Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Madame Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO,
Honorable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

My warmest thanks go to all of you who have received us so generously here in Hangzhou, our Chinese hosts and our many friends from UNESCO.

I am honoured by your invitation, and pleased for this opportunity to talk about two subjects that are very close to my heart – culture and development.

Lisbon, 30 April 2013 – The shortlist of nominees for the 2013 cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture was announced today at the Palacio das Necessidades (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The 20 nominees for the US$ 1 million prize range from a modern high rise apartment block to the revival of traditional building techniques. Shortlisted projects, which are selected by an independent Master Jury, are located in Afghanistan, Austria, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand and Yemen. The shortlist includes:

Aiglemont, France, 26 April 2013 -- His Highness the Aga Khan today announced the engagement of his eldest son, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, to Ms. Kendra Spears of Seattle, Washington, the United States.

The Aga Khan, who is the Spiritual Leader or Imam of the global community of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, said he was delighted to announce the engagement.

VICTORIA - To mark this occasion, Premier Christy Clark has issued the following statement:

"It is a pleasure to congratulate His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan on the occasion of his birthday.

"For millions of Ismailis around the globe, His Highness provides spiritual guidance, but since becoming the Aga Khan over 50 years ago, has also become one of the world's greatest statesmen. His work to build bridges across religious and ethnic divides has resulted in real change. His Highness also has been a tireless advocate for peace, prosperity, and equality.

The Ismaili community across British Columbia will gather for a prayer Thursday evening to recognize His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan’s 76th birthday.

“It’s a very important time for everyone to celebrate and reflect on the vast work that His Highness has undertaken around the world,” said Ali Solehdin, a volunteer from within the Ismaili community.

The Aga Khan Development Network has announced plans to embark on constructing a university with branches across East Africa. Mr Firoz Rasul, the president of the Aga Khan University of East Africa, said the institution will train local human resources and open centers of excellence in each member state so that they stop sending their students abroad. Mr Joseph Mwizerwa, the principal, of Aga Khan University, said the institution will be built and administered within East Africa; the mother university is in Pakistan.

Aga Khan Development Network Revitalisation to Begin on Quli Qutb Shah
Archaeological Park in Hyderabad, India

He noted that AKU had taken great strides in ensuring reforms in the country’s health sector urging the government to work towards the same. FILE.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 16- Director General of the Vision 2030 programme Mugo Kibati now wants the government to invest in the training of specialist doctors and nurses, as part of the plans of realising the country’s long term dream.

Vanity Fair - February 2013 features an article and interview of H.H. The Aga Khan: The Aga Khan’s Earthly Kingdom - Multi-billionaire prince, spiritual leader of 15 million Ismaili Muslims, and one-man state, the fourth Aga Khan defies all boundaries. Photographs by Jonathan Becker.

THE Aga Khan Trust yesterday finalised an agreement with Nairobi City Council to rehabilitate City Park.

The cost of rehabilitation will run into tens of millions of dollars but it is very worthwhile investment.

The 60 hectare park in Parklands provides a recreational space that can be accessed by millions of Nairobians who otherwise have few places to relax.

Today the park is insecure and overgrown, with a congested market (that should somehow be retained) along the roadside.

Nairobi, 29 November 2012 — “Culture is a trampoline for development and assistance for some of the poorest people in the world,” declared Mawlana Hazar Imam. He was speaking at a signing ceremony marking an agreement between the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and the Government of Kenya to rehabilitate Nairobi City Park.

Also see:
» AKDN photo gallery

LAHORE, Nov 18: His Highness Karim Aga Khan has been awarded the internationally-acclaimed David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award 2012 in a ceremony held under the aegis of “University for a Night”, sponsored by Hashoo Foundation, Kim Samuel Johnson and Shell.

Arusha, 27 November 2012 — Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Arusha today, where tomorrow he will take part in the inauguration of the new headquarters building of the East African Community (EAC).

Mawlana Hazar Imam is welcomed by the Honourable Dr Emmanuel John Nchimbi, Tanzania’s Minister for Home Affairs. Photo: Zahur Ramji

The East Africa Community now has a permanent place to call home following Wednesday’s opening of its office complex in Arusha, Tanzania.

Presidents Kibaki, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi officiated at the colourful ceremony attended by The Aga Khan, who is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

Rwandan President Paul Kagame was represented by Prime Minister Pierre Habumuremyi, while Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni was represented by his Minister for State for East African Affairs, Mr Shem Bagaine.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga yesterday launched a major project to return the Nairobi City Park to its lost glory when they witnessed the signing of an agreement to rehabilitate the facility.

Expansion of Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam

The Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam has embarked on a major expansion programme to offer high-quality medical care and increase its capacity as a teaching institute within the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The scheme, with a preliminary budget of over $50 million, is the largest private health care project to be undertaken in Tanzania to date.

KARACHI:
November 2 marks the birth anniversary of Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III (1877 to 1957) — grandfather of the present spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.

Sir Aga Khan III, the 48th Imam of Ismaili Muslims, whose birth anniversary is being commemorated today (Friday), was a staunch advocate of education, particularly for women. His contributions in the sectors of political rehabilitation, health, education and social development of Muslims around the world are unprecedented.

Hazar Imam's Visit to Edmonton
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:18:08 -0700

Ya Ali Madad,

Hazar Imam visited Edmonton Alberta, Canada.He arrived on 23rd night,
Tuesday at 8:30 pm, for an Official visit and proceeded to Hotel MacDonald.

He waved with both hands and smiled to the volunteers on duty,Yasmina got a
glimpse of him as she was on duty being the Vice Major.
The jamat on the whole was requested not to congregate as this was a private
and official visit.
On Wednesday morning he signed an agreement with the Govt of Alberta, a

London, 22 October 2012 - As part of the Synergos Institute's University for a Night series, His Highness the Aga Khan was awarded the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award at a ceremony in London.

David Rockefeller, in a letter addressed to the Aga Khan which was read to the audience, described the reasons for awarding this honour: “Through the Aga Khan Development Network, you have leveraged the social conscience of Islam in ways that benefit people of all faiths, promoting tolerance, pluralism and broad-based development.”

On a day Premier Alison Redford said “she would remember for the rest of (her) life, the premier and His Highness the Aga Khan signed an agreement of co-operation Wednesday at Government House.