We work in more than a dozen countries in Africa and Asia, promoting innovative, sustainable solutions to critical development challenges. Countries do not exist in isolation from the complexities of their region, and many communities straddle porous borders. For this reason, we take a regional approach to program design, connecting sustainable improvements to quality of life to the development of the region as a whole.
Earlier this month, Deborah Lyons, Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan, and Nurjehan Mawani, Diplomatic Representative of His Highness the Aga Khan to Afghanistan, met with Governor Tahir Zohair and local officials in the province of Bamyan in Northern Afghanistan.
On February 22 of this year, I woke up like every other day. I had a coffee, took a shower, and ate breakfast. Except that day I drove five hours to a small rural town in Tanzania called Kilwa to see how Canadians are improving the quality of education for children in East Africa.
Several wooden spoons and forks are perched on a table as Fatima puts the finishing touches on another one. Around her, other carpenters are carving signs, measuring material, and smoothing out large pieces of wood for new projects.
Apendiwe Momade sits in the shade outside her home in rural Mozambique, next to a billowing pile of dried grass.
Her legs are outstretched on one of her homemade mats, her fingers a blur as she expertly twists the grass into intricate patterns.
Primary school enrollment in East Africa has improved significantly, but the number of children in class only tells part of the story. For students to get the most out of school, they need a quality education system with well-trained teachers and staff.
Meet Mahayuddin and Aftar Gul, a remarkable duo changing lives in northern Pakistan.
For Betty and Acidiri, reading together is about more than quality family time. Acidiri’s teachers encourage all the parents in the community to read with their children – a strong predictor of academic success later in life.
In Afghanistan’s rural northern provinces, the barriers to educating girls are diverse and always changing – but often, the solutions are simple.
A healthy body and mind are fundamental to a good quality of life. In Canada, we have the building blocks of good health: nutritious food, clean water, sanitary living conditions, and access to medical care.
