Ruhee Ismail-Teja. Photo: Mohamed Teja
Each year, out of hundreds of individuals who volunteer in Calgary, the YMCA identifies, selects, and recognises only 13 by naming them Volunteers of the Year. Ruhee Ismail-Teja, a vivacious and inspiring 14 year-old, became the youngest-ever recipient of the award in 2007. The prestigious award is based on a comprehensive nomination and selection process which takes into account a wide range of criteria. These include the volunteer’s contributions in helping Calgarians to realise their potential, the length and frequency of their service, and their efforts in recruiting additional volunteers. Although she did not expect to be recognised for the work that she “just did in order to help others,” the award was an honour for Ruhee and her family.
Volunteering requires hours of thought, commitment and effort, not to mention the sacrifice of other extra-curricular activities. Ruhee’s volunteering efforts include participating in the Mayor’s Youth Council (which she was invited to co-chair this year), the Youth Foundation, the Calgary Girls’ School Senate, the YMCA Kids In Motion Program, and the Ismaili Junior Volunteer Corps. Since the age of seven, Ruhee has also served as a volunteer at her Jamatkhana, and has now become a role model for younger volunteers.
Edmonton volunteers participate in the Golden Jubilee Parade. A strong tradition of volunteerism is evident in the Jamat across the globe. Photo: Phil Musani
With seven years of volunteering under her belt, Ruhee enjoys motivating and guiding the younger generation towards volunteering because she feels that “everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful experiences volunteering has given me.” In addition to the Junior Volunteer Corps, she is actively involved in the Jamat as a mentor with the Teen Masti programme and a youth coordinator for several of the ongoing Golden Jubilee programmes and initiatives.
Being passionately involved in so many volunteering endeavours is not for the fainthearted. It requires balancing a large number of academic, extra-curricular and social activities, which can sometimes be overwhelming. However, Ruhee seems to have found a happy balance between fulfilling her desire to volunteer and excelling in her education. Often waking-up at the crack of dawn, Ruhee starts her day with homework, which she seldom has the time to complete at night. After an intensive day at school, she heads off to one of her many volunteer activities. Her most recent voluntary position allows her to connect with the youth and to hold discussions on the importance of having their voices heard in the political world.
Ruhee believes she has been especially fortunate in life; her motivation to volunteer comes from her desire to give back to society. This aspiration is enhanced by the enjoyment and satisfaction she receives through active involvement and teamwork. Volunteering, she feels, has contributed to her growth as a person. Ruhee cites her mother as her role model, whom she describes as an “amazingly balanced person.”. Her family has greatly aided her to balance her volunteering with her schoolwork, by being encouraging, supportive and understanding.
She also feels that Mawlana Hazar Imam’s guidance has fuelled her passion for volunteerism. Ruhee’s own convictions and outlook reflect comments about the ethic of volunteerism in the Ismaili tradition made by Princess Zahra during the 1998 World Volunteer Conference in Edmonton: “Voluntary service to others, is viewed as an integral part of daily life, never as a burdensome obligation or an elective activity. Service is a means for each individual to actualise Islam's ethics of inclusiveness, of compassion, of sharing, of the respect for life, and of personal responsibility for sustaining a healthy physical, social and cultural environment.” Fundamental to this concept, she continued, was “generosity of material resources, of time, of thought, and of knowledge.”
Ruhee’s advice to young people wishing to get involved in community activities is to start as soon as possible, but to always aim for equilibrium between volunteering and education. She urges her peers to think about what inspires one to volunteer, how it can be done effectively, the importance of a good support system, and the benefits and recognition that can potentially result from giving time and knowledge in service to others.
Peace,Unity,Brotherhood.................ismailione
ismailione@gmail.com
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