Articles related to: Civil Society
Mawlana Hazar Imam underscores the value of land planning in sustainable development during an address to the Urban Land Institute in Paris
Paris, 31 January 2012 — On the heels of being awarded the J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development, Mawlana Hazar Imam addressed a leadership dinner at the Urban Land Institute Europe Annual Conference held in Paris. In October 2011, the Urban Land Institute honoured Hazar Imam for his commitment to the highest standards of responsible development.
Shaping the world around them through grassroots service
Described as grassroots because they are led by concerned citizens rather than governments or established institutions, such community action initiatives can be a powerful means in addressing difficult issues. Some Ismailis are successfully using grassroots action to magnify the impact of their volunteer work.
Mawlana Hazar Imam is awarded the J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development
Los Angeles, 28 October 2011 — Describing him as “an unparalleled leader in development, cultural preservation and philanthropy,” the Urban Land Institute has named Mawlana Hazar Imam the 2011 Laureate of the J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development. The prize recognises an individual whose career demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards of responsible development.
Battling from the beach — an Ismaili couple is recognised for their efforts against human trafficking
As owners of a Kenyan beach resort, the Visram family maintains a firm belief in improving the lives of the local community. Their efforts to help people understand the real and present dangers of illegal human trafficking earned them a nomination for the first-ever Business Leader's Award to Fight Human Trafficking, for which Mawlana Hazar Imam was a jury member.
UK Ismaili volunteers help marathon runners get to the finish line
Thirty Ismaili volunteers extended a hand of friendship and support — and many bottles of water — to some 8 000 runners at the 2011 Brighton Marathon. The event was an opportunity to get involved and give back to the wider community.
Taking the Canadian model for citizenship into the world
Following Mawlana Hazar Imam’s lecture at the LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium in October, Sheherazade Hirji of The Ismaili Canada magazine met with the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson and Mr John Ralston Saul to discuss the lecture series, and the work of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
Urban renewal through cultural revitalisation transforms Mughal monument into a locus of opportunity for residents
Aftab Jalia works with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Delhi and is part of an initiative to revitalise the area surrounding Humayun’s Tomb and Gardens, and improve the quality of life of the residents in the neighbouring Nizamuddin district. A graduate of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at MIT, he shares some insight on the progress of the project and its impact on the surrounding community.
Mawlana Hazar Imam addresses prestigious LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium in Toronto
Toronto, 15 October 2010 — “What the Canadian experience suggests to me is that identity itself can be pluralistic,” said Mawlana Hazar Imam before a packed audience at the Royal Conservatory’s Telus Centre for Performance and Learning. Speaking at the invitation of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Hazar Imam received a warm welcome from the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul.
Also see:
» AKDN coverage of the LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium, including speech and photos
» Welcome address by John Ralston Saul and introductory remarks by the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson
» Watch the complete recorded event
» The LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium at the Institute for Canadian Citizenship website
Almost a century later, the Girl Scouts movement is still engaged in service
This year, the Girl Guide movement turns 98. Over the years, the organisation’s impact on the physical, mental and spiritual development of girls and young women has been phenomenal. Many Ismaili Muslim women who are part of the movement have become inspiring role models and leaders in their communities and the world.
Ismaili scouts earn prestigious Eagle Scout award for outstanding community service
In December, ten Ismaili Muslim Boy Scouts in Texas earned the prestigious Eagle Scout Award for performing outstanding community service that demonstrated initiative, commitment to help those in need, and extraordinary leadership skills. This prestigious rank is achieved by only five per cent of all Boy Scouts in the United States.
New chapter in Canadian Ismaili story set to unfold in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto
Over the decades, the Toronto neighbourhood of Don Mills has opened its welcoming arms and helped many new immigrants make Canada their home, including Ismailis and other Muslims. On 28 May, Mawlana Hazar Imam will lay the foundation for three important new projects that will invite Canadians — Muslim and non-Muslim — to explore their connected heritage and celebrate their unique backgrounds.
The Light Within sparks dialogue between musical traditions
A performance at London’s Cadogan Hall by the Ismaili Community Ensemble earlier this year brought an eclectic mix of sounds to the ears — the tabla complimented the trombone, the bansuri flowed with the bass, the kamancha conversed with the clarinet, and the strings argued with the saxophone. Ensemble member Rabiyyah G. Raval shares her reflections.
Transforming values into reality — A conversation with Eboo Patel (Part 2)
Concluding a two-part series, Eboo Patel, the Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core, discusses how his organisation overcomes the faith line and promotes religious pluralism by bringing young people together to engage in dialogue and service to the community. (Read the first part of this interview here.)
The shared value of religious pluralism — A conversation with Eboo Patel (Part 1)
In the first of a two-part series, TheIsmaili.org spoke with Eboo Patel, the Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core, an organisation that promotes mutual respect and pluralism among young people from different religious traditions. Patel shares his understanding of religious pluralism and explains what motivates him in his work.
Faith-based communities unite to save Toronto neighbourhood food bank
For years, the Flemingdon Food Bank, located in the Don Mills area of Toronto, had served individuals of many faiths and cultures. But when it found itself on the verge of having to close down, the Ismaili community joined with other faith-based groups to support the troubled institution.
Ismaili community celebrates the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay in Don Mills
Thursday afternoon, President Mohamed Manji of the Ismaili Council for Canada carried the Olympic torch through the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto. Earlier in the day, community members gathered for a pre-torch event hosted by the Ismaili community in partnership with the Flemingdon Food Bank.
Canadian Government honours FOCUS and the Ismaili Council for Canada
At a recent ceremony in Toronto, Focus Humanitarian Assistance and the Ismaili Council for Canada were honoured for their work on refugee settlement. The occasion marked the 30th anniversary of the Private Sponsorship Program run by the Canadian Government, which has facilitated the admission to Canada of refugees originating from countries such as Afghanistan and Kosovo, allowing them to build new lives for themselves.
Spirit of the West is alive and thriving in the Alberta Jamat
Anyone who has visited the Canadian province of Alberta will have been touched by the Spirit of the West. In the best tradition of that spirit, the Jamat in Alberta has worked to make the province and the country a better place for all.
Building a better society through CIVIC participation
CIVIC, an initiative to engage Jamati youth, appealed to the social conscience of young Ismailis by inviting them to give back to their local communities through voluntary service. More than 1 100 participants contributed over 4 400 hours of service to projects that benefited communities across Canada.
Texas Jamat comes together in the face of a massive storm
On 13 September, Hurricane Ike surged through Houston with destructive force. The Ismaili Council and Focus Humanitarian Assistance established a Crisis Response Team to ensure the safety of the Jamat, while also assisting relief efforts in the wider Houston community.
Qatar’s quest to build a knowledge society
Qatar is in a hurry to meet the challenges of a dynamically changing world by transforming itself into a knowledge society. Its leaders are propelling the nation on a quest for excellence in education.
Young Canadian Ismailis recognized for their achievements
Six Canadian Ismailis were recently named to prestigious “Top 40 Under 40” lists for their achievements, vision, leadership and community involvement. They attribute their success to the values instilled in them as Ismaili Muslims, as well as the opportunity to thrive in the fields they love.
Ensemble joins with Royal Philharmonic to deliver captivating performances
In March, the Ismaili Community Ensemble, together with musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, dazzled audiences with rousing performances in celebration of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee at the Ismaili Centre in London.
A rich history of the Scout Movement in Portugal
The history of Scouting in the Portuguese Ismaili community began in 1934 in Mozambique. The Scouting tradition continued as members of the Jamat emigrated from Mozambique to Portugal. Today, the Ismaili Scout group in Portugal is the second largest group in the country.
From AKDN to Google
Aleem Walji recently joined Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, the world’s largest Internet search engine company. He is part of the Global Development team and brings to Google his insight in social development based on his education and experience with Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Emirates Woman of the Year Award
From London to Dubai, Zenny Hirji’s fund-raising efforts for charitable organisations have been exemplary. Now she is recognised as the “Emirates Woman of the Year" for her work with the Children's Hope Foundation.
Ismaili Centre London participates in Fete de la Musique
The Social Hall at The Ismaili Centre in London, was filled with people of all ages eager to hear the spectacular fusion of sounds from an incredible mix of western and eastern instruments on 21 June 2007, as part of the Exhibition Road Music Day festivities.
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