Ismaili CIVIC is a global program initiated under the leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network. The program aims to improve the quality of life of the vulnerable, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender. It unites the global Ismaili Muslim community in its centuries-old tradition of voluntary service to the communities in which it lives.
Ismaili CIVIC reflects the community’s ethic of civic engagement and good citizenship and exemplifies Islam’s core values of service, peace, compassion, and care for those in need. Throughout the year, Ismaili CIVIC programs center on the thematic areas of poverty alleviation, environmental stewardship, and improving community health. Of the Ismaili CIVIC activities that take place throughout the year, more than 90% are organized by young people.
In 2022, celebrating the second Global Ismaili CIVIC Day, the Ismaili Muslim community mobilized volunteers in 33 countries to make a difference wherever they live. Some 52,000 volunteers contributed 135,000 hours towards 426 local service projects under the theme of environmental stewardship. These global initiatives contributed to the reduction of carbon emissions through activities such as tree planting and forest maintenance, recycling programs reducing plastic use and environmental toxins, and education programs about the protection and enhancement of the natural environment.
In the United States, thirty-nine activities were organized with the theme of Environmental Stewardship. Almost 1000 volunteers dedicated over 2250 hours, of which 383 youth volunteers committed nearly 1000 hours of service. Thirty-seven partnerships were formed during that year, and activities included park, beach, and street clean-ups, a regional virtual challenge, and the preservation of historical sites.
We hope to continue this momentum in the United States and around the world as we seek to impact our communities around the country and the globe meaningfully.
Thank you for joining and celebrating this initiative.
Global Ismaili CIVIC Day 2023 Regional Event Links:
Central
Tree Planting at Alvarado Park and Mark Twain Neighbourhoods
09/16/23 | Albuquerque, New Mexico
Fall sweep and waterways cleanup at Grapevine Area Parks
09/23/23 | Grapevine, Texas
Garden Restoration at Plano Community Garden
9/30/23 | Plano, Texas
Urban Garden Harvesting and Maintenance at Denver Urban Gardens
10/07/23 | Denver, Colorado
Lake Hefner Beautification
10/08/23 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Florida
Roots & Renewal: Community Beautification with Tampa Housing Authority
09/23/23 | Tampa, Florida
Blossom and Thrive: A Native Pollinator Planting Celebration
09/23/23 | Orlando, Florida
Wildlife Wonders: A day with Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife
09/24/23 | Miami, Florida
Midwest
Snack Packing and Kindness Rocks to support Youth Services of Glenview
09/16/23 | Chicagoland Jamatkhanas, Illinois
Food Pantry Supporting Feed My Starving Children
09/23/23 | Schaumburg and Aurora, Illinois
Park Cleanup at Mississippi Park
09/23/23 | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Park Cleanup at Forest Wood Park
09/23/23 | Cleveland, Ohio
City Cleanup in Milwaukee
09/24/23 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Park Cleanup at Greenbrier Park
09/24/23 | Detroit, Michigan
Park Cleanup at Heritage Park
09/24/23 | Kansas City, Kansas
Tree Planting with Openlands
09/30/23 | Chicago, Illinois
Southeast
Beautification Project at Hatcher Garden
09/16/23 | Spartanburg, South Carolina
Waterway Cleanup at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve
09/17/23 | Duluth, Georgia
Waterway Cleanup at Gwinnett Department of Water Resources
09/17/23 | Lilburn, Georgia
Waterway Cleanup at Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve
09/17/23 | Decatur, Georgia
Waterway Cleanup at Mason Mill Park
09/17/23 | Decatur, Georgia
Waterway Cleanup at Cobb County Water System
09/17/23 | Marietta, Georgia
Waterway Cleanup at Southern Conservation Trust & Fayette Environmental Education Center
09/17/23 | Fayetteville, Georgia
Waterway Cleanup at Fulton County Public Works
09/17/23 | Atlanta, Georgia
Waterway Cleanup at Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
09/17/23 | Atlanta, Georgia
Waterway Cleanup at Peachtree Creek Greenway
09/17/23 | Brookhaven, Georgia
Waterway Cleanup with Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful
09/24/23 | Knoxville, Tennessee
Beautification Project with Keep Williamson Beautiful
09/24/23 | Nashville, Tennessee
Beautification Project with Tennessee Valley Authority
09/24/23 | Chattanooga, Tennessee
Beautification Project with Memphis City Beautiful and Tennessee Delta Alliance
09/24/23 | Memphis, Tennessee
River Upkeep with Black Warrior Riverkeeper
09/24/23 | Birmingham, Alabama
Southwest
Community Garden Maintenance at the Giving Field
09/23/23 | Beaumont, Texas
Buffalo Bayou Park Cleanup
09/24/23 | Greater Houston Area, Texas
Beautification of Bachmann Park with Keep Brazos Beautiful
09/24/23 | College Station, Texas
Beautification of Brushy Creek Lake Park with Keep Austin Beautiful
09/24/23 | Austin, Texas
Forest Preservation and Rehabilitation with Headwaters at Incarnate Wood
09/30/23 | San Antonio, Texas
West
Tree Planting with Community Climate Action Corps
09/23/23 | San Jose, California
Habitat Restoration with Green Kirkland Partnership
09/23/23 | Seattle, Washington
Tree Planting with California Volunteers
10/07/23 | Los Angeles, California
