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The State of California and the Ismaili Imamat Partner to Confront Poverty
02 November 2009 - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and His Highness the Aga Khan signed an agreement of cooperation reaffirming their shared commitment to dedicate human and material resources to confront poverty. The agreement builds on past collaboration between California and the agencies of the AKDN, and facilitates further collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

Aga Khan University and University of California, San Francisco form Partnership to Help the Underprivileged
02 November 2009 - The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the Aga Khan University (AKU) signed a memorandum of understanding today to advance their common goal to promote equitable human advancement and social justice in the less privileged parts of the world. The agreement was signed at the Capitol Building in Sacramento in the presence of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and His Highness the Aga Khan.

Focus Humanitarian Assistance Receives UN Disaster Reduction Award
16 June 2009 - Focus Humanitarian Assistance (Pakistan) was selected by the Jury of the 2009 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction to receive a Certificate of Merit for enhancing disaster risk reduction.

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Introduction

AKDN activities in the United States encompass several education partnerships, notably with Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Texas and Philips Andover Academy, as well as a continuing collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution. These partnerships have sought to improve education in given fields in both the developed and developing world.

The Aga Khan Programme for Islamic Architecture, at Harvard and MIT, works to improve the study of Islamic architecture and cultures while the on-line archive and forum (ArchNet.org) provides a global resource on the study of architecture of the Islamic world.

American educators have also been part of a novel programme that promotes global education and student-centered teaching at participating schools by linking schools in Africa, Asia and Europe. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) also supports an early childhood education programme for immigrant families in several US cities. AKF’s fundraising activities include the Partnership Walks, which are held in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles. In the last decade, over 200,000 people have participated and raised over $26 million.

A number of cultural initiatives, particularly through the Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia (AKMICA), have introduced North Americans to the culture of Central Asia through a series of tours across North America and a set of recordings in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution. AKDN has also supported Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project.

Focus Humanitarian Assistance, an AKDN affiliate which provides aid after disasters, usually in developing world contexts, has also been involved in relief operations after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

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