The view of Ottawa from across the river in Gatineau has undergone a calculated transformation during the past few months. In fact, the impact of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat on the national capital’s skyline as viewed from the neighbouring province of Quebec was considered long before construction began late last year.

In his eagerness to experience the site of the Delegation building and appreciate its beauty, renowned Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, travelled directly there when he arrived in the city after a long journey from Tokyo. Members of his firm, Maki and Associates, also pondered the site from a number of angles before visualising its design.

“As architects, we always want to create contextual buildings that extend beyond the physical realm,” explained Gary Kamemoto, Director, Maki and Associates. He explored the property at a leisurely pace, hopping on a bicycle to check out the view from the other side of the river. “It was crucial for us to understand fully the spirit of the place so that we could design a building that would feel as though it was emerging from the site.”

Muslim leader gives us high marks in new book
Charles Enman, Canwest News Service
Published: Sunday, July 20, 2008

A middling power can only smile when a world leader says not only that small is beautiful, but that that particular small country is not only competitive with the rest of the world, but in a leading spot.

And the Aga Khan, leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims around the world, says that and more about Canada.

"Canada has an experience of governance of which much of the world stands in dire need," he writes in his latest book, Where Hope Takes Root: Democracy and Pluralism in an Interdependent World, published here in Canada.

Graeme Morton, Calgary Herald
Published: Saturday, July 19, 2008

Ismaili Muslims have been urged to give generously of their time and talents during this celebratory Golden Jubilee year for their spiritual leader, the Aga Khan.

For Calgarian Mansoor Ladha, a career journalist, that has translated into writing a book he hopes will shed light on the history, culture, spirituality and success stories of Canadian Ismailis.

"Religion plays a pivotal role in our lives," said Ladha, 65. "Volunteerism, duty and a sense of service to your community and your faith are stressed from a very young age."

Microcredit is widely known for its power to assist people break out of poverty. However, it is not uncommon for families just beginning to work themselves out of poverty to remain highly vulnerable to catastrophic events such as the death of a family breadwinner or an emergency need for expensive major surgery and a long hospital stay. As a result of such a catastrophe, families that had just begun to see the prospect of a better life can often - for reasons beyond their control - be driven back into extreme, debilitating poverty, possibly for decades.

The Microinsurance Initiative, funded by a grant of $5.5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Aga Khan Foundation USA is being implemented by AKAM with the hope of safeguarding the poor against loss of savings and income as a result of catastrophic events such as death of a household breadwinner, long-term hospitalization, and business or crop loss. Bringing together international expertise and modern technology, the five-year initiative will strive to develop a replicable model for microinsurance that will be viable and financially sustainable in multiple socio-economic and cultural contexts.

Hundreds of Ismaili Muslims celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the Imamat Day at the Mombasa Jubilee Hall Sunday.

The celebrations started with a procession along Moi Avenue before the faithful converged at Jubilee Hall.

The honorary secretary of the Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Mombasa, Mr Zaher Bhanji, said that Imamat Day is a worldwide celebration to mark the ascendancy of the Aga Khan as the Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.

This year’s celebrations were special because they marked 50 years since the Aga Khan became Imam.

One year ago, on the 11th of July 2007, countless Ismaili Muslims gathered in locations around the world to witness the inaugural ceremony of the Golden Jubilee of our beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan. During the past twelve months, Mawlana Hazar Imam has undertaken Golden Jubilee visits to 14 countries, granting Darbars to Jamats around the world. Numerous honours and awards have been conferred on Hazar Imam in national, civic and academic contexts. Some countries have even marked the Golden Jubilee with special commemorative postage stamps, featuring images of Jamati representational buildings and AKDN projects.

Mawlana Hazar Imam’s vision, his global outlook, his profound insights into the human condition, and the Imamat’s institutional capacity to catalyse positive social change have been widely recognised by governments, international organisations and academic institutions. Today, the Imamat enjoys privileged relationships with many of these, which further the extension of care to Ismailis around the world, as well as the populations amongst whom they live.

As part of the Dar-at-Ta’lim religious education programme, Portuguese children, youth, and their teachers have been busy creating special pieces of art to celebrate the upcoming Golden Jubilee visit to Lisbon.

One of the core objectives of the visual art project has been to encourage young people in Portugal — as well as their teachers, parents, and other family members — to depict their love for Mawlana Hazar Imam through artistic expression, a long-standing tradition in Ismaili history.

Another objective of the project is to encourage young people to use art and creative expression as a vehicle for the communication of emotion. The project allows students to awaken their creativity and explore their talents and interests.

In a new book, the Aga Khan argues that this country is a beacon of peace to others

Charles Enman, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Saturday, July 12, 2008

A middling power can only smile when a world leader says not only that small is beautiful, but that that particular small country is not only competitive with the rest of the world, but in a leading spot.

And the Aga Khan, leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims around the world, says that and more about Canada.

"Canada has an experience of governance of which much of the world stands in dire need," he writes in his latest book, Where Hope Takes Root: Democracy and Pluralism in an Interdependent World, published here in Canada.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Ismaili Imamat sign today an agreement for international cooperation within the framework of the visit to Portugal of institutional and spiritual leader of Muslims Ismailis, Karim Aga Khan.

The cooperation, through the Aga Khan Network for Development, may occur in states and regions of Asia and Africa considered to be of interest to the Portuguese government and where that network is deployed.

In addition to regular consultations on matters related to the sites concerned, the agreement to be signed today after a meeting with the prime minister, José Sócrates, stipulates that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Portuguese diplomatic services can benefit from the resources of the Network countries there is a wave diplomatic or consular representation Portuguese.