Aga Khan Academies strengthens collaboration with Texas Universities | Aga Khan Academies

Aga Khan Academies strengthens collaboration with Texas Universities

30 October 2019


From left to right: Amir Rupani, Volunteer, Aga Khan Academies, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Senator Angela Paxton, Arman Rupani, Member, Agreement of Cooperation team, Alison Hampshire, Head of the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Gulam Juma, Director of External Affairs for Africa for the Academies network, Rizwan Sheikh, Member of the Agreement of Cooperation team and Amyn Merchant, member of the senior leadership team for the Academies network. Photo: AKDN / Gilbert M Onchoke
 

Last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Senator Angela Paxton visited the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Kenya to further their understanding of areas for collaboration between Texas universities and the network of Aga Khan Academies.

During their visit to Kenya, the Senator and the Texas Attorney General also visited the Aga Khan University Hospital and the Nation Media Group to gain a better understanding of the work of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and its impact on local communities in Kenya and around the world.

“I am very grateful to His Highness the Aga Khan and the AKDN for introducing me to social and economic development projects in Kenya and for the work AKDN does in improving the quality of life of people around the world,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during his visit to Kenya.

In addition, they visited Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s Fragile Beauty exhibition of marine photography, depicting the beauty, fragility and diversity of marine life.

At the Academy, the Texas delegation met with students from various geographies and socio-economic backgrounds including those on full-financial support at the Academy in Mombasa. The delegation also interacted with faculty, parents, community leaders, alumni, university counsellor and senior leadership of the school.

Texas Senator Angela Paxton commented, “as a former teacher who now serves in the Texas Senate, I am grateful to the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa for an informative and inspirational look at their global community that is creating exceptional and ethical leaders for the common good.”

While at the Academy, Senator Paxton appointed Zaena Mbugua - born in Houston, Texas and currently a student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa - as an Honorary Texas Ambassador for the Aga Khan Academies. At the conclusion of her visit, the Senator shared her experience: “My motto as a Texas Senator is to listen, learn and lead, and I observed this very mindset in the students and faculty of the Academy. I look forward to continuing this positive and collaborative relationship with AKDN to make a positive impact on human development, especially in the area of education.”

The current Agreement of Cooperation between the Ismaili Imamat and the State of Texas aims to strengthen ties in the areas of education, health sciences, natural disaster preparedness and recovery, culture and the environment. Building upon the Agreement, Senator Paxton also met with a delegation of senior leadership from the Aga Khan Academies on 21 August 2019 in Plano, Texas where she learned more about the AKDN and the Aga Khan Academies.

Two Aga Khan Academy Mombasa alumni are currently studying at the University of Texas in Arlington. With this visit, the Academies hope to foster relationships and build support for future Academies’ students attending universities in Texas. This outreach is in line with the Academies’ vision and mission of encouraging diverse and pluralistic backgrounds to learn and grow together to become global leaders of tomorrow.

Additional Photographs

Texas Delegation observing a Junior School classroom at the AKA Mombasa. Photo: AKDN / Gilbert M Onchoke

From the right: Texas Senator Angela Paxton, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rizwan Sheikh, member of the Texas Agreement of Corporation team with Susan Abuto, Humanities teacher at the AKA Mombasa. Susan’s two children are studying on scholarships at the University of Texas in Arlington. Photo: AKDN / Gilbert M Onchoke

Texas Senator Angela Paxton (left) speaks with Zaena Mbugua (center) whom she appointed as an Honorary Texas Ambassador for the Aga Khan Academies with a mission to promote Texas Universities to other AKA students. Photo: AKDN / Gilbert M Onchoke

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Senator Angela Paxton interacting with students at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. Photo: AKDN / Gilbert M Onchoke

From the right: Rizwan Sheikh and Arman Rupani, Members of Texas Agreement of Cooperation team with Samantha Caras, University Counselor, discussing opportunities for the Aga Khan Academies students to attend universities in Texas. Photo: AKDN / Gilbert M Onchoke