CIVIC Ontario

CIVIC Ontario

CIVIC (Challenging Ismaili Volunteers in Communities) was established during Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee, with the intent of illustrating to Ismaili youth that the Ismaili spirit of volunteerism can be extended beyond our community to society at large. CIVIC Ontario partners with local organizations that operate in the communities within which we live, to improve our neighbourhoods and cities.

By providing a helping hand to organizations like Football For The World, March of Dimes, and Good Shepherd, CIVIC Ontario is not only assisting those who help the less fortunate, but is also enabling the younger members of our Jamat to join fellow Ismailis in volunteer efforts for the wider community. This also provides the youth a safe, organized place to offer their time, knowledge, and service, while building team skills in a diverse setting and learning about communities and organizations they may not be familiar with.

“Volunteerism is so valued, so important within our community. We are so strong in our voluntary work internally, but we can use this to help others, and, at the same time, demonstrate what the Ismaili community values,” explained Nabila Jutha, CIVIC Vice Chair for Ontario.

“CIVIC’s programs allow us to share our time and our knowledge; when you look back on events we, as Ismailis, organize, they’re always done incredibly well and it’s because of our volunteers and the training of our volunteer corps. This is what we can bring to the table for external communities; we can use our skills and share our knowledge through service,” said Raheman Dhanani, a volunteer. “Our community is very lucky in having a great number of volunteers, any of whom will step up when asked. But in the wider community, that’s not always the case. We have a responsibility, socially, to help others, regardless of their faith.”

 “I wasn’t aware of the volunteer arm in the Ismaili community before this; it’s great that they really engage the youth, through their teens and into adulthood. They focus on making sure the larger community benefits, and this strengthens non-profit organizations that operate to help people, too,” said Ruth Kapelus, one of the media and public relations members for March of Dimes fundraising department – an organization that helps Canadians living with disabilities, with which CIVIC Ontario volunteers have worked. “Isn’t that the point of religion? To make the world stronger and better? I’m Jewish, and we have a belief that there is a responsibility in leaving the world in a better state than you found it, no matter how you do it, and I think CIVIC is fulfilling that mandate of leaving your mark, and making it better. No matter it being cross-cultural, cross-faith; we can all strive to be and do better.”

Good Shepherd, another organization that CIVIC has worked with,  serves the homeless and disadvantaged with the basic necessities of survival, including food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and helps people move towards independence and self-sustainability.

 “We have the largest free-meal program in Toronto, with 1,360 meals being served every day. Our medical clinic receives 100 visits per week, and we distribute 200 pieces of donated clothing each day. At our facilities, we need shelter beds made, clothing folded, and help with kitchen prep work. Weekends can mean less administrative and coordinating staff for us, but CIVIC came on a Saturday and was a great help for us. They were flexible in whatever needed to be done, and were willing to help us wherever we had a need. Sometimes it can be a challenge organizing a group of 10+ volunteers, but they were independent, responsible, and willingly worked in several different departments during their time with us,” explained Rebecca Ferguson, one of those responsible for assigning volunteers to various positions of service at Good Shepherd.

Ferguson always finds inspiration in volunteerism, and feels it’s important to introduce new generations to the tradition of service. “Everyone volunteers for different reasons; some are young, some have never volunteered. Some teens come in with their own idea of how to change the future, how to improve, how to help, how to affect change, and that is very inspiring.”

Farzana Thawer, an Ismaili parent who wanted to share the experience of voluntary service with her 12-year-old daughter, was at the CIVIC volunteer event at Good Shepherd. “My daughter was so excited about the opportunity to serve in a different capacity; she was so happy to give back. It was wonderful to see how she went right in, put on her gloves and got right to work; she had no apprehension. It was also great to work in a group, as a team. It was a good feeling; she felt so happy and satisfied after, and that was memorable for me. It was something anyone can do at any age. It doesn’t take up much time, but the reward is really lasting.”

 Jutha sees how well-received CIVIC Ontario is, thanks to the power of the Ismaili volunteers, explaining that there is a lasting impression, and it strengthens the bonds of a pluralistic society. “We are great as our own community, but we are so much better as a global community working with others. Working together is what will help us get past all the political and economic struggles we all face. That’s what CIVIC does. It brings communities together.”

To sign up for volunteering events, register here.