Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

The feelings of the subordination of people – that they are victims of an economic or cultural globalization in which they cannot be full partners but from which they cannot remain apart – these feelings fuel some of the most potent, destructive forces at play in our world today

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Your Excellency, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic
Your Excellency, Amanbai Kayipov, Governor of Naryn Oblast
Honourable Ministers, Excellencies,
Students, Faculty and Staff of the University
Distinguished Guests

Whenever and wherever it may have been, in the Middle East, or South, or Central Asia, or Northern Africa, the most brilliant periods in Islamic history were marked by an expansive quest for intellectual excellence

TORONTO - The Ontario government has signed an historic Agreement of Cooperation with the Aga Khan.

The spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims met with Premier Kathleen Wynne during a visit to Queen’s Park Monday. Wynne later joined him for the inauguration of the Aga Khan Park located on Wynford Dr. in Toronto.

Wynne said they agreed to collaborate on mutually-beneficial education initiatives.

“This includes exploring a full range of curriculum-linked resources that promote diversity, tolerance and understanding,” the premier said.

On behalf of the International Social Development and Sports Foundation, let me welcome you to the International Ismaili Women's Forum. I hope that you have all had safe journeys, and that you are rested and ready for three days of hard work.

Before we begin, I would like to thank the Canadian National Council, the International Steering Committee and the many volunteers who have invested countless hours and made tremendous personal sacrifices to prepare this event.

"We live in a time of rapid change - change that is often unpredictable and not always positive. My experience with development, as an observer and a practitioner, has led me to the conclusion that the best way to manage change, whether positive or negative, is to prepare for it and that there is no greater form of preparation for change than investments in education.

This week we travel to outskirts of Hyderabad to interview His Highness The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili Community and Founder and Chairman of The Aga Khan Development Network. He speaks about how he bridges the east and the west and brings different communities together. He says that the modern world suffers from ignorance rather than civilization. He also speaks about how his academy is devoid of caste, religion and sect. And about how his life changed after the World Trade Centre plane crash in 2001.

Aga Khan Academies are an integrated network of schools, dedicated to expanding access to education of an international standard of excellence. http://www.akdn.org/academies.asp

Dr Taylor, Professor Lawton, Distinguished guests

Mr. Chairman, Ladies & Gentlemen:

If I had been the president I would have fined the sergeant-at-arms for being a treacherous feminist and not fining the ladies present today.

May I first say how much I enjoy being back in Mombasa again - a town which I always remember for its friendliness and hospitality, for its welcome and also to the police who have escorted me so faithfully and so resistedly - indeed when I went to Bamburi Beach yesterday afternoon, I had a notion that they might be joining me for a swim.