Community News
NASA and Ismaili Jamat in the US partner for a live event from the International Space Station
12 May 2021
In today’s global environment, engineers, scientists, and inventors from different backgrounds collaborate on a global scale to create the technologies that impact human life on a daily basis. Against this backdrop, the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern US is collaborating with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to host an In-flight Education Downlink live from the International Space Station with Expedition 65 astronaut Megan McArthur on 17 May 2021.
Jamati and AKDN institutions continue to prioritize Covid-19 response in India and around the world
3 May 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic remains a serious public health concern across the globe. International attention is currently focused on the alarming situation in India, as many other countries around the world confront and prepare for second and third waves of infection.
The Ismaili TV series celebrates diversity in sport
28 April 2021
Health can be defined as a state of physical and mental wellbeing. While there are many ways to achieve this state, sport is a globally recognised medium that facilitates healthy lifestyles. Created in 2020, The Sportshow is a series on The Ismaili TV that promotes dialogue with Ismaili talent in the field of sport worldwide. Based on the show, here are the unique stories of three accomplished, skilled, and inspiring Ismaili athletes.
Supporting the community with healthy choices
25 April 2021
Ismailis from different parts of the world have stepped up to support their communities and help each other maintain their health and overall wellbeing during the pandemic.
A labour of love: The Ismaili TV celebrates one year
22 April 2021
One year ago, The Ismaili launched an online TV channel, supported almost entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers, in an effort to fill the void that the pandemic left in the lives of the global Jamat.
CONNECT virtual camp continues to unite youth from around the world
14 April 2021
Covid-19 has changed much of what we do and how we do it; from shaking hands and hugging our friends, to the very way we learn and work with our peers and colleagues. At the same time, Covid-19 has given rise to CONNECT, an initiative of Global Encounters and Aga Khan Youth and Sports Boards from around the world. Taking the form of a virtual camp, CONNECT is a way for Ismaili students to build bonds no matter where they may come from. CONNECT will be returning this summer from 19-25 July and 2-8 August.
Bringing interfaith cooperation into the 21st century
8 April 2021
This week, on our sixth episode of Trailblazers, we are joined by Dr Eboo Patel, the founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), a nonprofit organisation based in Chicago that prepares youth to become interfaith leaders in a changing environment. Eboo was also a member of President Barack Obama’s inaugural advisory council on faith-based and neighborhood partnerships. A Rhodes scholar with a doctorate in sociology from Oxford University, Eboo has authored four books, with a fifth on the way. In recognition of his life’s work, Eboo has also been awarded numerous honorary degrees.
Looking back at a labour of love
28 March 2021
I am silent in anticipation, as adrenaline rushes through me as a music lover. I delight at the opportunity of listening to original compositions. It is for this reason that when the song Mawla Mera Ishq Tu is shared with me, I eagerly click on the link to experience the musical journey expressed through this beautiful composition.
Far East youth reflect on difficult year through art
26 March 2021
At the opening of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, Prince Amyn emphasized the importance of art in our lives by noting that “art and culture can have a profound impact in healing misunderstanding and in fostering trust even across great divides.” He made this speech in 2014, although the essence of his words remains timeless.
Channeling creativity during a global pandemic
26 March 2021
Art has often played a powerful role in shaping society’s consciousness, especially in times of crisis. Some of the most touching moments during the early days of the pandemic were people singing or playing music for their neighbours, drawing their communities out on balconies and rooftops to share the moment. Ismaili artists from various countries share their stories of how Covid-19 impacted them and how they adapted to the new normal.
Helping others to find their voice
25 March 2021
This week, on our fifth episode of Trailblazers, we are joined by Danish Dhamani, the co-founder of Orai, and one of 2021’s Forbes 30 under 30.
Pebbles to Penguins: A global film for Navroz
19 March 2021
“Of course, Mummy,” responds Zoya Nayani, the main character of Pebbles to Penguins: A Story of Renewal. Zoya’s definite statement is not unlike the responses of many people when asked, “Are you okay?” Entrenched in the context of the pandemic — like nearly everyone else in the world — the directors of Pebbles to Penguins are committed to uncovering the psychological subtext of these conversations.
