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Volunteering Never Gets Old: Spotlight on Siraj Jiwani, Midwest Region Volunteer Team, Chicago

Siraj Jiwani with a group of volunteers. Pictured in white T-shirt.You can call it a Partnership Walk miracle.  The afternoon before the 2005 Chicago Partnership Walk, the Windy City lived up to its name and destroyed all of the structures and exhibits that the volunteer Logistics Team had spent countless hours constructing and setting up for the Walk. Siraj Jiwani and other Chicago team members worked until 4 a.m. the following morning to reconstruct the site.  On Walk day, the wind subsided and the 2005 Walk boasted clear skies at a comfortable 65 degrees and drew huge crowds of over 5,500 people to boot.  Siraj laughs off the ordeal by saying, “every year we deal with challenges of the weather,” but admits “it was a miracle.”

Although Siraj has been volunteering with PartnershipsInAction since the first Chicago Partnership Walk in 2002, he still faces new challenges every year as the Logistics Lead of the Midwest Volunteer Team.  Yet with a goodhearted outlook and an eagerness to contribute, he welcomes these challenges as motivation to keep improving.  “Every year the Walk changes and now there are other events: Partnership Golf and the Softball Classic in the Midwest region.  The challenge of handling these new events gives me more motivation.”  Tackling these challenges has helped him grow both as an individual and as a volunteer.  Starting out in  administrative support for the logistics team, he has worked his way up to be the TeamLead, but still continues to learn new skills, such as how to obtain city permits and  what kinds of technology are required for setting up a sound stage.   “We learn a lot from each other’s expertise,” explains Siraj, citing Salim Hamani, his predecessor, as an inspiration.  “He taught me how to handle challenges.”

"I wanted to get the message to Americans that it’s a good cause to support. Partnership Walk was an opportunity for me to provide my time and knowledge."
--SIRAJ JIWANI

While Siraj’s roles and responsibilities change as the PartnershipsInAction movement grows, his overall purpose as a volunteer is still the same: to share the work of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) with others in his local community.  By witnessing the work of AKDN first-hand as a member of the Public Affairs and Fundraising Department of Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, Siraj has long admired the Network’s accomplishments in the developing world.  Upon moving to Chicago, he knew he wanted to be involved with Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A (AKF USA), a network agency, because “I wanted to get the message to Americans that it’s a good cause to support,” and “Partnership Walk was an opportunity for me to provide my time and knowledge.”

While his volunteer efforts in the Midwest region now extend beyond just the Walk to planning golf and softball tournaments, he recognizes these new initiatives as opportunities to further his personal goal of raising local awareness for development work.  At golf tournaments, the Midwest Team is able to share their passion for AKF and AKDN with corporate teams and business professionals, and the Softball Classic has introduced a sports-minded segment of the public to the organization’s work.  “Through doing different events, there’s more chance to spread the message,” summarizes Siraj.

It is through such tireless dedication and passion of its nationwide network of volunteers that PartnershipsInAction has been able to continue to expand its portfolio of initiatives from one Partnership Walk in 1995 to over 20 PartnershipsInAction events by 2008.  While good weather helps, it is the determination and positive outlook of volunteers like Siraj that is the true “PartnershipsInAction miracle.”

PartnershipsInAction volunteer teams are always looking for individuals interested in sharing their unique talents and gaining new skills.  Please visit the "Get Involved" section of our site for more information.