Aga Khan Academy Maputo’s special end of term celebration

Recently, the Aga Khan Academy Maputo celebrated the end of term with a special celebration, including inclusive and diverse activities, such as a festive presentation, a Senior School assembly and a donation drive from the Diploma Programme 1 students.  

During the Senior School assembly, Head of Academy Roy White acknowledged the Aga Khan Academies founder, His Highness the Aga Khan, and his birthday on 13 December 2023. Mr Roy conveyed “Khushyali Mubarak” (blessed festival) to all students and staff, highlighting the importance of being courageous in speaking other languages and embracing an inclusive environment.  

“We value pluralism,” Mr Roy said. “We allow people to enjoy different interests, convictions, lifestyles and beliefs. Sometimes we see similarities in such differences.” 

The Kindergarten students, along with Grade 1 and 2 students, presented a performance celebrating different festivals, starting with a performance regarding birthdays, in commemoration of His Highness’s birthday, and other festivals such as Easter, Holi, Eid, Chinese New Year and Mozambican Family Day.  

Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator Emma Wheatley also emphasised the importance of Pluralism, one of the Aga Khan Curricular Strands, and how we as a school support this with a very diverse student body.

"These performances were put together as an exmaple of unity," she said. 

Finally, the DP1 students organised a donation drive within the Academy, as part of their service learning, which is an immersive experience that allows students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-life situations. Through service learning, they also learn about the needs of their local community and develop essential skills, such as empathy, leadership and teamwork.   

The donation drive aimed to support the Provincial Hospital of Matola, providing personalised bed sheets and pillows, baby diapers, baby formula, maternity sanitary pads, and baby clothes to the hospital’s maternity ward.  

“Being a student at the Aga Khan Academy Maputo taught me more than just what we learn in the classrooms,” said DP1 student Prithi Chandulal. “I am a better person and feel even better helping the communities that surround our school.” 

The culmination of these activities reflects the Academy’s dedication to providing an inclusive atmosphere for all students to be acknowledged, as well as become global citizens through the learning of different cultures. The Aga Khan Academy in Maputo is committed to upholding this environment and will continue to prioritise pluralism in the curriculum.