5th WF / NASIMCO Leadership Development Program, Toronto - March 18-20, 2011

The three day Leadership Development Program (LDP) was held in Toronto from Friday, March 18, 2011 to Sunday, March 20, 2011. The goal of the program was to "Unlock your Potential to serve your community and humanity". Twenty participants from Toronto took part in this intensive educational experience.

This program was made possible with the support and assistance of the Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat of Toronto (ISIJ) and the Jaffari Education Board (JEB) of ISIJ. The local volunteers included: Br. Hasnain Davdani, Br. Mazaher Jessa, Br. Shabir Jaffer, Br. Hanif Gulamali, and Sis. Nasreen Huda. The program was facilitated by Dr. Akber Mohamedali and Sis. Siddika Jessa.

The Objectives of the Program were to:

• Develop a community vision and understand the role of the self in the realization of that vision
• Develop individuals to perform to their potential
• Enhance leadership capacity and capability
• Provide opportunities for individuals to explore assumptions and ideas
• Dive deeply into values, ethics, self awareness, personal growth and emotional intelligence
• Nurture the ability to understand other people, their environment and work effectively in changing challenging circumstances
• Develop reflective skills
• Understand the support network available to realize the community vision

PresentationsOn the first morning, participants set some ground rules for the program where an intense discussion regarding the difference between tolerance versus respect ensued. This set the foundation of the program for the next three days. Another key component of the course was visioning. Many different techniques to discuss and experience visioning were used during the course. Some of these techniques included:

• Watching a video presentation of a vision expert
• Reviewing and discussing key concepts
• Participating in a hands on group exercise to create a vision for the Islamic Community and then present this vision to the group
• Watch an inspirational movie of a young man who had a vision, and the profound impact vision had on his life – and reflecting how it can impact our lives. This final piece demonstrated the power of visioning and further crystallized its importance, not only

individually, but community wide.

The focus on the second day was Understanding Self and Emotional Intelligence. Participants learned the impact of perception and how our lenses filter information as well as the power of emotional intelligence for success. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator questionnaires which was a tool used to Understand Self was filled out by each participant, results were provided and participants then engaged in exercises which encouraged them to look deep inside themselves to unlock their potential. The aim of the MBTI assessment was to understand oneself better and thereby understand others. It emphasized the value of differences in people and how best to utilize them. Participants took part in exercises that showed the differences in action.

The third day was spent on power and politics, where through a mind mapping exercise participants realized the power resources within oneself. Role play exercise provided further insight into political intelligence. The last session was spent on giving and receiving feedback and participants practiced the skills in receiving and giving constructive feedback with each other.

Group Exercise

PresentationEach morning and at the end of the program participants spent in reflection of the learning that had taken place and shared their stories and experiences. Many of the participants had personal moments of enlightenment and a new found drive to pick up where they had left off to experience life to the fullest. NASIMCO awarded the participants with Certificates commemorating the completion of the LDP program.

Br. Gulamabbas Najafi, President of NASIMCO presented the certificates on behalf of WF and NASIMCO.