Muslim Community commits to environmental stewardship, responds to COVID-19
By NATION REPORTER
THE Shia Ismaili Muslim Community is set to launch the first ever Global Ismaili Civic Day (GICD) on September 26.
The Global Ismaili Civic Day is an annual Ismaili civic signature event.
According to a statement, this is a global programme under which the Shia Ismaili Muslim Community across the world had united around its centuries-old tradition of serving humanity by rendering voluntary service to improve the quality of life of the community in which they live, regardless of faith, gender and background.
The statement notes that this international endeavour reflects the community’s ethic of civic engagement and good citizenship.
It stated that the Global Ismaili Civic Day would be celebrated across more than 15 countries around the world.
“Volunteers from the Ismaili Muslim Community have pledged hundreds of thousands of hours to improve the quality of life of the communities in which they live, exemplifying universal values of service, peace and compassion,” reads the statement in part. “On the Global Ismaili Civic Day, a diverse array of activities will be carried out simultaneously across the world. This will be accomplished through pledged volunteer activities in partnership with over 40 organisations across the globe.”
The inaugural global day would focus on two themes of ‘Environmental Stewardship and Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic’.
Ismaili Civic volunteers across the globe would work with government and, or local civil society partners to contribute their time, knowledge and skills for the betterment of their fellow citizens.
“On 26 September, volunteers in Zambia will carry out the following activities under the ‘Environment Stewardship’ theme – clean up, tree planting, restoration/rehabilitation (such as painting) of classrooms and school grounds and donation of stationery at the Emmanuel Adventist Secondary School. The volunteers will begin the activities on September 26 and will continue to support the above sites over a period of three to six months,” it stated. “Expected to attend the launch day are government and public officials, members of civil society and dignitaries. The event is expected to draw more than 25 volunteers on the service day to support the 350 students at the school. These efforts are connected to similar activities in more than 15 countries around the world as part of Ismaili Civic.”
It stated that since the launch of the Ismaili Civic inititive across the globe in 2020, significant impact had been created in the areas of health, education, economic development, environmental stewardship and cultural restoration.
