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PERSONALITY PROFILE
Zohra Isane
As we bid farewell to Women’s Month, Fordsburg.com could not resist commemorating another distinguished woman of substance, amongst the many in our community.
When Zohra Isane relinquished her 9-year Directorship of the Johannesburg Institute of Social Services (JISS) in Mayfair, it was with a high degree of satisfaction that she had carried out her responsibilities with dignity, pride and honour.
Instead of resigning completely from JISS, Isane prefers to hold a position behind the administration desk, allowing her to observe the progress of projects, as well as encouraging the new Director - Hassina Vally - to draw from her knowledge and experience.
Born in Krugersdorp, Isane had at an early age learnt through her parents the values of discipline, hard work, compassion – indeed, all the aspects that is needed for a community leader to pursue the fight against poverty and social decline.
Moving to Johannesburg in 1965 with her husband Goolam, Isane found employment with the Platinum mining company, GENMEN and through dedication and hard work, earned the Business Woman of the Year award, which was a major achievement for her.
Even though Isane was doing well professionally, she was unable to sit back and ignore the plight of members of her community.
She said “I called the Star Newspaper in 1966, in order to get involved in their Operation Snowball initiative, which involves collecting and distributing blankets during winter to the needy. In that year, with strong support from my family, I collected over a thousand blankets, which was distributed through Snowball.”
This was the beginning of Isane’s career in JISS – then known as the Johannesburg Indian Social Welfare Association (JISWA) - when ex-Director Cassim Saloojee approached her in 1967, to join the organization and assist with their projects.
Isane said “I immediately accepted and through JISWA, I was able to help many desperate people, both emotionally and financially.”
“The highlight of my career with JISWA, was the co-founding of the JISWA School for the Mentally Handicapped. When parents approached us for help with their mentally challenged children, Mr. Saloojee felt that JISWA needed to create a haven for them, where they can learn some basic skills that would make them a bit independent.”
JISWA then secured a room at a school on Bree Street, beginning with just 11 of these special children, where Isane together with other volunteers spent much time and effort teaching them basic social and educational skills.Through the leadership of Saloojee, funds were donated by the community which was used towards the improvement of the school, and today the school has over 300 children.
Isane had gained much support from her late husband Goolam, who was also a long-standing member of JISWA and who had contributed much to the organization.
Added to this, Isane’s late aunt, Doctor Khairoonisha Attaoullah was a member from 1947 to 1957, using her medical expertise on a volunteer basis for the poor who turned to JISWA for medical assistance.
Isane says “I lived with my aunt in Cape Town for a few years, and she taught me how to make every moment count in life, and I am honoured to serve the same organization that she was a part of.”
She says “When I reflect on my life, I feel good to be a person who has helped many people to ease their physical and mental pain. The willingness to help came naturally to me because of my wish to assist people who live in Johannesburg, who are unable to help themselves – regardless of their nationality, race or religious preferences.”
Isane hopes that JISS can become self-sustainable once again, as they were many years ago. She says that donors have decreased considerably, banks and companies are donating small amounts, and the financial climate has declined - all creating obstacles in the path of fundraising to assist the poor.
She says “I urge companies and individuals to donate funds to non-profit charitable organizations, because we have the willingness and compassion to help the needy living amongst us.”
Her advice to women is to join social services initiatives and make a difference to people’s lives “Women who are committed to social work will be able to fight the dangers facing our moral values in society such as drugs, alcohol, etc. They will be able to create substance in a poor person’s life, and perhaps teach the person to become self-sufficient which is the greatest gift you can give a family.”
Surrounded by a loving family, friends and colleagues, Isane is determined to be on hand when needed – and this is to be expected from a woman who continues to be a strong role model for those whose lives she touches.
Interview
by Fathima Jhani |
