Ismaili Centres Archive
Dar es Salaam, 17 July 2012 – Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Tanzania for a brief visit to meet with senior government officials and review progress on AKDN projects in the country.
Singapore, 18 July 2012 – Prince Amyn and Singapore’s Minster for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, opened a new exhibition titled Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum today. The exhibition runs from 19 July – 28 October 2012 at the Asian Civilisations Museum.
Arusha, 18 July 2012 – Mawlana Hazar Imam signed an agreement with the East African Community (EAC) today, that will strengthen and broaden cooperation between the Aga Khan Development Network and the EAC in the areas of economic, social and cultural development throughout East Africa. The agreement highlights the need for improvements in education and healthcare, including efforts to promote the expansion of the Aga Khan University as a regional university for East Africa.
Over 900 senior members of the Jamat from around the United Kingdom participated in a Seniors Fair organised by the Aga Khan Social Welfare Board last month. The event, which took place at Watford Colosseum attracted interest from the BBC Asian Network, who reported on how the Ismaili community is helping its elderly members stay up-to-date with technological advancements.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty generously praised the Ismaili community at a gathering of Jamati and civic leaders held at Toronto’s Headquarters Jamatkhana in April. Recognising the long-standing relationship and common values shared between the Jamat and the province, he presented certificates to the Presidents of the Ismaili Councils for Canada and Ontario.
Mawlana Hazar Imam was at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa on 28 May for the inauguration of the Global Centre for Pluralism’s Annual Pluralism Lecture series. As Chairman of the Centre’s Board of Directors, Hazar Imam introduced the speaker, Her Excellency Roza Otunbayeva, former President of the Kyrgyz Republic, whom he had invited to launch the lecture series.
Runners Nash Pradhan and Dan McCormack ran in support of the Aga Khan Development Network. Dressed as characters from the video game Super Mario Brothers, they set a new Guinness world record and achieved their goal of raising funds for the Khorog Diagnostic Unit in Tajikistan.
A graduation ceremony for the third cycle of the Lifelong Learning Certificate Programme was held at the Ismaili Centre, Lisbon this spring. Thirty-seven graduates, hailing from France, Germany, Portugal and the United Kingdom, received a Certificate in Lifelong Learning from the London School of Economics.
Ottawa, 9 April 2012 – The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa has been named a recipient of the 2012 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture. The award recognises outstanding design in projects by Canadian architects, and is administered by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts.
Lisbon, 9 May 2012 – Representing Mawlana Hazar Imam, Prince Amyn signed the renewal of a partnership agreement between the Aga Khan Foundation and the Patriarchate of Lisbon. Programmes implemented under the partnership, which aims to improve the quality of life of marginalised groups in Greater Lisbon, benefited almost 43 000 people in 2011.
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is inviting applications for its seven-day residential summer programme, to take place in Toronto between 11–17 August 2014. Open to post-graduate students, entrepreneurs and professionals from the Jamat, the programme takes a civilisational approach to developing an understanding of Islam and Muslim societies. The application deadline has been extended to 13 May 2014.
Dedicated to promoting harmony among people of all faiths, World Interfaith Harmony Week is observed around the world each year during the first week of February. In Portugal, the UN Alliance of Civilizations sought to present a unique multicultural perspective on the week. The Ismaili Muslim community was among 15 religious traditions represented at the event.
In their quest to broaden their relationships with religious communities, the prestigious Chautauqua Institution in New York state reached out to the Muslim community. With a mind to creating greater awareness about Islam and Muslim cultures, members of the Ismaili Muslim community responded, drawing in Muslim intellectuals to Chautauqua, who could share an understanding of Islam that is hard to find in mainstream media.
Nairobi, 16 April 2012 – A Memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday by Prince Hussain on behalf of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to collaborate in the rehabilitation and restoration of the Nairobi City Park to international standards in terms of architecture, landscape and horticulture.
Prominent religious historian and well-known author, Karen Armstrong, was the keynote speaker at the Ismaili Centre, Burnaby on 25 March 2012, where she delivered a lecture on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and the relevance of his life to our present time. The visit was part of Armstrong’s “12 Days of Compassion” tour of Greater Vancouver.
Only a minimal percentage of adults in Pakistan actively participate in any sports, games or exercise to stay fit. Nevertheless, societal changes over the past two decades have resulted in a greater need for active lifestyles and increased health awareness. Through programming, facilities and services, the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board in Pakistan is helping the Jamat to “leap into fitness”.
Dushanbe, 4 April 2012 – Mawlana Hazar Imam travelled to Tajikistan for a brief, but historic one-day visit. In a meeting with the leaders of the newly-established Jamati institutions in Tajikistan, Hazar Imam emphasised the significance of the formal establishment of Jamati institutions to serve the needs and requirements of the Tajik Jamat.
Urumxi, China, 4 April 2012 – Mawlana Hazar Imam paid an official visit to Urumxi, China from 2–4 April 2012, at the invitation of the Governor of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Mr Nur Bekri, to discuss collaboration between the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Government of Xinjiang.
Singapore, 2 April 2012 – Mawlana Hazar Imam's visit to the Far East drew to a close this morning as he departed Singapore. During his visit, Hazar Imam met with the Far East Jamat over a two-day period. Members of the Jamat had come from 13 countries across the region.
Singapore, 31 March 2012 – Continuing his visit to the Far East, Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived at Singapore’s Changi Airport yesterday evening. Meanwhile, members of the Far East Jamat celebrated Mawlana Hazar Imam’s arrival and made preparations for his visit with the Jamat.
