Uganda - No love lost for a country that expelled her family

TOP OF THE WORLD: The hikers on top of Mt Elgon. Ms Jiwa is fifth from right in the second row. PHOTO ISAAC KASAMANI

Kampala

She was not even in her mother’s womb when her family – together with at least 60,000 other Indians – was ordered to leave Uganda within 90 days in 1972.

But for Jazzmin Jiwa, now a 30-year-old journalist based in Canada, the historical bond that her family has with Uganda could not be broken even by those circumstances.

Late last year, Ms Jiwa was one of 42 tourists from Europe, USA and Canada who travelled to Uganda for a 10-day mountain climbing expedition dubbed Hike4Life and facilitated by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

Read complete article in The Daily Monitor

His Highness the Aga Khan receives "Prix de l’Entrepreneur philanthropique de l’année 2009"

Prince Amyn, Princess Zahra and Prince Hussain joined Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Le Nouvel Economiste award ceremony, where Hazar Imam received the Prix de l’Entrepreneur philanthropique de l’année 2009 (2009 Philanthropic Entrepreneur of the Year Award). Photo: AKDN/Gary Otte

Complete event info at AKDN website

Video of Ceremony

The Aga Khan, Women and Development: The Path of Education

Rahim Kanani

Research Associate, Hauser Center for Nonprofits, Harvard University
Posted: December 21, 2009 02:10 AM

"I believe the message of Islam is the dignity with which we must treat women in society...and I think it is correct that education dignifies women," His Highness Karim Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world's Shia Ismaili Muslims, explained to a BBC reporter at the turn of the century. Like his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mohamed Shah, who was once President of the League of Nations, the Aga Khan has been an ardent supporter of educating women in the developing world for decades. Recently celebrating his 73rd birthday, the 49th hereditary Imam and direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad is still tireless in his effort, pragmatic in his approach, and strategic in his vision. As a religious leader, his moral obligation, rooted in the principles of Islam, holds him to both interpret the faith and improve the quality of life within the communities and societies in which his followers live. In his dual role, the Aga Khan is also founder and Chairman of one of the largest private development networks in the world, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), active in over 25 countries and employing over 70,000 people.

Read complete article in the Huffington Post

Pamir Mountains, the Crossroads of History -- NY Times Travel

Zee's Notes: A while back I wrote of the land of the Pamir Mountains as being the inspiration of the movie Shangri-La- where people lived in peace and were healthy well into their 100's. This is an interesting look at what's happening along the Tajik-Afghan border from a travel writer.

By ANDY ISAACSON

Published: December 20, 2009

BY 9 in the morning, the bazaar on a rocky island in the Panj River was a frenetic scene of haggling and theatrics. Afghan traders in long tunics and vests hawked teas, toiletries and rubber slippers. Turbaned fortune tellers bent over ornate Persian texts, predicting futures for the price of a dollar. Tajik women bargained over resplendent bolts of fabric. All were mingling this bright Saturday at a weekly market held throughout the year and, in one form or another, for thousands of years here in the Wakhan Valley, which divides Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/travel/20Pamir.html

Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa honored as one of 12 MIcrosoft Mentor Schools in the world

 

Coastweek -- Head of Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, Peter J McMurray [centre] is seen while being presented with a Microsoft 'Mentor School ' recognition certificate by the Global Vice President of Microsoft's Innovative School's Programme, Michael Golden. Coastweek -- The Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa has been honoured during a recent ceremony in Salvador, Brazil, by being invited to become part of the prestigious 'Mentor School' programme initiated by Microsoft Corp. The Academy becomes only the 12th school in the world to join the programme. The honour is part of the Microsoft Innovative Schools Programme which currently has 30 'Pathfinder' schools recognised for special achievement globally.  Read complete story here...  Here is an interesting video on the Microsoft - AKF partnership...

Aga Khan University - Pakistan - Convocation 2009

Zee's Notes: AKU graduated 328 more students at their recent Convocation at the Karachi Campus. 20 years ago  I was lucky enough to be in Karachi to play with the Canadian Ismaili Cricket Team at the World Ismaili Cricket Festival organized by cricket enthusiast Aslam Jindani, who was a Director at the AKU hospital at the time.  Aslam arranged for the cricketers to attend the convocation and is what I call a 'once in a lifetime' type of experience - yes MHI was there as Chancellor. Twenty years later MHI's vision of creating a better life for millions of people chugs along at a jet speed pace.

Convocation 2009

Pakistan Graduating Students Graduation Numbers Awards Speeches Home

Oxford Joins With Aga Khan University, Nairobi

Coastweek -- The University of Oxford has collaborated with the Aga Khan University, Nairobi to establish a centre in Africa for an international study of fetal and newborn growth.
.

This “Intergrowth - 21st” project will create a worldwide database of the growth and health pattern of babies before and after birth.

This project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and coordinated by Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Oxford.

Read Coastweek article here

AKDN in the News - Afghan Enclave Seen as Model for Development - New York Times

Five years ago, The Aga Khan Development Network spent more than a year trying to persuade a mullah to allow a girls' school. Today, the village of Fargamanch has a girls' high school.

Photo: Holly Pickett for The New York Times

JURM, Afghanistan — Small grants given directly to villagers have brought about modest but important changes in this corner of Afghanistan, offering a model in a country where official corruption and a Taliban insurgency have frustrated many large-scale development efforts.

Read complete article here 

Watch Slide Slow here

World Partnership Golf - Atlanta

Zee's Notes: The WPG which started in Vancouver has morphed into a North American phenomenon and the Atlanta event even had a few Atlanta Falcon professional football players. Great video by Akber Ukani of La Bella Studio.

Microsoft initiative helps people seek info under RTI

By Ahmedabad Mirror Bureau

Posted On Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 02:57:14 AM

Software giant Microsoft has joined hands with three Gujarat-based welfare organisations to give IT training to people who don’t have access to technology, mainly computers. The American company, through its division Microsoft Community Affairs, has tied up with Aga Khan Foundation, Mahila Sewa Trust and Saath Charitable Trust. One of the key objectives of the initiative, called ‘Project Jyoti’, is to teach people how to obtain information under the RTI Act.

Read complete article here

In the News....June 2009

UK to promote ghee-free Indian food

Indian Express - Jun 23, 2009
The Department of Health has launched an online nutrition centre in partnership with the Aga Khan, head of the Ismaili Muslim community. ...

East Africa gets broadband It may make life easier and cheaper

economist.com - Jun 18, 2009
The 2nd cable fronted by the Aga Khan network will connect more East African ... SEACOM is geared towards countries where the Aga Khan has businesses which ...

Rural areas in state also feel the heat of economic meltdown
Indian Express - Jun 25, 2009
He and his two friends got the placement at CSC after completing a basic course from the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) Teaching Centre at Sagpara ..

Technology centres in Northern Areas

DAWN.com - Jun 16, 2009
Microsoft and the Aga Khan Foundation in Pakistan inked an agreement to establish the country's firstever pilot community technology learning centres in the ...

 

How the world is shaped by the 'clash of ignorances'

Daily Nation - Jun 15, 2009
These are issues which have engaged the Aga Khan Development Network for over two decades, including the innovative curricular planning of our schools and ...

 

Development: Looking back
DAWN.com - Jun 14, 2009
In Hunza, the Aga Khan Education Service has operated schools for over half a century; ... The various arms of the Aga Khan Development Network impacted on ..

 

2.7 Million Local-Currency Guarantee to Aga Khan Agency, First Mi

MicroCapital - Jun 12, 2009
The Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) was established in 2005 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its microfinance activities is administered ...

UNBEATEN ZARKAVA RETIRED TO STUD | Sporting Life - Horse Racing …

Sportinglife.com - Jun 9, 2009
The Aga Khan said: "The quality and youth of our broodmare band is of the utmost ... "The Aga Khan Studs have produced three exceptional fillies in three ...

 

Posh Evenings And Golden Galas

Hamptons.com - Jun 7, 2009
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan and designer Nancy Corzine hosted a simply elegant cocktail reception for the co-chairs and committees of this year's Rita Hayworth ...

Prince Rahim Aga Khan visits Gorno Badakhshan...Jun 4

Grameen-Jameel Joins Hands with Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance

Zawya - Jun 3, 2009
"We are proud to collaborate with the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, who is renowned in the ... The Chairman of the Board is his Highness the Aga Khan. ...

 

Walkers raise $75K to fight global poverty

Waterloo Record - Jun 2, 2009
They were taking part in the World Partnership Walk, a fundraising event for the Aga Khan Foundation Canada that began in Vancouver in 1985. ...

Prince Rahim Aga Khan arrives in Tajikistan tomorrow on a three-day working visit...June 1

His Highness the Aga Khan in Berlin

Photo credit: AKDN/Hinrik Schmoock

Berlin, Germany, 15 May 2009 - His Highness the Aga Khan arrived in Berlin yesterday for a two-day official visit to hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel, Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul.

http://www.akdn.org/press_release.asp?ID=752

The Annual Schools' Conference - Aga Khan Education Board for UK

'Contemporary Conversations' is an Annual Schools' Conference sponsored by the Aga Khan Education Board for the United Kingdom.

The Aga Khan Education Board for the United Kingdom (AKEB), in collaboration with teachers from secondary schools, has launched an Annual Schools' Conference, 'Contemporary Conversations', for students in Years 11 and 12. This conference furthers one of AKEB's key objectives; namely "adding value to formal education".

Click here for the details on this initiative...


Zee's Notes: Interesting topic for this years Conference topic - 'Ethical Shadows on Sports' coinciding with the first ever World Ismaili Games scheduled to be held in Nairobi June 23-29th.

AKFED invests in E. African submarine cable network

Seacom, a Mauritius-based company, is constructing the submarine cable network that will link East Africa, South Africa, Europe and Asia.

Read complete story here...