ACTIVITIES AT THE ISMAILI CENTRE DUSHAMBE

Any Institutional activities in the world
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kmaherali
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Modern Ismaili Wedding in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

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kmaherali
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Ismaili Centre celebrates International Education Week

Ismaili Centre Dushanbe

7 December 2016

http://www.theismaili.org/ismailicentre ... ation-week

To mark International Education Week, the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe hosted an education fair in November that was attended by dignitaries from the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as the United States Ambassador to Tajikistan.

A number of international and regional educational organisations delivered presentations to some 300 students and their parents, who were able to ask questions and gather information on educational programmes and opportunities.

“International education is an important means of establishing a cultural bridge between [our] two countries,” remarked US Ambassador to Tajikistan Elizabeth Millard.

“Over 4 000 Tajik citizens received their education in the United States,” she continued. “Now, these graduates are employed at different government departments and regions of the Republic [of Tajikistan].”

The Ministry of Education and Science were represented by Rahmatullo Mirboboev, Tajikistan’s First Deputy Minister of Education and Science, and Mirzoev Habibullo, Head of the Ministry’s International Department. The dignitaries were welcomed by Sharofat Mamadambarova, President of the Ismaili Council for Tajikistan.

First Deputy Minister Mirboboev said the Ministry of Education pays special attention to the progress of Tajiks who receive higher education abroad, cooperating closely with foreign countries and international organisations.

“Only in the 2016-17 academic years, over 4 900 students got enrolled in different universities in 32 countries,” he noted. Citizens who study abroad are able “to explore the culture of other countries and peoples” and return to Tajikistan as “highly qualified specialists.”

Among the educational organisations in attendance were American Councils for International Education, EducationUSA, Bactria Cultural Center, Erasmus+, University of Central Asia, Aga Khan Foundation, American Corner Dushanbe, MBO Professional, and Multikid Education Agency.

The programme also included a series of presentations and webinars by well-known universities from around the world, which were delivered over the course of the week at American Corner Dushanbe.
kmaherali
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Diary of the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe

TheIsmaili.org

Updated 21 December 2016

A compendium of news and events at the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe.

https://www.theismaili.org/ismailicentr ... node-44801

Award-winning Pamiri language film screened at Ismaili Centre

Dushanbe, 1 December 2016 — The Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe hosted a screening of the award-winning film Mushkilkusho, which was named as the Best Tajik Film at the 2016 Didor International Festival.

Directed and produced by acclaimed Tajik film maker Umedsho Mirzoshirinov, the film is unique for its use of Pamiri languages, which are listed as endangered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“Mushkilkusho,” which means overcoming challenges in life, tells the story of a Pamiri girl, who falls in love with a musician in Moscow, where she has travelled in search of a better life. The film illustrates the hardships faced by Tajik labour migrants in Russia, including cultural misconceptions and the clash between traditional and modern lifestyles, as well as the beauty of Pamiri culture and languages.

It topped a list of some 80 films entered in the festival from former Soviet republics, Persian-speaking nations, as well as Germany, India, Mongolia, Sweden and the United States of America.

Upon receiving the prize, Mirzoshirinov said that he wants to produce more Pamiri language movies that touch upon social problems facing people in the region. In this way, he hopes to make a personal contribution towards preserving the Pamiri languages.

More events:
https://www.theismaili.org/ismailicentr ... node-44801
kmaherali
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Scott Goldstein, Georgetown University graduate shares memories of his visit to the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe

| by AM
|Posted on January 12, 2017


“The Ismaili Center is by far one of the most beautiful building in Dushanbe.

… If there is anything to match the Ismaili Center’s beauty and strength, it is the religious devotion of the Ismaili community.”

– Scott Goldstein, majoring in Persian Studies at the University of Maryland


By Scott Goldstein for Ismailimail, an exclusive special report.
Image credits: Scott Goldstein & Desiree Halpern.

In a city comprised mostly of uniform Soviet-era buildings, one structure stands out for its breathtaking architecture: Dushanbe’s Ismaili Center. The Center, which opened in 2009, serves Tajikistan’s thousands-strong Ismaili community.


Panoramic view from the inside courtyard of the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe. (Image credit: Scott Goldstein)Panoramic view from the inside courtyard of the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe. (Image credit: Scott Goldstein)

Details of the external brickwork of the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe. (Image credit: Desiree Halpern)Details of the external brickwork of the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe. (Image credit: Desiree Halpern)
Built thanks to the largesse of His Highness Aga Khan, Dushanbe’s Ismaili Center has four major areas. In addition to its prayer hall, the structure has education, social, and administrative halls too. Altogether, the prayer room can accommodate 1,500 Muslims for religious services, and the education room features fourteen classrooms for students, as well as a knowledge center and multipurpose hall.

Architectural cues to both Shi’a themes and Central Asian motifs abound throughout the impressive structure. The Shi’a inspired large central courtyard and turquoise-glazed clay bricks are some of the Center’s most stunning features.

Ismaili Center, Dushanbe courtyard (Image credit: Desiree Halpern)Ismaili Center, Dushanbe courtyard (Image credit: Desiree Halpern)
The Ismaili Center benefits from Tajik and Central Asian contribution as well: the ceiling’s wooden beams were carved by artists from Khorog; the beautiful plaster work on the walls were designed by craftsmen from Dushanbe; and carpets hand-made throughout Central Asian adorn the walls. Taking a tour throughout the ingenuous building makes the attention to detail apparent to one and all: the Center’s 3 million bricks are all symmetrical down to one millimeter or less!

However, it was the content of the tour that impressed me most, even more so than the exquisite building.
1 of 5 skylights of the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe. (Image credit: Scott Goldstein)1 of 5 skylights of the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe. (Image credit: Scott Goldstein)
My tour guide relayed fact after fact about the religious symbolism of the Center’s wall, ceiling, and floor patterns. He also spoke about the building’s environmental sustainability and expressed his wish that all of Tajikistan benefit from the Ismaili Center’s religious, intellectual, and cultural offerings. At the end, when I asked my guide how much it cost to maintain the Center’s upkeep, he responded that Ismaili volunteers are responsible for most of the upkeep. The guide himself came in once a week to give tours and help keep the Center clean and well equipped.
Scott and Desiree with friends at the entrance at of the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe - 1 of 5 skylights. (Image credit: Desiree Halpern)Scott and Desiree with friends at the entrance at of the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe – 1 of 5 skylights. (Image credit: Desiree Halpern)
If there is anything to match the Ismaili Center’s beauty and strength, it is the religious devotion of the Ismaili community. Though the community may be small in Sunni-majority Tajikistan, it is strong and the group’s efforts to give back to Tajikistan and Central Asia are praiseworthy.

Anyone finding oneself in Central Asia ought to make the trip to see Dushanbe’s Ismaili Center. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

About Scott Goldstein

Scott Goldstein is a current student of Persian Studies at the University of Maryland. While studying International Politics at Georgetown University, Scott became fascinated with the Persian speaking world. Last summer, he traveled to Dushanbe, Tajikistan to practice his language skills and gain familiarity with Central Asia, when he came across the Ismaili Center. He hopes to visit again soon!

https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2017/ ... -dushanbe/
kmaherali
Posts: 25106
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 3:01 pm

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Ismaili Center Dushanbe

Ismaili Center Dushanbe. Another inspiring afternoon on many levels. Started off with meeting the Executive Officers of the Center and the Ismaili National Council, Vadim, plus leaders in educational services and community development for the mountain communities, Kishwar, secular work. Truly great to see the work done by the AKDN across the world. The center is another landmark, one of six in the world. Three million bricks from Samarkand, wood from Finland and China, beautiful stone everywhere and the overall design inspired by Uzbek style and colours. The center hosts all the standard features like the social hall, prayer hall (high high ceilings, stunning), and other functional areas. Site largely run by volunteer capacity – you see many of them in my pictures. What really caught my eye was how full the library was on a Saturday evening! Hmmm….meeting place? Lastly I stayed for prayer and was moved by the simplicity of the people and ritual. Women all covered in head gear, men mostly in jeans.

More and photos at:

http://cosmopolitannomad.com/nomad-post ... -dushanbe/
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