“If we keep our spirits high and keep moving forward, only then will our society also move forward.” Annu – Project Lehar alumnus (pictured above) When she was eight months old, Annu was taken in by her grandmother. Throughout her…
Globally, an estimated 222 million children and youth living in situations affected by conflict do not have access to education support. More than half of these children are girls. Whether due to barriers such as the destruction of schools, loss…
In Tanzania, the average age is just 17 years old. That is less than half of the average age in Europe – 44. Like most of sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzania has experienced rapid population growth over the last decade. It has…
Browsing social media one day, Mendayim Suyunbai Kyzy – a then-eighteen-year-old IT student in Osh, Kyrgyz Republic – came across an advertisement about a training for young aspiring entrepreneurs that would profoundly change her life. “I signed up for training…
In the midst of the Syrian crisis, where dreams often take a backseat to survival, one woman from Aqarib village in Hama governorate has chosen to defy the odds. Born with a disability that left her unable to walk, Maisaa…
Join us this International Women’s Day as we celebrate women’s groups that we work with around the world, driving forward development solutions in their communities. At AKF, we believe that when communities come together, they have the power to influence,…
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has a long history of championing gender equality and ensuring equal opportunities for women and men across all our areas of work. As AKF’s Global Lead for Gender Equality, Gulnora Mukhamadieva’s work is dedicated to…
“I am a passionate girls advocate, and I know what girls go through. I have to fight for girls’ rights, because we’ve had cases where girls can’t speak for themselves, and they need someone who can speak for them.” Steasy…
500 million girls worldwide do not have access to menstrual hygiene products. They feel ashamed, anxious and stigmatised, to the point they are unable to go to school. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), in partnership with the Nnabagereka Development Foundation,…
Mangrove forests are critical coastal ecosystems that offer myriad benefits to both people and planet. These salt-tolerant trees grow between land and sea in the world’s tropical and subtropical coastlines, supporting local livelihoods whilst providing essential ecosystem services. In the…