Visual art has always been a powerful medium of expression; bridging divides and bringing people together. During a time of physical distance between one another, art takes on an additional dimension, offering the ability to connect with others and with oneself. In response, the UK jurisdiction Jamat launched the heARTspace initiative. Participants were given a very simple brief: their artwork should come from the heart.

To coincide with Navroz, The Ismaili is pleased to present a collection of songs in various languages in the days leading up to Navroz. The first one is entitled The Light of Navroz, which highlights that although we might be celebrating separately, we remain united as One Jamat.

On 21 March 2020, as nation after nation succumbed to the largest lockdowns of our time, Mawlana Hazar Imam issued a directive to establish a Covid-19 Global Task Force and Steering Committee to coordinate the Jamati and Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

This week, on the third episode of The Ismaili TV’s Trailblazers, we are joined by Latif Nasser, the host and executive producer of the Netflix documentary series ‘Connected: The Hidden Science of Everything’, and host of two podcast series’. He received a PhD in the history of science from Harvard University and is the recipient of the 2021 duPont Columbia Award for his series ‘The Other Latif’.

The Ismaili is pleased to present Ya Ali, Ya Ali, a song in praise of the first Imam. The video was filmed in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, among scenery of snowy peaks, evergreen trees, and crystal clear lakes, reminding us of the beauty of the natural world.

When choosing to breastfeed, new mothers are often faced with uncertainty on how to best support their baby’s health. What should a breastfeeding mother’s diet look like? Is it safe to consume caffeine? What about other medications? Covid-19 further complicated breastfeeding, adding the question of whether the virus could be spread through a mother’s breast milk. Dr Shela Hirani was recently recognised as one of the World Health Organization’s 100 Outstanding Women Nurses and Midwives for her work in supporting breastfeeding practices during the global pandemic.

Sadaf Saleem Murad wears multiple hats: providing care as a bedside nurse in dementia lockdown units, working as a lecturer at the University of Alberta undergraduate nursing department, and serving as a research assistant and PhD candidate investigating rehabilitation in older adults with dementia. Sadaf was also recently recognised as one of the World Health Organization’s 100 Outstanding Nurses and Midwives.

Afghan midwife and nurse Shukria Hussaini was born in 1990 during the Civil War in Afghanistan. Very quickly after seeking asylum in Pakistan, she became familiar with the work of AKDN and the Jamati institutions, particularly the educational sectors that focused on English learning. Today, Shukria finds herself on the World Health Organization’s list of 100 Outstanding Nurses and Midwives.

Nine Ismaili nurses and midwives have been honoured in the World Health Organization’s 100 Outstanding Nurses and Midwives list, in recognition of their vital role in providing health services. Throughout their careers, they have worked to promote women’s health and empowerment in their respective regions and beyond.