Ismaili Community in Contemporary Situation

Recent history (19th-21st Century)
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kmaherali
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Shivji, Ali-Ismail selected for The Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference

Shivji, Ali-Ismail
Title: Managing Director
Organization: Optima Living
Home City: Calgary, AB
Study Tour: Newfoundland and Labrador

Ali is a recognized expert in care, housing, design and programing for seniors. For the past decade, he has worked in strategy and operations in the public and private health care sector with the National Health Service (UK), McKinsey & Company, and as the COO for AgeCare Seniors Communities of Care and Wellness. Ali holds an MBA (INSEAD), BEng (McGill University) and certificates in Value Based Healthcare Delivery (Harvard), and Best Practices in Dementia Care (Johns Hopkins). Happily married with an energetic toddler, Ali is a passionate parallel parker, a recovering Starbucks barista and a Top 40 under 40.

http://www.leadershipcanada.ca/shivji-ali-ismail/

******
Abdul Fazal Bhanji receives Order of the British Empire honours for services to education and young people

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... l-list.pdf

The full New Year Honours lists for 2017 recognise the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.

Order of the British Empire 2017

Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Abdul Fazal BHANJI

Deputy Chair, University of London Board of Trustees.

For services to Education and Young People. (London)

ICAEW members awarded New Year Honours

A number of ICAEW chartered accountants were recognised by Her Majesty the Queen in the New Year Honours List

Abdul Fazal Bhanji, deputy chair of the University of London board of trustees also received an OBE for services to education and young people.

Abdul F Bhanji – Directorbank

Abdul has a strong track record in executive search. Prior to joining us, he was a co-founder of a successful executive search firm and a NED at Whitehead Mann. In his earlier career he worked with a variety of high profile media and industrial clients as a senior partner at PwC in charge of business development. Over the years he has built an extensive network of senior contacts in the City and at major plc’s and continues to act as a special advisor to a number of Chairs and CEOs of multinational organisations. Abdul is currently Vice Chair of the University of London Board of Trustees and a Trustee of the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts. He is a former Chair of The Aga Khan Foundation UK National Committee.
kmaherali
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Governor General leads list of honorary degree recipients during Canada's 150th anniversary

Twelve inspiring individuals will receive the University of Alberta’s highest honour at convocation ceremonies this June.

Firoz Rasul’s background as an engineer, entrepreneur and community developer has served him in good stead as president of Aga Khan University. After a stellar business career in Canada that saw him turn two startups into world leaders in wireless communications and clean fuel cells, Rasul took on the challenge of leading a global university based in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom. In his 11 years as president, Rasul has been instrumental in developing a rich partnership with the U of A that has created opportunities for exchange and collaboration for students, professors and researchers at both universities.


Firoz Rasul will receive an honorary doctor of science degree June 8 at 3 p.m.

Saida Rasul has devoted her life and career as a dentist to improving lives for those less fortunate. A longtime volunteer and donor with the United Way, she was integral in securing an $18-million provincial grant to establish British Columbia’s Success by 6 program focused on developing healthy children and families. She’s also involved with the Rotary Club, the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Aga Khan Foundation, among many others. Most recently, she worked with faculty members in the U of A’s School of Dentistry to set up dental hygiene programs offered through Aga Khan University in East Africa and Pakistan.

Saida Rasul will receive an honorary doctor of science degree June 9 at a special ceremony

https://www.ualberta.ca/news-and-events ... nniversary

*******
Introducing Malala Fund’s new CEO, Farah Mohamed

Today Malala Fund announced the appointment of Farah Mohamed as the organisation’s new CEO.

“We are thrilled ​that Farah will be leading the Malala Fund team and excited about expanding our organisation’s work to ensure that all girls have the ​opportunity to learn,” Susan McCaw, Malala Fund board chair.

Mohamed is a leading advocate for girls and women around the world. As founder and CEO of G(irls)20, she built an organization dedicated to girls’ education and female labour force participation. Before founding G(irls)20, she served in senior leadership positions at The Belinda Stronach Foundation and VON Canada and worked for several leading Canadian politicians, including The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada.

“Malala has ignited a movement around the world and I am honoured and excited to join her and the Malala Fund team to help make her vision a reality,” Farah Mohamed.

Since beginning work in 2014, Malala Fund has invested more than $8.6 million in girls’ education programmes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and countries hosting Syrian refugees. Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy change needed to give all girls a secondary education, invests in developing country educators and activists and amplifies the voices of girls fighting for change.

https://blog.malala.org/introducing-mal ... acfc043523
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

Ugandan Asian Archives Collection in Calgary AB

Saturday, May 06, 2017

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Add to calendar

Location Details

Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Grounds
BMO Centre - Palomino Room
1410 Olympic Way SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2W1

Directions and parking info:
http://venues.calgarystampede.com/atten ... -here.html

Pay parking available on site at $15.00 per vehicle. Lots 10 and 11 are the suggested lots for BMO Centre.

http://events.carleton.ca/ugandan-asian ... n-calgary/
kmaherali
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Sugar Land attorney elected State Bar of Texas board chair

By Staff Report on April 21, 2017

Rehan-headshotRehan Alimohammad of Sugar Land was elected chair of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors during the board’s April 21 meeting in Austin. Alimohammad will take office during the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting to be held June 22-23 in Dallas. He will serve as chair until June 2018.

Alimohammad will become the first attorney of Asian descent and the first immigration attorney to hold the position. He is a partner in the Texas office of Wong Fleming in charge of immigration and tax law.

http://blog.texasbar.com/2017/04/articl ... ard-chair/

*****
Iqbal (Nick) Mawani of Go Natural Canada awarded Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

Iqbal (Nick) Mawani was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada for the promotion of health care and healthy living and for contributing significantly to expand the use of Natural Health Products over 12 years in Canada.

More..
https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2017/ ... lee-medal/
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http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... n-10450080

ISIS behead and dismember dozens of women and children in horrific attack on Syrian villages

The head of the National Hospital in Salamiyeh said they received 52 bodies - including 11 women and 17 children - with 'all forms of deformations'


ByBassem Mroue
Lucy Clarke-Billings

19:00, 18 MAY 2017Updated19:05, 18 MAY 2017

Islamic State militants have beheaded and dismembered dozens of women and children in horrific attacks on Syrian villages which have left 52 people dead.

The series of deadly attacks in the central Hama province targeted villages where most residents belong to the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam.

The villages are located near the town of Salamiyeh and the highway that links the capital, Damascus, to the northern city of Aleppo.

State news agency SANA said militants stormed homes in the southern part of the Aqareb al-Safi village.

Government forces eventually managed to "repel them", pushing them back toward the desert.


RAF drone stops ISIS double execution with Hellfire missile hit on snipers

ISIS have beheaded and dismembers women and children in Syrian villages (Photo: REUTERS)

People gathering in what is said to be Qalaat al-Madiq, Hama province, Syria, on May 15, 2017 (Photo: REUTERS)

The head of the National Hospital in Salamiyeh, Dr Noufal Safar, said the hospital received 52 bodies, including 11 women and 17 children.

He said some of them had been beheaded, while others had their limbs removed.

Dr Safar said: "They were brought with all forms of deformations but most of them appear to have died as a result of gunfire."

He quoted some of the wounded people as saying the extremists began storming homes and beheading women inside.
Read More

ISIS forces children as young as five to become executioners and hack off prisoners' limbs

A member of the Iraqi forces walks past a mural bearing the logo of the Islamic State (Photo: AFP)

Rami Razzouk, a coroner at the hospital who inspected the bodies, said the children brought in were mostly dismembered, while most of the men died from shelling or heavy machine gun fire.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that 52 people were killed in the fighting, with the dead including 15 civilians, 27 Syrian soldiers and 10 unidentified people.

SANA said 40 people were wounded.


People gather in Qalaat al-Madiq, Hama province, Syria on May 15, 2017 (Photo: REUTERS)

The IS-linked Aamaq news agency said the group had captured Aqareb al-Safi and Mabouja.

It identified residents as members of President Bashar Assad's Alawite sect, an off-shoot of Shia Islam. The Sunni extremists view Shias as apostates deserving of death.

IS has massacred thousands of Shias and other opponents in Syria and Iraq, often boasting about the killings and circulating photos and videos of them online
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As Received

On 22 May 2017, at 05:37, Jalal Kaddaha <[email protected]> wrote:

Syrian civilians based in Salamieh City need to be protected


I am writing you today to keep you posted with all sad news coming from Salamieh city in Syria, and to ask your help to transmit this message to our beloved Hazer Imam


At the morning of 18 may 2017, IS launched a severe attack targeting a village 13 km east of Salamieh city. As a result of that, 54 persons have been killed, most of them were civilians, and around 100 others were seriously wounded. Additionally, the residents of that village have evacuated it towards Salamieh


Seven missiles have hit inside Salamieh at the same day, resulting in at least one casualty and several others wounded. In addition to causing material damages to the civilians` houses


On 21 may 2017, several missiles, allegedly mortars or improvised mortars hit inside Salamieh, killing one child and wounding several other civilians. Preliminary reports indicated that IS (Daech) who has triggered the missiles towards Salamieh city from the eastside


In 2015, IS launched two severe attacks targeting several villages east of Salamieh. As a result of that, a big number of people were killed, slaughtered or burned alive by IS. Many other female civilians were kidnapped to be transformed later into sex slaveries. Moreover, last given statistics supposedly reported that the number of killed persons in Salamieh has reached to 7000 persons, during the past six years. And the residents of Salamieh have suffered due to the lack of drinkable water, electricity and other vital sources


It is worth mentioning that Salamieh is considered the historic stronghold of Ismaili sect, and our beloved Hazer Imam always refer to the importance of Salamieh City of the Ismaili in general through the history. Thus, this means that Salameih city and the residents, as well, must be protected against IS (Daech) or other radicals, depending on the international law and the humanitarian law. In order help to stay safe and to stay fixed in their homes


That can be done through limiting and pushing back IS from the eastern outskirts of Salamieh city, and we believe that the international coalition is able to hit IS`s (Daech) locations east of Salamieh


In fact, the civilians don’t want to leave their homes or leave Salamieh city, and all what they want is to live peacefully there. So, please help them to reach their voices to our beloved Hazer Imam who is able to protect his murids in Salamieh, because Salamieh is now in a very serious danger from the eastside


I am adding some links talk about the last incidents in Salamieh

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/18/middl ... salamiyah/


Syria: ISIS militants kill dozens near Salamiyah

edition.cnn.com

At least 47 people, many of them civilians, were killed by ISIS militants Thursday near the government-held city of al-Salamiyah in central Syria, a senior member of the pro-government National Defense Force told CNN.
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http://time.com/4784339/isis-syria-atta ... us-aleppo/

ISIS Kills at Least 52 People in Syria Attacks
Bassem Mroue / AP
May 18, 2017


(BEIRUT) — The Islamic State group attacked several government-held villages in central Syria on Thursday, capturing at least one of them in violence that left 52 people dead including more than two dozen women and children, some of whom were beheaded, as well as Syrian troops, state media, medical officials and an opposition monitoring group said.

The attack in the central Hama province targeted villages where most residents belong to the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam, raising fears the extremists might massacre them, as they have in other minority communities in Syria and Iraq.

The villages are located near the town of Salamiyeh and the highway that links the capital, Damascus, to the northern city of Aleppo, but state media said traffic was not affected.

The attacks come as government forces are on the offensive against the extremists in other parts of Syria, mostly in the northern province of Aleppo and the central Homs region and to the east. U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led forces are meanwhile marching toward the extremists' de-facto capital of Raqqa, in northern Syria.

State news agency SANA said militants were able to storm homes in the southern part of the Aqareb al-Safi village, adding that government forces repelled them, pushing them back toward the desert.

The head of the National Hospital in Salamiyeh, Dr. Noufal Safar, said the hospital received 52 bodies, including 11 women and 17 children. He said some of them were beheaded and others had their limbs amputated.

"They were brought with all forms of deformations but most of them appear to have died as a result of gunfire," Safar told The Associated Press by telephone. He added that most of the dead and wounded were brought by ambulances.

Safar quoted some of the wounded people as saying the extremists began storming homes and beheading women inside.

Rami Razzouk, a coroner at the hospital who inspected the bodies, said the children brought in were mostly dismembered, while most of the men died from shelling or heavy machine gun fire.

He said at least nine children were beaten with heavy objects such as bricks or stones on their heads or necks. Razzouk said there were "a couple of children whose heads were fully dismembered because of the beating."

Two of the children "had most of their limbs removed so they had to be carried in blankets" and two men were shot in the eye, he said. He said 120 people were wounded.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that 52 people were killed in the fighting, with the dead including 15 civilians, 27 Syrian soldiers and 10 unidentified people.

SANA said 40 people were wounded.

The IS-linked Aamaq news agency said the group captured Aqareb al-Safi and Mabouja. It identified residents as members of President Bashar Assad's Alawite sect, an off-shoot of Shiite Islam. The Sunni extremists view Shiites as apostates deserving of death. IS has massacred thousands of Shiites and other opponents in Syria and Iraq, often boasting about the killings and circulating photos and videos of them online.

Aamaq claimed that 100 Syrian troops and pro-government gunmen were killed in the fighting.

"Dozens of people are missing but it is not clear if they were kidnapped by Daesh," said the Observatory's chief Rami Abdurrahman, using an Arabic acronym to refer to the group. He said IS deployed snipers on roofs of some buildings in Aqareb al-Safi.

State TV said two people were wounded in IS shelling in Salamiyeh.

Also on Thursday, SANA reported that Assad met with Iraq's national security adviser Faleh al-Fayad to discuss steps to improve coordination between their countries' militaries in the anti-terrorism campaign along their shared border.
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Saida and Firoz Rasul Conferred Honorary Doctorates by University of Alberta

https://www.ualberta.ca/news-and-events ... asul?cmp=1
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Toronto’s Nanji Family came to Canada as refugees and promised to pay it forward. Now, they’re helping U of T eye surgeons restore sight—and hope—to people around the world by giving the gift of sight.

“We really wish, from the heart, to give people the gift of sight so they can see the light of all the world,” says Pyarali G. Nanji, explaining why he and his family are making a major gift to support eye care initiatives at the University of Toronto’s Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences.

More...
http://boundless.utoronto.ca/news/a-vis ... ving-back/
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Canadian Delegation Visits Gujarat to Explore Investment Opportunities

Business Wire India
Ahead of the 8th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017, the officials of Government of Gujarat, today were visited by the Canadian delegation. The delegation was led by Hon. Yasmin Ratansi, Member of Parliament & Chair CPA. She was accompanied by Hon. Salma Athullajan, Senator; Hon. Joan Fraser, Senator; Hon. Ramesh Sangha, Member of Parliament; Ms. Elizabeth Kingston, Executive Secretary and Ms. Tara Scheurwater Sr. Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada, Mumbai. Canada will continue to be a partner country for Vibrant Gujarat for the third consecutive year.

More..
https://www.telegraphindia.com/external ... s&id=50176
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At age 150, Is Canada the first and only Ismaili State of th

Post by Admin »

AS RECEIVED

“If you keep to the principles of Islam, of generosity, of humility, of care for the poor, of care for the weak, of care for the aged, these principles, these ethics of our faith will keep the Jamat strong Inshallah, respected Inshallah and successful Inshallah.” H.H. The Aga Khan’s address to his community in Calgary in 1992.

In the course of his 60 years as Imam of the Ismailis, H.H. The Aga Khan has defined the Ismaili values similar to those which Canada has wholeheartedly embraced and thereby become the envy of the world.

These values defined as generosity, care for the poor, care for the weak, care for the old, care for the sick, pluralism, intellect as a facet of faith, meritocracy, equal rights and active participation of women in public life and many more, all are found assembled in one country only today: Canada!

Image

At age 150, Is Canada the first and only "Ismaili" State of the modern world?

Through an effective public-private partnership, this country which has a vibrant civil society has been able to provide:

1) Intellect as a facet of faith: Canada’s contribution to the development of intellect does not stop at free education; it encourages and financially supports all expenses related to education by generous tax deductions, contribution to education plans, student loans and one of the best educational system in the world. It subsidies scientific and human research. This has led to a society with strength in all facets of human life: technology, production, inventions, family life, charter of freedom and more!

2) Care for the sicks: While most of the world countries are struggling to offer some kind of basic health care to its people, Canada has advanced free medical care, it also help in limiting medications expenses, provides services of nurses, physiotherapist, transport and more at and from home whenever necessary.

3) Care for the elders: The pension plan is supplemented by minimum income guaranty and social services net for Senior Citizens, not only as financial help but providing meals at home and regular visit of the weakest amongst elders, organization of activities at various centers and more to allow them to live with dignity.

4) Women’s right: The Aga Khan said no country can afford to keep half of its work force in seclusion in homes. That woman should actively participate in all walks of life. Canada has achieved this as discrimination has been disappearing over the years at a point where today parity has been achieved even in Ministerial positions. The country has given opportunity to its daughters to reclaim their rights and bloom in an open society that recognised their capacity and their contributions to society.

5) Leaving the world better: Canada’s leadership in peace and climate change issues are well recognised internationally.

6) Care for the poor: Few countries have safety nets at the scale of Canada, from social security, home meals, shelters, to opportunities to come out of poverty.

7) Strength in diversity, pluralism and cosmopolitan ethics: All of these have permeated this beautiful country in the last decades. As said Prime Minister Trudeau, Canada does not want you to become part of a melting pot, it allows and encourage its citizens to keep their identity.

8 Meritocracy: A concept brought to the forefront by H.H. The Aga Khan in the 1980s’ can be seen from business to government, the concept has allowed Canada to take its place in the international scene.

9) Enabling environment: A term invented by the Imam of the Ismailis, nowhere has it been encouraged more than in Canada and with Canadian help in the developing world.

10) Generosity: This is a core Ismaili value. There are over 170,000 charitable and nonprofit organizations in Canada. 85,000 of these are registered charities and Canada’s help to NGOs working in the developing world is legendary. The number of volunteers in Canada is growing faster than the population. This country has probably the highest numbers of volunteers and charities per capita on planet earth.

These are not the only common values between Ismailis and Canada, the list is unlimited.

So on this 150 birthday of Canada, it is appropriate to say that I am so so so proud to be an Ismaili Canadian!
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Post by kmaherali »

Kiambu trains 1,000 youth, women

The Kiambu Youth and Education departments have partnered with a private company to train 1,200 youth, women and people living with disability.

They were trained at the Ndumberi polytechnic.

Speaking on Thursday while presenting certificates of participation Governor William Kabogo said the skills will help them start businesses.

The county government partnered with Alibhai Shariff Company, which trained them on welding, plumbing, metal work, woodwork, painting and masonry.

Kabogo said those trained are eligible to apply for Biashara Fund and start small businesses.

“We trained women, youth and persons living with disability on technical skills for free,” Kabogo said.

He said the training will prepare them to be self-employed.

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/02/ ... n_c1289636
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Post by kmaherali »

Abou Kassam et Adil Popat, deux ismaéliens influents

http://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/465406/ ... influents/

Translation:

Abu Kassam and Adil Popat, the two Influential Ismailis | JEUNE AFRIQUE

The Ismaili community also counts powerful business people in Africa. Distribution, bank, hotels: if their activities are not directly linked to those of the Aga Khan, they are often close to the AKDN network (Aga Khan Development Network), with which they volunteer part of their time. Following is a portrait of two individuals emblematic in their country.

Abu Kassam – Prosuma, Côte d’ivoire

Abu Kassam and Adil Popat, the two Influential Ismailis | JEUNE AFRIQUEThe co-founder of the group Prosuma, number one large distributor in francophone sub-saharan Africa, with his partner Karim Fakhry, is a boss who is essentially discreet.

His last move is the implementation in 2015 of the brand of cultural products, Fnac in commercial galleries, Cape town South and Cape town North of Abidjan.

In 2016, he launched Yaatoo (a contraction of ” all there is “), a site of trade online, in the wake of its competitor, cad / CAM, that started Africa Retail. His father, Adjabali Kassam, whose family has lived in the DR Congo, was the first representative of AKDN in Côte d’ivoire, as well as director of Filtisac and IPS.

Adil Popat – Simba Corporation, Kenya

In 1948, the company founded by Abdul Karim Popat was a modest shop of used car in Nairobi, Kenya. Sixty years later, his son Adil runs a conglomerate, a specialist in automotive distribution (in particular, holds licenses for BMW, Mitsubishi and Renault).

Also active in the high-end hotel business, with among other hotels, Kempinski in Nairobi and the Masai Mara; Simba Corp in 2015 launched a mid-range brand of its own called Acacia, and acquired a 35% stake in the tourism company Hemingways Expeditions.

An MBA graduate from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, Adil Popat has worked since early 2010 with the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board USA.

-----------------

Note from Admin:

The original has been posted in the section "People" on 25th August, the above looks like a google-translate of the same. The translation may not be completely accurate.

http://www.ismaili.net/html/modules.php ... pic&t=9045
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Post by kmaherali »

Aliza Sovani to speak at World Design Summit

Aliza Sovani

Montreal-based urban design & landscape architecture dynamo. Proud member of the Strathmore team.
Director, Design
Montreal, Canada

BArch, MLA, LEED Green Associate, AAPQ
Bio
If we had a nickel for all the cool places Aliza has plied her craft… Between earning a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, collecting a wealth of certifications (Permaculture Design, LEED, Cultural Heritage Conservation, etc.) and boasting a portfolio of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design projects spanning seven countries, she’s determined to have a positive effect not just here at home, but on the world. (Move over, Carmen Sandiego!).

https://worlddesignsummit.com/speaker/?id=531
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Murad Kajani travels from Chicago to Texas, volunteering for Hurricane Harvey cleanup effort

Glen Ellyn, Illinois: Murad (Mike) Kajani and few of his colleagues from Keller Williams International came together and volunteered their time to provide immediate aid to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

Part of a “Mega camp (https://www.megarelief.org/)” organized by Keller Williams International, Murad along with 25 other colleagues from around USA were assigned a task to help with cleanup efforts in Caty, TX.

“We removed walls (dry wall, nails and baseboards) about 6ft high from homes that were filled with molds due to water damage. All of this was done by hand. It was a challenging task for all involved, but we came together and worked as a team. Being part of this volunteering effort was very satisfying and humbling experience for me. I am absolutely glad I was part of this opportunity to serve the larger community” said Murad.

ismailimail.wordpress.com/2017/09/15/murad-kajani-travels-from-chicago-to-texas-volunteering-for-hurricane-harvey-cleanup-effort/
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Post by kmaherali »

Winners of the 2017 HR Awards revealed

HR’s champions have celebrated a triumphant year, with the fourth annual HR Awards honouring the industry’s best and brightest stars.

More than 600 attendees toasted success at a glitzy gala at the Liberty Grand, hosted by TV personality Ben Mulroney, where the winners of 20 awards were revealed.

The glamorous event was produced by Key Media, the publisher of HRD Canada.

The panel of judges described making “extremely difficult” decisions to choose winners from hundreds of nominations, after receiving submissions from organizations and HR professionals across Canada.

Tangerine’s Cheryl Stargratt won the KPMG in Canada Award For Canadian HR Leader of the Year, for demonstrating outstanding leadership in the HR field. Stargratt was recognized for her leadership role during the bank’s significant organizational change, and her development and execution of its transformational people strategy.

RBC’s longtime global chief human resources officer Zabeen Hirji was recognized with the Ivey Business School Award For Lifetime Achievement in the HR Industry. Throughout four decades at RBC, Hirji has been a passionate ambassador for diversity and women in leadership.

http://www.hrmonline.ca/hr-general-news ... 30971.aspx
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Post by nuseri »

To kmaherali: Ya Ali MADAD.Jubilee Mubarak & anee kem cho?
I just love to read accomplishment of Ismailis anywhere.
I SINCERELY WISH ( if I was in LIF,I would order it).
that all collection with short note of major or minor feat,accomplishments of Ismailis from ONLY last 60 years which had made us ,jamat and Imam proud in form of a book for presentation to MHI in this Jubilee.
They take smile of MHI for granted assuming that gifting costly ceramic,plate,objects of past era pleses him.( It does but little)
Try to know what pleases him the most.
Gifting objects of past era is a jaded ( thekele ) idea.
I many a time feel that even leaders have not understood ALI properly as what he wishes for them.( beyond haqitat they shoild try to get his intellectual wave length( NOOR) by moving beyond haqiqat toward oneness in thoughts with HIM.
I feel a small team of scholars in IIS under kmaherali can source and make a book of presenations ready in maximum 03 months time before end of jubilee year.
Mubaraki to you on posting feats of Ismaili.( you moslty concentrates on news from Western world & africa.there are many in subcontinent ,which get known thru ismaili magazines..
Keep it up.I am sure ALI is with you in all your efforts.
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Post by kmaherali »

After chaotic election night, voters return Nenshi, all incumbents to City Hall

After a tumultuous municipal campaign and a chaotic election day, Naheed Nenshi wins a third term as Calgary's mayor

While the city website was replete with glitches and agonizingly slow in posting results due to unknown technical difficulties, Nenshi’s main challenger, Bill Smith, conceded just before midnight.

Speaking to jubilant campaign supporters, Nenshi — who made history in 2010 when he was elected as North America’s first Muslim big city mayor — said the election had been a hard, sometimes divisive, campaign, but tonight was “a great victory.”

“You’ve given me once again an extraordinary gift and that gift is your trust and I promise you I will never, never break that trust,” said Nenshi.

“This campaign has also showed us that we as a city are not as united as we may have thought. There are many different points of view in how we move forward and the best part of city council is that we get to leave our ideology at the door and we get to roll up our sleeves and get the job done for Calgarians. And we will.”

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/election-main

*******

Ismaili Muslim Leader Gathers 2,500 Volunteers for Hurricane Harvey Response

As Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico face the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, Points of Light is honoring everyday citizens who stepped up to serve their communities during the immediate response and to embark on the long road to recovery. Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Murad Ajani, and nominate an outstanding volunteer you know as a point of light.

As devastating as Hurricane Harvey has been, it continues to bring people together around one common goal: help Houston. When Murad Ajani saw the toll Harvey took on his hometown, he seized the moment to bring together a community of more than 2,500 volunteers to help with recovery efforts.

“Volunteering really is a central component of the Ismaili Muslim community's ethos,” says Murad, who serves as volunteer president of the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern United States. “We have an organized group under the Ismail Council, called i-CERV, that organizes service projects year round. For us, this was not a one-off activity. We wanted to help in larger numbers due to the gravity of the situation.”

Murad was inspired by His Highness the Aga Khan, the Imam, or spiritual leader, of the worldwide Ismaili Muslim community, to mobilize a large and diverse group of volunteers to help those affected by the storm. Collectively, these volunteers have put in more than 13,000 hours of work during both the evacuation and early recovery phases of Hurricane Harvey.

During the evacuation, the group used the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center to coordinate rescue efforts, and as a staging location for displaced families while waiting for safe housing. They worked throughout the night and slept at the center to ensure the safety of more than 150 evacuees whose had been damaged by the storm.

More..
http://www.pointsoflight.org/blog/ismai ... d-recovery
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Post by kmaherali »

CBC FUTURE 40
Meet 10 more 2017 Future 40 winners


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.4368100

Alykhan Bhanji

&#8203;Age: 28

Category: Community, Social Activism and Volunteerism

Alykhan Bhanji
Alykhan Bhanji works with a number of institutions in Regina. (Submitted to CBC)

Alykhan (Al) Karim Bhanji strives for equality with grace and style. He is a man beyond himself, so humble and unbelievably kind.

Through his many accomplishments and attributes, he can be widely regarded as a global champion for people with disAbilities. He serves numerous institutions that enhance the spirit of inclusion in Regina: Best Buddies (University of Regina), NCBC Book Club facilitator (Inclusion Regina) and co-facilitator Literacy Is Fun (George Bothwell Library). His selfless actions have earned him a spot on the board of directors for two organizations that actively support the hopes and dreams of people with disAbilities: Astonished Inc., and Chip and Dale Homes Inc.

Al is also an astute student, and was awarded the Dr. Jack Boan Medal in Economics� and the Dr. Gary Tompkins Award for Distinguished Public Service and Academic Excellence� at the University of Regina.

He owns and operates an agricultural company, West Star Agricultural Ltd., all the while being a full-time economics graduate student.

He is a man who wears many hats and has never shied away from generously giving back to the community and taking great care of his fellow man. He faces adversity bravely and spreads love and kindness through his words and through his actions. Recently, he led a classroom rehabilitation and renovation project for a school that has a dedicated unit for individuals living with complex physical disabilities in his native Nairobi, Kenya.

Al deserves to be recognized for his impenetrable moral code and never-ending love.
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Tanzanian novel wins in Whistler

November 05th, 2017

Often we read of overnight success stories in literature, glowing accounts of young writers who receive whopping contracts for their first or second books.

For Farida Somjee, getting any recognition at all has been a long road. More often than not in the writing game, it’s long-term determination that wins the day…

Farida Somjee was born in Mbeya, Tanzania, and grew up in the larger town of Arusha and in the teeming, coastal capital of Dar es Salaam. Her grandparents had moved from India to Tanzania (then Tanganyika) in the 1920s.

Both of Somjee’s parents were born in Tanzania so she is a third-generation African who has been exposed to Indian, African and western cultures. Hence, she speaks five languages: her mother tongue Kutchi, English, Kiswahili, Gujarati and Hindi. Later Farida Somjee moved to Canada in her late teens with twenty dollars in her pocket and a dream of becoming a writer.

More...
https://bcbooklook.com/2017/11/05/tanza ... -whistler/
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New Circle lets low-income Torontonians get warm winter clothing

TORONTO – New Circles is Toronto’s largest clothing bank, where low-income clients can shop for free in a retail-style setting.

With winter fast approaching, thousands of refugees and newcomers to Toronto are in need of adequate clothing.


“Many of the newcomers that come to Canada often come from warm climate countries or they come with limited resources, especially if they’re refugees or somebody fleeing from a country because of a distress situation. They’re not going to be able to pack to come to Canada,” said Alykhan Suleman, executive director of New Circles.

More...
https://globalnews.ca/news/3871063/new- ... -clothing/
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The 50 Most Powerful People in Vancouver Right Now

Our annual ranking of the city's most influential people in politics, tech, education, business and beyond.


Each year, with the help of our panel of industry insiders and experts, we pull together the definitive ranking of the most powerful movers and shakers in the city. Who made this year’s list of influencers? A surprising mix of politicians, activists, tech pros and philanthropists whose actions shape the city.

http://vanmag.com/city/vancouver-magazi ... r-50-list/

43. Manny Bahia, Farhan Mohamed, Karm Sumal
&#9650; (#46, 2016)
Co-Founders, Daily Hive

Newsmakers A quick rebrand from its Vancity Buzz moniker and a slight skew toward a more serious tone has resulted in the Daily Hive—and owners Manny Bahia, Farhan Mohamed and Karm Sumal—assuming its position as the millennial mogul when it comes to what’s going on in Vancouver. When the Daily Hive home page pays attention to a drink, a dish or even a politician, millennials follow suit. With almost one million followers across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, the masthead for this buzzworthy online source is longer than many print publications in 2017.

*****
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Transforming the lives of refugees

The deepening of the civil wars in Syria and Iraq, regional conflicts and crises in Afghanistan, the Middle East and in some African countries have triggered the dramatic increase in the flow of refugees fleeing from the regions to Europe. The number of displaced people fleeing from war, conflict or persecution and looking for a better future in other countries has exceeded 59 million, the highest number since World War Two, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). This number includes over 5,000 Ismailis who have moved to the European and French National Council Jurisdictions from Afghanistan, Syria, Tajikistan and northern areas of Pakistan.

A Settlement Committee provides assistance to Ismailis arriving in Europe from elsewhere in the world. Nibras Aldibbiat, National Council member for the settlement committee, explained that even providing support with application for a university course is valuable in helping people who have recently arrived to Europe to get settled. He said “guiding them as to how to write a personal statement for example and reviewing what they write and continuing to support them as they submit their application. This is empowering people to take action for themselves and it’s giving them the support they need.” He continued to say “we need to ask if they need anything, to welcome them, try to teach them about who we are, our traditions, and learn from them”.

Nina Rajani, a GP, provided emergency medical care for internally displaced people as they crossed over in to safety at militarised checkpoints in Iraq. Leading a team of medical professionals and volunteers, Nina helped to set up a chronic disease clinic in an internally displaced people’s camp in Iraq. She worked with Medecins Sans Frontieres, which identified that, although primary care was being administered, there was limited response to illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy and asthma. Nina also emphasised the importance of social support as a lifeline for refugees because, without the support of their communities anymore, people don’t have access to the education and the information they need to get help. She explained that even “practical things like looking after children so parents can deal with asylum matters and sharing information is necessary alongside medical care.”

Migration has long been a feature of the Ismaili community shaping its geography, demography and impact throughout history. The world in which the present Aga Khan acceded to the Imamat in 1957 was characterised by massive political upheaval in some of the major areas where Ismailis lived resulting in huge swathes of migration. The displacement of Syrians today is reminiscent of what Ugandans went through when they were expelled by Idi Amin. Both faced an immediate threat of losing their homes and were in danger of losing their lives if they did not migrate.

In recent years, Ismaili Muslims, who have come to the US, Canada and Europe, mostly as refugees, have readily settled into the social, educational and economic fabric of urban and rural centres across the two continents. Sharing migration stories can also help us in supporting one another, learning about the diversity in the Ismaili community and finding out more about our shared history.

https://the.ismaili/heritage-expression ... s-refugees
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2017 – Canada’s Top 40 Under 40

https://www.canadastop40under40.com/hon ... 17.html#ir

Irfhan Rawji
Principal, Totem Capital Corporation, AB
Irfhan has been a strategic consultant, public company senior executive and investor for over 15 years. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia where he taught in the areas of finance, public policy, strategy and leadership. Irfhan presently sits on the boards of two Totem investee companies: Carrot Insights and The Organic Box. He is actively involved in civic affairs as a board member of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Vice Chair of Glenbow Museum, member of the Harvard Business School Global Alumni Board, and member of the Calgary 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid Exploration Committee. Irfhan is a recipient of The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Arnold Edinborough Award.

******
Salima Rawji
Vice President of Development, Build Toronto; 2011-2013 ELN Co-Chair; 2010 DiverseCity Fellow; CivicAction Board Member
Board Member - CivicAction Leadership Foundation

Salima is the Director of Development for Build Toronto, an innovative real estate development corporation created as part of the City of Toronto’s strategy to enhance Toronto’s economic competitiveness. Her previous professional experience ranges from managing property developments for SmartCentres, structuring venture capital deals for Care Enterprise Partners, to producing some of Toronto’s most successful cultural arts festivals notably the Hot and Spicy Food Festival and Masala! Mehndi! Masti! Outside of work Salima is engaged in community. She is a past Co-Chair of the Emerging Leaders Network; was instrumental to the establishment of TORONTO+acumen in 2010, where she continues as an advisor; and, she chair’s the investment committee for RISE Asset Development, a micro fund dedicated to financing entrepreneurs living with mental illness and addictions.

Salima holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelors of Commerce from the Sauder Business School at the University of British Columbia, where she was elected Valedictorian of her graduating class.

http://leadership.civicaction.ca/people/salima-rawji-2/
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Post by kmaherali »

Global Encounters in Pakistan

This year Global Encounters took forty-two young Ismailis from thirteen countries to Pakistan. From the shores of Karachi to the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, the participants immersed themselves in the culture of Pakistan and explored the institutional work being done on many levels. The experience helped them gain an improved understanding of pluralism, diversity and the breadth of the work being done by AKDN and Jamati institutions in Pakistan.

Global Encounters is an international programme for young, future leaders of the Jamat. The main aim of the programme is to provide the participants an opportunity to understand and internalize the concepts of service to the community, sharpen their leadership skills, develop an insight regarding a variety of cultures, and help them see and experience the meaning of pluralism. This programme was introduced in 2012 and, to date, 560 participants from across 31 countries have participated in it. In the process, cumulatively, the participants have contributed over 20,000 hours of service to local schools and communities through their community service projects. The measure of the success of this programme goes far beyond such tangible outcomes. It has also produced indelible impressions on the lives of the participants, enriching them with memorable experiences and lasting relationships that will be cherished for years to come.

Bringing Global Encounters to Pakistan was a desire expressed by Mawlana Hazar Imam right from the beginning. During a meeting in 2012, he mentioned that the Global Encounters participants should visit Pakistan to connect with the roots and history of the Jamat. Today, after five years, with the support of the leadership of the Jamat and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) institutions, this vision of Mawlana Hazar Imam has been realized; and what more opportune a time than during the Imamat’s Diamond Jubilee?

Pakistan launched its first Global Encounters programme with the core objective of introducing the participants to pluralism. The programme also had a second objective: to give the participants a deeper understanding of the development undertaken by the AKDN in Pakistan. Forty-two participants, representing 13 countries, came to Pakistan for a period of one month to get a glimpse of the work of the Imamat in this country. The participants arrived in Karachi and then went to Islamabad on their way to the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

The inaugural programme in Karachi included a formal welcome for the Global Encounter participants and officials by the Aga Khan Youth and Sports for Pakistan, at the Rufaida Auditorium of the Aga Khan University. Representatives of the Ismaili Councils for Garden, Karimabad, Kharadar, and Gulshan set up traditional booths while the Karimabad Girls Pipe Band gave a splendid performance.

More...
https://the.ismaili/global-encounters-pakistan
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Meet 2017 Anthony Roman Award Winner Pyarali Nanji

The first thing one notices walking into the headquarters of Belle-Pak Packaging Inc. is the sign above the company name declaring it to be one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies. Then you notice that the walls of the reception area are covered in plaques. A set of shelves displays awards and framed pictures. Look closer and you see that those photographs include a premier, a governor general, His Highness the Aga Khan, and more than one prime minister. What kind of packaging company is this? you think. Then you realize that in the middle of each of those photographs is the same smiling face. The crinkled eyes behind the smile belong to Pyarali Nanji. CEO of Belle-Pak. Renowned philanthropist. One of Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants in 2011. Recognized with the Positive Aging Award in 2015. The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce’s Male Entrepreneur of the Year in 2010. Previously the recipient of two Business Excellence Awards, Nanji is again being honoured by the Markham Board of Trade, this time as the winner of the Anthony Roman Award.

More..
http://markhamvoice.com/featured/meet-2 ... ali-nanji/
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Global Encounters: A life-changing experience

Global Encounters is now accepting applications from Ismaili students from around the world to participate in a transformative service learning experience in areas of the world where Imamat institutions have made a significant impact.

Established in 2012, the Global Encounters programme draws dozens of Ismaili high school students from all around the world to participate in an intensive four-week residential programme in Pakistan, India, or Kenya. The programme is organised in collaboration with the Aga Khan Academies and the Aga Khan University. To date, approximately 725 participants from 31 different countries have participated in the programme.

Global Encounters focuses on three central pillars to provide students a transformative experience: service learning, leadership development, and global citizenship.

More...
https://the.ismaili/news/global-encount ... experience
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New Gujarati Exhibition Opens in London: Exhibits from Gandhi’s and Jinnah’s Ancestral Home Spark New Interest in Diasporic Indians

Excerpt:

Modern day scions of Gujarat include Dhirubhai Ambani, the founder of Reliance Industries a leading Indian multinational and Dimple Kapadia, well known Bollywood actress. Overseas Indians of Gujarati origin include the Madhvanis and Mehtas originally of Uganda and historic figures of East Africa such as Alidina Visram known for his venturing into the interior of East Africa for trade in the late 19th century, and Sir Tharia Topan of Zanzibar, mentioned in colonial dispatches of the time for his services to the British Crown and his contribution to philanthropic causes in Zanzibar.

More...
https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2018/ ... ore-178459

*****
Ismailis in Kenya – A Photographic Journey Exhibition (Curated by Little Art Gallery), Jan. 14 2018 @ Town Jamatkhana (Khoja Mosque)

https://nairobinow.wordpress.com/2018/0 ... ja-mosque/
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WPSP Welcomes Advisory Council Member Anar Simpson

The Women in Public Service Project is pleased to welcome Anar Simpson as the newest member of our Advisory Council. The WPSP Advisory Council provides advice and guidance to the WPSP Director and the Board of Directors on strategy and issues in their individual areas of expertise, in keeping with the goals and initiatives of WPSP. As a member of the Advisory Council, she will contribute her expertise on technology and innovation to enrich the project's efforts toward gender parity.

Anar is a key influencer for Women, Girls and Technology & led this initiative at Mozilla. She was appointed as a Deputy to the UN High Level Panel for Women’s Economic Empowerment. She is also the Global Ambassador for Technovation and has grown this program to over 100 countries in four years. In addition she has been the Special Advisor, Partnerships with the US State Dept.'s TechWomen program. Anar has been awarded the Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Calgary, GEM Tech Award, 2017 GSMA GLOMO Award for her leadership and outstanding contribution to closing the industry gender gap.

More..
http://www.50x50movement.org/article/wp ... ar-simpson
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Celebrating 96yrs of Khoja mosque

VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqi66PLuo-Y

The Ismaili community yesterday celebrated the diamond Jubilee of the existence of Khoja mosque.

The building located at the heart of the city of Nairobi was among the tallest buildings in the city during the colonial period.
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