ACTIVITIES OF AKF USA

Any Institutional activities in the world
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

Partnership Golf Chicago
Date: Friday, July 22, 2011


88 golfers took a swing at ending global poverty by raising over $83,000 in the fifth annual Chicago Partnership Golf tournament at the Ruffled Feathers Golf Club in Lemont, Illinois. Golfers not only raised money for people in need but also participated in a variety of fun challenges including a golf ball canon, putting, longest drive and hole-in-one contests as well as a silent auction.



Special guests included Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State; Robert (Bobby) Shilling, U.S. Representative, Illinois; Ron Sutter, Circuit Court Judge, DuPage County; and Alvin Bel, CEO of Big Pawn. Gaynor Hall, WGN-TV Reporter and CLTV Weekend Anchor, served as emcee for the luncheon program, and Joanne Trotter, Director of Programs for AKF USA was guest speaker.


This event has occurred. You may continue to make a donation toward this event below. For more information about the day's tournament, please contact Karim Khowaja, Project Manager by email at chicago@partnershipgolf.org.

http://partnershipsinaction.org/content ... lf-chicago
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

Artful Thursday: High Notes
Thursday, Sep 15, 2011
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
FREE


Law Building
1001 Bissonnet Map & Directions

print mail
About

Presented by Hussein Rashid
Adjunct professor, Hofstra University; associate editor, Religion Dispatches

Up to thirty percent of the slaves brought to the United States from Africa were Muslim. They spoke and wrote Arabic, and carried a rich musical tradition. Centuries’ worth of Muslim instrumental and singing traditions were combined with those of other cultures encountered in the United States, eventually forming blues, jazz, rock, and hip-hop—uniquely American musical genres.

Billie Holiday’s wavy intonation has its roots in the muezzin’s call to prayer. The syncopated riffs and rhythms of blues guitar legend John Lee Hooker echo a traditional call-and-response, with painful lyrics about life, love, and faith. The be-bop and cool-jazz improvisations of John Coltrane are informed by numerous musical and meditative traditions, including those of Islam. Also indebted to this tradition are the folk rock of Steve Earle and the hip-hop of Mos Def. In this month’s Artful Thursday lecture, Hussein Rashid uses music to explore how the Muslim-American community has made a lasting cultural contribution to American music.

This Artful Thursday program is generously supported by His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for the Southwestern United States.

Artful Thursday programs receive generous funding from the Rockwell Fund. Promotional support is generously provided by Houston Public Radio—KUHF 88.7 FM & Classical 91.7 FM.

Admission is free and open to the public. A reception follows the program. Refreshments generously provided by the Buffalo Speedway Starbucks (corner of Buffalo Speedway and Westpark), Carla Everett, manager, and the Rice Village Starbucks, Jenna Ortiz, manager.

http://www.mfah.org/calendar/artful-thu ... otes/4718/
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for the Southwestern United States sponsors "Everyday Art: The Islamic Impact on American Arts".

http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/mes/events/19038
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Post by kmaherali »

Glenview Isma'ili Muslim Community Prepares for Partnership Walk

Volunteerism in the Isma'ili community runs strong for the upcoming 13th annual Walk at Millennium Park.

http://glenview.patch.com/articles/glen ... rship-walk

Walk to End Global Poverty at Chicago PartnershipsInAction Walk
September 19, 2011

On September 18, 2011, over 2,400 walked to end global poverty by raising over $400,000 in the 17th annual Partnership Walk at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.

http://partnershipsinaction.org/content ... ction-walk
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Post by kmaherali »

Partnership Walk San Francisco
Date: Sunday, October 9, 2011
Location: Central Park, Lake Elizabeth, Fremont, CA



Join over 800 participants for Partnership Walk at Central Park in Fremont and demonstrate your support for ending global poverty.
Distinguished guests and guest speakers include:

Dr. Ken Wilson, Executive Director, the Christensen Fund (Keynote Speaker)
Cassie Doyle, Consul General of Canada in Northern California (Guest Speaker
Representative from the office of U.S. Congressman Mike Honda
Andrae G. Macapinlac, Senior Field Representative from the office of California State Assemblyman Bob Weickowski
Ash Kalra, San Jose Council Member
Anu Natarajan, Fremont City Council member
Mayor Jose Esteves, Milpitas
Dennis Graham, Milpitas Police Chief
Brian Sturdivant, Milpitas Fire Chief

Come join us this year for another day of learning activities, fundraising and culturally diverse performances! Want to volunteer for this event? Sign up here.

*****
Partnership Walk Memphis

Date: Sunday, October 9, 2011
Location: Tom Lee Park, Memphis TN



Join over 2,400 participants for this years Partnership Walk at Tom Lee Park in Memphis and demonstrate your support for ending global poverty.
Distinguished Guests include:

Mayor A.C. Wharton, Memphis. Keynote Speaker

http://partnershipsinaction.org/content ... lk-memphis
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Post by kmaherali »

Partnership Walk in Fremont raises $200,000
Fremont Bulletin Staff
Posted: 10/13/2011 03:35:01 PM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

More than 1,000 Bay Area residents walked to end global poverty in the annual Partnership Walk at Central Park in Fremont Sunday.

The San Francisco Partnership Walk is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A to raise awareness and funds that reduce poverty, hunger, illiteracy and poor health in Africa and Asia.

Sunday's walk raised more than $200,000, according to organizers, with 100 percent of the funds going directly to projects sponsored by the foundation.

Many special guests and civic leaders attended the walk, including Dr. Ken Wilson, executive director of the Christensen Fund, who gave the keynote speech during the opening ceremonies.

"Over the last 20 years I have had repeated opportunities to see the work that the Aga Khan Foundation and its sister organizations have been doing in Africa, in Central Asia and the Middle East," he said. "It is inspiring work.... It starts and ends with people. It starts with all the volunteers that we see today. It is work that is driven by the passion of people. It values the people themselves in the communities, valuing their knowledge, creativity, heritage and culture as assets and helps them build new institutions that start from their strength, passion and values."

http://www.mercurynews.com/fremont/ci_19107002

*****

Partnership Walk Birmingham

Date: Sunday, October 16, 2011
Location: Railroad Park, Birmingham AL



Join over 1,900 participants in Partnership Walk at Railroad Park in Birmingham, Alabama and demonstrate you support for ending global poverty. Distinguished guests and guest speakers include:

Honorable Mayor William A. Bell, Sr.

Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman
Councilors from the City of Birmingham will be in attendance



Come join us this year for another day of learning activities, fundraising and culturally diverse performances!

http://partnershipsinaction.org/content ... birmingham

17th Annual Partnership Walk raises $250,000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Birmingham's 2011 Partnership walk raised $250,000 for the Aga Khan Foundation to support efforts in Asia and Africa, according to AKF USA volunteer Salima Mulji. It also featured cultural exhibitions and examples of how the charity changes lives in developing nations.

"This event is to raise funds and awareness for the projects that the Aga Khan Foundation has in third world countries, to raise the quality of life of people in the villages of Asia and Africa. For example: electricity, poverty, health, micro-financing, they build infrastructure so that people can help themselves," said Mulji.

http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/ ... w9Vqw.cspx
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Post by kmaherali »

WALK TO END GLOBAL POVERTY AT ATLANTA PARTNERSHIPSINACTION WALK !
From Snellville, Georgia
First Posted: 10/20/2011 12:56:25 AM | Last Updated: 10/20/2011 12:46:56 PM

Over 7,000 are expected to walk to end global poverty in the 17th annual Partnership Walk at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. The Atlanta Partnership Walk is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A (AKF USA) to raise awareness and funds that reduce poverty, hunger, illiteracy and poor health in Africa and Asia.

Atlanta’s 2010 Walk raised over $1,300,000 and is expected to raise more this year. 100% of the funds raised at Partnership Walk go directly to projects sponsored by the Foundation; not a cent is spent on administration.

http://www.ourtown.com/snellvillega/art ... -walk.html
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Post by kmaherali »

Annual walk at Lake Eola takes on poverty

More than 3,000 people are expected to gather in downtown Orlando's Lake Eola Park on Sunday as part of an annual effort to make poverty a thing of the past.

The 17th annual Partnership Walk aims to raise awareness and money to fight poverty and hunger in Africa and Asia, according to the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A., which oversees the initiative.

More...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loc ... 8186.story

*****

'Walk to end poverty' draws 1,800 to annual event

More than 1,800 people walked around Lake Eola Park on Sunday during the 17th annual event aimed at ending global poverty, officials said.

The "Partnership Walk," sponsored by the Aga Khan Foundation USA, raised more than $200,000 to fight poverty and hunger in Asia and Africa, according to spokeswoman Martha Sipple.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loc ... 5835.story
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

Aga Khan Council for Northern Texas collaborates to organize forum on Islamic Art and Culture

http://www.theshorthorn.com/index.php/n ... rum-at-uta

Excerpt:

A forum designed to portray cultural links through symbols in Islamic art will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Every semester, the Art and Art History Department hosts a forum in collaboration with the Aga Khan Council for Northern Texas, a social governance structure for the Ismaili Muslim community. This semester, the forum will focus on symbols used by Islamic kings in the pre-modern era, a time period toward the end of the 20th century.

*****
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

AKF joins in compilation of a report on community philanthropy

Excerpt:

"There is a need for the development community to see local people as actors and donors rather than as beneficiaries, says a new report on community philanthropy.

Community philanthropy is not often heard of in international development. And in the report, ”The Value of Community Philanthropy: Results of a Consultation,” a joint effort by the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, people wonder how different it is from the work of nongovernmental organizations."

http://www.devex.com/en/blogs/the-devel ... ilanthropy
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Release Report on the Role of Community Philanthropy in Civil Society and Aid Effectiveness

http://www.interaction.org/document/aga ... ommunity-p

Community philanthropy seen on upswing

http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/news ... en-upswing
Last edited by kmaherali on Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

Community Philanthropy: It’s Not Just for the Wealthy Anymore – NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly

Excerpt:

"In 2011, the Aga Khan Foundation and the C.S. Mott Foundation sponsored a series of roundtables or consultations in Washington, D.C. Johannesburg, and Dhaka. Philanthropic experts and community activists explored how to stimulate and develop community philanthropy, but the theme wasn’t the usual laser focus on simply amassing more money. As the report by CENTRIS consultant Barry Knight explains, the emphasis was on community philanthropy “as a means of contributing to the sustainability of civil society and supporting the effectiveness of development aid.” "

http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/phila ... ymore.html
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AKF member of global coalition providing new approach to address the needs of children and their caregivers affected by HIV/AIDS, including in-home coaching sessions

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/app ... 01&notoc=1

Excerpt:

*Members of the global coalition include: Action for Children, ADEA, Aga Khan Foundation, AIR, AMANI, Bernard Van Leer, Brookings Institute, CARE, California Polytechnical State University, Catholic Relief Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Child Fund, CIFF, Consultative Group for Early Childhood Development, Covance, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, ELMA, Episcopal Relief and Development, FHI 360, Firelight Foundation, FXB, GBC Health, Georgia State University, Global Partnership for Education, Handicap International, Harvard Center for the Developing Child, Harvard University, Health and Human Services, Hesperian Foundation, ICF & Associates, John Snow International, Long Island University, Management Sciences for Health, Merck, Oak Foundation, Office of the Global AIDS Council, Pact, PATH, Peace Corps, Plan USA, Population Council, Public Law 10995 (US Government Secretariat for Orphans and Vulnerable Children), REPSSI,Royal Free University College of London, Salvation Army, Save the Children, Spark Center, UNC Frank Porter Graham Center, UNICEF, UNESCO, University Research Company, USAID, Winrock, World Bank and World Vision International.
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

AKF US a recipient of The Coca-Cola Foundation grant

The Coca-Cola Foundation Awards $26 Million to 85 Global Organizations During First Quarter 2012
Funding Supports Global Efforts To Create Sustainable Communities


Excerpt:

Aga Khan Foundation USA, Economic Development And Education Opportunities For Youth In Kyrgyzstan And Afghanistan, benefiting more than 12,000 students, youth entrepreneurs, teachers and farmers through support of entrepreneurial and education programs, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, $200,000.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/2 ... -85-Global
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

2011 Annual Report Release
Thu, 2012-06-21 21:07 — admin

It is with great pleasure that I share our 2011 Annual Report, which offers a glimpse into lives touched by the Aga Khan Foundation’s work in Asia and Africa. In the past we have shown how the Aga Khan Foundation has inspired people to create a better future. This year we turn that around and share stories of our local partners who inspire us by their courage and willingness to invest in their communities.

You will find the story of a woman farmer in Mali who faced a hard choice and learned new skills that brought market opportunities to her village and better nutrition to her family. There is also the story of the young Afghan man who returned to help communities reduce their risk and vulnerability to natural disaster.

We take courage from the teacher in Kenya who recovered from the double blow of losing her husband and her job, and who found meaning by starting a school for disadvantaged children that Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. is happy to support. And we are moved by the mother in Pakistan who, after losing her daughter, became a champion for helping women and children. Their examples fortify us to pursue our shared goal of ending poverty through education, skills and self-reliance.

The Annual Report demonstrates the great strides that your generosity has made possible. We are so grateful for your support and engagement. I invite you to find additional inspiring stories on this website and www.akdn.org/usa.asp.


Sincerely,

Dr. Mirza Jahani
http://www.partnershipsinaction.org/con ... rt-release
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Video: Aga Khan Foundation’s Partnership Walk

/ismailimail.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/video-aga-khan-foundations-partnership-walk/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Ismailimail+%28Ismailimail%29

*******
UPCOMING EVENTS

Partnership Walk Chicago
When:August 26, 2012Where:Chicago

Partnership Walk Dallas
When:September 8, 2012Where:Dallas

Partnership Golf Austin
When:September 10, 2012Where:Austin

Partnership Walk Houston
When:September 15, 2012Where:Houston

Partnership Golf Atlanta
When:September 17, 2012Where:Atlanta

http://www.partnershipsinaction.org/

******
First-ever San Antonio Partnership Walk banks good will, $300K
Zeke MacCormac,

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_ ... 925278.php
Last edited by kmaherali on Mon Oct 08, 2012 5:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

Video:

Mirza Jahani of Aga Khan Foundation USA: Scaling Up in Agriculture, Rural Development, and Nutrition


http://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2012/0 ... ilimail%29
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

Video:

Aga Khan Foundation: Stories from the Field


http://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2012/0 ... ilimail%29
kmaherali
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City of Tampa Florida Proclamation on Aga Khan Foundation USA Awareness Day.

http://www.tampagov.net/proclamations/2 ... ss_Day.pdf
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Event: Panel on Civil Society in Afghanistan and Pakistan at The Stimson Center
By admin | Published: January 11, 2013

Please join us for the panel discussion “Civil Society in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Enabling Environments, Civil Society Capacity, and the CSO Sustainability Index” at the The Henry L. Stimson Center.

The discussion will feature civil society experts examining the current environment for civil society in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Panelists will introduce the recently published 2011 Civil Society Sustainability Index (CSOSI) for Afghanistan and Pakistan and explore some of the strengths and opportunities in the civil society sector of both countries.

Read the full reports on Aga Khan Foundation’s PartnershipsInAction website.

When? Wednesday, January 16, 2013
9:30 – 11:00am

Where? The Henry L. Stimson Center
12th Floor, Conference Room
1111 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

Other important information:
- Please send your RSVP to Garrison Spencer at gspencer@msi-inc.com.
- Admission is free.
- Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and not guaranteed.
- Please bring a photo ID and allow additional time to pass through a security checkpoint.

For more information on the event, please see the full invite with an agenda and bios of panelists.

http://www.msiworldwide.com/2013/01/eve ... on-center/
kmaherali
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Post by kmaherali »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE COCA-COLA FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANT TO
AGA KHAN FOUNDATION FOR
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND WATER STEWARDSHIP


Grant Aims to Foster the Socio-Economic Development of Youth in Kyrgyzstan & Afghanistan

September 5, 2012— The Coca-Cola Foundation—the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company—granted US$200,000 to the Aga Khan Foundation USA, to foster the social and economic development of youth in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. With an additional US$50,000 contribution from The Coca-Cola Company, the grants will leverage The Project for Economic Development and Education Opportunities for Youth in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan by equipping more than 12,000 students, young entrepreneurs, teachers and farmers with entrepreneurial skills and water management practices.
This project will be implemented by two agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network: the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the University of Central Asia (UCA). The initiative will encourage social entrepreneurship among youth, augment agricultural productivity, and increase access to educational opportunities.
“Promoting economic growth through entrepreneurship development is a core priority for UCA, with a central emphasis on endeavors that create social value to the communities where our learners come from,” said Dr. Bodhan Krawchenko, Director General of the University of Central Asia.
Dr. Mirza Jahani, the CEO of the Aga Khan Foundation USA added, “We are delighted to have Coca-Cola join us to inspire young entrepreneurs in Asia. This partnership brings fresh energy to improving lives and livelihoods.”
Through a nationwide awareness-raising campaign in Kyrgyzstan, the Aga Khan Foundation and its partner, the University of Central Asia, will encourage youth to submit innovative social entrepreneurship ideas to address an issue in their community. Already, more than 200 applications have been received, and 25 finalists received training in Bishkek to develop their project ideas. The Aga Khan Foundation will now award the top 10 projects with small seed grants.
In addition, the project will create access to and improve the quality of more than 1,600 hectares of arable land by rehabilitating agricultural infrastructure and enhancing the management of water resources in remote villages of Kara-Tala and Kyzyl-Jyldyz in Naryn oblast, Kyrgyzstan.
In Afghanistan, the project will support professional development for 15 teachers of English and Information Technology in secondary schools as well as increase access to modern Dari-language textbooks for nearly 6,000 students.

http://www.partnershipsinaction.org/sit ... ontact.pdf
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U.S. Government and Aga Khan Foundation to Launch Investment Fund for Afghanistan
For Immediate Release

Friday, February 8, 2013
Washington, DC: The U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) at a private ceremony today that will establish the first investment fund in Badakhshan, Afghanistan to invest in social development projects.

When the fund is finalized, USAID and AKF will each provide $30 million over a five year period, subject to the availability of funds, to help leverage the Afghan private sector to advance social development.

At a signing ceremony at the State Department, Deputy Secretary Thomas Nides said, "Public-private partnerships like this one are the right way to do development. They can have a huge, sustainable impact and a significant return on investment."

Alex Thier, assistant to the USAID administrator for Afghanistan and Pakistan added, "We are focused on sustainability and increased self-sufficiency in Afghanistan. This agreement will help empower the Afghan people by marrying social development needs and private sector growth."

The Agha Khan Foundation CEO Dr. Mirza Jahani, noted, “We are delighted to mark this new phase of our partnership with USAID for strengthening Afghanistan. This new alliance – one of the largest GDAs (Global Development Alliance) ever – builds on the depth of AKF’s Multi-Input Area Development, or MIAD, approach to reducing poverty. And it takes our experience a step further, with an innovative public-private model for driving social and economic development, both in Afghanistan and more broadly in Central Asia.”

The seed money from both USAID and the foundation is intended to create a virtuous cycle of economic and social development in Badakhshan province in Afghanistan. The partnership reflects the importance of leveraging private industry to fund development efforts.

Related Administrator
J Alex Thier
Related Bureau or Independent Office
Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs
......Last updated: February 11, 2013

http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/p ... tment-fund
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Education for Children, Kenya
Educating marginalized children in Kenya


http://www.partnershipsinaction.org/con ... dren-kenya
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Carving a Future in Cairo's Darb al-Ahmar
.Fri, 2013-04-12 18:52 — admin

By Caroline Lai, Program Assistant with Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A.

I returned to Cairo in mid-February to visit the USAID-funded Head Start! for Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment program where I met with a diverse range of people involved in the program. When I previously visited in November, I spent most of my time working with the program staff to develop our work plan for next year. During my most recent visit, I was able to see in action the activities we had discussed and spend a considerable amount of time interacting with the beneficiaries we promised we would reach.

Despite challenges, Head Start! remains a fascinating and beneficial program. The program provides opportunities that were previously unavailable and unthinkable, such as access to finance for young entrepreneurs; carpentry training provided by experts in the field; and short-term job opportunities through infrastructure sub-grants to local civil society organizations. The heart of the program lies with the beneficiaries it reaches and the difference it makes to individuals in some of Cairo’s poorest neighborhoods.

I got to spend nearly an entire day visiting the Community Development Company (CDC) Carpentry workshop, which trains young carpenters in Darb al-Ahmar. During that visit, I sat in on an Arab Carpentry training class, and spoke with some of the carpenters being trained. Many of them do not have a formal education and have followed their fathers and uncles into the carpentry profession. When I spoke with a few of the carpenters participating in the Aga Khan Foundation, Egypt and CDC-led trainings about what motivated them to join the program, they all mentioned that these trainings under Head Start! are the first of their kind offered to residents of neighborhood.



Waleed Mossad working on a project.


One of the people I spent time with was Waleed Mossad, a 33-year old carpenter born and raised in Darb al-Ahmar. Growing up in a family of carpenters, he began learning the trade when he was 10. While skilled at what he does, prior to Head Start!, he was never able to master Arab Carpentry due to its complexity and unwillingness of those skilled in Arab Carpentry to teach others. From the training, Waleed learned secrets of the trade, visited historic sites, and gained access to professional tools and equipment. After successfully completing the 10-week training course, he created a stool, which has been showcased in a carpentry exhibition in Cairo, and gained confidence in his skills. Due to the training and access to experts in the field, Waleed no longer feels that he is not as talented or marketable as those specialized in Arab Carpentry. One day, he hopes to start his own workshop that will compete with the elite carpentry workshops in Darb al-Ahmar.

Waleed is just one of many people that the Head Start! program strives to reach. The program provides hope and opportunities to those who are typically overlooked or left out. As the program grows, the Aga Khan Development Network will continue to make a difference in people’s lives in Cairo, just as the program has already made a difference in Waleed’s life.

http://www.partnershipsinaction.org/con ... b-al-ahmar
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Post by kmaherali »

This Earth Day, we're highlighting the important role that parks can play to alleviate poverty in developing countries.


How Do We Take Action?


The Aga Khan Development Network's (AKDN) Historic Cities program imagines development differently: It sees people’s culture as a seed that, when watered, can bear fruit in their better health, better incomes, and as a source of hope and prosperity in poor surroundings.


With 10 park and garden projects worldwide, the program has shown that even in the most difficult settings, urban parks can improve life in a city and can also drive economic change. These projects go beyond physically restoring parks and landmarks -- they get at deeper causes of poverty and help uplift entire communities.



How Can You Make an Impact?
http://www.partnershipsinaction.org/con ... h-day-2013
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Post by kmaherali »

12/06/2013- New Community Philanthropy publication launched by Aga Khan Foundation USA, C.S. Mott Foundation & Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Page Content
​​Community philanthropy can be a powerful force for strengthening civil society and building on local initiative, according to a new brief released jointly by the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. (AKF USA), the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Global Fund for Community Foundations, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

The publication, entitled The Case for Community Philanthropy: How the Practice Builds Local Assets, Capacity, and Trust – and Why It Matters, makes the case that increasing local ownership and local accountability leads to stronger communities and should be a main focus of development aid practitioners.

http://www.efc.be/news_events/Pages/New ... -Fund.aspx
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Post by kmaherali »

Walk raises $1.35 million for Aga Khan Foundation

About 5,000 North Texas residents participated in the annual Aga Khan Foundation Walk-Run Dallas Oct. 10 at the Irving Convention Center. The event was an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation to raise awareness and funds for programs that work with communities around the world to build better futures.

The event raised $1.35 million, which reflects the strong support of participants and sponsors across the area, including national sponsorCoca-Cola Company. All net proceeds from the event go directly to projects supported by the Aga Khan Foundation.

Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Webb and City Council member Gerald Farris took part in the opening ceremonies. To learn more, visit akfusa.org.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/communit ... dation.ece
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Post by kmaherali »

More than $510,000 raised to build better futures at Aga Khan Foundation Walk

By Guest Author on October 28, 2015 in Briefs

Over 1,500 participants were moved to invest in long-term solutions that improve the quality of life for communities worldwide at the annual Aga Khan Foundation Walk – Los Angeles held at the Santa Monica Pier. The event was an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) to raise awareness and funds for programs that work with communities around the world to build better futures.

This year’s Walk raised more than $510,000, reflecting the enthusiastic outpouring of support from participants and sponsors across the metro area, including national sponsors, The Coca-Cola Company and Pioneer Finance. All net proceeds from the event go directly to projects supported by the Aga Khan Foundation.

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a private, not-for-profit international development organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in some of the poorest regions of the world. The Foundation helps communities around the world to build better futures by creating institutions like hospitals, making long-term investments to the most innovative programs, and cultivating strong local leadership.

The charity event attracted a range of participants who want to help communities in some of the poorest areas of Africa and Asia improve their quality of life. Bela Bajaria, President of Universal Television, was a keynote speaker at the event and noted, “The Aga Khan Foundation has a sustainable strategy … it’s been amazing that they built partnerships that include public and private enterprises, and community leaders to empower communities with a hand up, not a hand out, thereby strengthening communities.”

Contributions make a tremendous impact in creating locally driven opportunities for girls in Afghanistan to attend school, farmers in Mali to feed their families, and mothers in India to lead healthy lives. With 200 projects in 30 countries, Aga Khan Foundation cultivates deep partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, governments and community leaders to harness the best from people of all walks of life. Working with partners, they make long-term commitments to innovative programs that improve the quality of life, from early childhood education to green space preservation. Visit their blog to learn more about what they do, at www.akfusa.org.

– Submitted by Sasha Rawji, Marketing & Media Manager
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AKF USA’s CEO Thanks supporters for raising over $190,000 for Building Better Futures – Giving Tuesday 2015 Campaign

Dear Friends:

As we look to the New Year, I reflect on all those who make our work possible. It is through our collective effort and commitment that we are able to make headway in breaking the cycle of poverty for millions.

As the Aga Khan Foundation’s Building Better Futures campaign came to a close at year’s end, I am overcome with joy and pride for all the support shown by our dedicated donors in raising $192,670.10. Such support is an investment in helping people build better futures for themselves, their families and communities. It’s an investment in long-term solutions that bring opportunity and hope.

I sincerely appreciate the participation of those who shared the compelling stories from the people we serve. Their hope and resilience underscores the positive force that Building Better Futures has on all of us, whether we live in the U.S., Afghanistan, Kenya, Mali or Pakistan.

I am fortunate to lead an organization whose supporters have an unyielding compassion, dedication, and commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty. Together our hard work and generosity can continue to improve the quality of life for people in the poorest regions of Africa and Asia.

The road to ending poverty is multifaceted, but know that we will get there together.

Wishing you a happy and peaceful New Year,

Aleem Walji
CEO
Aga Khan Foundation USA

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https://www.devex.com/news/aga-khan-s-a ... vate-88106

Aga Khan's Aleem Walji: Leading by mistakes to innovate

Aleem Walji wants local communities to take the lead on development — and the Aga Khan Foundation USA that he now leads is ready to help. Appointed CEO in October 2015 after leaving the World Bank where he headed the Innovation Labs, Walji hopes to help build long-term institutions and opportunities through innovative finance.

Aga Khan Foundation USA is a “nondenominational organization” and part of the Aga Khan Development Network, which is active in over 30 countries with 90 percent of staff locally recruited. The foundation implements community-driven solutions and focuses on four thematic areas: rural development, health, education and civil society. Its work is “underpinned by the ethical principles of Islam,” but it “does not restrict its work to a particular community, country or region,” Walji told Devex.

According to Walji, the foundation’s work is especially crucial now, when tensions and conflicts are spreading throughout the Muslim world, where Aga Khan works most closely. “We work in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, East Africa, West Africa,” he said. These states’ and regions’ fragility and conflict “makes the work that we do more challenging but it also makes [it] more important,” he said.

In an exclusive interview, Walji told Devex about the future priorities of the foundation, which plays the “unusual” role of grant-maker and implementer, committed to building the resilience of communities.

Devex also asked Walji about the challenges and opportunities working directly in the community and building effective partnerships. Here are some highlights from that conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity.

What are your priorities for the next few years? What innovative approaches and programs do you expect to launch and implement?

The way in which we operate is very consistent with the principles of human-centred design: You start not with the project, not with institutions, but with the needs of the communities themselves. We are embedded in the country where we are. In every one of the countries we are working, we have offices. One of the strategies to deal with challenges [such as building communities’ resilience] is that we co-design, co-create projects with the communities themselves based on their priorities. They play a key role and drive the projects and the institutions that are created.

One way to increase the likelihood of success is to be driven by the end users, driven by the beneficiaries. Beneficiary is not a good term; it is a partnership with the community to improve the quality of their own life. And the quality of life is not [only] about one dimension: It is not about a water scheme, it is not about a school, or not about micro financial program. We deliberately focus on what we call multi-input development. Let’s focus on need of the communities from the perspective of the communities in a holistic way.

What are the difficulties, obstacles or the challenges in working directly with the communities? What are the strategies to make this relationship a success?

We take a very, very long-term view. That means you have to build and underwrite the institutions, like hospitals and schools. Donors often don’t want to pay for institutions; donors don’t often want to pay for a program that has a 20-year horizon. We have to find ways to help to underwrite those costs — innovative ways to finance.

Unlike a traditional request for proposal, where we respond to somebody who tells us “we want to do health in Pakistan,” or “we want to find a contractor or somebody that is willing to do teacher education in Afghanistan,” we say, based on what we know about the country, based on what we know about the community, we articulate the priorities of the country and go to an agency like the [U.S. Agency for International Development] and present a proposal to do something that is directly in response to the needs.

The second thing is innovative finance. Impact investing is one vehicle that has gotten attention in recent years. If you are willing to take a long-term perspective, what would that look like? In Central Asia, for example, we have the University of Central Asia, which is a university with campuses in three countries. These are institutions that [can] cost hundred millions of dollar to build. We can’t go to a foundation or a development agency like USAID and expect to be able underwrite the costs of the institution. What we have been able to do in recent years [instead] is to go to overseas private investment corporations and say, if we would [put] some of our own resources on the table as the U.S. entity, would you be willing … to help underwrite the cost of the university or of a hospital?

What are your next steps?

Anytime a new leader comes in, you have an opportunity to take a step back and ask, are our resources aligned with our priorities? Resources include time, people and money.

My approach is to do that in a very deliberate way: Are we heading in the right direction? Do we have the right people? [By asking these questions,] we increase the likelihood of getting [where] we want to get. That is the challenge we have for the next months.

We are living in a world right now where instability is infectious but so is hope. If we can turn many of the countries in which we work into [places] of opportunity, then hope can grow and flourish. That is why I came. It is because I am inspired by the mission of the organization, I am inspired by how we work with communities at the local level to be able to hear their priorities, build upon their challenges, [help] unleash their potential and to build for hope and for good in the world.

What added value does your foundation bring to the development community in this specific moment?

Although we work with all communities, regardless of their religious background, we are anchored in the Muslim world. Much of the work that we do is in the Muslim world. And much of what we do is in countries that are unstable. We have decades of experience, knowledge of the environment, and credibility with governments, communities and the private sector. So I feel we are in a unique position to work in those environments and to be partner of choice working with European development agencies, as well as Canadians and Americans.

A lot of resources that we mobilize come from North America and Europe. We work in a nondenominational way. We can work with communities with all different backgrounds and we understand them. We are not “flying out experts.” We understand the context and we have a very long-term commitment.

By building long-term institutions, you also demonstrate to the country and the communities in which we work [that] we are not going anywhere. Syria is a country, as an example, [where] even during the war we had not left. We’re still there. We are not going anywhere.

What are in the biggest pitfalls to be avoided in the areas and countries where Aga Khan Foundation is active, particularly in complex communities in which there are conflicts and instability?

If we assume that we know the answer from outside, that will be a mistake. We have to rely on local intelligence. We have to rely on a local partners; we have to rely on the communities themselves that tell us what are the most important things we can do to improve the quality of their lives.

We need to be very mindful that it is the community themselves that know best. They are willing to drive their destiny and our job is enable and to support them.

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