Spotlights

Although it has been a few years since he graduated from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Alqaim Lalani, Class of 2019, says his years at the Academy had a major bearing on his academic career and strongly influenced his outlook on life. Now, as a graduate of Columbia University in New York, Alqaim is giving back to the Aga Khan Academies community that he says shaped his life and gave him so much.

Jemin Patel’s journey to where he is now is the result of hard work and passion, values he picked up during his time at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad. Now, he's working at one of Canada's top accounting and consulting firms, still standing by the notion, "hard work always wins."

Muskaan Bhaidani is an alumna of the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa who was in the Class of 2020. Graduating with an impressive International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) score of 44 out of 45, Muskaan is now attending McGill University in Montreal, Canada.  

Anahita Aman, a graduate of the Class of 2020, studied at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad for eight years. Currently pursuing history at the University College London, she hopes to build a career in international development.

From the construction of the Aga Khan Academy Maputo’s very first buildings to some of its final facilities, Laura Ivens Brandão has been involved in the AKA Maputo’s development and expansion since the very beginning.

Since he was 4-years-old, Ayaan Allarakhia has had a passion for music that has shaped his whole life. Over the years, the Grade 9 student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa has developed and strengthened his musical and performance skills. Now, after writing and releasing his own song and music video, Ayaan is on a mission to spread his love for music to all.

Naail Lakhani, a Year 5 student in Junior School, has demonstrated incredible maturity, leadership, and initiative since joining the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa in 2018. His proudest achievement is founding the Junior School Coding Club, an after-school extracurricular activity to teach coding to young minds.

Residential school nurse Milka Gatungoh has supported the physical, emotional and mental well-being of the Academy community since 2010. Known for her compassion, she played a vital frontline role during COVID-19, providing care, education and psychosocial support to students and staff.

Qamili Dave, Class of 2017, discovered her passion for culinary arts through an Academy internship at Serena Beach Hotel. The experience shaped her career path, building confidence, professional skills and a strong foundation in hospitality.

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.

Titus Mutemi joined AKA Mombasa in 2015 as part of the Teacher Preparation Programme. This became a turning point for his career as he has since further developed his extensive knowledge and skills.

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.

Joining the Aga Khan Academy Maputo virtually for the new 2020–2021 academic year, the Academy's new Senior School Principal is excited to provide support to the teachers and collaborate with them to make as big an impact as possible as a group.

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.

During her time at AKA Mombasa, Samantha Caras has transformed the University Counselling department by providing numerous resources to students and helping them apply to different universities around the world.  

Aleesha Suleman, a graduate student at UCL-Qatar, has never lost sight of what has always been important to her: giving back to her home country of Kenya. 

Growing up on Funzi Island, Diploma Programme student Cinzia Torriani has seen the effects of climate change on marine life and local livelihoods. Through projects in sustainable farming, public speaking and community service, she advocates for environmental action that supports both ecosystems and communities.

Earlier this month, Prince Rahim Aga Khan and his wife Princess Salwa visited the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, meeting with students, faculty and administrators to learn more about the Academy's initiatives to further incorporate teaching on the environment and climate change into our curriculum.

Participating in theatre and drama activities helped Rosa Jorge from a very young age. It gave her the courage to break out of her shell and now she wants to empower her students at the Aga Khan Academy Maputo with the same tools to become well rounded individuals.

Raghuveer Vyas, Class of 2016, pursued global liberal studies at NYU and developed a strong focus on climate policy and international relations. Through research, advocacy and leadership roles, he continues to work on global challenges affecting vulnerable communities.

Year 9 student at AKA Mombasa Alyssa Jamal has played golf for almost her whole life – a sport that has taught her the importance of determination and focus. 

Throughout the course of her teaching journey, Adilia Cabral has valued the importance of inclusivity in creating an engaging and fruitful environment in the classroom. She shares details of her evolution during her time at Aga Khan Academy Maputo.

Fiona Makena Kinyua graduated from the Teacher Preparation Programme at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa in June 2019 and is taking classrooms by storm, one student at a time. 

Hussein Jiva graduated from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa after what he feels was a transformative journey.

Sincere, kind and down-to-earth. These are some of the words many at the Academy have repeatedly used to describe the Diploma Coordinator of the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad.

Mahek Shah, a Diploma Programme student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, is driven to change the fact that the aviation industry is male dominated through her initiative called "Wings for Women." This young aviator chooses to be a pilot and not a passenger. 

For Idah Khan O'Neill, PYP Teacher Coach at the Aga Khan Academy Maputo, having the opportunity to join the Academies network and help realise His Highness the Aga Khan's vision for education in Mozambique is a privilege, as she shares: “It is my mission, in my capacity as a Teacher Coach, to be able to help realise this goal through play and creativity with regards to the way we teach and learn.”

With a determination to change her country into a land of opportunity for all, Anzhela Mirzoeva, a recent graduate from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, will further her education at the Connecticut College in the United States by studying International Relations and Human Development. 

By using mentorship and seeing the potential in all of her students’, Harriet Chadwick, a Humanities teacher, helped her students understand and appreciate Humanities, while also encouraging them to become leaders.

For Alqaim Lalani, his recent graduation from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa brings him one step closer to realising his dream of attaining a deeper understanding of how economics and politics affect the world around is. Alqaim will be enrolling at Columbia University in fall 2019, as a prestigious Kluge scholar.

With a community-centered and open-minded mindset, Clare McLaughlin, an Academy fellow, promoted new ideas and programmes, which enabled the Academy to grow in many ways.

Ajey, who holds several specialist degrees, ultimately found his calling teaching French at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad. “The unconditional love and acceptance I receive from my students is the best testimony to my professional accomplishments,” he says.

''I do not want a career in something predetermined for me from this age. When I am asked where I will be 15 years from now, I can promise you it will not be cooped up in an office doing routine work. I will probably be out there inventing something meaningful and purposeful, something which can be used to change the world.”

“When we started out, we knew we had to set the standard for what the future would hold. The vision and the philosophy of His Highness the Aga Khan has been taught to us since when we were children; to see a culmination of this in the form of a school that aspires to raise leaders of tomorrow was immensely gratifying."

With the support of his colleagues, Stephen Nyundo, a Mathematics teacher and head of the department, has helped students implement strategies to help themselves and others in Mathematics.

Throughout his time at AKA Mombasa, Ryan Herman, an Academy fellow, has worked on various projects and programmes at the Academy, all aimed at helping students realise their academic potential and more.

Ask Maike Silver, Junior School Principal at the Aga Khan Academy in Maputo, Mozambique, what attracted her to teach at the Academy. “The vision and mission of the Academy,” she states simply. “The vision to inspire young people into becoming future leaders of their countries. To actually have the ethical persuasion to make a difference in the lives of their countrymen.”

The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum is essential in enabling the Academies to develop well-rounded leaders of tomorrow. Hear from Zia Chapman, Class of 2018, and understand how this influenced her in choosing the Academy for her education. Zia is now a scholarship student at UBC in Canada.

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.

"I always wanted to work with people who spend every single day without any resources at their disposal, to work on the pressing issues that exist in India, issues that most of us never see through our rose-tinted glasses."

“The IB curriculum followed at the Academy has played a pivotal role in building many essential skills for university life. Its skill-based learning approach, and connecting classroom learning to the real world, also prepared me well for higher education."

“The Academy helped me become comfortable with making mistakes and encouraged me to focus on identifying solutions instead – igniting an entrepreneurial spirit within me. It is this spirit which led me to take a year off, work on self-driving cars, build my own news-reading bot, experiment with developing a cloud-storage service and have the confidence to take the road less taken."

Anjum Budhwani always wanted to teach at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad, and since she got the job seven years ago, every day of work has been special. “Compassion builds a strong relationship between teacher and student,” she says.

Aanya dreams of becoming a global music icon and spreading peace through music to make our world a better place. Introduced to the piano at the age of five by her mother, Aanya has always been a quick learner and enjoys music immensely.

Sincere, kind and down-to-earth. These are some of the words many at the Academy have repeatedly used to describe the Diploma Coordinator at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad.

One day, a friend taught Ananya, Grade 3, how to do a cartwheel. There was no turning back, and she recently won gold medals at two city competitions in 2018!

AKA Hyderabad catering manager talks about his experiences as an artist, an army man, and a chef. “A person can be responsible and efficient towards his job only when has known himself,” he says.

Meet Bilal, currently a student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. For Bilal, studying at the Academy has instilled in him the value of learning whilst always thinking about the bigger picture: understanding how his studies today will impact the world tomorrow.

Students Cinzia Torriani (year 10) and Alisha Doshi (DP1) interviewed Alison Hampshire, the new Head of Academy at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. They discussed important themes in education, passions, dreams and life lessons. 

This 2014 AKA Hyderabad graduate is in some ways a time capsule from the Academy’s early years, and like a time capsule, she reminds us of things that have changed, and also about the things that have remained the same. “The Academy has made me the person I am today,” she says. “I wanted to give back to school what it has given me.”

For the Middle Years Programme (MYP) Coordinator, Rebecca Nichols, the sky is the limit when envisaging the future of the Aga Khan Academy in Maputo, Mozambique. More importantly, in her eyes, how the Academy keeps growing, shaping and expanding its role in the country and beyond must lie in the hands of students.

Josephine Awino, alumna of the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, will be attending Wellesley College for her undergraduate studies in environmental science. She shares a reflection on her personal journey at the Academy in which she developed a sense of self and fostered her passions.

Paul Davis, the Dean of Admissions at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, has led the Talent Identification Programme for nearly ten years. The programme identifies students in Year 6 in Kenyan government schools, in deprived socio-economic and educational areas of Kenya, who are academically able and show leadership potential. This May, seven of these students graduated from the IB Diploma Programme. Paul shares their marvellous stories. 

They should always feel that I’m there for them, no matter the situation, or condition or time of day. You have to tailor yourself to the needs of the students... I change myself, as per their needs.

“The Academy has a very unique, highly diverse and multicultural environment,” says 2018 graduate,Tvisha Devavarapu. Set to pursue a career in biology and research, read about this house captain's experience studying and playing at the Academy.

“When I was learning robotics as part of the enrichment club I never imagined that I would become the captain for a robotics team,” says DP1 student, Rudra Potluri. Now approaching his 6th year at the Academy, Rudra reflects on the opportunities he’s had in his academic career so far and the ways in which he has grown.

Jonathon Marsh has system-wide responsibility for teacher development at the Aga Khan Academies network and has worked for the Academies for the past 10 years. In this interview, he shares the highlights of his position at the Academies, and reflects on how the Academies are unique from other educational institutions: "I see the profession of teaching as critically important to the health and ongoing development of any society. As such, I can think of no better way to contribute to the betterment of humanity."

Areesh Rehmani, a Grade 6 student at the Aga Khan Academy Maputo, is a determined and dedicated learner. He has a passion for sports and a curiosity for scientific innovations and technological growth. Areesh shares how his learning is fuelled by the AKA Learner Profile and the values instilled in him at the Academy.

Muriuku Njonjo graduated from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa with the receipt of a full scholarship to the University of Waterloo in Canada. He shares a personal reflection about his time studying at the Academy: "The Academy changed my way of thinking, my way of doing things and informed my purpose in life."

Passionate about animal rights, Shaivya Arya has used every opportunity possible to learn how to care for animals. “To save an innocent creature’s life, to help animals. It is time we make this a better world for us, for them, for all.”

The Teacher Preparation Programme (TPP) is one of the Aga Khan Academies’ landmark teacher development initiatives. In this interview with Kamini Menon at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad, TPP participant Maryam talks about the TPP’s unique aspects and her experience with the programme.

Kamila Janmohamed graduated from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa this year. Upon anticipating her upcoming start at Yale University, Kamila reflects on the intellectual growth and strong sense of self she has developed over the past four years at the Academy.

I love that my classes are filled with students from all parts of the country, irrespective of their financial standing or cultural background. I strongly believe it helps build our vision of pluralism.

Ariq Kapadia, alumnus of the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad, shares a reflection on his personal journey during his time at the Academies: "The experience that I had in those five years at the Academy continues to develop me further and make me more capable of success."

Inaara Sarfani shares a reflection on her personal journey at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad. She explains that her time as a student there entirely shaped the person she is today and allowed her to develop a far-reaching skillset. 

Joshua Abuto tells an inspiring and promising tale of what drives him to sustain his vision of making a difference in the lives of his fellow citizens in Kenya. A 2016 graduate of the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Joshua is currently in his second year at the University of Texas at Arlington on a scholarship where he is studying computer science and engineering. 

Kelvin Bagthariya, DP2 student at Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad, believes the Academy has changed his mindset, teaching him to become independent, improving his self-esteem and allowing him to pursue his passion to make a positive change in his community.

Anahita Aman is in her seventh year at the Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad. She is full of hopes and dreams and strives to get the most out of her days at the Academy so that she can ultimately give back to the community and society at large.

Saifan Aswani, a student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, knows the value of taking the time to appreciate his surroundings. He credits his experience of the past three years at the Academy for instilling in him the discipline of hard work, an appreciation of diverse cultures and the motivation to pursue this responsibility.

Khushboo Shah shares a reflection on her personal journey at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad: "I believe that the Academy’s dynamic vision has allowed me to believe in my imagination, passion and curiosity while pursuing ambitious projects."

In his final year of the Diploma Programme at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Shad Bherani is ambitious, curious, and driven to become an engineer. Shad aspires to use his education and career as an engineer to give back and to serve his country and its people, by assisting in Pakistan’s development through technology. 

Pinto, a teacher at AKA Maputo, shares: “I chose a career in teaching because I like to share what I know with others, especially young people, to help them to overcome the challenges in life. Being a teacher is like taking care of something special, so I decided to take care of that special thing, walking together in order to discover the world around us.”

Inner delight and the satisfaction obtained from working for a cause are the rewards I seek from my work.

Samy Natho Jina is not only a dedicated student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa - he is also a skilled and talented self-taught computer coder. Samy says, “For each and every project, I have spent countless nights out of my own free will fixing incorrect lines of code. It is my dream to make sure this talent and passion I have for software development and computers can be used to make this world a better place.”

"I can’t be racing while I’m on campus, so I decided to become an automotive journalist and am now the head author of an automotive blog, 'The Drive Hub.' "

Through a personal reflection, Arzoo shares her experience at AKA Mombasa as she reflects on her journey in her final year: "Through the Academy I have made many of my dreams a reality."

Imtiyaz Hariyani credits AKA Hyderabad with giving him more than just the academic skills he needs to succeed at the undergraduate level.

Attending school here has helped me recognise my potential, not just in studies but also in hobby sports! I love Scrabble and I want to become a professional player.

Being part of a team and also having been given positions of authority has taught me about leadership and the qualities one should inculcate to be an inspiring leader.

Sumeya Taquidir shares, “I am conscious that learning is a continuous process; every day we learn something new [which] makes me more curious to learn new things. That is why we have to be creative and dynamic teachers.”

“To me, being ethical and humble are the most important things.”

“I have always been inspired by the philosophy and implementing agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network, and it brings me great joy to have found a way to realise that career aspiration."

Being a global citizen, leader and environmental enthusiast is no easy task. Prabhdeep Lochab’s story is a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment that goes into innovating “green” solutions for a sustainable future.

Nuala Alibhai, Learning Student Support Coordinator, leads inclusive education across the Junior and Senior School. With a background in speech and language therapy and curriculum design, she supports differentiated learning, pluralism and whole-child development across the Academy.

An alumus of AKA Mombasa and University of California Berkeley, Rahim reflects: "The Academy helped me to grow to be the man I am today by instilling values of social conscience and intellectual curiosity that I continue to hold precious today."

Faliha Mukhi, Class of 2017, is studying Global Business and Digital Art at the University of Waterloo. Her parents credit the Academy for helping her discover leadership and creativity through environmental initiatives, IT projects and internships.

Meet Sadiq, a student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. Open-mindedness, confidence and time management are some of the many characteristics he has developed at the Academy that will help him achieve his dream of becoming a journalist.

Mary considers her time at the Academy in Mombasa to be a gift. With compassion and leadership, she is determined to help students with similar backgrounds succeed and receive the same opportunities she was granted.

Danish is global citizen with a creative approach to life. One of his many achievements is the award-winning app, Orai, which aims to make anyone become a better public speaker using artificial intelligence. 

Bernardo learned from the Aga Khan Academies that knowledge cannot just be seen as something that starts and ends in a classroom, but that knowledge should also be applicable outside the classroom to solve real problems in real life.

“It’s been a great pleasure to share my previous teaching experience here at the Academy,” commented Surendra. “The Academy is filled with enthusiasm when it comes to sports, particularly swimming.”

Meet Saumya, a student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. A musician and a leader, she shares her wisdom on what it means to make a true positive impact.

"Being able to stand in front of 250 students and fulfilling the opportunity to give them what I had been given, was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life."

“I wake up every morning and look forward to seeing my students in class.”

“The Academy helped instil within me a need to contribute to community where possible and a sense of self confidence and teamwork.”

Introducing Ivy, a student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. Her innate drive for self-growth and desire to give back to the community makes her a true home-grown leader.

“I believe that with education, people have the power to tackle and solve problems that affect their communities,” reflects Kelvin Njue, a graduate from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa who has benefitted from the Ontario Tuition Waiver Programme.

Ruhi Kamal Manek, an alumna of the Aga Khan Academies Mombasa, took away one enduring lesson from the Academy: the importance of engaging in thoughtful and careful consideration of diverse opinions.

Meet Felix, a student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. With a keen early interest in science, he shares his dreams for the future and explains how the Academies have helped foster his ambitions.

This is Stephen, a student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. His passion for community service shines as he expresses the growth in perspective he experienced through his education at the Academy.

Tanaz Hudda currently acts as the new poster girl for the University of Victoria. She graduated from the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad in 2016 and has just completed her first year of university in Canada.

Courageous and confident, Maria Atalia Matola travelled out of Maputo, Mozambique for the first time in her life to teach at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, Kenya as part of the Aga Khan Academies’ Teacher Preparation Programme (TPP). 

Sahir Devani, grade 11, shares his experience as an Academy representative at the IB World Student Conference held at King’s College London, from 6-12 August 2017.

Aleem Mawji shares his journey of self-discovery, which began at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa and continued towards creating tangible change.

Sayema, currently in grade 11, directed and produced an impactful short film to create awareness on child rights for her IB MYP Personal Project. 

Khushboo Khoja has a strong passion for helping others which she developed during her time at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad. “I feel like my experience at the Academy was very significant as it made me realise that I am interested in working with social issues and trying to help communities,” she reflects.

Aman Punjani graduated from the Academy in 2016 and took a gap year to pursue his career as a competitive cyclist. Today, he is the U-23 Telangana state champion.

“For me, the best part of school is when we have service class, because I am very keen on serving my society and helping the community around me develop faster.” - Sazil Ramani, grade 10, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad.

"What one must paint is the image of resemblance—if thought is to become visible in the world" - Rene Magritte.

“I have had the opportunity to grow and learn as both an educator and an individual through my interactions at the Academy and through daily life in Mombasa," reflects Andrew Jones, a teacher seconded to the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa from Ontario. After his time at the Academy in Mombasa, Andrew has gained insight into three best teaching practices that he will share in Ontario.

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.

“Being part of an open-minded community that encouraged challenging what we were taught, the willingness to accept one another and inspire each other to grow constantly, was very refreshing. I credit these experiences for much of who I am today.” – Dania Quadri, Class of 2014

Aga Khan Academy graduate Joshua Tibatemwa swam for Uganda in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He credits the Academy with growing him not just academically but "as a person.” He plans to return to Uganda, saying, “If I want things back home to change, I have to work to be the change.”

“I came to this school searching for better opportunities and better facilities through which I can improve in sports and excel in music and studies,” says Samson. “I didn’t have these opportunities in my previous school and didn’t get a chance to play any sport.”

Lucy Mwandawiro has been a chemistry teacher at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa for 11 years. However, she has grown and developed in many more areas, such as her involvement with the Educating Girls in Science project and her role as a dorm parent in the residences. Here, she shares some insights about her journey at the Academy.

"I wish to continue sharing my knowledge, what I have learned and will continue to learn, with my society."

Advait Surana is a residential grade 10 student at the Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad. He was selected as one of 18 students from different schools to represent Telangana state at the national U-15 football tournament in Delhi in early September 2016.

“I think that at the end of the day what everything comes down to is how we can be citizens of the world and how we can change the world that we live in to make it a better place for ourselves and children that follow us. And part of that also means giving back to your own community,” says Karishma Bhagani.

"The Academy is an environment that challenges and nurtures leaders who are fearless, courageous and stewards. I have always envisioned growing up to be one myself."

“I think one of the biggest assets the Academy has is the diverse cultural background in the student body. Having players coming from all over the world from so many walks of life adds a unique element to playing as a team.”

Kashyap Gohel, who graduated from the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, tells us about his experiences and how the Academies contributed his many accomplishments.

Christine Robertson is a veteran Ontario teacher who began a secondment to the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa in April 2016. She talks about her experience of coming to Kenya and her first days of getting to know the Academy.

Vasanthi Thandlam, the Academy's Senior School English as an additional language specialist, has been selected as an Operation Smile sponsor for the Vietnam Medical Mission.

Ham Serunjogi, an alumnus of the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, is a natural leader, bold thinker and team player. A recent graduate of Grinnell College in Iowa, Ham traveled widely before landing a job at Facebook. He has a passion for making connections that give back.

“For me, being a teacher is not a simple task – rather, it requires love and skill,” says AKA, Maputo teacher Sandra Marise de Abreu Antunes. Sandra’s classroom is an inspiring place where students not only expand their knowledge but also learn to respect each other, express their ideas freely and dream big.

"There are a lot of values that the Academy instilled in me that I carry to this day. It has taught me the importance of being aware of the community around us as well as giving back to the community whenever possible," says Class of 2012 alumnus Fatema Sheikh. 

“I believe [the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa] is where I shaped my values that I still hold to this day. It is also where I saw and felt the importance of building a community, no matter how large or small.” Indeed, the importance of these values to Mirabelle Arodi is obvious in her actions after graduation from the Academy.

It is a different system that gives me more advantages and privilege.

Naini Singh is in the unique position of having been a teacher at both of the current Aga Khan Academies. Her journey has given her a rare insight into the Academies experience.