Imtiaz Sooliman – Ethekwini Living Legends 2016
AI: Summary ©
AI: Transcript ©
As a young boy, doctor Imtiaz Suleyman grew
up in his family's potchefstrom
shop, where his father helped customers in need
with loans and preferential pricing.
This was the first time MTS was exposed
to compassion, which became the backbone of his
future success.
After qualifying in medicine, his work as a
humanitarian
began while MTS was standing on a parched
Mozambican riverbank,
watching children dig desperately for water without success,
and eating the mud out of desperation.
Together with the support of an Islamic medical
association, he was inspired to take up the
humanitarian
cause.
In 1990 2, while visiting Istanbul in Turkey,
he was introduced to a Sufi Sheikh, who
ordered Imtiaz to form an organization
called The Gift of the Givers,
and to serve humanity unconditionally for the rest
of his life, irrespective of race, creed, or
color, as well as anywhere in the world
at any time.
The most amazing part of this incident was
that the sheikh could not speak English, while
Imtiaz could not speak Turkish,
yet they both understood each other perfectly,
which led to the birth of the gift
of the givers.
Over the following 2 years, his involvement grew
to the point that Imtiaz closed his medical
surgery in 1994,
in order to pursue his humanitarian
commitments full time.
Doctor Mtya Suleiman is a dedicated, energetic leader
with exceptional negotiation
skills, holding the trust of all those he
encounters.
He was awarded the Order of the Baobab
in silver for his contribution to humanitarian aid
in South Africa through the gift of the
Givers Foundation
and his humanitarian relief missions in various countries.
His activities are acknowledged through more than 100
diverse national and international
awards,
citations,
commendations,
and special recognitions.
These recognitions
include 4 awards from heads of state, including
the President's Order of the Star of South
Africa,
the highest civilian award in South Africa.