Youth Engagement
I’m surrounded by young people from all over Europe. Everyone looks, dresses and behaves differently. Actually we can hardly understand each other and have to use gestures to communicate. At home we eat different foods and have different customs, but here we are brothers and sisters in faith: This is European Youth Camp, and we are One Jamat.
Prince Hussain visited the Ismaili Centre, Lisbon yesterday to inaugurate an exhibition of artwork designed by students from the Portugal Jamat’s Talim (religious education) classes, inspired by The Living Sea photo exhibition currently on display at the National Museum of Natural History and Science in Lisbon.
In November 2019, Prince Hussain offered a series of guided tours to Ismaili youth and children visiting his photographic exhibit in Lisbon. The exhibition features over 100 photos depicting the beauty, fragility, and diversity of marine life, reflecting Prince Hussain’s ecological and environmental concerns.
Camp Mosaic is about lifelong relationships, built piece by piece, through meaningful conversations and interactions — a place where Ismaili youth in regions across the USA create bonds with each other and find their calling.
In our rapidly changing world, the use of technology is not only on the rise, but is essential to participation in the knowledge society. On 20 October 2019, over 150 members of the Jamat attended the Ismaili Centre, London, for the inaugural Science Fair – part of the Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB)’s effort in the UK to promote interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
In today’s world, knowledge is being discovered and shared at a faster rate than ever before. This has made it possible for more people to become members of the Knowledge Society and work together to solve the world’s most pressing challenges.
With the growth of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and social media, young Ismailis around the world are preparing themselves to be at the forefront of newly emerging fields of endeavour.
In October 2015, Essena O’Neill, a popular Instagram Influencer, deleted 2000 pictures from her profile in what appeared to be a crisis of conscience. Having counted over half a million followers, and living many young peoples’ dream life, she eventually came to realise that the so-called ‘real world’ was a better place to spend her time.
Young members of the Jamat had the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents through the Jubilee Arts initiative at various regional and national events around the world during the Diamond Jubilee year. Artists as young as 6 years of age submitted entries, and a number of them were selected to represent their Jamats at the International Arts Festival in Lisbon (IAF) last July.
Younger generations invariably inherit the earth from those who came before. It is often these youngsters who are leading action to create positive change in their surroundings. Here are some examples of inspiring stories of young members of the Jamat working to introduce sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in their communities.
Motivated, young Ismailis from across the globe are involved in civil society initiatives that serve their communities and societies, often started by themselves, and are gaining recognition at national and international levels.
As we sat in a bakery at London’s South Kensington waiting for our tea and cakes, I couldn't help but sense how composed the young woman sitting opposite me was. In Nabila Tejpar’s profession however, I sensed that staying calm under pressure came with the job. It wasn't every day that you met a young Ismaili woman who was taking the UK rally driving scene by storm.