On October 8, local surgeon Dr. Sahar Shirazi is setting off on a three-week trip to help support orphaned children in South Africa.
Director of Cornwall Community Hospital’s Breast Program, Dr. Shirazi explains that she is motivated a spirit of service and compassion not only in her healthcare role but also in her humanitarian work during her vacation time – travels that have so far taken her to vulnerable populations around the world, including orphanages and refugee camps in Guatemala, Kenya, the Gambia, Indonesia and Colombia.
For the past three years, she has been working with the Inspire Volunteer Abroad Program operated by Islamic Relief Canada, a well-established Canadian charity.
This organization supports vulnerable communities around the world through meaningful and sustainable initiatives that include educational workshops for children and youth, psychosocial support programs, rehabilitation of schools and homes, and the distribution of food, hygiene supplies, and other essential resources.
Over the past seven years, the Inspire Volunteer Abroad Program has brought together 40 volunteer cohorts across nine countries, allowing participants to learn directly from local teams and the communities they serve.
According to Dr. Shirazi, the program is rooted in the belief that meaningful service begins with understanding. Volunteers are thus encouraged not only to raise funds and awareness, but also to listen, learn, and build genuine connections with the communities they encounter.
For the South African project, Dr. Shirazi has already raised more than $14,000 towards a goal of $16,000.
On October 2, she and a few friends are organizing an “Evening of Hope” fundraiser featuring a presentation, a meal and a silent auction at the Craftman’s Café in Cornwall.
According to the organizers, “the heart of this evening will be the beautiful spirit of Ubuntu, the ancient Southern African philosophy of “I am because we are,” which reminds us that all our lives are deeply connected and that when we uplift one another, we all become stronger .
For further details, please contact Dr. Shirazi at [email protected].
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