Spotlights

AKA Mombasa hosted an inter-school swimming gala featuring over 44 races. Schools across Mombasa, including Shree Swaminarayan Academy and Light Academy Malindi, competed. Salman Noormohamed (Grade 6) from AKA Mombasa topped the boys’ individual category.

AKA Hyderabad opened a Loose Parts Playground designed by the PYP coordinator. Using logs, tyres, fabrics and planks, children can build, lift and create freely. Its open-ended design invites limitless imagination – from dens and bridges to ships and shops.

AKA Mombasa held its annual inter-house sports day, bringing students from the Junior School and Senior School together with parents, teachers and staff. Students competed in track, field and swimming events, including the Junior School’s first-ever synchronised swimming.

Mwanapwani Said from Msambweni, Kwale County, joined AKA Mombasa in 2017 on a full scholarship through the Talent Identification Programme. Embracing every opportunity, she excelled academically and in sports, particularly football.

Grade 6 student Areesh Rehmani from AKA Maputo is a curious learner and avid sportsperson passionate about science, technology and languages. Fluent in English and Portuguese, he enjoys exploring cultures while excelling in academics and football.

Raphael Mwachiti, a DP student at AKA Mombasa, joined in 2015 on a full scholarship through the Talent Identification Programme. Inspired to give back, he created a device to assist the visually impaired, winning the Ryerson Sandbox Basecamp prize and a CAD $5,000 grant.

From a shy teenager in a children’s theatre group to a passionate Drama teacher at the Academy, Rosa Jorge has made the arts her lifelong stage.

Six passionate educators at AKA Mombasa graduated from the Teacher Preparation Programme (TPP), earning their International Baccalaureate Educators Certificates.

Teaching is an act of care and a shared journey of discovery for Pinto Belo João. Once a shy student himself, Pinto now inspires curiosity in his Grade 2 class at AKA Maputo.

Maike Silver believes leadership begins in the classroom. She nurtures young learners to think deeply, care fiercely and lead ethically. Guided by the Academy’s mission, Maike sees education as a transformative factor.

Adilia Cabral believes teaching is an act of love and trust. At the Academy, she nurtures a classroom where every voice matters and every student feels seen.

When lockdown silenced her city, one DP2 student in Hyderabad turned compassion into action. She found a shelter for people with disabilities, feeding 450 residents and providing masks, medicine and rations.

At AKA Maputo, Universal Children’s Day sparked reflection and creativity. Junior students designed sustainable playgrounds through STEM projects, while seniors shared visions for a fairer world.

As part of the efforts to promote community engagement and broaden the horizons of the students, AKA Maputo organised an educational outreach programme to three public schools in Matola throughout November.

As Global Manager of University Counselling for the Aga Khan Schools, Theresa Urist helps students access world-class universities and realise their potential as ethical leaders.

AKA Mombasa alumnus Ziyaan Virji received the prestigious International Leader of Tomorrow Award from the University of British Columbia.

AKA Mombasa alumnus Bilal Adamjee received the Pomona College International Scholarship.

When devastating floods struck Kerala, the Junior School at AKA Hyderabad turned compassion into action. During their Super Saturday, students from Grades 1–5 cycled, read, swam and danced their hearts out – raising over ₹5,81,000 for relief efforts.

At AKA Hyderabad, students step beyond classrooms to teach and connect with a nearby government school. Planning, mentoring and sharing knowledge, they witness transformation on both sides. Through peer learning, gratitude blooms, privilege becomes purpose and giving teaches as much as receiving.

Since joining AKA Mombasa on a full scholarship in 2015, Raphael Mwachiti has turned opportunity into impact. From winning a Ryerson innovation prize to teaching tech skills and sustainable farming in his hometown, he combines learning with service.

The Junior School came together to celebrate Marrabenta, Mozambique’s traditional dance music. Dressed in capulana outfits, students and staff learnt the history and dance moves during assembly and enjoyed games, songs and performances in the afternoon.

Mozambican journalist Armando Inguane spoke to Grade 8 students about journalism and the media via a virtual session. Students asked questions and learnt about reporting, journalist texts and media work.

Drama teacher Rosa Jorge guided students in exploring two cultures through a hands-on mask-making workshop led by Alfredo Semo. From shaping clay to painting masks inspired by the Nyau and Mapiko tribes, students learnt teamwork, creativity and cultural respect.

Idah Khan O’Neill, PYP Teacher Coach at AKA Maputo, has journeyed from Singapore to Indonesia, Denmark and now Mozambique, shaping classrooms and teachers with creativity and play. Fluent in multiple languages, she brings inquiry to life, blending ethics, curiosity and hands-on learning.

Rosa Jorge, Drama teacher at AKA Maputo, turned her shy childhood into a lifelong passion for theatre. From local theatre groups to becoming an IB-certified teacher through the Academy’s Teacher Preparation Programme, she learnt to empower students through the arts.

Ernesto Matavel starts his day at 6 am, driving AKA Maputo’s buses, ensuring students’ safety and comfort. Since joining in 2014, he has witnessed the Academy grow while developing personally. From enforcing seatbelts to pandemic safety measures, Ernesto’s care reassures parents and students alike.

Hear from alumnus Moiz Rajwani, a Class of 2018 graduate from the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad, on how our inquiry-based curriculum develops young individuals who will have the capacity to lead and build strong, civil democratic societies in the future.

Class of 2012 alumnus from AKA Mombasa Ham Serunjogi – CEO and co-founder of African fintech giant Chipper Cash – realised the importance of staying connected to something larger than himself.

Lilian Odera has a passion for actively being involved in community-based initiatives to influence change and creatively find solutions to issues in whatever way she can.

Mozambique’s Minister of Education and Human Development Rita Carmelita Namashulua visited AKA Maputo to experience how the Academy nurtures future leaders. Touring classrooms, residences and sports facilities, she engaged with students and educators.

Her Excellency Victoria Dias Diogo, Secretary of State for Maputo Province, visited the Academy, engaging warmly with students and staff during her campus tour. She explored classrooms and new developments, praising the Academy’s inclusive vision.

His Excellency President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal visited AKA Maputo, where he toured the campus and engaged with students. Speaking in Portuguese and English, he shared lessons on leadership and service, leaving a lasting impression on the community.