VOLUNTEERS - SEVA - SEWA - TKN
Volunteering In Faith
CBC Vancouver News Sunday with Tanya Fletcher. Zahra Premji reports:
Video:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1222180931885
starts at 7:39 to 10:03
CBC Vancouver News Sunday with Tanya Fletcher. Zahra Premji reports:
Video:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1222180931885
starts at 7:39 to 10:03
Volunteers prepare for the Aga Khan’s visit to Vancouver | The Province
Photo gallery:
http://theprovince.com/gallery/voluntee ... -vancouver
Photo gallery:
http://theprovince.com/gallery/voluntee ... -vancouver
It's about Sharing
It's about sharing.
You just give what you have to give
wherever you go,
and you let God handle the rest.
- Lindsay Wagner
As we work to create light for others,
we naturally light our own way.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
It is high time that the ideal of success
should be replaced by the ideal of service.
- Albert Einstein
In service, there is clarity and compassion.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
The path to your own happiness is usually found in service.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
It's about sharing.
You just give what you have to give
wherever you go,
and you let God handle the rest.
- Lindsay Wagner
As we work to create light for others,
we naturally light our own way.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
It is high time that the ideal of success
should be replaced by the ideal of service.
- Albert Einstein
In service, there is clarity and compassion.
- Mary Anne Radmacher
The path to your own happiness is usually found in service.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
So excited to welcome our newest group of volunteer Educators @AgaKhanMuseum eager to learn and share knowledge with our visitors. #connectingcultures #lifelonglearning
https://twitter.com/JovannaScorsone/sta ... 6818900992
https://twitter.com/JovannaScorsone/sta ... 6818900992
Denmark TKN volunteer undertakes assessment of AKAH Afghanistan IT infrastructure
Denmark-based Information Technology (IT) professional, Shaukat Khan, heads global IT infrastructure for Novo Nordisk, a multinational pharmaceutical company. He has extensive experience in leading infrastructure and development teams. Prior to Novo Nordisk, he worked with UNICEF’s HQ IT Centre in Copenhagen.
Shaukat’s two-month TKN assignment in spring 2018 was as an IT Technical Analyst with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) in Afghanistan. The assignment came at an extremely busy time for Shaukat, who is the UK Aga Khan National Council’s member for Europe (covering Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands and Sweden). “We were expecting Mawlana Hazar Imam’s deedar, and it was a peak time for council and professional commitments,” Shaukat said. “But when I received the call from the TKN office, and learned that one of our institutions needed my service, I knew I should accept, no matter how busy I was.”
Based on a comprehensive review of existing documentation, as well as a 10-day field trip to Afghanistan, Shaukat undertook a current state assessment of AKAH’s IT infrastructure. His review identified a number of issues which included a single point of failure, a vulnerable firewall mechanism, and challenges with line connectivity.
https://the.ismaili/denmark-tkn-volunte ... astructure
Denmark-based Information Technology (IT) professional, Shaukat Khan, heads global IT infrastructure for Novo Nordisk, a multinational pharmaceutical company. He has extensive experience in leading infrastructure and development teams. Prior to Novo Nordisk, he worked with UNICEF’s HQ IT Centre in Copenhagen.
Shaukat’s two-month TKN assignment in spring 2018 was as an IT Technical Analyst with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) in Afghanistan. The assignment came at an extremely busy time for Shaukat, who is the UK Aga Khan National Council’s member for Europe (covering Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands and Sweden). “We were expecting Mawlana Hazar Imam’s deedar, and it was a peak time for council and professional commitments,” Shaukat said. “But when I received the call from the TKN office, and learned that one of our institutions needed my service, I knew I should accept, no matter how busy I was.”
Based on a comprehensive review of existing documentation, as well as a 10-day field trip to Afghanistan, Shaukat undertook a current state assessment of AKAH’s IT infrastructure. His review identified a number of issues which included a single point of failure, a vulnerable firewall mechanism, and challenges with line connectivity.
https://the.ismaili/denmark-tkn-volunte ... astructure
Leading and Managing Voluntary Manpower in the light of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Farmans
A presentation by Kamaluddin Ali Muhammad
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fijTPG ... UL9Ib/view
A presentation by Kamaluddin Ali Muhammad
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fijTPG ... UL9Ib/view
TKN doctor strengthens Aga Khan Hospital emergency department in Tanzania
Dr Fazila Lalani, a full-time emergency physician with the Aga Khan Health Services, Tanzania, is working in her ideal job, and it started as a TKN assignment.
After completing her medical residency four years ago, Dr Lalani taught medical school and emergency medicine residents as an assistant professor in Northwell Hospital’s Emergency Medicine Residency Program, in her hometown of Long Island, New York. She had a passion for international medicine since she was in medical school and worked in Northern Pakistan, Haiti, and Nepal after earthquakes struck in these regions. She also regularly taught in an emergency medicine residency program in a small town near Kolkata, India. In addition, she was actively involved with the USA Aga Khan Health Board throughout her residency, and dreamed of contributing her skills to improve practices in one of the Aga Khan Hospitals.
As emergency medicine continued to grow around the world, Dr Lalani was offered an opportunity to serve on a Time and Knowledge Nazrana (TKN) assignment with the Aga Khan Health Services, Tanzania (AKHS,T) hospital in Dar es Salaam in June 2017. Two months into the assignment, she knew she would stay longer than intended.
“The only way to make real, sustainable change is slowly over time,” Dr Lalani said.
The Aga Khan Hospital obtained her license and residence permit to work in Tanzania and she has now been working full-time for the past six months.
“My paternal and maternal grandparents were active volunteers, so this just felt like the path I was meant to take. There’s nothing more enjoyable and satisfying for me than knowing I’m having a positive impact on others,” Dr Lalani explained. “Moreover, after I did a semester abroad in Kenya while in college, I always knew I’d be back.”
Working with a team of emergency specialists, Dr Lalani has implemented a number of clinical and administrative processes, developed training programmes to support doctors and nurses, and established consistent standards of care to ensure that patients are getting the best possible care. For her, being able to make significant positive changes and introduce new processes is extremely rewarding.
Dr. Lalani said, "Aiming to achieve international standards, we are the only private hospital in Tanzania which has an emergency medicine specialist in house, seeing every patient with medical officers and interns, 24/7, year-round. We’ve added more classroom and on-the-job learning. Whenever we deliver emergency care, we also conduct bedside teaching. We’re using a residency-type model to treat every case as a learning opportunity and to enhance the skills of our medical team.”
In addition, Dr Lalani has helped to establish the Aga Khan Hospital as an American Heart Association Basic Life Support Training Center, which will expand to teach advanced and pediatric life support and eventually apply to be an international training centre. She also assisted in establishing the hospital as a primary trauma care training centre. Dr Lalani and her team have trained most clinicians in the hospital, and are now inviting doctors and nurses from local clinics, hospitals, and even from nearby Zanzibar, to participate in these courses and improve their skills. By focusing on continuous learning, the hospital has become a teaching centre for the wider health care community.
Dr Lalani credits the nine-month TKN assignment for giving her the full time opportunity that would have been unlikely otherwise.
“Many people want to volunteer, but it’s hard to find a hospital that is willing to engage you for a few months, and where friends from the community and coworkers become family instantly, everywhere you go,” she said.
Aga Khan Health Services,East Africa CEO, Sulaiman Shahabuddin, has high praise for Dr Lalani’s contribution: “She has brought world class emergency medicine practices to our hospital in Dar es Salaam. The emergency medicine training programmes she has implemented have benefitted both our staff and also health professionals from other public and private sector hospitals. This has enabled us to position our hospital as an emergency medicine leader in Tanzania. We are very pleased to have Dr Lalani on our team.”
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/tkn-doc ... t-tanzania
Dr Fazila Lalani, a full-time emergency physician with the Aga Khan Health Services, Tanzania, is working in her ideal job, and it started as a TKN assignment.
After completing her medical residency four years ago, Dr Lalani taught medical school and emergency medicine residents as an assistant professor in Northwell Hospital’s Emergency Medicine Residency Program, in her hometown of Long Island, New York. She had a passion for international medicine since she was in medical school and worked in Northern Pakistan, Haiti, and Nepal after earthquakes struck in these regions. She also regularly taught in an emergency medicine residency program in a small town near Kolkata, India. In addition, she was actively involved with the USA Aga Khan Health Board throughout her residency, and dreamed of contributing her skills to improve practices in one of the Aga Khan Hospitals.
As emergency medicine continued to grow around the world, Dr Lalani was offered an opportunity to serve on a Time and Knowledge Nazrana (TKN) assignment with the Aga Khan Health Services, Tanzania (AKHS,T) hospital in Dar es Salaam in June 2017. Two months into the assignment, she knew she would stay longer than intended.
“The only way to make real, sustainable change is slowly over time,” Dr Lalani said.
The Aga Khan Hospital obtained her license and residence permit to work in Tanzania and she has now been working full-time for the past six months.
“My paternal and maternal grandparents were active volunteers, so this just felt like the path I was meant to take. There’s nothing more enjoyable and satisfying for me than knowing I’m having a positive impact on others,” Dr Lalani explained. “Moreover, after I did a semester abroad in Kenya while in college, I always knew I’d be back.”
Working with a team of emergency specialists, Dr Lalani has implemented a number of clinical and administrative processes, developed training programmes to support doctors and nurses, and established consistent standards of care to ensure that patients are getting the best possible care. For her, being able to make significant positive changes and introduce new processes is extremely rewarding.
Dr. Lalani said, "Aiming to achieve international standards, we are the only private hospital in Tanzania which has an emergency medicine specialist in house, seeing every patient with medical officers and interns, 24/7, year-round. We’ve added more classroom and on-the-job learning. Whenever we deliver emergency care, we also conduct bedside teaching. We’re using a residency-type model to treat every case as a learning opportunity and to enhance the skills of our medical team.”
In addition, Dr Lalani has helped to establish the Aga Khan Hospital as an American Heart Association Basic Life Support Training Center, which will expand to teach advanced and pediatric life support and eventually apply to be an international training centre. She also assisted in establishing the hospital as a primary trauma care training centre. Dr Lalani and her team have trained most clinicians in the hospital, and are now inviting doctors and nurses from local clinics, hospitals, and even from nearby Zanzibar, to participate in these courses and improve their skills. By focusing on continuous learning, the hospital has become a teaching centre for the wider health care community.
Dr Lalani credits the nine-month TKN assignment for giving her the full time opportunity that would have been unlikely otherwise.
“Many people want to volunteer, but it’s hard to find a hospital that is willing to engage you for a few months, and where friends from the community and coworkers become family instantly, everywhere you go,” she said.
Aga Khan Health Services,East Africa CEO, Sulaiman Shahabuddin, has high praise for Dr Lalani’s contribution: “She has brought world class emergency medicine practices to our hospital in Dar es Salaam. The emergency medicine training programmes she has implemented have benefitted both our staff and also health professionals from other public and private sector hospitals. This has enabled us to position our hospital as an emergency medicine leader in Tanzania. We are very pleased to have Dr Lalani on our team.”
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/tkn-doc ... t-tanzania
Playing a key role in the establishment of the UCA Library
Karim Marani’s TKN journey with the University of Central Asia (UCA) began in March 2013 when he received a call to determine his interest in contributing to the design of the university’s academic library. This was in preparation for UCA’s inaugural undergraduate programs across three campuses in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. Karim has an undergraduate degree in Library and Information Society from East Africa and a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the USA. He is currently Director of the Learning Resource Center, University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
The library would complement UCA’s mission to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain communities, by offering an internationally recognized standard of higher education, and enabling the people of the region to preserve their rich cultural heritage as assets for the future.
“In several conversations with Zakiah Kassam, former UCA Director of Planning and Reporting, she highlighted the rigour with which efforts were underway to launch the internationally charted university’s five-year undergraduate degree programs,” Karim said. “A number of TKN volunteers had contributed to preparing strategy papers encompassing various facets of the university’s administrative and academic functions.”
The library papers were in the context of international standards and best practices informing all aspects of the library, including space, functions, services, collections, staffing, technology, furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The library’s information technology, personnel, policies and processes would be designed to ensure that the three campus libraries become networked and enjoy equal status. The collections would reflect UCA’s curricular and research offerings at each campus and a rigorous program of information literacy and knowledge management to be in place for the training of faculty, staff and students.
A year later, in May 2014, Karim visited Central Asia to assess ground realities, dialogue with key stakeholders at UCA, and review the calibre of universities and academic libraries in the region.
He sought insights from UCA’s academic and research faculty, administrators, architects and construction personnel. Focus group sessions were conducted with administrators and students of leading universities in Bishkek and Dushanbe. Karim also met with librarians at the Aga Khan University in Karachi and the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London. All these endeavors resulted in a Library Strategy Paper which became the blueprint for operationalizing the library.
More...
https://the.ismaili/playing-key-role-es ... rce=Direct
Karim Marani’s TKN journey with the University of Central Asia (UCA) began in March 2013 when he received a call to determine his interest in contributing to the design of the university’s academic library. This was in preparation for UCA’s inaugural undergraduate programs across three campuses in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. Karim has an undergraduate degree in Library and Information Society from East Africa and a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the USA. He is currently Director of the Learning Resource Center, University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
The library would complement UCA’s mission to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain communities, by offering an internationally recognized standard of higher education, and enabling the people of the region to preserve their rich cultural heritage as assets for the future.
“In several conversations with Zakiah Kassam, former UCA Director of Planning and Reporting, she highlighted the rigour with which efforts were underway to launch the internationally charted university’s five-year undergraduate degree programs,” Karim said. “A number of TKN volunteers had contributed to preparing strategy papers encompassing various facets of the university’s administrative and academic functions.”
The library papers were in the context of international standards and best practices informing all aspects of the library, including space, functions, services, collections, staffing, technology, furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The library’s information technology, personnel, policies and processes would be designed to ensure that the three campus libraries become networked and enjoy equal status. The collections would reflect UCA’s curricular and research offerings at each campus and a rigorous program of information literacy and knowledge management to be in place for the training of faculty, staff and students.
A year later, in May 2014, Karim visited Central Asia to assess ground realities, dialogue with key stakeholders at UCA, and review the calibre of universities and academic libraries in the region.
He sought insights from UCA’s academic and research faculty, administrators, architects and construction personnel. Focus group sessions were conducted with administrators and students of leading universities in Bishkek and Dushanbe. Karim also met with librarians at the Aga Khan University in Karachi and the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London. All these endeavors resulted in a Library Strategy Paper which became the blueprint for operationalizing the library.
More...
https://the.ismaili/playing-key-role-es ... rce=Direct
Celebrating the Transformative Power of Generosity, London 2018
On September 28-29, 2018, a special programme was hosted at the Aga Khan Centre in London for major supporters of its three resident institutions: the Aga Khan University, the Aga Khan Foundation-UK and The Institute of Ismaili Studies. The event was attended by Prince Amyn Aga Khan and Princess Zahra Aga Khan and more than 350 donors and supporters from around the world. ​
The programme was organized to express gratitude to donors for their long-standing generosity; to provide an opportunity for the attendees to learn more about the work of the three institutions; and for donors to learn how their many decades of giving has had a transformative impact. The occasion also provided a chance for guests to experience the recently inaugurated Aga Khan Centre — a new permanent home for the three UK-based institutions.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... EXSZGjRNuY
On September 28-29, 2018, a special programme was hosted at the Aga Khan Centre in London for major supporters of its three resident institutions: the Aga Khan University, the Aga Khan Foundation-UK and The Institute of Ismaili Studies. The event was attended by Prince Amyn Aga Khan and Princess Zahra Aga Khan and more than 350 donors and supporters from around the world. ​
The programme was organized to express gratitude to donors for their long-standing generosity; to provide an opportunity for the attendees to learn more about the work of the three institutions; and for donors to learn how their many decades of giving has had a transformative impact. The occasion also provided a chance for guests to experience the recently inaugurated Aga Khan Centre — a new permanent home for the three UK-based institutions.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... EXSZGjRNuY
The transformative power of generosity
An educational programme was hosted at the Aga Khan Centre in London in late-September, for supporters of its three resident institutions, namely the Aga Khan Foundation, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, and the Aga Khan University. The two-day event was attended by Prince Amyn and Princess Zahra.
Jointly organised by the three institutions, the programme provided an opportunity for a group of their most significant supporters to learn more about their work and how their contributions over the course of more than 40 years have helped to transform societies globally. The occasion was also a chance for guests to see the recently inaugurated Aga Khan Centre — a new home for the three Imamat Institutions based in the UK.
Supporters were offered a tour of the new centre in London’s King’s Cross, to explore the building’s precise architecture — designed by the Pritzker Prize winning architect Fumihiko Maki — along with its six outdoor spaces, each inspired by various regions of the Islamic world.
Overall, the event represented a platform to showcase the growth of the institutions since their inception. It was an opportune moment as the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS), and the Aga Khan University (AKU) were celebrating their 50th, 40th, and 35th anniversaries respectively. Senior leaders from all three organisations welcomed supporters and shared their journeys with the institutions, and the positive impact they have made on the lives of individuals and communities around the world.
Guests were given the option to select from over 15 presentation sessions, from AKU’s pioneering work in stem cell research, to the IIS’ study of manuscripts, and exploring Ismaili intellectual and artistic treasures, to AKF’s steps in overcoming barriers to provide access to girls’ education in countries such as Afghanistan.
At an evening reception, Prince Amyn expressed gratitude to guests for their support, and remarked on the history of giving in the Ismaili tradition.
“The notion of sharing one’s wealth to support educational and charitable endeavour for the benefit of others is a well-established principle of our faith” he said. “It is something which I think distinguishes us as a community and which has enabled us over the generations to create and to build institutions which have supported the quality of life not only of our Jamat but also of those amongst whom we live.”
Speaking of the series of gardens, courtyards, and terraces at the Aga Khan Centre, Prince Amyn reflected on their potential for developing increased understanding.
“These spaces are not just spaces to enjoy but they form an integral part of our educational message, illustrating the role which Muslim civilisations have played in the evolution of landscape architecture, and reflecting not only the essential importance of nature for us, but also the pluralism in the Ummah,” he said
The following day, supporters had the opportunity to take an in-depth look at AKU’s journey of growth over the last 35 years, and the forward-looking vision of the institution over the next 35 years.
Professor Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, delivered a keynote address in which he advocated for a liberal arts education, which builds strong leaders who can apply different lenses when approaching complex problems.
This idea was furthered in a panel discussion which included senior leaders of AKU, discussing the institution’s future path, and its aspirations to change the world. During the discussion, Princess Zahra spoke about the vital importance of the liberal arts, which allows students “to access the broadest possible number of topics to allow you or any student to learn to learn,” she said. Princess Zahra continued, “It’s about acquiring the skills to review something critically, to approach a problem in a creative way, and not just be focused on one solution; to be able to access multiple solutions, of your own volition”
Guests came away from the weekend with a deeper understanding of the institutions they generously support, learning how their contributions have enabled AKU, IIS, and AKF to pursue excellence, and perform cutting edge research; to preserve Ismaili and Shi’i history, and oppose misperceptions of Islam; and to break the cycle of poverty in remote and vulnerable regions of the world.
https://the.ismaili/news/transformative ... generosity
An educational programme was hosted at the Aga Khan Centre in London in late-September, for supporters of its three resident institutions, namely the Aga Khan Foundation, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, and the Aga Khan University. The two-day event was attended by Prince Amyn and Princess Zahra.
Jointly organised by the three institutions, the programme provided an opportunity for a group of their most significant supporters to learn more about their work and how their contributions over the course of more than 40 years have helped to transform societies globally. The occasion was also a chance for guests to see the recently inaugurated Aga Khan Centre — a new home for the three Imamat Institutions based in the UK.
Supporters were offered a tour of the new centre in London’s King’s Cross, to explore the building’s precise architecture — designed by the Pritzker Prize winning architect Fumihiko Maki — along with its six outdoor spaces, each inspired by various regions of the Islamic world.
Overall, the event represented a platform to showcase the growth of the institutions since their inception. It was an opportune moment as the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS), and the Aga Khan University (AKU) were celebrating their 50th, 40th, and 35th anniversaries respectively. Senior leaders from all three organisations welcomed supporters and shared their journeys with the institutions, and the positive impact they have made on the lives of individuals and communities around the world.
Guests were given the option to select from over 15 presentation sessions, from AKU’s pioneering work in stem cell research, to the IIS’ study of manuscripts, and exploring Ismaili intellectual and artistic treasures, to AKF’s steps in overcoming barriers to provide access to girls’ education in countries such as Afghanistan.
At an evening reception, Prince Amyn expressed gratitude to guests for their support, and remarked on the history of giving in the Ismaili tradition.
“The notion of sharing one’s wealth to support educational and charitable endeavour for the benefit of others is a well-established principle of our faith” he said. “It is something which I think distinguishes us as a community and which has enabled us over the generations to create and to build institutions which have supported the quality of life not only of our Jamat but also of those amongst whom we live.”
Speaking of the series of gardens, courtyards, and terraces at the Aga Khan Centre, Prince Amyn reflected on their potential for developing increased understanding.
“These spaces are not just spaces to enjoy but they form an integral part of our educational message, illustrating the role which Muslim civilisations have played in the evolution of landscape architecture, and reflecting not only the essential importance of nature for us, but also the pluralism in the Ummah,” he said
The following day, supporters had the opportunity to take an in-depth look at AKU’s journey of growth over the last 35 years, and the forward-looking vision of the institution over the next 35 years.
Professor Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, delivered a keynote address in which he advocated for a liberal arts education, which builds strong leaders who can apply different lenses when approaching complex problems.
This idea was furthered in a panel discussion which included senior leaders of AKU, discussing the institution’s future path, and its aspirations to change the world. During the discussion, Princess Zahra spoke about the vital importance of the liberal arts, which allows students “to access the broadest possible number of topics to allow you or any student to learn to learn,” she said. Princess Zahra continued, “It’s about acquiring the skills to review something critically, to approach a problem in a creative way, and not just be focused on one solution; to be able to access multiple solutions, of your own volition”
Guests came away from the weekend with a deeper understanding of the institutions they generously support, learning how their contributions have enabled AKU, IIS, and AKF to pursue excellence, and perform cutting edge research; to preserve Ismaili and Shi’i history, and oppose misperceptions of Islam; and to break the cycle of poverty in remote and vulnerable regions of the world.
https://the.ismaili/news/transformative ... generosity
A bike ride they’ll never forget
Cycling across Canada to raise money for charity wasn’t the original plan for two Afghans who came to the country as refugees over a decade ago.
Originally, Sulaiman Hakimi and Jamil Ahmadi - two friends who both grew up in Kabul - had simply intended to bike around Montreal to explore parts of the city they were still getting to know. A few years later, inspired by an acquaintance who had made a similar trip, Hakimi proposed the cycling across Canada to Ahmadi.
The 28-year-old made just one request: “I accepted the challenge conditional on adding a charitable angle,” said Ahmadi.
And that’s how Cycle for Growth - where the two friends set out to raise $10,000 for the Breakfast Club of Canada - was born.
Hakimi and Ahmadi hopped on their bikes in July 2018 in British Columbia and their journey finished in St-John’s on October 13, 2018 - three months and 7,200 kilometers later.
To date they have raised more than $9,000, and they intend to continue until they reach their goal.
After fleeing Afghanistan as refugees, they bumped into each other in 2005 as they were both taking religious education classes at Laval Jamatkhana. Thrilled at their unexpected meeting, it did not take long for Hakimi and Ahmadi to become close friends again.
Asked why they chose to raise money for the Breakfast Club of Canada, Hakimi explained he saw the organization’s work first hand when it provided a year of free breakfasts to the students in the physical education class he taught at a primary school. He noticed a change in the students before and after the meals, and it was then that he decided one day he would like to donate to their cause.
The Breakfast Club of Canada is a not-for-profit organization which feeds over 200,000 students in 1,600 schools across Canada every morning. A donation of $10,000 would provide breakfast to 60 children for one full school year.
Myriam Brisebois, Senior Business Development Adviser at Breakfast Club of Canada expressed how impressed she has been by the commitment and dedication of Hakimi and Ahmadi.
“Beyond the breakfasts that they will make possible for approximately two classes of students, Jamil and Sulaiman’s initiative is important because it aligns perfectly with the values that Breakfast Club of Canada embodies,” said Brisebois.
“They showcase the importance of self-esteem and they inspire others by demonstrating that one should believe in its potential and in the fact that it can really make a difference.”
Brisebois explained that the fundraising ride has not only benefited the children, but it has also inspired Breakfast Club’s employees who continuously talk about the inspiring project.
Now back in Montreal after finishing their ride across the country, Hakim and Ahmadi have had an experience they will never forget. They have warm memories of the families and groups that hosted them in different cities along their route, and enough stories to last a lifetime.
The two friends are already talking about future rides too: “We would love to bike across countries in Asia and Africa while we have the thirst, energy and motivation to explore,” said Hakimi.
Until then, Hakimi and Ahmadi look forward to joining Breakfast Club of Canada in the coming month to distribute breakfasts to the kids and tell them more about their trip.
https://the.ismaili/bike-ride-theyll-never-forget
Cycling across Canada to raise money for charity wasn’t the original plan for two Afghans who came to the country as refugees over a decade ago.
Originally, Sulaiman Hakimi and Jamil Ahmadi - two friends who both grew up in Kabul - had simply intended to bike around Montreal to explore parts of the city they were still getting to know. A few years later, inspired by an acquaintance who had made a similar trip, Hakimi proposed the cycling across Canada to Ahmadi.
The 28-year-old made just one request: “I accepted the challenge conditional on adding a charitable angle,” said Ahmadi.
And that’s how Cycle for Growth - where the two friends set out to raise $10,000 for the Breakfast Club of Canada - was born.
Hakimi and Ahmadi hopped on their bikes in July 2018 in British Columbia and their journey finished in St-John’s on October 13, 2018 - three months and 7,200 kilometers later.
To date they have raised more than $9,000, and they intend to continue until they reach their goal.
After fleeing Afghanistan as refugees, they bumped into each other in 2005 as they were both taking religious education classes at Laval Jamatkhana. Thrilled at their unexpected meeting, it did not take long for Hakimi and Ahmadi to become close friends again.
Asked why they chose to raise money for the Breakfast Club of Canada, Hakimi explained he saw the organization’s work first hand when it provided a year of free breakfasts to the students in the physical education class he taught at a primary school. He noticed a change in the students before and after the meals, and it was then that he decided one day he would like to donate to their cause.
The Breakfast Club of Canada is a not-for-profit organization which feeds over 200,000 students in 1,600 schools across Canada every morning. A donation of $10,000 would provide breakfast to 60 children for one full school year.
Myriam Brisebois, Senior Business Development Adviser at Breakfast Club of Canada expressed how impressed she has been by the commitment and dedication of Hakimi and Ahmadi.
“Beyond the breakfasts that they will make possible for approximately two classes of students, Jamil and Sulaiman’s initiative is important because it aligns perfectly with the values that Breakfast Club of Canada embodies,” said Brisebois.
“They showcase the importance of self-esteem and they inspire others by demonstrating that one should believe in its potential and in the fact that it can really make a difference.”
Brisebois explained that the fundraising ride has not only benefited the children, but it has also inspired Breakfast Club’s employees who continuously talk about the inspiring project.
Now back in Montreal after finishing their ride across the country, Hakim and Ahmadi have had an experience they will never forget. They have warm memories of the families and groups that hosted them in different cities along their route, and enough stories to last a lifetime.
The two friends are already talking about future rides too: “We would love to bike across countries in Asia and Africa while we have the thirst, energy and motivation to explore,” said Hakimi.
Until then, Hakimi and Ahmadi look forward to joining Breakfast Club of Canada in the coming month to distribute breakfasts to the kids and tell them more about their trip.
https://the.ismaili/bike-ride-theyll-never-forget
BOOK
The Paradox of Generosity: Giving We Receive, Grasping We Lose
by Christian Smith, Hilary Davidson (Goodreads Author)
Determining why, when, and to whom people feel compelled to be generous affords invaluable insight into positive and problematic ways of life. Organ donation, volunteering, and the funding of charities can all be illuminated by sociological and psychological perspectives on how American adults conceive of and demonstrate generosity. Focusing not only on financial giving but on the many diverse forms generosity can take, Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson show the deep impact-usually good, sometimes destructive- that giving has on individuals. The Paradox of Generosity is the first study to make use of the cutting-edge empirical data collected in Smith's groundbreaking, multidisciplinary, five-year Science of Generosity Initiative. It draws on an extensive survey of 2,000 Americans, more than sixty in-depth interviews with individuals across twelve states, and analysis of over 1,000 photographs and other visual materials. This wealth of evidence reveals a consistent link between demonstrating generosity and leading a better life: more generous people are happier, suffer fewer illnesses and injuries, live with a greater sense of purpose, and experience less depression. Smith and Davidson also show, however, that to achieve a better life a person must practice generosity regularly-random acts of kindness are not enough. Offering a wide range of vividly illustrative case studies, this volume will be a crucial resource for anyone seeking to understand the true impact and meaning of generosity. (less)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215 ... generosity
The Paradox of Generosity: Giving We Receive, Grasping We Lose
by Christian Smith, Hilary Davidson (Goodreads Author)
Determining why, when, and to whom people feel compelled to be generous affords invaluable insight into positive and problematic ways of life. Organ donation, volunteering, and the funding of charities can all be illuminated by sociological and psychological perspectives on how American adults conceive of and demonstrate generosity. Focusing not only on financial giving but on the many diverse forms generosity can take, Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson show the deep impact-usually good, sometimes destructive- that giving has on individuals. The Paradox of Generosity is the first study to make use of the cutting-edge empirical data collected in Smith's groundbreaking, multidisciplinary, five-year Science of Generosity Initiative. It draws on an extensive survey of 2,000 Americans, more than sixty in-depth interviews with individuals across twelve states, and analysis of over 1,000 photographs and other visual materials. This wealth of evidence reveals a consistent link between demonstrating generosity and leading a better life: more generous people are happier, suffer fewer illnesses and injuries, live with a greater sense of purpose, and experience less depression. Smith and Davidson also show, however, that to achieve a better life a person must practice generosity regularly-random acts of kindness are not enough. Offering a wide range of vividly illustrative case studies, this volume will be a crucial resource for anyone seeking to understand the true impact and meaning of generosity. (less)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215 ... generosity
Celebrating International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day is held on 5 December each year, and provides an opportunity to celebrate the generosity of time and talent offered by volunteers to worthy causes all year round. The effort of volunteers is especially vital in the face of natural disasters and humanitarian crises, and with sustained endeavour, can contribute to the healthy functioning of civil society.
The Ismaili community has a long history of volunteering for the progress of the Jamat and those amongst whom we live. On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, we look at recent examples of voluntary service, in which Ismailis have served communities and societies in various regions of the world.
Thank you to the thousands of volunteers that serve the Jamat and others across the world.
More...
https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?e=80 ... 67b0d7fe4f
International Volunteer Day is held on 5 December each year, and provides an opportunity to celebrate the generosity of time and talent offered by volunteers to worthy causes all year round. The effort of volunteers is especially vital in the face of natural disasters and humanitarian crises, and with sustained endeavour, can contribute to the healthy functioning of civil society.
The Ismaili community has a long history of volunteering for the progress of the Jamat and those amongst whom we live. On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, we look at recent examples of voluntary service, in which Ismailis have served communities and societies in various regions of the world.
Thank you to the thousands of volunteers that serve the Jamat and others across the world.
More...
https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?e=80 ... 67b0d7fe4f
Breast surgery experts undertake assessment at AKU Pakistan
Dr Anees Chagpar and Dr Farin Amersi served on a TKN assignment with the Aga Khan University (AKU) for three weeks in September-October this year, their first visit to Pakistan, to assess the breast cancer program at AKU in Karachi.
Dr Chagpar is professor of surgery at Yale University School of Medicine and assistant director, global oncology at Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has also travelled to several countries to help strengthen clinical programs, research enterprises, and further the education mission of universities.
Dr Amersi is an associate professor of surgery, program director of general surgery residency and associate program director of the surgical oncology fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in California. She also worked with AKU Nairobi to strengthen faculty research and helped to improve breast cancer care in Khorog, Tajikistan.
The three major objectives for this TKN assignment were to:
1) Evaluate the AKU clinical program and lay the foundation for best practices that would enable AKU to achieve national/international accreditation of their program by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
2) Understand the capacity and infrastructure for breast cancer research at AKU and invigorate a climate of scholarly activity.
3) Assess educational programs pertaining to breast cancer surgery at AKU, with particular emphasis on the surgical residency and breast surgical oncology fellowship.
Anees had the lead responsibility for the first two objectives, and Farin was the lead for the third.
Regarding the clinical excellence objective, Anees emphasizes Mawlana Hazar Imam’s desire to see a strong commitment to “best practices” in our institutions. Having served on the Standards and Accreditation Committee and on the Board of Directors for the NAPBC, Anees is familiar with what constitutes best practice – particularly relating to breast cancer. NAPBC is administered by the American College of Surgeons and is dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of standards of care for patients with diseases of the breast. It is Anees’ and the AKU team’s ambition that this breast program should meet or exceed all required standards for accreditation within one year. The team established a leadership committee to implement guidelines for evaluation and management of patients with benign and malignant conditions of the breast, and to identify and address gaps in current practices.
With over 150 publications to her name, including the investigator-initiated SHAVE trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Anees wanted to reinvigorate the spirit of intellectual inquiry at AKU. “AKU should be on the leading edge of research,” said Anees. “We should be generating knowledge that guides best practice for others to follow.” With her guidance, the AKU team organized research meetings to brainstorm project ideas and has already started working on a novel clinical trial to evaluate the use of androgen receptor blockade in triple negative breast cancer. “This was an incredible experience”, Anees said. “If I can help, even in some small way, to achieve Mawlana Hazar Imam’s vision for his institutions, this will be a fulfilling TKN assignment.”
Farin took the lead on evaluating educational programs at AKU, which included the breast surgery fellowship and the general surgery residency, to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Farin refers to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s reminder that “the acquisition and transmission of knowledge is a means through which one can make a future contribution to ones’ communities and societies”. With her experience as a director of surgical education, she met with AKU medical students, surgical residents and fellows to better understand the strengths and limitations of their education programs. Farin said. “AKU clearly has the capacity to train future physicians through its excellent clinical education programs. I will continue to help them in every way possible to advance AKU’s education mission”. She adds. “I was extremely impressed with the bright and dedicated AKU medical students and residents I met”.
Dr. Gulzar Lakhani, Senior Administrator, AKU Department of Surgery says “being an academic and teaching hospital, we are strongly committed to encouraging and investing in clinical best practices, education and research. We were therefore delighted to engage Dr Chagpar and Dr Amersi as dedicated TKN volunteers on this important assignment. We are immensely grateful to them for contributing their extensive knowledge and expertise, and their commitment to remain engaged with AKU”.
Anees and Farin will remain actively involved with the AKU team, as they move forward with implementation of these three objectives.
https://the.ismaili/breast-surgery-expe ... u-pakistan
Dr Anees Chagpar and Dr Farin Amersi served on a TKN assignment with the Aga Khan University (AKU) for three weeks in September-October this year, their first visit to Pakistan, to assess the breast cancer program at AKU in Karachi.
Dr Chagpar is professor of surgery at Yale University School of Medicine and assistant director, global oncology at Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has also travelled to several countries to help strengthen clinical programs, research enterprises, and further the education mission of universities.
Dr Amersi is an associate professor of surgery, program director of general surgery residency and associate program director of the surgical oncology fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in California. She also worked with AKU Nairobi to strengthen faculty research and helped to improve breast cancer care in Khorog, Tajikistan.
The three major objectives for this TKN assignment were to:
1) Evaluate the AKU clinical program and lay the foundation for best practices that would enable AKU to achieve national/international accreditation of their program by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
2) Understand the capacity and infrastructure for breast cancer research at AKU and invigorate a climate of scholarly activity.
3) Assess educational programs pertaining to breast cancer surgery at AKU, with particular emphasis on the surgical residency and breast surgical oncology fellowship.
Anees had the lead responsibility for the first two objectives, and Farin was the lead for the third.
Regarding the clinical excellence objective, Anees emphasizes Mawlana Hazar Imam’s desire to see a strong commitment to “best practices” in our institutions. Having served on the Standards and Accreditation Committee and on the Board of Directors for the NAPBC, Anees is familiar with what constitutes best practice – particularly relating to breast cancer. NAPBC is administered by the American College of Surgeons and is dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of standards of care for patients with diseases of the breast. It is Anees’ and the AKU team’s ambition that this breast program should meet or exceed all required standards for accreditation within one year. The team established a leadership committee to implement guidelines for evaluation and management of patients with benign and malignant conditions of the breast, and to identify and address gaps in current practices.
With over 150 publications to her name, including the investigator-initiated SHAVE trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Anees wanted to reinvigorate the spirit of intellectual inquiry at AKU. “AKU should be on the leading edge of research,” said Anees. “We should be generating knowledge that guides best practice for others to follow.” With her guidance, the AKU team organized research meetings to brainstorm project ideas and has already started working on a novel clinical trial to evaluate the use of androgen receptor blockade in triple negative breast cancer. “This was an incredible experience”, Anees said. “If I can help, even in some small way, to achieve Mawlana Hazar Imam’s vision for his institutions, this will be a fulfilling TKN assignment.”
Farin took the lead on evaluating educational programs at AKU, which included the breast surgery fellowship and the general surgery residency, to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Farin refers to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s reminder that “the acquisition and transmission of knowledge is a means through which one can make a future contribution to ones’ communities and societies”. With her experience as a director of surgical education, she met with AKU medical students, surgical residents and fellows to better understand the strengths and limitations of their education programs. Farin said. “AKU clearly has the capacity to train future physicians through its excellent clinical education programs. I will continue to help them in every way possible to advance AKU’s education mission”. She adds. “I was extremely impressed with the bright and dedicated AKU medical students and residents I met”.
Dr. Gulzar Lakhani, Senior Administrator, AKU Department of Surgery says “being an academic and teaching hospital, we are strongly committed to encouraging and investing in clinical best practices, education and research. We were therefore delighted to engage Dr Chagpar and Dr Amersi as dedicated TKN volunteers on this important assignment. We are immensely grateful to them for contributing their extensive knowledge and expertise, and their commitment to remain engaged with AKU”.
Anees and Farin will remain actively involved with the AKU team, as they move forward with implementation of these three objectives.
https://the.ismaili/breast-surgery-expe ... u-pakistan
Aga Khan Foundation’s TKN volunteer pools make global impact
How can someone on one side of the world affect an initiative on the other side? Or contribute to making an improvement to a large-scale process? Or share the knowledge they have acquired through years of education and experience? The stories of TKN volunteers Ali Thanawalla, Adam Jutha, and Huma Pabani are all examples of short-term, remote assignments with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), which have made a significant impact on the agency's work.
Ali brought his User Interface and User Experience knowledge with Google to enhance and design new features for AKF’s innovative teaching and learning mobile application ‘PROMISE3.’ Available entirely offline, Ali’s contributions enable teachers in AKF supported schools to receive real-time data on the relative performance standing of their students, grouped by quartiles from high performing to those significantly under-performing.
Adam contributed to AKF’s Results and Learning agenda by co-leading a synthesis for various stakeholders on a recent food security study across four provinces in Afghanistan. Adam was instrumental in helping Accelerate Prosperity, AKF’s and AKFED’s new regional incubator for small and growing businesses, to develop a systematic and user-friendly process for collecting performance data through dashboard reports, which have enabled AKF to convey Accelerate Prosperity’s message to partners and stakeholders quickly and cost-effectively.
Also working on the Accelerate Prosperity initiative, Huma used her excellent writing skills to create a brand book for Accelerate Prosperity of the highest standard - a cornerstone document in a toolkit for replicating the programme in new countries or new regions. Huma helped the team to think through the accessibility of communications and how best to optimise their materials for greatest impact.
These three inspiring stories feature volunteers from the AKF TKN Pools, an innovative concept for volunteers to give of their time and knowledge in a new modality, co-launched by the TKN Central office with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Geneva at the beginning of 2018.
Through the inaugural ‘TKN Pools,’ AKF offers volunteers the opportunity to be recruited on an annual basis with AKF Geneva and then serve on a range of short term, remote, and impact assignments across AKF’s diverse geographies, functions and thematic areas of work. Grouped into three pools for ‘Research Analysts,’ ‘Writers and Editors’ and ‘Visual Designers’, the initial team of 28 volunteers serving in 2018 were selected from a rigorous search process.
Over the last year, these volunteers have served on 47 assignments and made a significant impact on AKF’s programmatic areas and functions. They have collectively contributed in diverse areas of expertise, which include strategic presentations and annual reports; creation of dashboards; supporting monitoring and evaluation studies; due diligence on partners; and production of various external communications documents for a wide range of audiences, including multi-lateral stakeholders. Based on a remote-working model, these volunteers have supported a range of initiatives in several countries including Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Mozambique, and India.
AKF Pool volunteers reflect the diversity of the global Jamat. Ranging from a few years of experience to seasoned career professionals, volunteer backgrounds include expertise in user interface and user experience from world leading technology companies, strategic communications experience from national media agencies, and management consulting and nonprofit programme management skill sets from several leading international development organisations.
Noting the impact made by these volunteers, AKF General Manager Michael Kocher said, “The TKN Pool volunteers’ time, competency and expertise have contributed towards the agency doubling its uptake of TKN, and offered our teams an efficient and focussed modality to benefit from TKN. I hope the volunteers have found this service as personally rewarding as this has been for AKF and its programmes and operations.”
Reflecting on her experience, Huma states “Living in Canada, we usually hear about AKDN's work through fundraising campaigns, we listen to a speech with one or two feature stories and see some stock photos of people on the other side of the planet who have benefitted from AKDN's work.” She adds, “As a member of this pool I have interacted with AKDN staff in Pakistan, Tajikistan and Russia. What I know now is that the scope of AKDN's work is far bigger than I imagined. I'm in awe of the many moving parts working to make a positive difference in people’s lives and I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute through TKN.”
Through this innovative TKN service model, the Pools are demonstrating that volunteers, anywhere, anytime, of any background can find meaningful ways to contribute their time and knowledge to help build institutional capacity. Pool Manager Noureen Ali said, “The AKF TKN Pools are a special opportunity for professionals to contribute our gifts to the world - our knowledge and expertise, our inquisitive minds, our passion to make a difference beyond what we do in our everyday lives. Location, mobility and time may be limited, but our desire to contribute is not. Every individual in the pool is grateful for the opportunity to make their TKN contribution to AKF's and AKDN's outstanding work"
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/news/aga-khan-found ... rce=Direct
How can someone on one side of the world affect an initiative on the other side? Or contribute to making an improvement to a large-scale process? Or share the knowledge they have acquired through years of education and experience? The stories of TKN volunteers Ali Thanawalla, Adam Jutha, and Huma Pabani are all examples of short-term, remote assignments with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), which have made a significant impact on the agency's work.
Ali brought his User Interface and User Experience knowledge with Google to enhance and design new features for AKF’s innovative teaching and learning mobile application ‘PROMISE3.’ Available entirely offline, Ali’s contributions enable teachers in AKF supported schools to receive real-time data on the relative performance standing of their students, grouped by quartiles from high performing to those significantly under-performing.
Adam contributed to AKF’s Results and Learning agenda by co-leading a synthesis for various stakeholders on a recent food security study across four provinces in Afghanistan. Adam was instrumental in helping Accelerate Prosperity, AKF’s and AKFED’s new regional incubator for small and growing businesses, to develop a systematic and user-friendly process for collecting performance data through dashboard reports, which have enabled AKF to convey Accelerate Prosperity’s message to partners and stakeholders quickly and cost-effectively.
Also working on the Accelerate Prosperity initiative, Huma used her excellent writing skills to create a brand book for Accelerate Prosperity of the highest standard - a cornerstone document in a toolkit for replicating the programme in new countries or new regions. Huma helped the team to think through the accessibility of communications and how best to optimise their materials for greatest impact.
These three inspiring stories feature volunteers from the AKF TKN Pools, an innovative concept for volunteers to give of their time and knowledge in a new modality, co-launched by the TKN Central office with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Geneva at the beginning of 2018.
Through the inaugural ‘TKN Pools,’ AKF offers volunteers the opportunity to be recruited on an annual basis with AKF Geneva and then serve on a range of short term, remote, and impact assignments across AKF’s diverse geographies, functions and thematic areas of work. Grouped into three pools for ‘Research Analysts,’ ‘Writers and Editors’ and ‘Visual Designers’, the initial team of 28 volunteers serving in 2018 were selected from a rigorous search process.
Over the last year, these volunteers have served on 47 assignments and made a significant impact on AKF’s programmatic areas and functions. They have collectively contributed in diverse areas of expertise, which include strategic presentations and annual reports; creation of dashboards; supporting monitoring and evaluation studies; due diligence on partners; and production of various external communications documents for a wide range of audiences, including multi-lateral stakeholders. Based on a remote-working model, these volunteers have supported a range of initiatives in several countries including Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Mozambique, and India.
AKF Pool volunteers reflect the diversity of the global Jamat. Ranging from a few years of experience to seasoned career professionals, volunteer backgrounds include expertise in user interface and user experience from world leading technology companies, strategic communications experience from national media agencies, and management consulting and nonprofit programme management skill sets from several leading international development organisations.
Noting the impact made by these volunteers, AKF General Manager Michael Kocher said, “The TKN Pool volunteers’ time, competency and expertise have contributed towards the agency doubling its uptake of TKN, and offered our teams an efficient and focussed modality to benefit from TKN. I hope the volunteers have found this service as personally rewarding as this has been for AKF and its programmes and operations.”
Reflecting on her experience, Huma states “Living in Canada, we usually hear about AKDN's work through fundraising campaigns, we listen to a speech with one or two feature stories and see some stock photos of people on the other side of the planet who have benefitted from AKDN's work.” She adds, “As a member of this pool I have interacted with AKDN staff in Pakistan, Tajikistan and Russia. What I know now is that the scope of AKDN's work is far bigger than I imagined. I'm in awe of the many moving parts working to make a positive difference in people’s lives and I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute through TKN.”
Through this innovative TKN service model, the Pools are demonstrating that volunteers, anywhere, anytime, of any background can find meaningful ways to contribute their time and knowledge to help build institutional capacity. Pool Manager Noureen Ali said, “The AKF TKN Pools are a special opportunity for professionals to contribute our gifts to the world - our knowledge and expertise, our inquisitive minds, our passion to make a difference beyond what we do in our everyday lives. Location, mobility and time may be limited, but our desire to contribute is not. Every individual in the pool is grateful for the opportunity to make their TKN contribution to AKF's and AKDN's outstanding work"
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/news/aga-khan-found ... rce=Direct
TKN volunteer helps to build AKU’s dental hygiene program and clinic
When Salima Alibhai served on her first Aga Khan University (AKU) TKN assignment in 2015, she could not have anticipated that it would change the course of her future.
The dental professional and educator from Seattle, Washington, jumped at the chance to spend six weeks at AKU-Karachi to help set standards and create protocols for a clinical practice where students could treat actual patients. “My assignment was to have students see their first patient and develop a sustainable systems process, including: faculty/student calibration, how students were going to work within the system, and designing an evaluation process for them,” Salima explained.
During this short stint, she also lectured in theory and clinic and did community outreach work with urban and rural health centres. It was through her outreach with school age children that she discovered that many of them would bring a form of smokeless tobacco known as Chalia, also a carcinogenic appetite suppressant, with them to class, contributing to red stains and dental decay. Cheap and widely available, its candy-like appeal is deceivingly attractive to young children, leading to life-long addiction.
In clinic, Salima observed the other end of the spectrum. “I witnessed a number of elderly patients who continued to be diagnosed with pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions, some presenting with extensive facial deformities.” She also noticed an unusual number of younger patients with severe periodontal infections, an observation also made by Dr. Saida Rasul, founding director of the AKU dental hygiene program, who saw similar patterns when visiting Karachi in the early 1990’s. Many such cases are preventable and can be detected early on through simple and routine screenings which dental hygienists are trained to do.
“Pakistan ranks amongst the highest globally in head and neck cancers and periodontal diseases, and there are no preventive programs or public health policies in place,” Salima said. She reflected on how the university could implement simple intervention strategies at the local level while developing broader, more sustainable policy mechanisms to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in the country. “In the early days, our motto was – ‘simple solutions, big impact’ – for example, having clearer guidelines on infection control. How do you introduce a concept in the absence of guidelines?” This, along with setting basic standards of dental hygiene practice and care, remain the primary goal of the program.
The need for trained and qualified faculty was clearly evident. “Every time I came back, I observed local needs and listened to the concerns of students, staff and faculty,” Salima said. “I attempted to identify key gaps and how best local faculty could address them. Over time, I began to understand the cultural nuances and learned how I could teach effectively in that environment.”
While Salima considered accepting a full time position with AKU after her first TKN assignment, she was unable to do so at that time. However, she returned to Karachi several times over the next three years, as a TKN volunteer. All these experiences gave Salima a solid understanding of the needs and motivated her to consider a full time role. In 2018, she successfully applied for the Director of Dental Hygiene position at AKU.
Due to limited dental hygiene faculty at the university, Salima is relying on a network of other faculty to teach the program. This year, she expects several TKN volunteers to come and work with her at different times, creating a unique and collaborative model in dental hygiene education. Although the program is still in its infancy, it attracts students from Pakistan and from other countries including Kenya and Uganda. So far 27 students have graduated from the program.
“Through my TKN experience, I’ve crossed paths with other TKN dental faculty and we’ve all benefited from the true spirit of volunteering and giving,” Salima said. “What binds us together is that we are dental professionals who want to give back. Even now, there are many I haven’t met in person, and yet they continue to support us in various capacities.” Salima adds that they bring with them a sense of quiet strength and comfort. “When a TKN volunteer teaches in our program, they bring the ideals of ‘best practices’, a term repeatedly referenced by Mawlana Hazar Imam during his Diamond Jubilee.”
Dr. Saida Rasul expresses high words of praise, “TKN volunteers have been the backbone of the dental hygiene program at the Aga Khan University since its inception. Without TKN volunteers, this programme would not have been possible to launch and sustain. The university is extremely grateful to all the volunteers who helped launch the program, those who come on a yearly basis and those who continue to support us from a distance. We applaud and celebrate every volunteer, past and future, for their generous contributions.”
Stemming back to her grandparents and parents who exemplified a strong ethic of giving their time and knowledge, Salima feels fortunate to be doing this inspiring work. She hopes that this family tradition and her commitment as a TKN volunteer will always stay with her and encourage others.
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/news/tkn-volunteer- ... rce=Direct
When Salima Alibhai served on her first Aga Khan University (AKU) TKN assignment in 2015, she could not have anticipated that it would change the course of her future.
The dental professional and educator from Seattle, Washington, jumped at the chance to spend six weeks at AKU-Karachi to help set standards and create protocols for a clinical practice where students could treat actual patients. “My assignment was to have students see their first patient and develop a sustainable systems process, including: faculty/student calibration, how students were going to work within the system, and designing an evaluation process for them,” Salima explained.
During this short stint, she also lectured in theory and clinic and did community outreach work with urban and rural health centres. It was through her outreach with school age children that she discovered that many of them would bring a form of smokeless tobacco known as Chalia, also a carcinogenic appetite suppressant, with them to class, contributing to red stains and dental decay. Cheap and widely available, its candy-like appeal is deceivingly attractive to young children, leading to life-long addiction.
In clinic, Salima observed the other end of the spectrum. “I witnessed a number of elderly patients who continued to be diagnosed with pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions, some presenting with extensive facial deformities.” She also noticed an unusual number of younger patients with severe periodontal infections, an observation also made by Dr. Saida Rasul, founding director of the AKU dental hygiene program, who saw similar patterns when visiting Karachi in the early 1990’s. Many such cases are preventable and can be detected early on through simple and routine screenings which dental hygienists are trained to do.
“Pakistan ranks amongst the highest globally in head and neck cancers and periodontal diseases, and there are no preventive programs or public health policies in place,” Salima said. She reflected on how the university could implement simple intervention strategies at the local level while developing broader, more sustainable policy mechanisms to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in the country. “In the early days, our motto was – ‘simple solutions, big impact’ – for example, having clearer guidelines on infection control. How do you introduce a concept in the absence of guidelines?” This, along with setting basic standards of dental hygiene practice and care, remain the primary goal of the program.
The need for trained and qualified faculty was clearly evident. “Every time I came back, I observed local needs and listened to the concerns of students, staff and faculty,” Salima said. “I attempted to identify key gaps and how best local faculty could address them. Over time, I began to understand the cultural nuances and learned how I could teach effectively in that environment.”
While Salima considered accepting a full time position with AKU after her first TKN assignment, she was unable to do so at that time. However, she returned to Karachi several times over the next three years, as a TKN volunteer. All these experiences gave Salima a solid understanding of the needs and motivated her to consider a full time role. In 2018, she successfully applied for the Director of Dental Hygiene position at AKU.
Due to limited dental hygiene faculty at the university, Salima is relying on a network of other faculty to teach the program. This year, she expects several TKN volunteers to come and work with her at different times, creating a unique and collaborative model in dental hygiene education. Although the program is still in its infancy, it attracts students from Pakistan and from other countries including Kenya and Uganda. So far 27 students have graduated from the program.
“Through my TKN experience, I’ve crossed paths with other TKN dental faculty and we’ve all benefited from the true spirit of volunteering and giving,” Salima said. “What binds us together is that we are dental professionals who want to give back. Even now, there are many I haven’t met in person, and yet they continue to support us in various capacities.” Salima adds that they bring with them a sense of quiet strength and comfort. “When a TKN volunteer teaches in our program, they bring the ideals of ‘best practices’, a term repeatedly referenced by Mawlana Hazar Imam during his Diamond Jubilee.”
Dr. Saida Rasul expresses high words of praise, “TKN volunteers have been the backbone of the dental hygiene program at the Aga Khan University since its inception. Without TKN volunteers, this programme would not have been possible to launch and sustain. The university is extremely grateful to all the volunteers who helped launch the program, those who come on a yearly basis and those who continue to support us from a distance. We applaud and celebrate every volunteer, past and future, for their generous contributions.”
Stemming back to her grandparents and parents who exemplified a strong ethic of giving their time and knowledge, Salima feels fortunate to be doing this inspiring work. She hopes that this family tradition and her commitment as a TKN volunteer will always stay with her and encourage others.
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/news/tkn-volunteer- ... rce=Direct
A gift like no other
Seated in a Pamiri home in Khorog, Tajikistan, 73-year-old Khudododova Tursunmo listened intently to a presentation on Nazrana. She learned that Ismailis worldwide would have the opportunity to pledge a Diamond Jubilee gift of time and knowledge to Mawlana Hazar Imam. A retiree and grandmother of five, Khudododova wondered what gift she could give the Imam to show her love.
At the end of the presentation, a sheet was passed around where murids indicated how many hours or days in a year they would like to pledge. Khudododova scanned the page, her hazel eyes puzzled: “Why days?” she asked the presenter. “I give all my time for Nazrana. I dedicate my whole self.” She made a promise to create 60 community-based savings groups to mark 60 years of Imamat.
It was nearly 10 years earlier that Khudododova saw the power of community-based savings groups, more commonly known as GAJA (Guruhi Amonati Jome Asos in Tajik). GAJAs were introduced in Tajikistan in 2009 by the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme, an affiliate of the Aga Khan Foundation. After the initial project ended in 2013, the number of savings groups still rapidly expanded to almost all Ismaili villages promoted through the Ismaili Council for Tajikistan’s Social Welfare Portfolio and a number of local champions such as Khudododova. GAJA promotes self-reliance through community-managed financial services, particularly for those living in mountainous, difficult-to-reach areas who are not served by microfinance or traditional banks.
Groups of up to 35 individuals, usually women, form a savings group and meet weekly to buy shares, apply for and obtain loans, and contribute to an emergency social fund. At the end of the annual cycle, any surplus accrued is paid out to members proportionate to the shares they own. The cycle then begins again, creating a modest, yet continuous platform for economic growth and financial stability. During particularly difficult economic times, GAJAs are often seen as the only reliable place to keep money.
“In a bank, you need 100 Somoni [USD $10] to open an account,” said Khudododova. “With GAJA, you don’t need anything. You save what you want. There is no prescribed amount. That way, it works for everyone.”
Each GAJA is governed by an elected leader, treasurer, and secretary who have keys to the lockbox where the cash and records are stored. All three keys are needed to open the lockbox -- a low-cost way to prevent theft. The groups are self-managed and grounded on the principles of accountability, equity, and inclusion.
Photos and more...
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/gift-no-other
Seated in a Pamiri home in Khorog, Tajikistan, 73-year-old Khudododova Tursunmo listened intently to a presentation on Nazrana. She learned that Ismailis worldwide would have the opportunity to pledge a Diamond Jubilee gift of time and knowledge to Mawlana Hazar Imam. A retiree and grandmother of five, Khudododova wondered what gift she could give the Imam to show her love.
At the end of the presentation, a sheet was passed around where murids indicated how many hours or days in a year they would like to pledge. Khudododova scanned the page, her hazel eyes puzzled: “Why days?” she asked the presenter. “I give all my time for Nazrana. I dedicate my whole self.” She made a promise to create 60 community-based savings groups to mark 60 years of Imamat.
It was nearly 10 years earlier that Khudododova saw the power of community-based savings groups, more commonly known as GAJA (Guruhi Amonati Jome Asos in Tajik). GAJAs were introduced in Tajikistan in 2009 by the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme, an affiliate of the Aga Khan Foundation. After the initial project ended in 2013, the number of savings groups still rapidly expanded to almost all Ismaili villages promoted through the Ismaili Council for Tajikistan’s Social Welfare Portfolio and a number of local champions such as Khudododova. GAJA promotes self-reliance through community-managed financial services, particularly for those living in mountainous, difficult-to-reach areas who are not served by microfinance or traditional banks.
Groups of up to 35 individuals, usually women, form a savings group and meet weekly to buy shares, apply for and obtain loans, and contribute to an emergency social fund. At the end of the annual cycle, any surplus accrued is paid out to members proportionate to the shares they own. The cycle then begins again, creating a modest, yet continuous platform for economic growth and financial stability. During particularly difficult economic times, GAJAs are often seen as the only reliable place to keep money.
“In a bank, you need 100 Somoni [USD $10] to open an account,” said Khudododova. “With GAJA, you don’t need anything. You save what you want. There is no prescribed amount. That way, it works for everyone.”
Each GAJA is governed by an elected leader, treasurer, and secretary who have keys to the lockbox where the cash and records are stored. All three keys are needed to open the lockbox -- a low-cost way to prevent theft. The groups are self-managed and grounded on the principles of accountability, equity, and inclusion.
Photos and more...
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/gift-no-other
This is Zahir’s 13th non-profit book, available at Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1730784151
Learn Urdu: اُردو: Read, Write, Speak, includes 4,000-word Tri-directional Dictionary
About Zahir K. Dhalla
Zahir K. Dhalla is a retired GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and IT (Information Technology) freelance consultant in Toronto, Canada. He is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, Kenya (mapping science) and the University of Toronto, Canada (computer science).
Proceeds of ALL of his books go to needy school children in Tanga, Tanzania where he was born, grew up and finished high school.
https://www.amazon.com/Zahir-K.-Dhalla/ ... scns_share
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1730784151
Learn Urdu: اُردو: Read, Write, Speak, includes 4,000-word Tri-directional Dictionary
About Zahir K. Dhalla
Zahir K. Dhalla is a retired GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and IT (Information Technology) freelance consultant in Toronto, Canada. He is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, Kenya (mapping science) and the University of Toronto, Canada (computer science).
Proceeds of ALL of his books go to needy school children in Tanga, Tanzania where he was born, grew up and finished high school.
https://www.amazon.com/Zahir-K.-Dhalla/ ... scns_share
Giving Your Community Service an Upgrade | Zain Virani | TEDxClearBrookHighSchool
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... QJZvUR_1Hg
According to the Corporation for National Community Service, 7.9 billion hours and $184 billion are spent on volunteering in the United States alone. What is being accomplished with this time and money? In a talk filled with photos and graphics from his own volunteering trip to rural northern Pakistan, Zain Virani shares what he has learned about effective community service and encourages others to learn about how they can truly understand the impact they make through volunteering. Zain Virani is a driven high school junior who participates in a multitude of activities throughout the year, including Model UN, DECA, and his district-wide robotics team based in Johnson Space Center. In the summer of 2018, Zain traveled to the rural areas of Northern Pakistan through a program called Global Encounters to conduct service projects with a non-profit organization called the AKDN. Zain has always been passionate about providing community service, and through the program, he learned many ways in which he could do so to the best of his ability. He continues to share his time and knowledge through activities such as mentoring a middle school robotics team and serving as an officer for the National Honor Society. Zain hopes to share what he has learned about effective community service in order to encourage people to do the most they can through volunteering. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... QJZvUR_1Hg
According to the Corporation for National Community Service, 7.9 billion hours and $184 billion are spent on volunteering in the United States alone. What is being accomplished with this time and money? In a talk filled with photos and graphics from his own volunteering trip to rural northern Pakistan, Zain Virani shares what he has learned about effective community service and encourages others to learn about how they can truly understand the impact they make through volunteering. Zain Virani is a driven high school junior who participates in a multitude of activities throughout the year, including Model UN, DECA, and his district-wide robotics team based in Johnson Space Center. In the summer of 2018, Zain traveled to the rural areas of Northern Pakistan through a program called Global Encounters to conduct service projects with a non-profit organization called the AKDN. Zain has always been passionate about providing community service, and through the program, he learned many ways in which he could do so to the best of his ability. He continues to share his time and knowledge through activities such as mentoring a middle school robotics team and serving as an officer for the National Honor Society. Zain hopes to share what he has learned about effective community service in order to encourage people to do the most they can through volunteering. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
Volunteers at the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam
They say it takes a village, and this is especially true for the Phase II expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam. Areas such as infrastructure and technology, clinical programme development, capacity building, system and process improvements, and strengthening the continuum of care, all benefited from a team of volunteers who have contributed to the development of the hospital and health systems in Tanzania.
On 9 March 2019, the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Kassim M. Majaliwa, inaugurated the state-of-the-art facility at the invitation of Princess Zahra Aga Khan. This Phase II expansion has resulted in increased capacity and enhanced care and has enabled the Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS) in Tanzania to move a step closer to achieving Mawlana Hazar Imam’s vision of it being the premier teaching and tertiary health system in the country for strengthening the quality and expanding the scope of care provided to the people of Tanzania and surrounding regions.
Today, Phase II has enabled the hospital to evolve from a 74-bed secondary care hospital to a 170-bed tertiary care teaching hospital. The real value that lies in the project is the clinical programmes and the top class experience of care provided to the patients.
AKHS has been fortunate to have benefitted from the selfless contribution of numerous Ismaili volunteers and interns — amongst them over 30 TKN volunteers — as well as non-Ismaili volunteers who have been instrumental in assisting the Hospital to put in place various clinical programmes and protocols, imparting training, and developing human capacity for sustainability of services and programmes. Some of the notable contributions are illustrated here.
Photos and more...
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/it-take ... spital-dar
They say it takes a village, and this is especially true for the Phase II expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam. Areas such as infrastructure and technology, clinical programme development, capacity building, system and process improvements, and strengthening the continuum of care, all benefited from a team of volunteers who have contributed to the development of the hospital and health systems in Tanzania.
On 9 March 2019, the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Kassim M. Majaliwa, inaugurated the state-of-the-art facility at the invitation of Princess Zahra Aga Khan. This Phase II expansion has resulted in increased capacity and enhanced care and has enabled the Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS) in Tanzania to move a step closer to achieving Mawlana Hazar Imam’s vision of it being the premier teaching and tertiary health system in the country for strengthening the quality and expanding the scope of care provided to the people of Tanzania and surrounding regions.
Today, Phase II has enabled the hospital to evolve from a 74-bed secondary care hospital to a 170-bed tertiary care teaching hospital. The real value that lies in the project is the clinical programmes and the top class experience of care provided to the patients.
AKHS has been fortunate to have benefitted from the selfless contribution of numerous Ismaili volunteers and interns — amongst them over 30 TKN volunteers — as well as non-Ismaili volunteers who have been instrumental in assisting the Hospital to put in place various clinical programmes and protocols, imparting training, and developing human capacity for sustainability of services and programmes. Some of the notable contributions are illustrated here.
Photos and more...
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/it-take ... spital-dar
Video: Volunteers at ESF 2019
At the European Sports Festival 2019, hundreds of volunteers from across the UK and Europe came together to serve across a number of areas, from sport management and daytime activities, to evening entertainment, and more. Thank you to all volunteers who offered their time and skills across the weekend, and who made the Sports Festival a memorable success.
https://the.ismaili/esf/video-volunteers-esf-2019
At the European Sports Festival 2019, hundreds of volunteers from across the UK and Europe came together to serve across a number of areas, from sport management and daytime activities, to evening entertainment, and more. Thank you to all volunteers who offered their time and skills across the weekend, and who made the Sports Festival a memorable success.
https://the.ismaili/esf/video-volunteers-esf-2019
Serving on TKN Assignments in some of the world’s difficult regions
It was always Nashir Karmali’s desire to take a year off from work and give back as a volunteer in a developing country. Then came the call in 2007 that changed his career and life. He was asked to serve on a TKN assignment with Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) to conduct a strategic review of FOCUS Afghanistan’s operations, aimed at expanding its mandate from refugee repatriation to include emergency management (disaster preparedness and response).
Although Nashir had managed strategic projects for TELUS (a Canadian telecommunications company) and had served with Jamati institutions such as the Ismaili Council for Edmonton and the Conciliation and Arbitration Board, as well as other external organizations, this assignment was somewhat different. “I had to first learn about disaster management and working in a conflict zone,” he says.
Shortly after returning home to Edmonton from the three-month Afghanistan assignment, FOCUS called again. This time Nashir was entrusted with a broader set of responsibilities, in a TKN volunteer role, as Executive Officer of FOCUS Afghanistan. TELUS gave him a year-off to complete this assignment, after which Nashir took early retirement from TELUS. He continued for an additional 2 years as FOCUS Executive Officer in Afghanistan, and subsequently 3 years in a similar role in Tajikistan. Altogether, he served 2 years as a TKN Volunteer and 4 years in a staff role in these two countries. The work involved the retraining and recruitment of staff with new technical skills in disaster risk reduction and mitigation. Hundreds of volunteers and government staff were trained as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), or as internationally trained Search and Rescue Teams (SARTs). In addition, the mandate included strengthening FOCUS team capacity through best practices in finance and human resource systems, project management and grants management.
“In Afghanistan and Tajikistan, I was also tasked with finding a local successor for my position, so I was basically working myself out of the job,” Nashir says jokingly.
Nashir subsequently served on another three-year TKN assignment, from 2015 to 2018, as a Consultant in Emergency Preparedness with FOCUS and the Ismaili Council for Syria. His role entailed supporting Emergency Management initiatives, which included identifying and training community based Emergency Response Teams. While this assignment leveraged Nashir’s previous FOCUS experience, a pleasant surprise was when he was asked to also oversee the renovation of a 100-year old school for use as an Emergency Operations and Reception Centre.
Photos and more...
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/ser ... rce=Direct
It was always Nashir Karmali’s desire to take a year off from work and give back as a volunteer in a developing country. Then came the call in 2007 that changed his career and life. He was asked to serve on a TKN assignment with Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) to conduct a strategic review of FOCUS Afghanistan’s operations, aimed at expanding its mandate from refugee repatriation to include emergency management (disaster preparedness and response).
Although Nashir had managed strategic projects for TELUS (a Canadian telecommunications company) and had served with Jamati institutions such as the Ismaili Council for Edmonton and the Conciliation and Arbitration Board, as well as other external organizations, this assignment was somewhat different. “I had to first learn about disaster management and working in a conflict zone,” he says.
Shortly after returning home to Edmonton from the three-month Afghanistan assignment, FOCUS called again. This time Nashir was entrusted with a broader set of responsibilities, in a TKN volunteer role, as Executive Officer of FOCUS Afghanistan. TELUS gave him a year-off to complete this assignment, after which Nashir took early retirement from TELUS. He continued for an additional 2 years as FOCUS Executive Officer in Afghanistan, and subsequently 3 years in a similar role in Tajikistan. Altogether, he served 2 years as a TKN Volunteer and 4 years in a staff role in these two countries. The work involved the retraining and recruitment of staff with new technical skills in disaster risk reduction and mitigation. Hundreds of volunteers and government staff were trained as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), or as internationally trained Search and Rescue Teams (SARTs). In addition, the mandate included strengthening FOCUS team capacity through best practices in finance and human resource systems, project management and grants management.
“In Afghanistan and Tajikistan, I was also tasked with finding a local successor for my position, so I was basically working myself out of the job,” Nashir says jokingly.
Nashir subsequently served on another three-year TKN assignment, from 2015 to 2018, as a Consultant in Emergency Preparedness with FOCUS and the Ismaili Council for Syria. His role entailed supporting Emergency Management initiatives, which included identifying and training community based Emergency Response Teams. While this assignment leveraged Nashir’s previous FOCUS experience, a pleasant surprise was when he was asked to also oversee the renovation of a 100-year old school for use as an Emergency Operations and Reception Centre.
Photos and more...
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/ser ... rce=Direct
The Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2019
GREATER LONDON
Aga Khan Social Welfare Board Providing support, empowerment and advocacy to vulnerable members of the
Ismaili Muslim community.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/iss ... plement/J9
GREATER LONDON
Aga Khan Social Welfare Board Providing support, empowerment and advocacy to vulnerable members of the
Ismaili Muslim community.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/iss ... plement/J9
kmaherali wrote:The Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2019
GREATER LONDON
Aga Khan Social Welfare Board Providing support, empowerment and advocacy to vulnerable members of the
Ismaili Muslim community.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/iss ... plement/J9
Mentorship: building global bridges of knowledge
It was early fall in 2018 when Dr. Fayyaz Vellani first got his TKN call. “I still remember, being on the train at Trenton, when the Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB) USA reached out to me with a request from AKEB India,” he recalls. The ask from Dr. Vellani was a request to teach a writing residency programme, organized by AKEB India, for students of its flagship mentoring programme. “I felt called”, says Fayyaz, who is currently a Lecturer in Critical Writing at the University of Pennsylvania. “I remember telling Rehim (who called me), that I would either find someone or do this myself. Fundamentally, I said yes, because I knew there was a need”.
Four months later, after a six-webinar series that stretched over 6 weeks, Fayyaz flew from New York to Mumbai to teach his brand new class, a group of students from India and Bangladesh who were part of AKEB India’s mentoring programme. The writing residency was a critical part of the overall programme and was designed to help students develop the vital skills of writing, for academic and admission essay requirements.
Dr. Vellani is one among the dozens of volunteers who have collaborated with AKEB India on the design and delivery of its flagship mentoring programme, Reach for the Stars, or RFS. Launched in 2016, in collaboration with the National Council for India, RFS was designed as a long-term (9 month) programme for high-potential students, between the ages of 18 to 25 years, from the India Jamat.
Photos and more....
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/men ... rce=Direct
It was early fall in 2018 when Dr. Fayyaz Vellani first got his TKN call. “I still remember, being on the train at Trenton, when the Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB) USA reached out to me with a request from AKEB India,” he recalls. The ask from Dr. Vellani was a request to teach a writing residency programme, organized by AKEB India, for students of its flagship mentoring programme. “I felt called”, says Fayyaz, who is currently a Lecturer in Critical Writing at the University of Pennsylvania. “I remember telling Rehim (who called me), that I would either find someone or do this myself. Fundamentally, I said yes, because I knew there was a need”.
Four months later, after a six-webinar series that stretched over 6 weeks, Fayyaz flew from New York to Mumbai to teach his brand new class, a group of students from India and Bangladesh who were part of AKEB India’s mentoring programme. The writing residency was a critical part of the overall programme and was designed to help students develop the vital skills of writing, for academic and admission essay requirements.
Dr. Vellani is one among the dozens of volunteers who have collaborated with AKEB India on the design and delivery of its flagship mentoring programme, Reach for the Stars, or RFS. Launched in 2016, in collaboration with the National Council for India, RFS was designed as a long-term (9 month) programme for high-potential students, between the ages of 18 to 25 years, from the India Jamat.
Photos and more....
https://the.ismaili/diamond-jubilee/men ... rce=Direct
Mayor of London's Volunteering Awards
For eight years, the annual Team London Awards celebrated the individuals, teams and corporate volunteers who are making outstanding contributions to their communities and helping to make London the best city it can be. This October, we are delighted to be hosting the first year of the Mayor of London's Volunteering Awards.
The Mayor of London's Volunteering Awards will include the Mayor's Special Achievement Award and two new categories to celebrate people involved in Faith and Environmental volunteering. Each day, tens of thousands of volunteers help charities to deliver their services. These awards are one of the ways the Mayor acknowledges and thanks all volunteers across the city.
This year's ceremony will take place on Monday 14 October 2019 in the Chamber at City Hall between 5.30 - 7.00pm.
Closing date for nominations is midday on Friday 26 July 2019.
Award categories
Nomination categories
Criteria for nominating
Past Team London Awards
Award categories
The 2019 awards categories are:
More....
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/vo ... ing-awards
For eight years, the annual Team London Awards celebrated the individuals, teams and corporate volunteers who are making outstanding contributions to their communities and helping to make London the best city it can be. This October, we are delighted to be hosting the first year of the Mayor of London's Volunteering Awards.
The Mayor of London's Volunteering Awards will include the Mayor's Special Achievement Award and two new categories to celebrate people involved in Faith and Environmental volunteering. Each day, tens of thousands of volunteers help charities to deliver their services. These awards are one of the ways the Mayor acknowledges and thanks all volunteers across the city.
This year's ceremony will take place on Monday 14 October 2019 in the Chamber at City Hall between 5.30 - 7.00pm.
Closing date for nominations is midday on Friday 26 July 2019.
Award categories
Nomination categories
Criteria for nominating
Past Team London Awards
Award categories
The 2019 awards categories are:
More....
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/vo ... ing-awards
A Spirit of Service, An Ethic of Tradition: Celebrating 100 Years of Volunteerism
On July 7th, 2019, the Ismaili Volunteer Corps of Tanzania and Zambia celebrated 100 years of volunteerism in the Ismaili Community. The event coincided with the 62nd Imamat Day Celebrations of Mawlana Hazar Imam, at the Diamond Jubilee Complex in Dar es Salaam. The celebratory day commenced with the flag hoisting of the “My Flag” and a March past by the Aga Khan Scouts and Guides, and past and present Ismaili Volunteer Majors that have served in the Ismaili Volunteer Corps.
The President of the National Council for Tanzania Amin Lakhani welcomed the Jamat and spoke on the spirit of volunteerism that permeates through our institutions. During his speech, the President quoted the words of Mawlana Sultan Mohamed Shah from 1954 when the IVC motto of “work no words” was established: “Labor for the welfare of others is the best of improving ourselves because results are sure and certain. If you work for yourselves, you are never happy. This is not a new idea. But this is the outcome of the experience of thousands of years of history.” The President also thanked all volunteers for their continuous service.
Both the Ismaili and Tanzania flags were raised as the respective anthems were played. This kicked off the launch of the 100th anniversary of the Ismaili Volunteer Corps, which is being celebrated globally.
The spirit of volunteerism is embedded within the Ismaili Tariqah, and one that resonates with each Murid. It is a tradition that Mawlana Hazar Imam speaks of as a major aspect within the community:
“In whatever we do, at whatever level, we have always been reliant upon volunteers … especially in today’s difficult circumstances, we must never lose sight of nor undervalue the secret of our Aga Khan Network’s success, the element which underpins its professionalism…The heart and lifeblood of our network [are] the voluntary workers; the Boards, the Committees, the volunteers – young and old – who contribute their time and efforts.” –Mawlana Hazar Imam speaking at the unveiling of plaque launching the Aga Khan Hospital expansion programme at Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on November 25th, 1982
The flag hoisting represented the identity of the Ismaili Volunteers in Dar es Salaam, and symbolized the importance of volunteerism within the community. The identity of the Ismaili Volunteers in Tanzania is seen through the various acts of service provided by the community. This may include support to other non-Ismaili communities through the Crisis Response Team (CRT), as well as community service events such as the recent Uhuru walk in March 2019, where the IVC supported the initiative of educating underprivileged and sick children.
The identity of the IVC in Tanzania is evident through the red and green colors that are seen on the ties of the respective volunteers. The flag hoisting and march past proudly confirmed our position as a community in Tanzania that is proud to serve the Jamat, the AKDN Institutions, and the community at large.
During the event, a volunteer from Darkhana Jamatkhana expressed her gratitude for being part of IVC for more than 20 years. She said, “Volunteering is important for me because it is our tradition and it makes me feel proud to continue and partake in such a wonderful tradition. It is also one of the ways to serve the Imam... when the Jamat is happy with our service, so is the Imam.”
As a collective entity, the IVC is the fabric that provides the identity of the Ismaili Community in Tanzania. It is the strength of the Jamat that enables young and old volunteers to serve.
The history of the Ismaili community in Tanzania stands at more than 150 years, and the spirit of service to the community at large is evident through the event. Many leaders within the Jamat have also served in government positions, being former Ministers and MPs.
The celebrations then continued with energetic and colorful dances by members of each Jamatkhana with each Khane’s Mukhi/Kamadia while Jamati members cheered on the performers. The remainder of the day included lunch, live music, rasura and a photo booth.
https://the.ismaili/tanzania/spirit-ser ... lunteerism
On July 7th, 2019, the Ismaili Volunteer Corps of Tanzania and Zambia celebrated 100 years of volunteerism in the Ismaili Community. The event coincided with the 62nd Imamat Day Celebrations of Mawlana Hazar Imam, at the Diamond Jubilee Complex in Dar es Salaam. The celebratory day commenced with the flag hoisting of the “My Flag” and a March past by the Aga Khan Scouts and Guides, and past and present Ismaili Volunteer Majors that have served in the Ismaili Volunteer Corps.
The President of the National Council for Tanzania Amin Lakhani welcomed the Jamat and spoke on the spirit of volunteerism that permeates through our institutions. During his speech, the President quoted the words of Mawlana Sultan Mohamed Shah from 1954 when the IVC motto of “work no words” was established: “Labor for the welfare of others is the best of improving ourselves because results are sure and certain. If you work for yourselves, you are never happy. This is not a new idea. But this is the outcome of the experience of thousands of years of history.” The President also thanked all volunteers for their continuous service.
Both the Ismaili and Tanzania flags were raised as the respective anthems were played. This kicked off the launch of the 100th anniversary of the Ismaili Volunteer Corps, which is being celebrated globally.
The spirit of volunteerism is embedded within the Ismaili Tariqah, and one that resonates with each Murid. It is a tradition that Mawlana Hazar Imam speaks of as a major aspect within the community:
“In whatever we do, at whatever level, we have always been reliant upon volunteers … especially in today’s difficult circumstances, we must never lose sight of nor undervalue the secret of our Aga Khan Network’s success, the element which underpins its professionalism…The heart and lifeblood of our network [are] the voluntary workers; the Boards, the Committees, the volunteers – young and old – who contribute their time and efforts.” –Mawlana Hazar Imam speaking at the unveiling of plaque launching the Aga Khan Hospital expansion programme at Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on November 25th, 1982
The flag hoisting represented the identity of the Ismaili Volunteers in Dar es Salaam, and symbolized the importance of volunteerism within the community. The identity of the Ismaili Volunteers in Tanzania is seen through the various acts of service provided by the community. This may include support to other non-Ismaili communities through the Crisis Response Team (CRT), as well as community service events such as the recent Uhuru walk in March 2019, where the IVC supported the initiative of educating underprivileged and sick children.
The identity of the IVC in Tanzania is evident through the red and green colors that are seen on the ties of the respective volunteers. The flag hoisting and march past proudly confirmed our position as a community in Tanzania that is proud to serve the Jamat, the AKDN Institutions, and the community at large.
During the event, a volunteer from Darkhana Jamatkhana expressed her gratitude for being part of IVC for more than 20 years. She said, “Volunteering is important for me because it is our tradition and it makes me feel proud to continue and partake in such a wonderful tradition. It is also one of the ways to serve the Imam... when the Jamat is happy with our service, so is the Imam.”
As a collective entity, the IVC is the fabric that provides the identity of the Ismaili Community in Tanzania. It is the strength of the Jamat that enables young and old volunteers to serve.
The history of the Ismaili community in Tanzania stands at more than 150 years, and the spirit of service to the community at large is evident through the event. Many leaders within the Jamat have also served in government positions, being former Ministers and MPs.
The celebrations then continued with energetic and colorful dances by members of each Jamatkhana with each Khane’s Mukhi/Kamadia while Jamati members cheered on the performers. The remainder of the day included lunch, live music, rasura and a photo booth.
https://the.ismaili/tanzania/spirit-ser ... lunteerism
Civil society in India: Building a future that works for all
Civil Society has the potential to play a fundamental role in bringing about change for a brighter future. This article features stories of individuals who have brought about change and bettered the lives of others, illustrating that each of us, in our own special way, can can help one another to build a better future.
In an interview with La Cohorte earlier this year, Mawlana Hazar Imam said, “I have always taken the view that civil society must play a fundamental role in the future of all populations. So, we have to consolidate and strengthen it. And that means taking the most important institutions of civil society and giving them support and encouragement wherever we can perhaps help them do things differently from anything we have known up till now.”
The stories highlighted below, selected from many other such examples, involve individuals offering their time and energy to contribute to wider society and the greater good.
Sonia Mackwani (Western India)
Munira Sen (Southern India)
Amirbhai Lalani: (Northern Saurashtra)
Dr Salim Hirani: (North Eastern Gujarat)
Photos and more...
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/civil-s ... -works-all
*******
Volunteers in Uganda: Serving others for a brighter future
In Islamic belief, caring for the poor and the needy is a long established tradition. Serving orphaned children is especially commended, as quoted in the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). With this in mind, young members of the Ismaili Volunteers Corps and the Aga Khan Scouts and Guides in Uganda gathered in June to serve hearty meals to orphaned children at the Kasanagati Orphan Fans Society in Kawanda.
A further tradition during the month of Ramadan, involves serving the Iftar to disadvantaged members of society. Iftar, or the customary evening meal to break the fast is a special occasion in many parts of the Muslim world, and communities make the most of the opportunity to serve and stand in solidarity with those less fortunate.
Sheikh Sulaiman Kiberu who manages the orphanage in Kawanda, which houses more than 800 children from all parts of the country said, “We survive on such donations of good-willed and generous communities including Ismailis who occasionally also make contributions towards maintenance of the orphanage.”
Kefina, a 17-year-old volunteer said, “Visiting the children was a very exciting and memorable experience. It felt good to give back to the community and do something for the needy. Their smiles made me realise that something so small can mean so much and make a difference. All of this teaches us that community service is something that helps build a better future, not just for yourself, but also for others.”
Nadim Lalani, the Outreach Chairman for the Ismaili Council for Uganda said, “This work is part of the civil society support and engagement programme which we carry out in different parts of the country, to promote the spirit of humanity as propagated by Islam. Our main aim is to teach young people the importance of kindness, and how a giving and helping nature can help them to build a better future.”
“Our young volunteers served Iftar in an orphanage that houses at least 800 children. In Islam what is important is brotherhood, looking after the needy and underprivileged, the act of giving back to the community, and enhancing continuity in volunteering,” he added.
Insha, a 13-year-old girl guide said, “I had a good time helping the kids at the orphanage. It was really exciting and I felt really good seeing smiles on their faces. I hope we have more chances to help them in the future,” while Alizeh, an 18-year-old volunteer said, “I thank my community to give me such an opportunity to contribute and serve the underprivileged kids.”
A donor who helped to procure the food, on the basis of anonymity, said, “It is important to feed the poor and the needy. It is one of the best acts in Islam. By doing this we teach our future generations how to give back to the community with a small deed of kindness.”
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/volunte ... rce=Direct
Civil Society has the potential to play a fundamental role in bringing about change for a brighter future. This article features stories of individuals who have brought about change and bettered the lives of others, illustrating that each of us, in our own special way, can can help one another to build a better future.
In an interview with La Cohorte earlier this year, Mawlana Hazar Imam said, “I have always taken the view that civil society must play a fundamental role in the future of all populations. So, we have to consolidate and strengthen it. And that means taking the most important institutions of civil society and giving them support and encouragement wherever we can perhaps help them do things differently from anything we have known up till now.”
The stories highlighted below, selected from many other such examples, involve individuals offering their time and energy to contribute to wider society and the greater good.
Sonia Mackwani (Western India)
Munira Sen (Southern India)
Amirbhai Lalani: (Northern Saurashtra)
Dr Salim Hirani: (North Eastern Gujarat)
Photos and more...
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/civil-s ... -works-all
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Volunteers in Uganda: Serving others for a brighter future
In Islamic belief, caring for the poor and the needy is a long established tradition. Serving orphaned children is especially commended, as quoted in the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). With this in mind, young members of the Ismaili Volunteers Corps and the Aga Khan Scouts and Guides in Uganda gathered in June to serve hearty meals to orphaned children at the Kasanagati Orphan Fans Society in Kawanda.
A further tradition during the month of Ramadan, involves serving the Iftar to disadvantaged members of society. Iftar, or the customary evening meal to break the fast is a special occasion in many parts of the Muslim world, and communities make the most of the opportunity to serve and stand in solidarity with those less fortunate.
Sheikh Sulaiman Kiberu who manages the orphanage in Kawanda, which houses more than 800 children from all parts of the country said, “We survive on such donations of good-willed and generous communities including Ismailis who occasionally also make contributions towards maintenance of the orphanage.”
Kefina, a 17-year-old volunteer said, “Visiting the children was a very exciting and memorable experience. It felt good to give back to the community and do something for the needy. Their smiles made me realise that something so small can mean so much and make a difference. All of this teaches us that community service is something that helps build a better future, not just for yourself, but also for others.”
Nadim Lalani, the Outreach Chairman for the Ismaili Council for Uganda said, “This work is part of the civil society support and engagement programme which we carry out in different parts of the country, to promote the spirit of humanity as propagated by Islam. Our main aim is to teach young people the importance of kindness, and how a giving and helping nature can help them to build a better future.”
“Our young volunteers served Iftar in an orphanage that houses at least 800 children. In Islam what is important is brotherhood, looking after the needy and underprivileged, the act of giving back to the community, and enhancing continuity in volunteering,” he added.
Insha, a 13-year-old girl guide said, “I had a good time helping the kids at the orphanage. It was really exciting and I felt really good seeing smiles on their faces. I hope we have more chances to help them in the future,” while Alizeh, an 18-year-old volunteer said, “I thank my community to give me such an opportunity to contribute and serve the underprivileged kids.”
A donor who helped to procure the food, on the basis of anonymity, said, “It is important to feed the poor and the needy. It is one of the best acts in Islam. By doing this we teach our future generations how to give back to the community with a small deed of kindness.”
Photos at:
https://the.ismaili/our-stories/volunte ... rce=Direct
Towards a Tradition of Service: The First Decade of the Ismaili Volunteer Corps
Rizwan Mawani Nashila Velji
Since its inception in British India in 1919, the Ismaili Volunteer Corps (IVC) has grown from modest beginnings to an international body dedicated to serve the Ismaili Muslim community, its Imam and the wider societies it is part of, with discipline and humility. In its 93-year history, Ismaili volunteers have not only been an important and essential part of community activities, they have also assisted and served a range of government and civil society institutions from sports and religion to education and health. Younger members also served through the aegis of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. The following photo essay helps to visualize their early history through images from Ismaili magazines published in Bombay from the mid-1920s to the mid-1930s.
Photo essay can be accessed at:
https://www.academia.edu/9217724/Toward ... view-paper
Rizwan Mawani Nashila Velji
Since its inception in British India in 1919, the Ismaili Volunteer Corps (IVC) has grown from modest beginnings to an international body dedicated to serve the Ismaili Muslim community, its Imam and the wider societies it is part of, with discipline and humility. In its 93-year history, Ismaili volunteers have not only been an important and essential part of community activities, they have also assisted and served a range of government and civil society institutions from sports and religion to education and health. Younger members also served through the aegis of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. The following photo essay helps to visualize their early history through images from Ismaili magazines published in Bombay from the mid-1920s to the mid-1930s.
Photo essay can be accessed at:
https://www.academia.edu/9217724/Toward ... view-paper