Introduction

The Shia Ismaili Muslims are a community of ethnically and culturally diverse peoples living in over 25 countries around the world, united in their allegiance to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan (known to the Ismailis as Mawlana Hazar Imam) as the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader), and direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).

 

Articles related to: Philanthropy

Ismaili community celebrates the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay in Don Mills

On Thursday, 17 December 2009, Ismaili Council for Canada President Mohamed Manji  proudly carried the Olympic Torch along York Mills Road in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto. It represented to him a spirit of hope, peace and pluralism, as Olympic athletes from around the world came together for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Photo: Moez Visram

Thursday afternoon, President Mohamed Manji of the Ismaili Council for Canada carried the Olympic torch through the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto. Earlier in the day, community members gathered for a pre-torch event hosted by the Ismaili community in partnership with the Flemingdon Food Bank.

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Mawlana Hazar Imam receives “Prix de l’Entrepreneur philanthropique de l’année 2009”

Prince Amyn, Princess Zahra and Prince Hussain joined Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Le Nouvel Economiste award ceremony, where Hazar Imam received the Prix de l’Entrepreneur philanthropique de l’année 2009 (2009 Philanthropic Entrepreneur of the Year Award). Photo: AKDN/Gary Otte

Mawlana Hazar Imam received the Prix de l’Entrepreneur philanthropique de l’année 2009 (2009 Philanthropic Entrepreneur of the Year Award) presented to him by Le Nouvel Economiste, at a ceremony held on 17 December at the Cour des Comptes in Paris.

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A summer adventure: FOCUS Hike4Life in Kyrgyzstan

The FOCUS Hike4Life women participants gather for a photo at the highest point of the hike, 3800 metres. Photo: Alim Nagji

Alim Nagji, writes about his experience during the FOCUS Hike4Life held this summer in Kyrgyzstan. Some 40 participants undertook a 100 kilometre journey through the Tian Shan mountains surrounding Lake Issyk-Kul, the second largest mountain lake in the world.

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First days of school: Project Shelter Wakadogo opens in Uganda

Children line up to brush their teeth for the first time. Photo: Andrea Charbonneau

Earlier this year, TheIsmaili.org reported on Project Shelter Wakadogo, which was building a nursery school in Northern Uganda. Five months later, with the school built, we caught up with Farah Williamson, one of the project principals, to learn how they are progressing and their hopes for the future.

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Being human together

Mawlana Hazar Imam addresses the 2009 Conference of the Global Philanthropy Forum in Washington, DC. Photo: AKDN/Zahur Ramji

Reflecting on Mawlana Hazar Imam's speech at the 2009 Conference of the Global Philanthropy Forum, Asif Penwala explores the connection between philanthropy, the ethic of compassion and voluntary service. He observes how this relationship comes together within the Jamat, as well as the wider sphere of the Ismaili Imamat. Also see the video.

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A project for the little ones

Farah Williamson with children at a camp for internally displaced persons in Northern Uganda. Photo: Courtesy of Farah Williamson

In Northern Uganda, encouraging steps have been made towards peace in recent years, but there is a desperate need to rebuild civil institutions. One modest project is bringing hope to children and their families in a village just outside of Gulu district.

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Cycling the open road: FOCUS Bike4Life 2008

Participants braved the heat and the open road to keep cycling the 550 kilometres from Mumbai to Goa. Photo: Shahed Karim

Sixty-nine people participated in the 2008 FOCUS Challenge event, cycling some 550 kilometres from Mumbai to Goa along the Konkan Coast. This photo essay documents their journey.

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Donation of 100 wheelchairs to benefit the infirm in Singapore

His Excellency Zainul Abidin Rasheed and Presidentbanoo Karam Bana present a wheelchair to a social welfare group representative. Photo: Haneesa Habib

The Ismaili Council for Malaysia and Singapore recently donated 100 wheelchairs that will benefit several social welfare groups as well as twin sisters suffering from cerebral palsy. The wheelchairs were presented during a ceremony attended by Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zainul Abidin Rasheed.

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Texas Jamat comes together in the face of a massive storm

Volunteers from FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance unload water for people affected by Hurricane Ike at a Houston Point of Distribution. Photo: Courtesy of FOCUS

On 13 September, Hurricane Ike surged through Houston with destructive force. The Ismaili Council and Focus Humanitarian Assistance established a Crisis Response Team to ensure the safety of the Jamat, while also assisting relief efforts in the wider Houston community.

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UAE Jamat volunteers in event to raise funds for cancer research

Ismaili Volunteers and members of the Aga Khan Scouts and Guides gather at Mamzar Park for the 2008 Dubai Terry Fox Run. Photo: Karim Halani

Every year since Dubai held its first Terry Fox Run in 1999, the Jamat in United Arab Emirates has helped with the event’s organisation. The 2008 run set a new benchmark for attendance and fundraising, making a significant contribution to cancer research and raising awareness about the disease.

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Running a marathon with a global impact

Zahira Virani prepares to run the London Marathon. Photo: Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for the UK

In April 2008, Zahira Virani ran the Flora London Marathon, pushing her limits while raising funds for development initiatives of the Aga Khan Foundation. Shaneen Makhani spoke with her to learn what motivated her, and how she managed to juggle her training with her family and work commitments.

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From AKDN to Google

Aleem Walji. Photo: Courtesy Aleem Walji

Aleem Walji recently joined Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, the world’s largest Internet search engine company. He is part of the Global Development team and brings to Google his insight in social development based on his education and experience with Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

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Emirates Woman of the Year Award

Zenny Hirji with the Emirates Woman of the Year award. Photo: Courtesy of Emirates Woman magazine

From London to Dubai, Zenny Hirji’s fund-raising efforts for charitable organisations have been exemplary. Now she is recognised as the “Emirates Woman of the Year" for her work with the Children's Hope Foundation.

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Hike4Life takes on Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: Courtesy Hike4Life 2007 participants

Forty-three participants of Hike4Life from Canada, France, UK and the USA took on the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.  The six-day climb commenced 26 December 2007.

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A woman's efforts to help the needy

Presentation of the

A member of the Lions International, Dilshad Mohamed, a businesswoman, has undertaken many initiatives to help out the members of the community in which she lives. Her efforts have been recognised both locally and internationally.

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