Voluntary service to others is viewed as an integral and positive part of daily life in the Ismaili Muslim tradition, journalist tells Canadians
South Stormont – ONTARIO: Volunteering is the most fundamental act of citizen, a retired journalist told more than 200 people attending the 2011 volunteer appreciation gala in Long Sault.
“When people choose to help others, not only do they help reduce suffering and disparity, they gain skills, self-esteem and enhance their own lives,” Sultan Jessa said.
Speaking at the conclusion of the National Volunteer Work, Jessa said the work of volunteers is essential to maintain communities.
“Volunteering is one of the most valuable expressions of life.”
The journalist said his family and thousands of others are most grateful to Canada for opening the doors to them.
“In my particular case, I wanted to repay the kindness and the only way I could do this was becoming part of the mainstream Canadian society by getting involved in community work,” he said.
In the Ismaili Muslim tradition, Jessa pointed out, voluntary service is viewed as an integral and positive part of daily life.
“In our community we start at very early age by serving water and doing other small jobs like looking after shoes of those who come to worship,” he said. “In our community we call this seva which means selfless, voluntary service.”
Jessa emphasized volunteerism is a critical and vital dimension of their community.
Volunteering, Jessa, emphasized is a calling and not something that should require a financial or other consideration as incentive.
Volunteers, he said, are helping change the world.
He said nearly 12.5 million Canadians, aged 15 and over, volunteers for charitable and non-profit organizations.
The seventh annual volunteer appreciation gala was attended by Stormont-Dundas and South Glengarry MP Guy Lauzon, the provincial member of the Ontario legislative assembly Jim Brownell, Mayor Bryan McGillis, the mayor of South Stormont and the immediate past warden of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and many other civic leaders.
The Fran Laflamme 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award went to Rosemary Rutley, a published author and a long time volunteer.
“Your speech was excellent,” said Liberal MPP Brownell told the guest speaker. “You are an inspiration to many.”
Jessa has received numerous awards from municipal, provincial and federal government, including the Order of Canada in 2005 for 35 years of community service.
Last year, the journalist was presented with the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of the 2010 award.
He was named Cornwall’s top citizen in 1979 and is also the recipient of Queen Elizabeth’s silver and golden jubilee medals.
Ismailimail 
Nice way of explaining the meaning of seva (volunteerism) but it is a visible seva. Then there is what we ismailis call sreva which is done with our soul… ibadat (invisible). In order to balance out, we should also concentrate on performing invisible seva.
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Nonprofits do valuable work in the communities they serve to create a better quality of life and safe neighbourhoods. The great part of being in a community in Ontario is that we are all helping each other reach this goal. There are many helpful programs in place to help nonprofits deliver quality services to Ontarians, such as the Community Use of Schools program and the Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy. See the progress report here: http://bit.ly/mLFvFx
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