by Zana Sahyouni, IRUSA Communications Specialist
3 minute read
At the heart of our humanitarian mission lies the Volunteer Management Office (VMO), a department with humble beginnings that has become a dynamic force for change. Born in 2015, our roster of volunteers was just a handful of people from the DMV area. Fast forward to today, we stand tall with over 37,858 dedicated volunteers from all over the US. Their unwavering commitment to our cause has been nothing short of inspiring.
We reached out to one of our star volunteers, Abdelrahman, to learn more about him and his experience as an IRUSA Blueshirt. Read our interview below:
Have you developed any new skills or gained new perspectives through your volunteer work?
I’ve grown a new appreciation for the staff and volunteers for all the work they do to help set up these events.
What do you do outside of volunteering?
I am in the fintech space.
What would you tell someone who wants to become a Blue Shirt volunteer but has never attended an event before?
Get a couple of friends to volunteer with you and watch how much more fun setting up events can be.
What are two reasons why you attend our volunteer events? Is there anything you want to tell our audience or potential volunteers?
I attend these events because I believe it is my Islamic duty to spend some of the time I have on this earth helping those in need. The other reason I attend these events is [for the] free food.
How would you like to see the IRUSA grow or improve its volunteer program?
I believe that the Islamic Relief USA program should have partnerships with mosques all over the country and find ways to get into the political space. I’d like to see IRUSA be a powerhouse of an organization that not only helps people in need, but also finds ways to help change legislation to further prevent events where aid is needed. With the network IRUSA already has, I can see this being achieved and this will also bring in a new wave of volunteers from all different types of background.
To find out how you can become a volunteer, visit irusa.org/volunteer!