Over 6,000 participated today in the Chicago Partnership Walk, raising over $250,000. The 3-kilometer Walk at Millennium Park brought together families, friends, students and leaders in government, business, media and the arts for a day of learning activities, fundraising and culturally diverse performances. Twenty-four teams from corporations, universities, schools and community organizations took a step to demonstrate their support for ending global poverty.

Addressing the crowds at the opening ceremony, Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich remarked, “You are actually doing more than just talking about addressing poverty, you are actually doing something about alleviating poverty…and I’m looking forward to joining you in not just doing the talk about poverty, but both literally and figuratively doing the Walk.” The governor toured interactive exhibits on site that showcased the Aga Khan Foundation’s innovative solutions for reducing poverty in Africa and Asia.

The main objective of this convention is to share experiences, lessons and ideas about strengthening the local support organizations (LSOs), and discuss and develop strategies and actions to institutionalize LSOs as localized democratic institutions of the people, by the people, and for the people.

DAMASUCS, (SANA)-Premier Mohammad Naji Ottri Monday held a dinner banquet in honor of Karim Aga Khan, chairman of Aga Khan Development Agency and the accompanying delegation.

Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari , a number of Ministers and governors attended the banquet.

Syria’s Prime Minister, His Excellency Mohamed Naji Al-Otri and His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual Leader) and founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network attended the signing ceremony at the Prime Minister’s office in Syria’s capital, Damascus.

In the area of microfinance, the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Dr Adeeb Mayaleh and the Chief Executive Officer of the First Microfinance Institution (FMFI), Mr Jean Lorenz Ehrentrant signed an agreement recognising the FMFI as the first microfinance institution to operate in the country. The agreement follows several years of experience in the area of microfinance. Since 2003, approximately 45,000 loans have been disbursed, amounting to nearly two billion Syrian Pounds (US$ 40 million), generating and developing over 35,000 new and existing business opportunities. FMFI will operate as a traditional banking institution, while remaining focused on poverty alleviation and sustainable economic development in accordance with the mandate of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM).

The AKDN has pledged a long-term commitment with Syria in the mentioned areas and focused its activities during the past years on economic development, developing pioneering work, improving quality of the health and education services and supporting development initiatives of civil society as well as protecting cultural heritage including development of the sustainable tourism.

It has completed renovation works in Aleppo, Misyaf and Salahuddin archaeological castles. The network, after the agreement in Aleppo City Council,
launched a project for developing the area surrounding the castle and the Old City of Aleppo and has begun implementation of the project at the end of the year 2006 on five stages to end in 2009.

In the context of its activities in the cultural development, the network has worked, since the year 2000, with the Ministry of Culture on improving infrastructure of buildings, improving the environments of cities, upgrading tourism utilities and training workers in the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums on authentication and rehabilitation.

Damascus, Syria, 25 August 2008 - The Ministries of Health and Higher Education of the Government of Syria and Aga Khan University (AKU) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance capacity in the health sector. The memorandum was signed at the Office of the Prime Minister in Damascus and witnessed by Syrian Prime Minister, His Excellency Mohamed Naji Al-Utri and His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. His Highness the Aga Khan is the founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Chancellor of the Aga Khan University. He is in Syria on a 6-day official visit.

The memorandum, which provides a framework for cooperation in nursing education and hospital quality assurance, was signed by Dr. Maher Al-Housami, Minister of Health, Dr. Ghiath Barakat, Minister of Higher Education and Mr. Firoz Rasul, President of AKU, witnessed by Mr. Mohamed Seifo, AKDN Representative in Syria.

Author: Daler Ghufronov

DUSHANBE, August 23, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Central Asia Premiere of documentary “An Islamic Conscience: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis” will be held at Dom Kino in Dushanbe on August 29. 

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the film producer, Mr. Shamir Alibhai, said that “An Islamic Conscience: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis” is an independent documentary feature film directed by multiple Emmy-award winning filmmaker Bill Cran.  It was first broadcast nationally on television in Canada and has been screening all over the world including at Harvard, Stanford, London, and East Africa. 

Millennium Park was a great setting for the fifth annual Partnership Walk Sunday in Chicago.

Roughly 5,000 people gathering to walk about one mile in an effort by the Aga Khan foundation to help fight global poverty.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich took part in the walk and saw firsth how the foundation helps developing countries.

DAMASCUS, (SANA)-President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday discussed with Prince Karim Aga Khan, Chairman of Aga Khan Development Network, the developmental projects launched by Aga Khan network in Syria.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the encouraging investment atmosphere in Syria and the Syrian positive economic situation and its future aspects.

Prince Aga Khan thanked President al-Assad for Syria's support to the projects of aga Khan Network in Syria, underlining commitment to develop relations between the Network and the Syrian government.

The Prince briefed President al-Assad about some projects that could be fulfilled by the Network in Syria in the future to boost cooperation in all fields.