Community Service
Community service is a major part of the student experience at the Academy. Both the curriculum and student life incorporate aspects of community service.
Service opportunities extend the educational experience beyond the classroom and help our students learn about the real-world implications of their studies.
Through community projects with local organisations and groups, our students gain a sense of the connections between their education and the world around them. Students can participate in a variety of structured community initiatives and internships to learn about their place in the world.
By partnering with local agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network, students learn first-hand about the operations of an organisation, and work toward making tangible contributions to the agencies.
"The students at this institution will be distinguished not only for their academic capacity, but for their character and commitment to citizenship."
In addition, community engagement gives our students an understanding of broad concepts such as human rights, dignity and autonomy, while emphasising the ethos of leaving the world a better place.
To learn more about the Academy's programme, please visit the Academic Programme page.
TEDx at AKA Mombasa
The event on 14 Jan. features talks by 13 Academy students and 5 external guests.
Cinzia Torriani: The budding environmental activist
Growing up on Funzi Island, a settlement in Kenya, Cinzia Torriani, a Diploma Programme 1 student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, has seen the impact climate change can have on the environment and the people within it.
“I saw the aquatic life in the bay that surrounded a part of the island deteriorate over time,” Cinzia said. “Fish disappeared from the easy view of the waters, dolphins, which would appear annually, stopped appearing, and I would even hear stories of animals that were once habitants of the bay as now a distant memory. Contrary to this, the number of fishermen stayed the same, and at some point, every small fish in the ocean was being caught to feed a fisherman’s family. I realised that a majority of the motives put in place on the island for helping the environment served little purpose towards establishing a feasible way forward to ensure locals, who depend on the ocean, would remain economically stable.”
By seeing this and her parents’ personal initiatives toward the environment, Cinzia channeled her energy into becoming an environmental activist, focusing on ways to better her environment while also keeping in mind the local community.
“My goal is to ensure sustainable economic and ecological development to consider both my love for my surroundings, but also the community,” Cinizia said.
Taking action
One of the first initiatives Cinzia made in relation to her goal happened a year ago during her Year 10 personal project, which allows students to collaborate with individuals in their local community to address an issue or challenge. Cinzia created an integrated farming system combining a fish farm, chicken farm and maize farm in a self-sufficient cycle. Through this system, human efficiency would be maximised; the harvest timeline would be effectively eradicated; and locals would be provided with an alternative and more productive way to get fish from the ocean.
“I was able to build this system and present it to the locals in my community while also further spreading the word about my personal project,” Cinzia said.
Following the completion of her personal project, Cinzia was able to further spread her message about the environment by speaking at the 2019 TEDxYouth event held at the Academy. In her talk, Cinzia spoke about the importance of fighting complacency in order for action to be taken toward the environment, while also discussing her personal project as a way of implementing a new agricultural system.
“This was one of the most thrilling and greatest memories I hold,” Cinzia said. “I was able to use my voice as a way to spread my opinions and ideas on what mattered to me to a group of people who were interested in listening. From this, my story was published in one of the nation’s newspapers, Business Daily, about my project, my TEDx talk and my future goals. This provided me with the opportunity to convey my message about environmental sustainability to a larger audience.”
During this academic year, Cinzia has taken steps to further her goal and spread awareness about the environment. This was seen during the Academy’s annual Peace Summit, which is a two-day event bringing together students from the Academy and around Mombasa to discuss peace and conflict resolution. The theme for this year’s Summit was “Climate Action for Peace” with Cinzia being selected as the female student lead for the event.
“The aim of the Summit was to take students through several thought-provoking and interactive activities to question their stand as activists for peace, linking this directly to the environment’s state,” Cinzia said. “From discussions on the dangers of rising sea levels, to water scarcity, to the impacts of desertification and drought, the students promoted the value of being environmentally conscious and reflecting on the actions of mankind.”
Another way Cinzia was able to spread awareness about the environment was through community service. As part of the International Baccalaureate, Diploma Programme students have to create a community service group or be a part of an existing one. For Cinzia, she saw this as an opportunity to reconnect with the local community and spread awareness.
“My friend and I created a community service project at the Academy called iSEAyou,” Cinzia said. “Our current goals include making use of polluted materials to create purchasable furniture and art, as well as promoting sustainable environmental development without any implications on the economic standards of members of society through creating and building projects, such as those I proposed in my personal project.”
Looking forward
As Cinzia continues to decide what she wants to study when she goes to university, she said she will always be an environmental activist wherever she goes. and is forever grateful for those who have guided her to get to where she is.
“I feel that no matter what career path I go into, it has become a hobby and a joy to raise awareness on the environment and work towards more environmentally-friendly systems in society,” Cinzia said.
For Cinzia, being an environmental activist doesn’t mean dedicating your entire life to the environment. She said anyone can be an advocate for the environment through various, simple ways.
“Personally I feel that simply having the strive to make a difference completely changes the path for society in order to reach end goals,” Cinzia said. “I feel that students at the Academy should work towards becoming more environmentally-conscious throughout their day-to-day lives to take little actions that make a great difference. Involvement in different initiatives taking place at the Academy also helps grow one’s character, and I feel that this is a prospect that should not be missed. I would actively encourage students to join these different teams and groups and work towards the betterment of the planet.”
Reflecting on the time she has spent so far at the Academy, Cinzia said she appreciates the supportive and nurturing environment at the Academy, which has opened many doors of opportunity for her. She said she is also grateful for her friends and family who have guided her and stood by her side throughout this all.
“The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa has instilled lifelong ethical values in me,” Cinzia said. “Through this education, I have gained a great awareness on the importance of continuously considering my environment and my community in decision-making. The values of giving back to your community and the opportunities provided by the Academy to do so are endless and truly incredible. My teachers at the Academy were one of my anchors of support as they continuously encouraged me to reach my goals and push harder. I cannot give enough gratitude to Mrs. Susan Abuto who, as the head of the Individuals and Societies department, has guided me throughout this journey, especially in spearheading this academic year’s Peace Summit. I also would not have been able to reach many of my goals without the support of my friends, family and special people in my life who stood by my side throughout this long process.”
Junior School Graduation 2021 photo gallery
Photo gallery of the 2021 Junior School graduation ceremony.
Junior School Newsletter No. 16 - May 2016
Find out more about the recent PYP Exhibition, Swahili Day celebrations, and CASA Swimming Gala in this month's newsletter.
Middle Years Programme
The Senior School of the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad is an authorised International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Middle Years Programme (MYP).
We offer the IB Middle Years Programme for students in grades 6–10 as part of an integrated curriculum that includes the Primary Years Programme (grades 1–5) and the Diploma Programme (grades 11–12).
The MYP covers a study of the major disciplines, including:
- languages
- sciences
- literature
- social sciences
- mathematics
- arts
- technology
- physical education.
The five Aga Khan Curricular Strands, which are unique to the Aga Khan Academies, are integrated throughout the curriculum.
Learning through the MYP
Our MYP students are immersed in a challenging and enriching educational environment. We ensure that they master basic skills, develop the ability to analyse and think critically, and become computer literate. We also emphasise the development of self-discipline and good work habits.
The programme encourages students to reflect on their learning and make connections with real world issues. It also helps students develop an awareness of their thought processes and learning strategies, and of how they learn best.
The MYP includes a service component that makes students aware of community and global needs. We also ensure that each student has a strong leadership experience and receives grounding in ethics, which helps prepare them for future leadership roles.
The final performance of our MYP students is assessed by teams of teachers and is validated by the IB through a monitoring process that ensures the high standards of IB schools worldwide.
MYP – grade 10 equivalence
In January 2013, the Association of Indian Universities signed an agreement with the International Baccalaureate to equate the completion of the Middle Years Programme with grade 10 of an Indian board assessment. This agreement now allows students who complete the MYP to apply for admission for higher studies to any school in India.
For further information about applying to the MYP at the Academy, please see the admission requirements or contact us.
Middle Years Programme
The Aga Khan Academy Dhaka is an authorised International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Middle Years Programme (MYP).Our MYP curriculum for students in Grades 6-10 is part of an integrated curriculum that forms a continuum from the Primary Years Programme (Grades 1-5) to the Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12).
Students study a broad and balanced range of disciplines, including:
- Languages;
- Literature;
- Sciences;
- Social sciences;
- Mathematics;
- Ats;
- Technology; and
- Physical education.
The five Aga Khan Curricular Strands, which are unique to the Aga Khan Academies, are integrated throughout the curriculum.
Learning in the middle years
Our MYP students are immersed in a challenging and enriching educational environment. We ensure they master basic skills, develop the ability to analyse and think critically and become computer literate. We also emphasise the development of self-discipline and good work habits.
The programme encourages students to reflect on their learning and make connections with real-world issues. It also helps students develop an awareness of their thought processes and learning strategies, and of how they learn best.
The curriculum includes a service component that makes students aware of community and global needs. We also ensure that each student has a strong leadership experience and receives grounding in ethics, which helps prepare them for future leadership roles.
For further information about applying to Grades 6-10 at the Academy, please see the admission requirements.
AKAHMUN 2014 – The Future is Now
It all began on 22 August, 2014, when the Secretariat for the Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad Model United Nations 2014 was finally announced. There was excitement in the air, as well as anxiety. We weren’t sure how we would raise the bar set last year. I was unsure of how the team would work together, how passionate they were and whether offsite management would work. I had organized the Model UN last year too, but this time, it was different. I wasn’t on campus and I didn’t know the new lot of students I was dealing with.
We began our journey with our first ever Model UN meeting. I expected the meeting to start late, for punctuality was rare to see. However, I got my first surprise, when every single member turned up not only on time, but half an hour early! That day I knew that no one would follow the timeline. Not because they’d miss the deadlines, but because their absolute dedication to AKAHMUN drove them to accomplish much more than what was required of them.
We planned out an extensive timeline of every aspect of the conference, a string of meetings and the nature of committees. Although everything looked perfect, I knew from experience that I must expect speed breakers, for if there are no problems, I know that I am surely doing something wrong.
The first hurdle we encountered was in dealing with the day scholars. As part of the pre-Model UN preparation, we decided to organize trainings for the delegates. However, because this time around we had day scholars taking part too, we needed to ensure that we included them in every aspect of the conference. Arranging bus timings, coordinating with parents and taking permissions from teachers was a massive task. There were times when we wouldn’t be able to include the day scholars, when the timings wouldn’t match or when the day scholars had other programmes on schedule. However, we tried to reach out to as many as possible because it was a start, indeed. If it weren’t for my anchor, the Secretariat back on campus, it would have been impossible to organize such trainings.
The second hurdle we encountered was when we needed to finalise the committees. All the members of the Executive Board were excited about the idea of a Joint Crisis Committee (the Allied and Axis Cabinet), where the workings of one committee affect the workings of another. We had just one question in mind: would the first-time delegates be able to pull it off? The decision to go ahead with this committee was a risk, for crisis committees require a certain level of debate and experience. However, I also knew that with the Directors I had, I could trust that they would leave no stone unturned.
Logistics are by default the biggest area of concern in any conference, for it is by far the hardest job to pull off. The job entailed printing folders, placards, arranging the venue, the speakers, lights, cold drinks and much more. Last year, we didn’t have as many delegates to cater to, but this time around the number was massive. There was surely an inverse relationship between the number of days left for the conference and the number of challenges we faced. There were times when we were disheartened at a permission not going through or a delay in procurement of materials. Yet, it was the DP1 lot of the logistics team that stood strong. They travelled off campus, to far away locations, to get materials, send documents for printing and purchase eatables. I was truly surprised at the amount of effort they put in both during and after the conference. They worked during Diwali breaks and on weekends, like professionals, and never complained at having to do the most trivial tasks.
Fast forward three months. It is 14 November 2014. After hours of tireless work, pushing ourselves to meet deadlines, and sleepless nights, it was D-Day. The air was filled with excitement and nervousness, as first-timers walked into committees, unaware of what to expect. And it wasn’t just the delegates, the Directors too were nervous, for most of them were taking the other side of the dais for the first time. Seeing the delegates buzzing through the committee rooms, we knew that the roller coaster ride had just begun. All we heard over the next three days were: Do we have projectors in all committees? Is the AC working? Are there enough chocolates in each committee? Where are the pens? Whether it be lunch, breakfast or dinner, we all forgot what it was to have a proper meal because our main focus was to get the delegates in committee.
All the efforts paid off when I received two unusual requests, over the three days of the conference. A member of the IT team, who had enrolled his name on the team to avoid participating in debate, came up to me and asked if he could participate in a committee. Initially, I was upset at this last minute request and so I asked him why he had made such a sudden request. What he replied then stayed with me throughout the conference. He told me that on seeing the enthusiasm amongst the delegates, he wanted to experience what it was like to be one. And so without any prior research, he sat through committee sessions and eventually won an award. This incident made me realize the potential at the Academy. It is only a matter of pushing them to apply themselves.
Another time, a 7th grader, who had entered the conference as a logistic member, came up to me and expressed his grief. On further probing, he told me that he really wanted to be a delegate, but couldn’t because he was a 7th grader. He had been so mesmerized by the whole event that he wished to take part. I smiled, with a sense of pride, at the impact of the conference. Over the next three days, the 7th grader debated issues in ECOSOC, argued with his seniors, and remained unintimidated by their age or knowledge.
AKAHMUN 2014 had the power to bring about change. The JCC, which we were most skeptical about, brought out the best in delegates. The morning crisis, which initially made the students cranky, became the highlight of the three days. Students who initially didn’t openly accept the idea of a Model UN, jumped to take part. More importantly, though, I learnt, in the months leading up to the conference, the value of a great team. This team had dedication, passion and the will power, to make the impossible, possible. They were patient in low times, calm when faced with criticism and passionate about their goal. They worked day and night, at times when IB work was at its peak and applications lingering on their heads. They were truly the support system of this conference.
When I hear today how after the MUN, 7th grade students returned to their rooms, formed their own committees, elected their own Secretary General, came up with their own crisis and still use parliamentary language in daily conversation, I know that the Model UN tradition started in 2013, will continue for years to come. When I hear students asking about the next conference they can attend, I know that a spark has been ignited. When I hear that people are vying for the posts on the Secretariat next year, I know a culture has been sowed.
As we pass the baton on, we have realized the power of Model UN conference.
By Alisha Sonawalla
Admissions Talent Identification – 15-16 April, Gujarat
Meritorious students identified by Aga Khan Rural Support Program will be assessed in Sayla and Rajkot this weekend for entry into grade 7.
Ryan Herman: Helping students realise their potential
Before we enter the 2019 – 2020 academic term, we would like to spotlight a few staff from AKA Mombasa who are going on to pursue new adventures in the upcoming academic year. Here, we take a look at Academy fellow Ryan Herman and his two years at the Academy.
Ryan Herman is from New Hampshire, New England and was an Academy fellow at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. Ryan was part of the Academy’s Enrichment and Service Learning programme, and later moved on to support the Admissions and Learning Support department and the Academy’s Talent Identification Programme.
Through his time at the Academy, Ryan said he has learnt so much, which he knows will benefit him in the future.
“I have truly loved my experience and not looking forward to leaving at all, although I am very excited to arrive into my next position,” Ryan said. “I have grown a lot in this role, and through my students, I have taken on many learning experiences and moments of growth that I didn’t expect to happen. The Academy has offered me significant professional development in a variety of different aspects. But most importantly, I think my time at the Academy has taught me the importance of mentorship and has helped me value the teacher-student relationship and the type of role-model I like to be. I have experienced and discovered endless learning moments that education centers like our own can offer to its students, staff and community. For this reason, the Academy has solidified my want to stay in education, or at least working in fields that heavily involve youth.”
Ryan said he would not be where he is now if it wasn’t for the support the AKA Mombasa community provided him with during his time here.
“I feel like I came in very unsure of my way forward, mostly knowing that I enjoyed working with students and liked being out of my comfort zone,” Ryan said. “I now feel like I have a much more clear understanding of my way forward in life and what I hope to achieve, and I contribute a lot of that to the mentorship and experiences I’ve had in the Admissions department and through my boss, Kauthar Mohamed. I have come under the wing of many inspirational and thoughtful leaders, such as Kauthar, Paul Davis, Jane Okello, Minal Shah, Ruki Husain, Nuala Alibhai, Alice Ndungu, Bhagirathy Jhingran, Clare McLaughlin, etc., who have driven me crazy with aspirations for myself and my future. I feel extremely fortunate for the many circumstances that had fallen into place, somewhat coincidentally, that made my two years very unique. The most rewarding aspect of my time here was being given the support and trust to embark in my own direction and being able to make those simple initial steps concrete themselves into something tangible and beneficial.”
During his two years, Ryan has contributed to various parts of the school. Ryan was involved with the Exchange Programme’s pilot year between AKA Mombasa and AKA Hyderabad, supported the annual TEDxYouth event and strengthened the Talent Identification Programme at the Academy.
“Our network puts in immense amount of effort to empower different, disadvantaged communities around the world through education, and the Talent Identification Programme is a very tangible approach to that goal,” Ryan said. “Starting from a singular programme in January of 2018 that welcomed in year 6 students, the programme has grown to be able to tackle so much more. We now run six programmes throughout the course of a year, handle four rounds of orientations annually, have devised an integration program for English Language Learners, provide weekly tuition for those with greater academic gaps, documented and analyzed academic trajectories and histories for four of the seven cohorts, and now support the processes of assessment, identification and communication with families.”
Ryan’s passion for working with talented students from varying backgrounds will be seen through his new position at Imagine Scholar.
“I will be working for Imagine Scholar, a non-profit in South Africa focused on providing opportunities in education for rural students,” Ryan said. “We, as the Academy, are partners with Imagine Scholar through our role in the HALI (High Achieving, Low Income) Access Network. I will be stepping in as a programme manager, focusing particularly on a programme for talented high school students.”
Kauthar Mbwana (Mohamed), the Student Leadership and Service Learning Coordinator and Senior School Enrichment Coordinator, has worked with Ryan since he came to the Academy. Kauthar said Ryan’s work ethic was very admirable and she is happy to see the person he has become during his time at the Academy.
“The first day I met Ryan and he cracked a joke I knew that we would be the best of coworkers,” Kauthar said. “Ryan is hardworking and a perfectionist when it comes to work. He would take up any task given to him and work to his level best. Ryan helped bring to life the enrichment portal that allows students to sign-up online among many other enrichment tasks. He has also taken his year 7 disability Service Learning programme to different heights, from the activities he does, to the learning experiences that occur. His thirst to do better and personal growth didn’t stop only at his main roles; he took up on more just so that he can maximise his two years at the Academy. Ryan’s charming personality shall be missed dearly; not just his passion and commitment to work, but his smile that lights up anyone’s day. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”
