At the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Ham Serunjogi – CEO and co-founder of African fintech giant Chipper Cash – realised the importance of staying connected to something larger than himself. The Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree is now serving as an advisor to the US President on African diaspora engagement.
The vision for Aga Khan Academy graduates
Education at its best facilitates positive growth in all domains – intellectual, social, physical, ethical and spiritual – leading to the well-rounded development of the child. The Aga Khan Academies aim toward this ideal, and the values they espouse are reflected in each school’s aspirations for its students.
Students at an Academy pursue a well-balanced education combining intellectual inquiry, academic excellence, sporting and cultural activities, and a grounding in ethics and moral reasoning
They are committed to rigour and self-discipline in their studies and subscribe to the principles of intellectual honesty in the preparation of their work.
They respect their teachers and fellow students. They extend their respect to the cultural, religious and political convictions of others in school and in society. They dedicate themselves to debate issues honestly and fairly. They aim to understand and recognise the value of other views even as they value their own.
They are self-aware and socially conscious. They are committed to the development of their communities, their nation and civil society in the world at large. They are motivated to help others less fortunate than themselves.
They strive to acquire knowledge as part of a balanced, lifelong process of inquiry that leads to intellectual and personal growth, as well as a means to fulfil material goals.
The mastery of a particular discipline is balanced by a broad knowledge of several subjects, including science, art, literature and music.
They are also citizens of the world and at ease in environments and settings other than their own. They are generous and tolerant towards other cultures and traditions.
They are bilingual or multilingual.
They embrace the rich diversity of the world while valuing their own identity.
Read more here.
Interested to know more about our graduates? See spotlights on our alumni
Moiz Rajwani: Video Spotlight
Through the inquiry-based International Baccalaureate curriculum, the Aga Khan Academies aim to develop young individuals who will have the capacity to lead and to build strong civil democratic societies in the future.
Hear from one of our alumni, Moiz Rajwani, Class of 2018, and see how we have been turning this vision into reality at the Academies. Moiz was awarded a scholarship at Western University in Ontario, Canada and enrolled in September 2018.
60 Stories for 60 Years
To meet these inspiring individuals, check here for a new story each week during the Jubilee year. On social media, you can like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AKAcademies.
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Students, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Maputo |
Staff, Aga Khan Academy Network |
Alumnus, Aga Khan Academy |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Alumnus, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Alumnus, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Maputo |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Staff, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Maputo |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Maputo |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Alumnus, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Maputo |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Staff, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad
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Alumnus, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa
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Staff, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Parents, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa
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Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Maputo |
Alumni, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa
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Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa
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Alumnus, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Maputo |
Student, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Teacher, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad |
Alumnus, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Felix Ngumo |
Samson Suhas |
Sazil Ramani |
Karishma Bhagani |
Alumnus, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Khushboo Khoja |
The vision for Aga Khan Academy graduates
Students at an Academy pursue a well-balanced education combining intellectual inquiry, academic excellence, sporting and cultural activities, and a grounding in ethics and moral reasoning.
They are committed to rigour and self-discipline in their studies and subscribe to the principles of intellectual honesty in the preparation of their work.
They respect their teachers and fellow students. They extend their respect to the cultural, religious and political convictions of others in school and in society. They dedicate themselves to debate issues honestly and fairly. They aim to understand and recognise the value of other views even as they value their own.
They are self-aware and socially conscious. They are committed to the development of their communities, their nation and civil society in the world at large. They are motivated to help others less fortunate than themselves.
They strive to acquire knowledge as part of a balanced, lifelong process of inquiry that leads to intellectual and personal growth, as well as a means to fulfil material goals.
The mastery of a particular discipline is balanced by a broad knowledge of several subjects, including science, art, literature and music.
They are also citizens of the world and at ease in environments and settings other than their own. They are generous and tolerant towards other cultures and traditions.
They are bilingual or multilingual.
They embrace the rich diversity of the world while valuing their own identity.
Interested to know more about our graduates? See spotlights on our alumni
Alumni
Education at its best facilitates positive growth in all domains – intellectual, social, physical, ethical and spiritual – leading to the well-rounded development of the child. The Aga Khan Academies aim toward this ideal, and the values they espouse are reflected in each school’s aspirations for its students.
The vision for Aga Khan Academy graduates
Students at an Academy pursue a well-balanced education combining intellectual inquiry, academic excellence, sporting and cultural activities, and a grounding in ethics and moral reasoning.
They are committed to rigour and self-discipline in their studies and subscribe to the principles of intellectual honesty in the preparation of their work.
Read more here.
The Aga Khan Academy Alumni Network
Fill out the AKA Alumni online questionnaire here
Connect with us via our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Interested to know more about our graduates? See spotlights on our alumni
Sudipta Roy: Incomparably simple and unpretentious
Mr Sudipta Kumar Roy is the Diploma Coordinator at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad and comes with over 20 years of extensive experience in pedagogy. He joined the Academy in the year 2013 and since then has become a favourite amongst the students, peers and parents.
A Bengali born in Kanpur and brought up in Chennai, Mr Sudipta has an interesting background to his credit. His father Shri (late) Narendra Kumar Roy had worked in the Indian Ordnance Factories Service under the Mistry of Defence, and his mother Smt Namita Roy was a housewife. Mr Sudipta graduated in Physics from the Loyola College, Chennai and later pursued a Master in Science Education in Physics from Regional Institute of Education (RIE-NCERT), Mysore. His journey as a teacher formally began in June 1994. "I went to Bhutan after my father retired. I was there for 12 years and most of my early teaching-learning happened in Bhutan," he recalls.
When asked what persuaded him to choose a career in teaching and education, Mr Sudipta swiftly pushed back his thick eyeglasses and responded with a smile, "It was my passion to interact with young learners and support them in becoming successful global citizens. I have always considered myself to be a constant learner- by learning along with my students! I had spent most of my early teaching career in remote places where students did not have adequate means and resources to afford a good education. AKAH, on the other hand, supports students, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds."
Like many others, Mr Sudipta too was swayed by the Academy's beautiful green campus built on a massive 100 acres land. But that was not the only reason why he decided to join the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad. "The most important factor that lead me towards the Academy was the school’s philosophy which involves an ethical approach to leadership. In today's time, it is important that we also teach our children some valuable lessons that would eventually help them grow as responsible individuals."
Mr Sudipta believes that the Academy has helped him in acquiring knowledge and skill sets that are essential to succeed as a professional IB facilitator. He also gives credits to his students and quotes, "I thank all my students from whom I have developed many new skills especially in last 6 years. I think it has always been two-ways of learning that was happening. But I also understand that there is a lot more to learn in coming times and I will dedicate myself towards the vision of the Academy."
He has acted as a mentor to so many of Academy's senior school students and always took pride in their accomplishments. One such memory that he holds onto dearly is of his ex-student. "The day I got to know that my student had designed software for cruise control electric cars, I felt so happy that I couldn't stop myself from smiling all day! My student has now completed projects with IBM and has proven to be a successful lifelong learner! She is also working towards building technology for better sustainable future. The same day called for double celebrations as I got promoted to the role of a Diploma Programme Coordinator. This meant that I had bigger challenges set in front of me and a lot of expectations to fulfil. I could also feel the amount of faith my colleagues had in me!"
Physics being his favourite subject, Mr Sudipta enjoys designing study materials for students. He has a dedicated website and a Youtube channel where he publishes many useful resources that are easily accessible to anyone for free! Mr Sudipta is one of the many teachers in the Academy who works tirelessly for the betterment of students. His views on motivating students is thought-provoking! He says, "I believe that every child has a potential and all we need to do is to trigger that within the child. I have found that motivation plays a key role in the development of the child. When I was in Bhutan, I learnt that people measure their GDP with happiness!"
Incredibly soft-spoken, humble, helpful and a camera-shy, Mr Sudipta gently radiates a powerful persona. His integrity has not only earned him a favourable spot in the hearts of many students and colleagues but also makes him stand-out from the rest!
Vasanthi Thandlam: Lifelong learning and giving
An active volunteer for Operation Smile, an international charity group that helps children with cleft palates around the world, Vasanthi trained at the Operation Smile head office in Norfolk, Virginia, USA and has been passionately promoting the cause for five years. She started an Operation Smile club at the American International School Chennai with a small group of high school students who went on to participate in various local and international medical missions.
Now, Vasanthi will be accompanying a team of Indian students to Vietnam to make presentations on various health modules. These not only teach prevention and basic health knowledge but also help reshape everyday habits of people with unhealthy lifestyles. Health education is an effective tool to improve health in developing nations. In the future, she hopes to bring Operation Smile to the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad.
Syeda Sayema Mayesha – tackling global issues through film
Watch Sayema's film "One Sky, Two Souls" below.
Sayema, currently in grade 11, directed and produced an impactful short film to create awareness on child rights for her IB MYP Personal Project towards the end of her IB Middle Years Programme journey. The film was screened in February 2017 at the Academy’s annual ‘innovation expo’.
What caused her to pursue this particular project? “I was inspired to make this film as I have often observed how privileged children do not appreciate what they have, whereas the ones who suffer continue to do so as they are neglected,” Sayema explains. “As a student of the Academy, where children are given the opportunity of holistic education regardless of their financial background, I could not have worked on a better project.”
Sayema is from Bangladesh and studied at the Aga Khan School in Dhaka before joining the Hyderabad Academy in 2014. Her favourite subject is I&S (Individuals and Societies), particularly Economics, because she loves how it engages students and sharpens their perception about the real world. “15 years from now, I see myself completing my higher studies in International Relations and working as a Public Relations Executive. The Academy has influenced this career choice as it has broadened my knowledge and perspective about the world making me enthusiastic to be a leader and play a part in constructive change.”
Soccer is a passion for Sayema, and she has been part of the Academy Senior School girls’ soccer team from the beginning. “It has been a splendid experience for me to play home ground tournaments as well as outside tournaments and win the first ever trophy for the team in Kerala.” Another momentous occasion for her was when she won the ‘Best Delegate Award’ at her first ever Academy Model United Nations in 2015. She is now a passionate MUN participant.
Her knowledge of global issues and her desire to contribute to social change is evident through the film that she made, discussing child rights through the angle of education and labour. “Ensuring child rights today will ensure a brighter future for all tomorrow. The entire process has taught me many aspects of filmmaking. It has taught me to become a leader while working with a team. I have learnt how to deliver stories to the world through my own lens.”
Watch Sayema's film: