problem is not a lack of material riches. It is the growing number of people who feel they are no longer useful, no longer needed, no longer one with their societies.
In America today, compared with 50 years ago, three times as many working-age men are completely outside the work force. This pattern is occurring throughout the developed world — and the consequences are not merely economic. Feeling superfluous is a blow to the human spirit. It leads to social isolation and emotional pain, and creates the conditions for negative emotions to take root.
What can we do to help? The first answer is not systematic. It is personal. Everyone has something valuable to share. We should start each day by consciously asking ourselves, “What can I do today to appreciate the gifts that others offer me?” We need to make sure that global brotherhood and oneness with others are not just abstract ideas that we profess, but personal commitments that we mindfully put into practice.
Each of us has the responsibility to make this a habit. But those in positions of responsibility have a special opportunity to expand inclusion and build societies that truly need everyone.
Leaders need to recognize that a compassionate society must create a wealth of opportunities for meaningful work, so that everyone who is capable of contributing can do so. A compassionate society must provide children with education and training that enriches their lives, both with greater ethical understanding and with practical skills that can lead to economic security and inner peace. A compassionate society must protect the vulnerable while ensuring that these policies do not trap people in misery and dependence.
Building such a society is no easy task. No ideology or political party holds all the answers. Misguided thinking from all sides contributes to social exclusion, so overcoming it will take innovative solutions from all sides. Indeed, what unites the two of us in friendship and collaboration is not shared politics or the same religion. It is something simpler: a shared belief in compassion, in human dignity, in the intrinsic usefulness of every person to contribute positively for a better and more meaningful world. The problems we face cut across conventional categories; so must our dialogue, and our friendships.
Many are confused and frightened to see anger and frustration sweeping like wildfire across societies that enjoy historic safety and prosperity. But their refusal to be content with physical and material security actually reveals something beautiful: a universal human hunger to be needed. Let us work together to build a society that feeds this hunger.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibet and a Nobel laureate for peace. Arthur C. Brooks is president of the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing opinion writer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/04/opini ... dline&te=1
Teaching Opportunity in Central Asia
----
The Central Asia Academic Upgrading program is now in its second year seeking volunteers for an exciting teaching opportunity. Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan is recruiting short term Ismaili volunteers to teach Math and English in after-school and weekend classes at the Aga Khan Lycee located in Khorog, Tajikistan and the Aga Khan School Osh located in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Volunteers will be required to travel to Khorog or Osh for 4-7 weeks (between November 2016 - March 2017), to deliver an intense academic curriculum to upgrade student's Math and English skills to grade level and help them better prepare for post secondary education. Volunteers must be confident in their ability to deliver and adapt academic curriculum for students of all levels to meet the high needs of students in Central Asia.
For additional details, please reach out to [email protected] and [email protected]
----
The Central Asia Academic Upgrading program is now in its second year seeking volunteers for an exciting teaching opportunity. Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan is recruiting short term Ismaili volunteers to teach Math and English in after-school and weekend classes at the Aga Khan Lycee located in Khorog, Tajikistan and the Aga Khan School Osh located in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Volunteers will be required to travel to Khorog or Osh for 4-7 weeks (between November 2016 - March 2017), to deliver an intense academic curriculum to upgrade student's Math and English skills to grade level and help them better prepare for post secondary education. Volunteers must be confident in their ability to deliver and adapt academic curriculum for students of all levels to meet the high needs of students in Central Asia.
For additional details, please reach out to [email protected] and [email protected]
Daily Inspiration - The Ideal of Service
It is high time that the ideal of success
should be replaced by the ideal of service.
- Albert Einstein
I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy.
- Rabindranath Tagore
Life is an exciting business,
and most exciting when it is lived for others.
- Helen Keller
As we work to create light for others,
we naturally light our own way.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
One of the secrets of life is that
all that is really worth the doing
is what we do for others.
- Lewis Carroll
The path to your own happiness is usually found in service.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
It is high time that the ideal of success
should be replaced by the ideal of service.
- Albert Einstein
I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy.
- Rabindranath Tagore
Life is an exciting business,
and most exciting when it is lived for others.
- Helen Keller
As we work to create light for others,
we naturally light our own way.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
One of the secrets of life is that
all that is really worth the doing
is what we do for others.
- Lewis Carroll
The path to your own happiness is usually found in service.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Circle of Compassion
Until he extends the circle of
his compassion to all living things,
man will not himself find peace.
- Albert Schweitzer
A generous heart, kind speech,
and a life of service and compassion
are the things which renew humanity.
- The Buddha
There are no small acts of kindness.
Every compassionate act makes large the world.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
Compassion is the ultimate value in life.
Service is the ultimate action.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Until he extends the circle of
his compassion to all living things,
man will not himself find peace.
- Albert Schweitzer
A generous heart, kind speech,
and a life of service and compassion
are the things which renew humanity.
- The Buddha
There are no small acts of kindness.
Every compassionate act makes large the world.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
Compassion is the ultimate value in life.
Service is the ultimate action.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
To Make the World Better, Think Small
There is a legend about the comedian W. C. Fields as he lay dying in his hospital bed, surrounded by family. It was winter in New York City, and from outside came the sound of a newsboy shouting, “Wuxtry! Wuxtry! Stock market prices fall!” Stirred out of his stupor, Fields signaled those assembled to his bedside and whispered, “Poor little urchins out there — undernourished, no doubt improperly clad — something’s got to be done about them, something’s got to be done.” He dozed off, but seconds later, opened his eyes again. “On second thought,” he said, “Screw ’em.”
You are probably not a misanthrope like W. C. Fields. But as we look out at 2017, from the radioactive rage of national politics to a constant stream of tragic world events, our problems seem large and intractable. It’s easy to reach the Fields conclusion.
To throw up our hands in the face of tragedy is a normal cognitive phenomenon that social psychologists call “psychic numbing.” Paul Slovic of the University of Oregon shows in his research that when events are large and remote, we become insensitive to them. For example, there was concern, but hardly an outpouring of support, for Syrian refugees after half a million people had died in the civil war.
Adam Smith wryly observed the principle of psychic numbing 250 years ago in his classic book “Theory of Moral Sentiments.” He asked readers to imagine how “a man of humanity in Europe” would react to news of a dreadful earthquake in China, killing millions. He may regret the calamity in theory, but so long as he never sees the victims, “he will snore with the most profound security over the ruin of a hundred millions of his brethren.”
There is a solution, however, to psychic numbing: Think small. In the fund-raising business, there’s an old axiom that “one is greater than one million.” This isn’t bad math; it is a reminder that when it comes to people in need, one million is a statistic, while one is a human story.
Every charity worth its salt knows that people are more likely to give in response to a child who has lost her parents than to the news of thousands of victims of a tragedy. The example above of Syria is a case in point. International philanthropic support increased only after a news photo spread around the world of a small boy dead on the beach, drowned as his family made the dangerous crossing from Turkey to Greece.
The 1 > 1 million axiom is more than a fund-raising secret. It is a formula for each of us in an existentialist funk to connect to our deepest values and apply them to a hurting world.
The first step is to see individual faces in our own beliefs. There is an old joke that a Marxist is someone who loves humanity in groups of one million or more. While I am no Marxist, I confess that my arguments sound like this at times as well. For example, as an economist I have for years waxed rhapsodic about globalization. Billions have been pulled out of starvation-level poverty because of free trade, my data say.
The trouble is that, from left to right, politics of late has turned against globalization and even converted the word “globalist” into an epithet. My data about the billions haven’t stood up very well to the winds of populism.
This has led me to focus on the actual people in my life who have been saved by a globalized world. I think of my friend Krishna Pujari, who was born into extreme poverty in a village in India and is today a middle-class entrepreneur giving tours to Westerners of micro enterprises in Mumbai. Deeper still, I think of my own daughter, Marina, whom my wife and I adopted 12 years ago from an orphanage in China and who today is like my own beating heart.
The second step is to move our ideals from politics and opinions to action. The way to do so is by finding a way to exercise my beliefs in the life of another person — today.
Pope Francis gave his followers a wonderful lesson in this principle in the recently concluded Jubilee Year of Mercy for the Roman Catholic Church. It sounds like a get-out-of-jail-free card for sinners. In reality, it was an exhortation to all Catholics to forgive another person this very day.
The pope’s insight is not just useful for Catholics. Good people of all beliefs, on facing harsh global realities, can retreat to cynicism. It seems like naïve kumbaya to bless a world full of cruelty and exploitation, right? The pope invites me to remember that it is well within my capacity to look with mercy on one person — and thus in that one person, to see my own face. I crave forgiveness and love; I get it by forgiving and loving others.
As we head into 2017, do you want a solution better than “Screw ’em”? Maybe your problem is that you are thinking too big. This year, start with one, not one million. It might just be a happy new year after all.
Arthur C. Brooks is the president of the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing opinion
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/opini ... d=71987722
There is a legend about the comedian W. C. Fields as he lay dying in his hospital bed, surrounded by family. It was winter in New York City, and from outside came the sound of a newsboy shouting, “Wuxtry! Wuxtry! Stock market prices fall!” Stirred out of his stupor, Fields signaled those assembled to his bedside and whispered, “Poor little urchins out there — undernourished, no doubt improperly clad — something’s got to be done about them, something’s got to be done.” He dozed off, but seconds later, opened his eyes again. “On second thought,” he said, “Screw ’em.”
You are probably not a misanthrope like W. C. Fields. But as we look out at 2017, from the radioactive rage of national politics to a constant stream of tragic world events, our problems seem large and intractable. It’s easy to reach the Fields conclusion.
To throw up our hands in the face of tragedy is a normal cognitive phenomenon that social psychologists call “psychic numbing.” Paul Slovic of the University of Oregon shows in his research that when events are large and remote, we become insensitive to them. For example, there was concern, but hardly an outpouring of support, for Syrian refugees after half a million people had died in the civil war.
Adam Smith wryly observed the principle of psychic numbing 250 years ago in his classic book “Theory of Moral Sentiments.” He asked readers to imagine how “a man of humanity in Europe” would react to news of a dreadful earthquake in China, killing millions. He may regret the calamity in theory, but so long as he never sees the victims, “he will snore with the most profound security over the ruin of a hundred millions of his brethren.”
There is a solution, however, to psychic numbing: Think small. In the fund-raising business, there’s an old axiom that “one is greater than one million.” This isn’t bad math; it is a reminder that when it comes to people in need, one million is a statistic, while one is a human story.
Every charity worth its salt knows that people are more likely to give in response to a child who has lost her parents than to the news of thousands of victims of a tragedy. The example above of Syria is a case in point. International philanthropic support increased only after a news photo spread around the world of a small boy dead on the beach, drowned as his family made the dangerous crossing from Turkey to Greece.
The 1 > 1 million axiom is more than a fund-raising secret. It is a formula for each of us in an existentialist funk to connect to our deepest values and apply them to a hurting world.
The first step is to see individual faces in our own beliefs. There is an old joke that a Marxist is someone who loves humanity in groups of one million or more. While I am no Marxist, I confess that my arguments sound like this at times as well. For example, as an economist I have for years waxed rhapsodic about globalization. Billions have been pulled out of starvation-level poverty because of free trade, my data say.
The trouble is that, from left to right, politics of late has turned against globalization and even converted the word “globalist” into an epithet. My data about the billions haven’t stood up very well to the winds of populism.
This has led me to focus on the actual people in my life who have been saved by a globalized world. I think of my friend Krishna Pujari, who was born into extreme poverty in a village in India and is today a middle-class entrepreneur giving tours to Westerners of micro enterprises in Mumbai. Deeper still, I think of my own daughter, Marina, whom my wife and I adopted 12 years ago from an orphanage in China and who today is like my own beating heart.
The second step is to move our ideals from politics and opinions to action. The way to do so is by finding a way to exercise my beliefs in the life of another person — today.
Pope Francis gave his followers a wonderful lesson in this principle in the recently concluded Jubilee Year of Mercy for the Roman Catholic Church. It sounds like a get-out-of-jail-free card for sinners. In reality, it was an exhortation to all Catholics to forgive another person this very day.
The pope’s insight is not just useful for Catholics. Good people of all beliefs, on facing harsh global realities, can retreat to cynicism. It seems like naïve kumbaya to bless a world full of cruelty and exploitation, right? The pope invites me to remember that it is well within my capacity to look with mercy on one person — and thus in that one person, to see my own face. I crave forgiveness and love; I get it by forgiving and loving others.
As we head into 2017, do you want a solution better than “Screw ’em”? Maybe your problem is that you are thinking too big. This year, start with one, not one million. It might just be a happy new year after all.
Arthur C. Brooks is the president of the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing opinion
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/opini ... d=71987722
Prior Lake Student Hand-Sews 100 School Bags for Homeless Youth
December 22, 2016 05:30 PM
One Prior Lake 5th-grader is making a direct impact on kids in need.
Sanya Pirani sewed 100 school bags by hand to give to homeless youth. On Thursday, she teamed up with Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Mary Jo Copeland, who is the founder of Sharing & Caring Hands, to hand out her bags, which are now filled with school supplies.
“Hunger and poverty are intertwined and have no borders, however, human dignity is tied to every other person on earth,” Pirani said.
Pirani sewed the bags over the summer months. She also recently coordinated a food drive that collected more than 1,300 pounds of food.
http://kstp.com/news/prior-lake-student ... h/4351878/
December 22, 2016 05:30 PM
One Prior Lake 5th-grader is making a direct impact on kids in need.
Sanya Pirani sewed 100 school bags by hand to give to homeless youth. On Thursday, she teamed up with Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Mary Jo Copeland, who is the founder of Sharing & Caring Hands, to hand out her bags, which are now filled with school supplies.
“Hunger and poverty are intertwined and have no borders, however, human dignity is tied to every other person on earth,” Pirani said.
Pirani sewed the bags over the summer months. She also recently coordinated a food drive that collected more than 1,300 pounds of food.
http://kstp.com/news/prior-lake-student ... h/4351878/
5th Grader Who Collected 13K Diapers For Families In Need Is Just Getting Started
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Twin Cities girl is going above and beyond to help those in need in her community.
Ten-year-old Sanya Pirani has spent the last three years organizing donation drives for various charities in the metro area.
She recently wrapped up one of her largest efforts yet
Not every 10-year-old knows the difference in diaper brand and size, but Sanya is not the typical fifth grader.
Her understanding of the newborn necessity began two months ago, when she saw a way to help others.
“I do as much as I can so I can help more and more people,” Sanya said.
She set a goal in January to raise 10,000 diapers for needy families in Scott, Carver and Dakota counties through the Community Action Partnership agency.
More...
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/03/1 ... g-started/
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Twin Cities girl is going above and beyond to help those in need in her community.
Ten-year-old Sanya Pirani has spent the last three years organizing donation drives for various charities in the metro area.
She recently wrapped up one of her largest efforts yet
Not every 10-year-old knows the difference in diaper brand and size, but Sanya is not the typical fifth grader.
Her understanding of the newborn necessity began two months ago, when she saw a way to help others.
“I do as much as I can so I can help more and more people,” Sanya said.
She set a goal in January to raise 10,000 diapers for needy families in Scott, Carver and Dakota counties through the Community Action Partnership agency.
More...
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/03/1 ... g-started/
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article ... 107453.php
Volunteer commits to community
Updated 9:36 pm, Friday, April 28, 2017
DR. RIZWAN ALIMOHAMMAD
Background: Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, he graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in biology and from Ross University School of Medicine on the Caribbean island nation of Dominica, continued his training at Albany Medical Center in internal medicine and cardiology training and completed it in Richmond, Va., in cardiac electrophysiology. He is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Capital Cardiology Associates in Albany. He and his wife, Lubbna, who is a pediatrician in Latham, live in Clifton Park with their three children, Sophia, 8, Hasan, 3, and Husain, 17 months, and with his parents.
You came to America as a student.
In my school years, I was equally interested in electrical engineering and medicine. I decided to go to college in the United States so I could explore my options and pick a career path. Today I feel blessed that I practice and encounter aspects of electrical engineering and medicine as a cardiologist and electrophysiologist.
You are a member of the congregation of the Shia Imami Ismaili Jamatkhana in Colonie. What does it mean to be Shia Ismaili Muslim?
The Ismailis are a culturally diverse community in over 25 countries. We adhere to a 1,400-year tradition of Shi'a Ismaili values expressed through a commitment to a search for knowledge for the betterment of self and society. We embrace pluralism by building bridges of peace and understanding and by sharing our time, talents and material resources to improve the quality of life of the community and those among whom we live.
The Ismailis are united in their spiritual allegiance to His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary imam and a descendant of Prophet Muhammad. He has stressed the role of the intellect in faith and has promoted an understanding of Islam that draws on the values of generosity, tolerance, pluralism, forgiveness, stewardship of God's creation and the unity of our shared humanity.
As a senior volunteer in your congregation, what are your responsibilities?
I oversee the daily functioning of the Jamatkhana, our place of worship on Central Avenue where we rent space in an office building. My responsibilities include officiating the rites and ceremonies and providing pastoral care to the congregation of about 120 people.
The members hold a profound sense of social responsibility. It is reflected in the tradition of voluntary service by Ismalilis of all ages rendered through community organizations and through civil society institutions that benefit all.
Service to the community and society is an ethic supported by Ismailis of all ages. I-CERV, the Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering, supports neighborhood park beautification projects and participates in festivals and community service engagements like Earth Day. I just came back from Pakistan doing charity procedures in Indus Hospital Karachi where I implanted pacemakers free of cost to the patients.
The Aga Khan leads a global outreach.
His Highness lives in France and is the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, a contemporary manifestation of the Ismaili Imamat's institutional effort to improve quality of life across multiple areas of human endeavor.
The AKDN's group of development agencies' mandates include the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. Its agencies conduct their programs without regard to faith, origin or gender. The AKDN is present in 30 countries, employs more than 80,000 people and has a network of more than 200 schools, two universities, hundreds of medical clinics and several hospitals, financial institutions, and other agencies that work in the areas of economic and social development and culture.
The Aga Khan University was founded in 1983 and is unique as an institution of academic excellence that is also an agent for social development. AKU is an independent research university. Its overall mandate is to promote the welfare of the people of Pakistan and other developing countries. There are campuses in Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom.
Quality education and merit are a trampoline for social development and the improvement in quality of life. AKU has 13,000 alumni with over two-thirds being women graduates.
How do you find time to volunteer with your work as a physician and your family obligations?
Volunteerism for me is an opportunity to actualize the values of my faith. All members of my family are actively involved in community service. In Ismailism, voluntary service to others is viewed as an integral and positive part of daily life, not a burdened obligation. Service means inclusiveness, compassion, respect, and sharing. The act of service is not limited to my community involvement but also infused into my career and my interactions with all individuals on a daily basis.
Even my children perform volunteer tasks at our Jamatkhana such as serving water, collecting and looking after coats and participating in the daily services. These activities require no professional knowledge, but have introduced, at an early age, the spirit of volunteerism which I hope will become a part of their value system as they become contributors to the greater American society.
— Azra Haqqie
Volunteer commits to community
Updated 9:36 pm, Friday, April 28, 2017
DR. RIZWAN ALIMOHAMMAD
Background: Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, he graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in biology and from Ross University School of Medicine on the Caribbean island nation of Dominica, continued his training at Albany Medical Center in internal medicine and cardiology training and completed it in Richmond, Va., in cardiac electrophysiology. He is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Capital Cardiology Associates in Albany. He and his wife, Lubbna, who is a pediatrician in Latham, live in Clifton Park with their three children, Sophia, 8, Hasan, 3, and Husain, 17 months, and with his parents.
You came to America as a student.
In my school years, I was equally interested in electrical engineering and medicine. I decided to go to college in the United States so I could explore my options and pick a career path. Today I feel blessed that I practice and encounter aspects of electrical engineering and medicine as a cardiologist and electrophysiologist.
You are a member of the congregation of the Shia Imami Ismaili Jamatkhana in Colonie. What does it mean to be Shia Ismaili Muslim?
The Ismailis are a culturally diverse community in over 25 countries. We adhere to a 1,400-year tradition of Shi'a Ismaili values expressed through a commitment to a search for knowledge for the betterment of self and society. We embrace pluralism by building bridges of peace and understanding and by sharing our time, talents and material resources to improve the quality of life of the community and those among whom we live.
The Ismailis are united in their spiritual allegiance to His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary imam and a descendant of Prophet Muhammad. He has stressed the role of the intellect in faith and has promoted an understanding of Islam that draws on the values of generosity, tolerance, pluralism, forgiveness, stewardship of God's creation and the unity of our shared humanity.
As a senior volunteer in your congregation, what are your responsibilities?
I oversee the daily functioning of the Jamatkhana, our place of worship on Central Avenue where we rent space in an office building. My responsibilities include officiating the rites and ceremonies and providing pastoral care to the congregation of about 120 people.
The members hold a profound sense of social responsibility. It is reflected in the tradition of voluntary service by Ismalilis of all ages rendered through community organizations and through civil society institutions that benefit all.
Service to the community and society is an ethic supported by Ismailis of all ages. I-CERV, the Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering, supports neighborhood park beautification projects and participates in festivals and community service engagements like Earth Day. I just came back from Pakistan doing charity procedures in Indus Hospital Karachi where I implanted pacemakers free of cost to the patients.
The Aga Khan leads a global outreach.
His Highness lives in France and is the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, a contemporary manifestation of the Ismaili Imamat's institutional effort to improve quality of life across multiple areas of human endeavor.
The AKDN's group of development agencies' mandates include the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. Its agencies conduct their programs without regard to faith, origin or gender. The AKDN is present in 30 countries, employs more than 80,000 people and has a network of more than 200 schools, two universities, hundreds of medical clinics and several hospitals, financial institutions, and other agencies that work in the areas of economic and social development and culture.
The Aga Khan University was founded in 1983 and is unique as an institution of academic excellence that is also an agent for social development. AKU is an independent research university. Its overall mandate is to promote the welfare of the people of Pakistan and other developing countries. There are campuses in Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom.
Quality education and merit are a trampoline for social development and the improvement in quality of life. AKU has 13,000 alumni with over two-thirds being women graduates.
How do you find time to volunteer with your work as a physician and your family obligations?
Volunteerism for me is an opportunity to actualize the values of my faith. All members of my family are actively involved in community service. In Ismailism, voluntary service to others is viewed as an integral and positive part of daily life, not a burdened obligation. Service means inclusiveness, compassion, respect, and sharing. The act of service is not limited to my community involvement but also infused into my career and my interactions with all individuals on a daily basis.
Even my children perform volunteer tasks at our Jamatkhana such as serving water, collecting and looking after coats and participating in the daily services. These activities require no professional knowledge, but have introduced, at an early age, the spirit of volunteerism which I hope will become a part of their value system as they become contributors to the greater American society.
— Azra Haqqie
Singaporean family celebrates child's birthday by raising funds for Bishkek Children’s Center
11:14, 27 April 2017, 393
AKIPRESS.COM - When parents of 3-year-old Sahil Keshvani discovered that the toddlers in Bishkek needed support, they wanted to help. Instead of a typical celebration, his parents decided to celebrate his third birthday by making a meaningful difference. Together with family, friends and well-wishers, they raised more than 130,000 Kyrgyz som for the Bishkek Children’s Center, which houses social orphans.
“When you have a toddler, you attend many parties. We asked ourselves, how can we make Sahil’s third birthday meaningful?” said Sahil’s mother, Malathi. “Sharing this occasion with those less fortunate was a privilege.”
A Bishkek-based friend shared the plight of the Center and its challenges. Though they have sufficient funds for 70 social orphans, they were at over capacity. Four meals per child per day costs 110 kgs (US$1.60).
“Such a unique way to celebrate a birthday. It was lovely to see the two and three-year-olds from the Centre enjoy the afternoon. I am so glad I brought my toddler, too,” said Aigerim Miyatova.
https://akipress.com/news:591790/
11:14, 27 April 2017, 393
AKIPRESS.COM - When parents of 3-year-old Sahil Keshvani discovered that the toddlers in Bishkek needed support, they wanted to help. Instead of a typical celebration, his parents decided to celebrate his third birthday by making a meaningful difference. Together with family, friends and well-wishers, they raised more than 130,000 Kyrgyz som for the Bishkek Children’s Center, which houses social orphans.
“When you have a toddler, you attend many parties. We asked ourselves, how can we make Sahil’s third birthday meaningful?” said Sahil’s mother, Malathi. “Sharing this occasion with those less fortunate was a privilege.”
A Bishkek-based friend shared the plight of the Center and its challenges. Though they have sufficient funds for 70 social orphans, they were at over capacity. Four meals per child per day costs 110 kgs (US$1.60).
“Such a unique way to celebrate a birthday. It was lovely to see the two and three-year-olds from the Centre enjoy the afternoon. I am so glad I brought my toddler, too,” said Aigerim Miyatova.
https://akipress.com/news:591790/
Helping Hands Reach Out To Assist In Texas
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.
More...
https://the.ismaili/news/helping-hands- ... sist-texas
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.
More...
https://the.ismaili/news/helping-hands- ... sist-texas
Calgary Muslims aim for 200,000 Canada 150 volunteer hours
'My 93-year-old grandmother was out making peanut butter sandwiches with me this afternoon'
There's a group of volunteers across Canada that hope to log a million hours giving back to their communities — and the Calgary contingent was in full swing Sunday.
About 100 Ismaili Muslims spent the afternoon digging potatoes at the Grow Calgary acreage, a volunteer farm that donates its harvest.
In total, 500 volunteers helped out at non-profits and service providers across the city.
Co-ordinator Alisha Visanji says it's become a challenge just keeping track of the hours.
"We had another 100 come out to make sandwiches for the Drop-In Centre ... we've had people sorting clothing donations at Women in Need Society as well as the Drop-In Centre donations and recycling centre up in the northeast," Visanji said.
More...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/c ... -1.4294395
'My 93-year-old grandmother was out making peanut butter sandwiches with me this afternoon'
There's a group of volunteers across Canada that hope to log a million hours giving back to their communities — and the Calgary contingent was in full swing Sunday.
About 100 Ismaili Muslims spent the afternoon digging potatoes at the Grow Calgary acreage, a volunteer farm that donates its harvest.
In total, 500 volunteers helped out at non-profits and service providers across the city.
Co-ordinator Alisha Visanji says it's become a challenge just keeping track of the hours.
"We had another 100 come out to make sandwiches for the Drop-In Centre ... we've had people sorting clothing donations at Women in Need Society as well as the Drop-In Centre donations and recycling centre up in the northeast," Visanji said.
More...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/c ... -1.4294395
Nurses and teacher help destigmatize menstruation with hand sewn kits
Three women from Waterloo region leave for India this weekend, to distribute feminine hygiene kits they've sewn to young women and girls in that country.
Two of them, Kim Trinh and Shamim Damji, are nurses at Grand River Hospital; Alysha Damji is a teacher.
Their trip is part of the Days for Girls campaign, a global non-profit with which has a goal of destigmatizing menstruation and equipping every woman and girl with ready access to feminine hygiene within the next five years.
"One hundred and thirteen million adolescent girls in India are absent from school [during their period]," Trinh explained to The Morning Edition's host Craig Norris on Thursday.
"[That] equates to almost two months of missed days from school."
"Missing two months out of the year worth of work, school and opportunities is a long time to be away, because you can't manage your menstruation."
More..
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener ... -1.4311422
Three women from Waterloo region leave for India this weekend, to distribute feminine hygiene kits they've sewn to young women and girls in that country.
Two of them, Kim Trinh and Shamim Damji, are nurses at Grand River Hospital; Alysha Damji is a teacher.
Their trip is part of the Days for Girls campaign, a global non-profit with which has a goal of destigmatizing menstruation and equipping every woman and girl with ready access to feminine hygiene within the next five years.
"One hundred and thirteen million adolescent girls in India are absent from school [during their period]," Trinh explained to The Morning Edition's host Craig Norris on Thursday.
"[That] equates to almost two months of missed days from school."
"Missing two months out of the year worth of work, school and opportunities is a long time to be away, because you can't manage your menstruation."
More..
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener ... -1.4311422
Five former U.S. presidents recognise Houston’s Ismaili Muslim volunteers
“These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. That spirit of volunteerism, that spirit that says we are all in this together, that spirit is exemplified by the five Points of Light recipients.”
— President Barack Obama, speaking about the Points of Light honourees at Texas A&M University on 21 October 2017.
On behalf of the Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering (I-CERV), President of the Council for the Southwestern United States, Murad Ajani, was honoured as a Points of Light recipient at a concert on 21 October at Texas A&M University.
The Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal concert was attended by all five living former U.S. presidents, namely, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, as well as Points of Light Chairman, Neil Bush.
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, over 2,500 volunteers from the Ismaili Muslim community quickly organised to help serve their local community in the greater Houston area. Volunteers fanned out across the region and dedicated more than 13,000 hours of work at food banks, evacuation shelters, food and supply drives, and in individual homes to help flood victims in the recovery and rebuilding process.
The volunteers’ hard work and selfless devotion did not go unnoticed. The Office of the Mayor of Houston and Volunteer Houston, which led the City of Houston’s volunteer deployment efforts, recommended President Ajani for a Daily Point of Light Award in recognition of the mobilisation of the thousands of volunteers for hurricane relief efforts. A short video was shown to the thousands in the audience, describing the efforts of the volunteers.
The One Americal Appeal campaign had collected $31 million for hurricane relief and this benefit concert, featuring artists Alabama, Lady Gaga, and Lyle Lovett, collected another $2 million. The Points of Light Award was established by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and recognises volunteers who step up to serve their community and effectively serve as a point of light during difficult times.
Other volunteers honoured as Points of Light were Leah Halbina, who created the IrmaResponse.org website, informing victims about shelter locations and capacity, and donors about the needs of each shelter; Derek Auguste, who helped with preparation and cleanup efforts surrounding Hurricane Irma, and now supports recovery efforts in Puerto Rico; Kat Creech, who put her wedding planning business on hold to start Recovery Houston, recruiting hundreds of volunteers to rebuild more than 120 homes in one week; and Zachary Dearing, who arrived at an evacuation shelter and organised rescue groups, distributed food and supplies, and helped keep 126 people safe during Hurricane Harvey until officials arrived.
Following the event, President Ajani said, “It was an absolute honour to represent the Ismaili Muslim community and for us to be recognised on such a national platform by the Points of Light organisation and the five living former U.S. presidents.” He went on to describe the event as a “milestone for the entire USA Jamat,” as it illustrated our commitment to service as being part of the spirit of our faith and the spirit of our great country. “This would not have been possible,” he said, “without the dedication and hard work of each one of the thousands of i-CERV volunteers who came out in the most difficult of circumstances to help their neighbors and community. “
The efforts of i-CERV were also recognised by civic leadership in the Greater Houston area, including the City of Sugar Land’s First Lady, Nancy Zimmerman, who publicly commended the efforts of Ismaili volunteers.
“Words truly cannot express how grateful [Mayor] Joe and I are for the Ismaili community's immediate and overwhelming response to the needs of Sugar Land, and Fort Bend County. Yours is not only an incredible example of love and caring for others, but even more, an example of putting your faith and that love into practice. The unbelievable abundance of aid at the Jamatkhana and Center, and all the volunteer work provided is simply overwhelming,” she said.
The recognition of the Ismaili Muslim community’s volunteers underscores the belief that volunteerism and service to society are an integral part of the Ismaili ethos, and a fundamental expression of American civic values.
In the words of Anar Gulamali, an I-CERV volunteer facilitator, “We all went through Hurricane Harvey together. As much as it was devastating, the days afterwards were also inspiring, because I-CERV volunteers came from all over Texas — Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, College Station — to help the victims.” She noted that people of all ages and all backgrounds worked together, with I-CERV volunteers often the last ones to leave an assignment.
“We were just doing what we’ve always done as Ismaili Muslims … we serve,” Gulamali remarked. "It just goes to show you that even after rain, there is always a rainbow. I am very proud to be part of a community like ours. I am also very proud that President Murad Ajani accepted the Points of Light Award on our behalf.”
https://the.ismaili/five-former-us-pres ... volunteers
“These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. That spirit of volunteerism, that spirit that says we are all in this together, that spirit is exemplified by the five Points of Light recipients.”
— President Barack Obama, speaking about the Points of Light honourees at Texas A&M University on 21 October 2017.
On behalf of the Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering (I-CERV), President of the Council for the Southwestern United States, Murad Ajani, was honoured as a Points of Light recipient at a concert on 21 October at Texas A&M University.
The Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal concert was attended by all five living former U.S. presidents, namely, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, as well as Points of Light Chairman, Neil Bush.
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, over 2,500 volunteers from the Ismaili Muslim community quickly organised to help serve their local community in the greater Houston area. Volunteers fanned out across the region and dedicated more than 13,000 hours of work at food banks, evacuation shelters, food and supply drives, and in individual homes to help flood victims in the recovery and rebuilding process.
The volunteers’ hard work and selfless devotion did not go unnoticed. The Office of the Mayor of Houston and Volunteer Houston, which led the City of Houston’s volunteer deployment efforts, recommended President Ajani for a Daily Point of Light Award in recognition of the mobilisation of the thousands of volunteers for hurricane relief efforts. A short video was shown to the thousands in the audience, describing the efforts of the volunteers.
The One Americal Appeal campaign had collected $31 million for hurricane relief and this benefit concert, featuring artists Alabama, Lady Gaga, and Lyle Lovett, collected another $2 million. The Points of Light Award was established by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and recognises volunteers who step up to serve their community and effectively serve as a point of light during difficult times.
Other volunteers honoured as Points of Light were Leah Halbina, who created the IrmaResponse.org website, informing victims about shelter locations and capacity, and donors about the needs of each shelter; Derek Auguste, who helped with preparation and cleanup efforts surrounding Hurricane Irma, and now supports recovery efforts in Puerto Rico; Kat Creech, who put her wedding planning business on hold to start Recovery Houston, recruiting hundreds of volunteers to rebuild more than 120 homes in one week; and Zachary Dearing, who arrived at an evacuation shelter and organised rescue groups, distributed food and supplies, and helped keep 126 people safe during Hurricane Harvey until officials arrived.
Following the event, President Ajani said, “It was an absolute honour to represent the Ismaili Muslim community and for us to be recognised on such a national platform by the Points of Light organisation and the five living former U.S. presidents.” He went on to describe the event as a “milestone for the entire USA Jamat,” as it illustrated our commitment to service as being part of the spirit of our faith and the spirit of our great country. “This would not have been possible,” he said, “without the dedication and hard work of each one of the thousands of i-CERV volunteers who came out in the most difficult of circumstances to help their neighbors and community. “
The efforts of i-CERV were also recognised by civic leadership in the Greater Houston area, including the City of Sugar Land’s First Lady, Nancy Zimmerman, who publicly commended the efforts of Ismaili volunteers.
“Words truly cannot express how grateful [Mayor] Joe and I are for the Ismaili community's immediate and overwhelming response to the needs of Sugar Land, and Fort Bend County. Yours is not only an incredible example of love and caring for others, but even more, an example of putting your faith and that love into practice. The unbelievable abundance of aid at the Jamatkhana and Center, and all the volunteer work provided is simply overwhelming,” she said.
The recognition of the Ismaili Muslim community’s volunteers underscores the belief that volunteerism and service to society are an integral part of the Ismaili ethos, and a fundamental expression of American civic values.
In the words of Anar Gulamali, an I-CERV volunteer facilitator, “We all went through Hurricane Harvey together. As much as it was devastating, the days afterwards were also inspiring, because I-CERV volunteers came from all over Texas — Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, College Station — to help the victims.” She noted that people of all ages and all backgrounds worked together, with I-CERV volunteers often the last ones to leave an assignment.
“We were just doing what we’ve always done as Ismaili Muslims … we serve,” Gulamali remarked. "It just goes to show you that even after rain, there is always a rainbow. I am very proud to be part of a community like ours. I am also very proud that President Murad Ajani accepted the Points of Light Award on our behalf.”
https://the.ismaili/five-former-us-pres ... volunteers
The Aga Khan’s visit highlighted exemplary harmony and volunteerism
Dear Sir,
The recent visit of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan played a key role in strengthening the bonds of co-existence and intra-faith harmony. Besides, a rare display of volunteerism was also witnessed on the occasion. The Sunni community remained in the forefront in assisting their Ismaili brethren to accord a warm welcome to their spiritual leader. On the day of the visit, the elders of the Sunni community displayed banners with the inscription of felicitations and welcome to receive the adherents coming to the Deedar Gah (place of congregation to catch a glimpse of the Imam). The Ismaili volunteers demonstrated an extraordinary prowess of volunteerism by undertaking Herculean tasks of repairing roads, constructing bridges, and providing lodging, food and transport to thousands of congregants. It is a good omen for both the communities to work together for mutual peace and harmony thus contributing towards socio-economic development. ..
Khalid Pervaiz Raza, Booni. Chitral 10 Dec 2017
http://www.chitralnews.com/2017/12/10/a ... unteerism/
Dear Sir,
The recent visit of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan played a key role in strengthening the bonds of co-existence and intra-faith harmony. Besides, a rare display of volunteerism was also witnessed on the occasion. The Sunni community remained in the forefront in assisting their Ismaili brethren to accord a warm welcome to their spiritual leader. On the day of the visit, the elders of the Sunni community displayed banners with the inscription of felicitations and welcome to receive the adherents coming to the Deedar Gah (place of congregation to catch a glimpse of the Imam). The Ismaili volunteers demonstrated an extraordinary prowess of volunteerism by undertaking Herculean tasks of repairing roads, constructing bridges, and providing lodging, food and transport to thousands of congregants. It is a good omen for both the communities to work together for mutual peace and harmony thus contributing towards socio-economic development. ..
Khalid Pervaiz Raza, Booni. Chitral 10 Dec 2017
http://www.chitralnews.com/2017/12/10/a ... unteerism/
11-Year-Old Sews 500 Bags, Fills Them With Presents For Children In Need
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — For parents and their children spending the holidays at a homeless shelter, hope can feel so distant.
So a gifted 11-year-old girl set out to change that, proving to all that a little kindness can make a big difference.
More...
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/12/1 ... s-charity/
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — For parents and their children spending the holidays at a homeless shelter, hope can feel so distant.
So a gifted 11-year-old girl set out to change that, proving to all that a little kindness can make a big difference.
More...
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/12/1 ... s-charity/
Volunteering Is the Best Kept Secret for Mental Health
I noticed how much volunteering was helping with my anxiety and stress, and there’s science to back it up.
There are horse barns in New York City. A lot of people don't realize this, but I'm lucky enough to have uncovered this secret through volunteering at a therapeutic riding program for children with disabilities. A couple of Sundays a month, I get up early, drink my coffee on the train to Forest Hills, and spend a few hours helping kids with their riding lessons.
I'm not saying all of this to get some kind of good Samaritan points. In fact, volunteering is one of the most self-serving things I do, because whenever I help out at the horse barn, my stress and anxiety levels noticeably drop. I feel calmer, more relaxed, and my mind is clear, often for the first time in weeks. It has quickly become one of the most reliable ways for me to de-stress—I've found it more effective than meditation, medication, or exercise.
It's generally understood that helping out others makes a person feel nice, but that experience goes beyond just the feel-good glow of altruism. Studies have found that helping others has tangible benefits, both mental and physical, from lowering your blood pressure to reducing feelings of depression. And research hasn't found any significant difference in the types of volunteering—any kind of helpful act can create benefits.
More...
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/arti ... ssweek2017
I noticed how much volunteering was helping with my anxiety and stress, and there’s science to back it up.
There are horse barns in New York City. A lot of people don't realize this, but I'm lucky enough to have uncovered this secret through volunteering at a therapeutic riding program for children with disabilities. A couple of Sundays a month, I get up early, drink my coffee on the train to Forest Hills, and spend a few hours helping kids with their riding lessons.
I'm not saying all of this to get some kind of good Samaritan points. In fact, volunteering is one of the most self-serving things I do, because whenever I help out at the horse barn, my stress and anxiety levels noticeably drop. I feel calmer, more relaxed, and my mind is clear, often for the first time in weeks. It has quickly become one of the most reliable ways for me to de-stress—I've found it more effective than meditation, medication, or exercise.
It's generally understood that helping out others makes a person feel nice, but that experience goes beyond just the feel-good glow of altruism. Studies have found that helping others has tangible benefits, both mental and physical, from lowering your blood pressure to reducing feelings of depression. And research hasn't found any significant difference in the types of volunteering—any kind of helpful act can create benefits.
More...
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/arti ... ssweek2017
Launch of iCERV
The launch of iCERV in the UK takes place during this historic Diamond Jubilee year of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Imamat. Over the coming months, Ismailis in the UK will have the opportunity to volunteer in numerous ways, partnering with various charities and organisations to give back to their communities.
It feels like just yesterday that we were counting down to the start of 2017. Yet here we are in December, preparing for the festive period and the dawn of another new year. For families around the world, this is a time to come together, rejoice and celebrate.
But this is also a time of giving, and an occasion to think about those in need. Across the country, thousands of people from all walks of life will come together to provide assistance to vulnerable members of society. And the Shia Ismaili Muslim community is no exception.
This month, Ismailis across London rallied together to donate their warm coats, hats and scarves to the Wrap Up London campaign. Together, they contributed over 500 coats, all of which will go to those in need this winter, including the homeless, refugees, and children living in poverty. As well as donating their own clothes, they also joined Hands On London, the charity who launched the annual campaign which is now in its 7th year, on the front line at Kings Cross Station, collecting coat donations from commuting Londoners.
“I want to offer my thanks to the Ismaili Community for their most generous donations”, said Jon Meech, CEO of Hands On London. “Your contribution means over 500 Londoners will feel warmer this Christmas”.
This initiative was carried out under the iCERV banner (Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering). iCERV is an organisation first created in the United States, whose mission is to give its members an opportunity to serve the greater community in which they reside.
The launch of iCERV in the UK takes place during this historic Diamond Jubilee year of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Imamat. Over the coming months, Ismailis in the UK will have the opportunity to volunteer in numerous ways, partnering with various charities and organisations to give back to their communities.
Later this month, iCERV UK will be partnering with Ealing Soup Kitchen to pack and distribute care packages for the homeless across West London.
To find out more and register your interest, please e-mail [email protected]
the.ismaili/launch-icerv
The launch of iCERV in the UK takes place during this historic Diamond Jubilee year of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Imamat. Over the coming months, Ismailis in the UK will have the opportunity to volunteer in numerous ways, partnering with various charities and organisations to give back to their communities.
It feels like just yesterday that we were counting down to the start of 2017. Yet here we are in December, preparing for the festive period and the dawn of another new year. For families around the world, this is a time to come together, rejoice and celebrate.
But this is also a time of giving, and an occasion to think about those in need. Across the country, thousands of people from all walks of life will come together to provide assistance to vulnerable members of society. And the Shia Ismaili Muslim community is no exception.
This month, Ismailis across London rallied together to donate their warm coats, hats and scarves to the Wrap Up London campaign. Together, they contributed over 500 coats, all of which will go to those in need this winter, including the homeless, refugees, and children living in poverty. As well as donating their own clothes, they also joined Hands On London, the charity who launched the annual campaign which is now in its 7th year, on the front line at Kings Cross Station, collecting coat donations from commuting Londoners.
“I want to offer my thanks to the Ismaili Community for their most generous donations”, said Jon Meech, CEO of Hands On London. “Your contribution means over 500 Londoners will feel warmer this Christmas”.
This initiative was carried out under the iCERV banner (Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering). iCERV is an organisation first created in the United States, whose mission is to give its members an opportunity to serve the greater community in which they reside.
The launch of iCERV in the UK takes place during this historic Diamond Jubilee year of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Imamat. Over the coming months, Ismailis in the UK will have the opportunity to volunteer in numerous ways, partnering with various charities and organisations to give back to their communities.
Later this month, iCERV UK will be partnering with Ealing Soup Kitchen to pack and distribute care packages for the homeless across West London.
To find out more and register your interest, please e-mail [email protected]
the.ismaili/launch-icerv
Share Without Hesitation
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need
but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
- 1 John 3:17
The only wealth which you will keep forever
is the wealth you have given away.
- Marcus Aurelius
Man should not consider his material possession his own,
but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need.
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
Acting selfishly is human nature, and therefore forgivable.
Publicly advocating selfishness as a virtue in the name of Jesus is far worse.
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need
but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
- 1 John 3:17
The only wealth which you will keep forever
is the wealth you have given away.
- Marcus Aurelius
Man should not consider his material possession his own,
but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need.
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
Acting selfishly is human nature, and therefore forgivable.
Publicly advocating selfishness as a virtue in the name of Jesus is far worse.
Saresh Khemani: Learning from Voluntary Services – Voices of Ismaili Youth
Abstract
Experience is a key source of learning. Voluntary services are one such experiential source to learn and grow from. The present case study used mixed methods (survey tools and in-depth interviews) to explore the perspectives of Ismaili youth on the meaning, value, and educative potentials of their voluntary services based in Karachi. The data was collected from Ismaili youth (18 to 23 years) belonging to three community sites in the city Karachi (Garden, Metroville and Clifton). The study’s data showed that the participants understand the meaning and value of voluntary services in myriad ways, starting from processes of benefiting the lives of the community members, to make difference in some one’s life, to teaching academic/social subjects and skills to community. Khidmat to the religious leader and their community appeared a key force in their involvement in voluntary services. The participants were enrolled in various interconnected institutions and services established by their respective community sites. Even though volunteers learning from their services is not purposefully structured, the participants actively and subtly learnt and developed skills, knowledge and attitudes included communication, teaching, problem solving, critical thinking, reflecting, presenting, public speaking, time management, multi-tasking, people management, learning about diversity, respect towards others, patience, confidence in their ability, flexibility, leadership, and, most importantly, about justice and diversity. They expressed critical insights about favoritism, nepotism, injustice and unfair treatment of the ‘other’ during their voluntary experiences. The link between academic/school subjects and voluntary experiences was limited to religious education. Overall the youth’s learning from their voluntary services showed the potentials for developing into successful leaders for their community and larger society, with broad vision and relevant skills and dispositions for 21st century. The youth appeared to have very deeply thought suggestions, which make them natural partners to the community leaders in making VS more meaningful, relevant, and empowering. Dialogue with the youth can make the link between voluntary services and learning more robust, explicit and mutually beneficial. These transformative potentials can be tapped on, if the community leaders actively listen to their youth voices.
About
Saresh Khemani is an educationalist by profession. She started teaching in the community when she was 15 years old and since then has a love and passion for teaching and advocacy. This year (2017) she graduated as an MPhil student from the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED). She is privileged enough that through her community services, she is also getting opportunities to apply research findings, and help young people to connect their voluntary service experiences with their personal, social, academic and professional skill. Saresh is leading the team of Darkhana Youth League, an institution formed by Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board, Pakistan. This community initiative has provided her an opportunity to work with young people and raise awareness about how voluntary service experiences can also help in making a whole career out of it. Saresh started volunteering at the age of 6 and started teaching young people at the age of 15. Those valuable experiences from the past led her to be an educationalist by profession.
Watch Saresh Khemani present her thesis here:
More...ismailimail.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/saresh-khemani-learning-from-voluntary-services-voices-of-ismaili-youth/
******
Time and Knowledge Initiatives Improve the Jamat’s Quality of Life
Time & Knowledge Nazrana: Building Institutional Capacity for the USA Jamat
Historically, during the commemoration of Imamat Jubilees, one of the Jamat’s most cherished traditions is the voluntary submission of an unconditional Nazrana – a humble token of spiritual allegiance, love and gratitude to the Imam of the Time. The contribution of Time and Knowledge Nazrana (TKN) for the service of the Imamat is a tradition that dates back to the earliest period of Shia Islam.
As we look back at what TKN has been able to accomplish over the last decade, we see that impact can not only be international, but local. The USA Jamat has been able to partake in countless assignments that have resulted in increased institutional capacity as well as improved quality of life. This impact has been made in multiple institutions across the country and several thousand Jamati members have had the opportunity to have their niyats realized.
In 2013-2014, the National Quality of Life team implemented the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Program - to ensure that the maximum number of students can benefit from and successfully complete the GED diploma in order to begin income enhancement vocational programs; the team relied heavily on quality resources from TKN. Since the GED, the National Quality of Life Team launched 6 National vocational tracks: Accounting, Education (Montessori), Cosmetology, Healthcare, Information Technology, and English Language Instruction
Anum Ali and Rahim Sayani were some of those TKN volunteers who had the opportunity to provide their Time and Knowledge to improve the livelihoods of Jamati members within their local communities. “I have always served the Jamat in various capacities but my TKN assignment was especially close to my heart. This is because of the emphasis Mawlana Hazar Imam has placed on learning English and improving the quality of life of jamati members through self-sustainability and making a better future for themselves in this country” recounted Anum. The spark ignited in Anum’s eyes as she speaks to her experience is appreciated – she will never forget her first TKN assignment and looks forward to the opportunity to be able to serve in another TKN capacity in the future.
Rahim’s experience was also a growth opportunity for him personally, “As a fresh college graduate, I had to begin at the grassroots level as a GED teacher and work my way up to a management-level position as a National Master Trainer, Project Manager, and currently a National Program Manager for the QoL initiative. This exposure early on, helped me identify my personal strengths as a leader as well as areas for potential growth. This opportunity allowed me to contribute to the Jamat.”
This is just the tip of the iceberg; TKN opportunities in other areas of focus have facilitated chances for other Jamati members. Shamim Abdulla had the opportunity to realize her niyat through Aga Khan Health Board’s Choices for Health, Act Now program, where Lifestyle Coaches motivated Jamati members in making better lifestyle choices related to diet and physical activity. As the program went through its phases, Shamim had many motivated participant, noting that “People would come up to me and let me know they were off insulin, taking lower doses of medications and in some cases, they were off medications completely!”
Several TKN resources have been utilized on an ongoing basis to both deliver and continue to evolve the various programs. “Any TKN opportunity, domestic or international, has the power to give you an opportunity to make a difference. You get a chance to bring your expertise, and combine it with the knowledge of other talented individuals serving on the project--- together you can change the destiny of the program you serve in” remarked Rahim.
In the Ismaili tradition, Nazrana is a voluntary and unconditional gift offered by the murid to the Imam of the Time on a special occasion, as an expression of gratitude, and devotion. The Diamond Jubilee is a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity, to voluntarily engage in the fulfillment of the Imam’s vision to improve the Jamat’s quality of life and strengthen its institutions, through TKN
the.ismaili/time-and-knowledge-initiatives-improve-jamat%E2%80%99s-quality-life
Abstract
Experience is a key source of learning. Voluntary services are one such experiential source to learn and grow from. The present case study used mixed methods (survey tools and in-depth interviews) to explore the perspectives of Ismaili youth on the meaning, value, and educative potentials of their voluntary services based in Karachi. The data was collected from Ismaili youth (18 to 23 years) belonging to three community sites in the city Karachi (Garden, Metroville and Clifton). The study’s data showed that the participants understand the meaning and value of voluntary services in myriad ways, starting from processes of benefiting the lives of the community members, to make difference in some one’s life, to teaching academic/social subjects and skills to community. Khidmat to the religious leader and their community appeared a key force in their involvement in voluntary services. The participants were enrolled in various interconnected institutions and services established by their respective community sites. Even though volunteers learning from their services is not purposefully structured, the participants actively and subtly learnt and developed skills, knowledge and attitudes included communication, teaching, problem solving, critical thinking, reflecting, presenting, public speaking, time management, multi-tasking, people management, learning about diversity, respect towards others, patience, confidence in their ability, flexibility, leadership, and, most importantly, about justice and diversity. They expressed critical insights about favoritism, nepotism, injustice and unfair treatment of the ‘other’ during their voluntary experiences. The link between academic/school subjects and voluntary experiences was limited to religious education. Overall the youth’s learning from their voluntary services showed the potentials for developing into successful leaders for their community and larger society, with broad vision and relevant skills and dispositions for 21st century. The youth appeared to have very deeply thought suggestions, which make them natural partners to the community leaders in making VS more meaningful, relevant, and empowering. Dialogue with the youth can make the link between voluntary services and learning more robust, explicit and mutually beneficial. These transformative potentials can be tapped on, if the community leaders actively listen to their youth voices.
About
Saresh Khemani is an educationalist by profession. She started teaching in the community when she was 15 years old and since then has a love and passion for teaching and advocacy. This year (2017) she graduated as an MPhil student from the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED). She is privileged enough that through her community services, she is also getting opportunities to apply research findings, and help young people to connect their voluntary service experiences with their personal, social, academic and professional skill. Saresh is leading the team of Darkhana Youth League, an institution formed by Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board, Pakistan. This community initiative has provided her an opportunity to work with young people and raise awareness about how voluntary service experiences can also help in making a whole career out of it. Saresh started volunteering at the age of 6 and started teaching young people at the age of 15. Those valuable experiences from the past led her to be an educationalist by profession.
Watch Saresh Khemani present her thesis here:
More...ismailimail.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/saresh-khemani-learning-from-voluntary-services-voices-of-ismaili-youth/
******
Time and Knowledge Initiatives Improve the Jamat’s Quality of Life
Time & Knowledge Nazrana: Building Institutional Capacity for the USA Jamat
Historically, during the commemoration of Imamat Jubilees, one of the Jamat’s most cherished traditions is the voluntary submission of an unconditional Nazrana – a humble token of spiritual allegiance, love and gratitude to the Imam of the Time. The contribution of Time and Knowledge Nazrana (TKN) for the service of the Imamat is a tradition that dates back to the earliest period of Shia Islam.
As we look back at what TKN has been able to accomplish over the last decade, we see that impact can not only be international, but local. The USA Jamat has been able to partake in countless assignments that have resulted in increased institutional capacity as well as improved quality of life. This impact has been made in multiple institutions across the country and several thousand Jamati members have had the opportunity to have their niyats realized.
In 2013-2014, the National Quality of Life team implemented the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Program - to ensure that the maximum number of students can benefit from and successfully complete the GED diploma in order to begin income enhancement vocational programs; the team relied heavily on quality resources from TKN. Since the GED, the National Quality of Life Team launched 6 National vocational tracks: Accounting, Education (Montessori), Cosmetology, Healthcare, Information Technology, and English Language Instruction
Anum Ali and Rahim Sayani were some of those TKN volunteers who had the opportunity to provide their Time and Knowledge to improve the livelihoods of Jamati members within their local communities. “I have always served the Jamat in various capacities but my TKN assignment was especially close to my heart. This is because of the emphasis Mawlana Hazar Imam has placed on learning English and improving the quality of life of jamati members through self-sustainability and making a better future for themselves in this country” recounted Anum. The spark ignited in Anum’s eyes as she speaks to her experience is appreciated – she will never forget her first TKN assignment and looks forward to the opportunity to be able to serve in another TKN capacity in the future.
Rahim’s experience was also a growth opportunity for him personally, “As a fresh college graduate, I had to begin at the grassroots level as a GED teacher and work my way up to a management-level position as a National Master Trainer, Project Manager, and currently a National Program Manager for the QoL initiative. This exposure early on, helped me identify my personal strengths as a leader as well as areas for potential growth. This opportunity allowed me to contribute to the Jamat.”
This is just the tip of the iceberg; TKN opportunities in other areas of focus have facilitated chances for other Jamati members. Shamim Abdulla had the opportunity to realize her niyat through Aga Khan Health Board’s Choices for Health, Act Now program, where Lifestyle Coaches motivated Jamati members in making better lifestyle choices related to diet and physical activity. As the program went through its phases, Shamim had many motivated participant, noting that “People would come up to me and let me know they were off insulin, taking lower doses of medications and in some cases, they were off medications completely!”
Several TKN resources have been utilized on an ongoing basis to both deliver and continue to evolve the various programs. “Any TKN opportunity, domestic or international, has the power to give you an opportunity to make a difference. You get a chance to bring your expertise, and combine it with the knowledge of other talented individuals serving on the project--- together you can change the destiny of the program you serve in” remarked Rahim.
In the Ismaili tradition, Nazrana is a voluntary and unconditional gift offered by the murid to the Imam of the Time on a special occasion, as an expression of gratitude, and devotion. The Diamond Jubilee is a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity, to voluntarily engage in the fulfillment of the Imam’s vision to improve the Jamat’s quality of life and strengthen its institutions, through TKN
the.ismaili/time-and-knowledge-initiatives-improve-jamat%E2%80%99s-quality-life
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for Rawalpindi and Islamabad (Pakistan) – Working with communities side by side
Hundreds of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Volunteers are working under the umbrella of Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) and Aga Khan Council, Pakistan. Their main goal is to prepare for emergencies by regularly educating and engaging the communities. They work as first responders in case of any man-made or natural disasters.
CERT Council for Central Region Pakistan has been currently engaged in numerous Jamati activities comprising mainly of safety drills and training.
AKAH conducted refresher training recently named ‘Incident Command Systems Simulation’ for the CERT volunteers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The purpose of this training was to equip and prepare volunteers with elementary lifesaving skills in case of any emergency. CERT volunteers successfully completed simulation covering topics related to CPR, firefighting, search & rescue and basic first aid.
More..
https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2018/ ... e-by-side/
Hundreds of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Volunteers are working under the umbrella of Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) and Aga Khan Council, Pakistan. Their main goal is to prepare for emergencies by regularly educating and engaging the communities. They work as first responders in case of any man-made or natural disasters.
CERT Council for Central Region Pakistan has been currently engaged in numerous Jamati activities comprising mainly of safety drills and training.
AKAH conducted refresher training recently named ‘Incident Command Systems Simulation’ for the CERT volunteers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The purpose of this training was to equip and prepare volunteers with elementary lifesaving skills in case of any emergency. CERT volunteers successfully completed simulation covering topics related to CPR, firefighting, search & rescue and basic first aid.
More..
https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2018/ ... e-by-side/
Aga Khan Education Service, Tajikistan (AKES) Summer English Upgrading Programme
Position: English Language Teacher
Duty Station: Khorog, Tajikistan
Dates: 6 week commitment required between June 23, 2018 – August 6, 2018 (inclusive of travel dates)
Summary of Position and Key Responsibilities
Aga Khan Education Service, Tajikistan (AKES, Tj) is seeking a short term volunteer to teach English language during the Summer English Enrichment Programme (week-day and weekend classes) at the Aga Khan Lyceum,
in Khorog, Tajikistan. The purpose is to bring students together during the summer holidays and provide them with an opportunity for immersion into the English language and further strengthen English language skills, including literature analysis, perspective taking and debating, through a rich learning and stimulating platform, in preparation for post-secondary education.
The volunteer will be required to teach English speaking, reading, writing, listening, literature analysis and debating skills to a number of students groups that will be entering Grade 9 and 11. The five week programme will be held from Monday July 2rd to Friday August 3rd. Students will be divided into 6 groups and classes will be held 4 days during the week and 2 days on the weekend, in 90 – 120 minute sessions. Classes will be held in English.
Curriculum has been developed by academic specialists, including those supporting the Aga Khan Education Board for Canada. However, curriculum / assessment adaptation and lesson planning will be required to ensure
the material is delivered according to the pace and ability of each student group. The volunteer teacher will need to mark assessments and track student progress.
The following expenses will be covered: Round trip from home city to Dushanbe, Tajikistan; health and travel insurance; accommodation with host family; local travel between Dushanbe and Khorog, and Visa.
Skills and Experience
x Minimum two years of previous teaching, mentorship or tutoring experience (preferably in English at a high
school level)
x Familiarity with key Grade 8 – 11 English language skills
x Experience with coaching or teaching debating through MUN or other quality programmes
x Good experience with teaching ACT and SAT preparation
x Proven leadership and group facilitation qualities
x Some experience leading and mentoring young adults (e.g. camp, student clubs, etc.)
x Highly adaptable and demonstrated openness to new and challenging work environments
x Good time management and organization skills
x Ability to work in a highly collaborative team-based environment
x Experience with curriculum development and adaptation is preferred
x Experience living abroad in challenging circumstances
x Passionate about youth development and education
Language
x Advanced English speaking and writing skills
x Experience working with English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) children is an asset
x Some Russian language experience would be an asset
Education
x Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from a globally recognized university
x Teaching qualifications preferred
Application Deadline
All interested candidates applying from Canada or the UK, are requested to submit a cover letter and resume via email to Aziz Batada, Head of Education, AKES, Tj: [email protected] by Friday March 23, 2018 (midnight,
PST). Candidates applying from the Unites States should submit their application through the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for the United States. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as applications are
received. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged and contacted.
*******
Aga Khan Education Service, Tajikistan (AKES) Summer Math Upgrading Programme
Position: Mathematics Teacher
Duty Station: Khorog, Tajikistan
Dates: 6 week commitment required between June 23, 2018 – August 6, 2018 (inclusive of travel dates)
Summary of Position and Key Responsibilities
Aga Khan Education Service, Tajikistan (AKES, Tj) is seeking a short term volunteer to teach Math during the Summer Math Enrichment Programme (week-day and weekend classes) at the Aga Khan Lyceum, in Khorog,
Tajikistan. The purpose is to bring students together during the summer holidays and provide them with an opportunity for immersion into the English language and further strengthen Mathematics skills through a rich learning and stimulating platform, in preparation for post-secondary education.
The volunteer will be required to teach fundamental Math concepts to a number of students groups that will be entering Grade 9 and 11. The five week programme will be held from Monday July 2rd to Friday August 3rd.
Students will be divided into 6 groups and classes will be held 4 days during the week and 2 days on the weekend, in 90 – 120 minute sessions. Classes will be held in English.
Curriculum developed by an academic specialist will be provided. However, curriculum / assessment adaptation and lesson planning will be required to ensure the material is delivered according to the pace and ability of each student group. Volunteer teacher will need to mark assessments and track student progress. Online sessions will be held with the curriculum specialists prior to departure, and they will also be available remotely for any additional support throughout the programme.
The following expenses will be covered: Round trip from home city to Dushanbe, Tajikistan; health and travel insurance; accommodation with host family; local travel between Dushanbe and Khorog; and Visa
Skills and Experience
x Minimum two years of previous teaching, mentorship or tutoring experience (preferably in Math at a high
school level)
x Familiarity with key Grade 8 – 11 Math curriculum concepts
x Good experience with teaching ACT and SAT preparation
x Proven leadership and group facilitation qualities
x Some experience leading and mentoring young adults (e.g. camp, student clubs, etc.)
x Highly adaptable and demonstrated openness to new and challenging work environments
x Good time management and organization skills
x Ability to work in a highly collaborative team-based environment
x Experience with curriculum development and adaptation is preferred
x Experience living abroad in challenging circumstances
x Passionate about youth development and education
Language
x Proficient written and oral English language skills
x Experience working with English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) individuals is an asset
x Some Russian language experience would be an asset
Education
x Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from a globally recognized university
x Teaching qualifications preferred
Application Deadline
All interested candidates applying from Canada or the UK, are requested to submit a cover letter and resume via email to Aziz Batada, Head of Education, AKES, Tj: [email protected] by Friday March 23, 2018 (midnight,
PST). Candidates applying from the Unites States should submit their application through the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for the United States. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as applications are received. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged and contacted.
Position: English Language Teacher
Duty Station: Khorog, Tajikistan
Dates: 6 week commitment required between June 23, 2018 – August 6, 2018 (inclusive of travel dates)
Summary of Position and Key Responsibilities
Aga Khan Education Service, Tajikistan (AKES, Tj) is seeking a short term volunteer to teach English language during the Summer English Enrichment Programme (week-day and weekend classes) at the Aga Khan Lyceum,
in Khorog, Tajikistan. The purpose is to bring students together during the summer holidays and provide them with an opportunity for immersion into the English language and further strengthen English language skills, including literature analysis, perspective taking and debating, through a rich learning and stimulating platform, in preparation for post-secondary education.
The volunteer will be required to teach English speaking, reading, writing, listening, literature analysis and debating skills to a number of students groups that will be entering Grade 9 and 11. The five week programme will be held from Monday July 2rd to Friday August 3rd. Students will be divided into 6 groups and classes will be held 4 days during the week and 2 days on the weekend, in 90 – 120 minute sessions. Classes will be held in English.
Curriculum has been developed by academic specialists, including those supporting the Aga Khan Education Board for Canada. However, curriculum / assessment adaptation and lesson planning will be required to ensure
the material is delivered according to the pace and ability of each student group. The volunteer teacher will need to mark assessments and track student progress.
The following expenses will be covered: Round trip from home city to Dushanbe, Tajikistan; health and travel insurance; accommodation with host family; local travel between Dushanbe and Khorog, and Visa.
Skills and Experience
x Minimum two years of previous teaching, mentorship or tutoring experience (preferably in English at a high
school level)
x Familiarity with key Grade 8 – 11 English language skills
x Experience with coaching or teaching debating through MUN or other quality programmes
x Good experience with teaching ACT and SAT preparation
x Proven leadership and group facilitation qualities
x Some experience leading and mentoring young adults (e.g. camp, student clubs, etc.)
x Highly adaptable and demonstrated openness to new and challenging work environments
x Good time management and organization skills
x Ability to work in a highly collaborative team-based environment
x Experience with curriculum development and adaptation is preferred
x Experience living abroad in challenging circumstances
x Passionate about youth development and education
Language
x Advanced English speaking and writing skills
x Experience working with English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) children is an asset
x Some Russian language experience would be an asset
Education
x Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from a globally recognized university
x Teaching qualifications preferred
Application Deadline
All interested candidates applying from Canada or the UK, are requested to submit a cover letter and resume via email to Aziz Batada, Head of Education, AKES, Tj: [email protected] by Friday March 23, 2018 (midnight,
PST). Candidates applying from the Unites States should submit their application through the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for the United States. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as applications are
received. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged and contacted.
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Aga Khan Education Service, Tajikistan (AKES) Summer Math Upgrading Programme
Position: Mathematics Teacher
Duty Station: Khorog, Tajikistan
Dates: 6 week commitment required between June 23, 2018 – August 6, 2018 (inclusive of travel dates)
Summary of Position and Key Responsibilities
Aga Khan Education Service, Tajikistan (AKES, Tj) is seeking a short term volunteer to teach Math during the Summer Math Enrichment Programme (week-day and weekend classes) at the Aga Khan Lyceum, in Khorog,
Tajikistan. The purpose is to bring students together during the summer holidays and provide them with an opportunity for immersion into the English language and further strengthen Mathematics skills through a rich learning and stimulating platform, in preparation for post-secondary education.
The volunteer will be required to teach fundamental Math concepts to a number of students groups that will be entering Grade 9 and 11. The five week programme will be held from Monday July 2rd to Friday August 3rd.
Students will be divided into 6 groups and classes will be held 4 days during the week and 2 days on the weekend, in 90 – 120 minute sessions. Classes will be held in English.
Curriculum developed by an academic specialist will be provided. However, curriculum / assessment adaptation and lesson planning will be required to ensure the material is delivered according to the pace and ability of each student group. Volunteer teacher will need to mark assessments and track student progress. Online sessions will be held with the curriculum specialists prior to departure, and they will also be available remotely for any additional support throughout the programme.
The following expenses will be covered: Round trip from home city to Dushanbe, Tajikistan; health and travel insurance; accommodation with host family; local travel between Dushanbe and Khorog; and Visa
Skills and Experience
x Minimum two years of previous teaching, mentorship or tutoring experience (preferably in Math at a high
school level)
x Familiarity with key Grade 8 – 11 Math curriculum concepts
x Good experience with teaching ACT and SAT preparation
x Proven leadership and group facilitation qualities
x Some experience leading and mentoring young adults (e.g. camp, student clubs, etc.)
x Highly adaptable and demonstrated openness to new and challenging work environments
x Good time management and organization skills
x Ability to work in a highly collaborative team-based environment
x Experience with curriculum development and adaptation is preferred
x Experience living abroad in challenging circumstances
x Passionate about youth development and education
Language
x Proficient written and oral English language skills
x Experience working with English as a Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) individuals is an asset
x Some Russian language experience would be an asset
Education
x Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from a globally recognized university
x Teaching qualifications preferred
Application Deadline
All interested candidates applying from Canada or the UK, are requested to submit a cover letter and resume via email to Aziz Batada, Head of Education, AKES, Tj: [email protected] by Friday March 23, 2018 (midnight,
PST). Candidates applying from the Unites States should submit their application through the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for the United States. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as applications are received. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged and contacted.