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

From television to the Internet, there are many ways to raise awareness about important world issues. But there is hardly any better way than to directly involve people in worthwhile efforts to improve lives abroad. On April 5, the Aga Khan Foundation USA is attempting to do just that.

An estimated 15,000 Houstonians are expected to participate in a Partnership Walk to raise money to assist poor Africans and Asians with education, health care and economic development programs. The theme of this event, which is being held in Houston for the first time, is "Women and Development: A World of Opportunity."

Because the foundation underwrites all costs, with the help of in-kind donations, all funds raised during the walk will go directly to help support relief efforts in developing nations. The foundation is the charity sponsored by the family of the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of more than 15 million Ismaili Muslims in Central and South Asia, East Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America. Several thousand Ismaili Muslims live in Houston.

Sure, there are lots of ways of learning about problems in the Third World. But people who come out for the Aga Khan's Partnership Walk on Sunday will be taking action toward doing something to alleviate those problems.