The Ismaili Southeast Asia

08/10/2026

Five days of learning, exchange and collaboration held between Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, Singapore Cooperation Programme - SCP, National Council Southeast Asia, and Aga Khan Development Network in Kenya.

Here we look back at the conversations, connections and shared learning.

05/10/2026

Many roots, one ground.

We are honoured that Ismaili CIVIC SEA has been invited to join the Geylang Serai Harmony Circle for the 2026–2029 term, deepening our commitment to building bridges across Singapore’s diverse communities. We see this as both a meaningful opportunity and a responsibility we value.

Harmony Circles form part of Singapore’s longstanding approach to strengthening racial and religious harmony at the community level. Present across constituencies, they bring together faith, grassroots and community representatives to build relationships of trust, deepen understanding of different traditions, and work together in service of the wider community.

Akbar Makani, representing Ismaili CIVIC received the certificate of appointment, from Grassroots Adviser Ms Diana Pang 彭丽燕 PBM, Member of Parliament and Adviser to Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC GROs.

As neighbours in the Wisma Geylang Serai community for nearly a decade, we look forward to contributing more formally to this platform and the community we share.

The gathering was welcoming, with neighbours from different faiths and communities sharing stories, exchanging numbers, and making plans to visit one another’s places of worship and community spaces. It was also an opportunity to reconnect with longstanding partners and friends, including Heart of God Church, the Leow Association and Masjid Khalid, among many others.

There was a fitting symbol in the Harmony Circle’s new identity: lemongrass, or serai, from which Geylang Serai takes its name. Many stems, growing from common ground. The image resonates deeply with Ismaili CIVIC and our belief that pluralism is strengthened not simply through dialogue, but through relationships, shared experiences and service alongside one another.

Our sincere thanks to Ms Diana Pang, the Geylang Serai Harmony Circle team and Temple Association Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong for the generous welcome and hospitality.

We look forward to listening, learning and contributing alongside our neighbours, as we continue to build connections through service and shared community. Our door is open.

01/10/2026

A valuable week of learning and exchange, made possible through the collaboration of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, Singapore Cooperation Programme - SCP, National Council Southeast Asia, and Aga Khan Development Network.

26/09/2026

At the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) High-Level Replenishment Event during the 81st UN General Assembly, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) pledged $20 million to support access to quality education for the most marginalised learners in nine countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

🤝 Today, AKF is proud to announce a $20 million pledge to the Global Partnership for Education, supporting efforts to strengthen quality teaching and learning across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Through GPE's Multiplier mechanism, this investment unlocks matched financing aligned with national education priorities, helping extend support to learners and teachers across nine countries.

The pledge reflects a shared commitment between AKF and GPE to:
📚 Ensure every child has access to a safe, inclusive and quality place to learn
👩‍🏫 Support teachers throughout their training and professional careers
🎓 Strengthen education systems through sustainable financing, evidence-based solutions and broad partnerships

Building on the experience of AKF’s Schools2030 programme, we look forward to continuing our partnership with governments, educators, communities and GPE to help multiply opportunities for learners around the world.

🔗 Learn more: https://akf.org/article/akf-pledges-20m-to-support-quality-teaching-and-holistic-learning-outcomes-across-asia-africa-and-the-middle-east/

19/09/2026

Singapore Government and AKDN strengthen Public Leadership in Kenya through Strategic Governance Programme

This week in , Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Singapore Cooperation Programme - SCP brought together senior Kenyan public officials for five days at the Aga Khan University campus in Nairobi to focus on strategic leadership and public governance.

The programme drew on Singapore's long experience in public administration alongside expertise from Kenya and across AKDN. Sessions covered public-sector transformation, economic development, crisis communication, human resource management, future-ready leadership, and mental wellbeing in leadership.

Participants shared their own experience of what has and hasn't worked in Kenya and looked at which parts of Singapore's approach could be adapted here.

💡 One idea ran through the week: leadership is judged by the difference it makes to people's lives.

Our thanks to the participants, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Singapore, Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and National Council Southeast Asia for this wonderful collaboration and a valuable week of exchange.

17/09/2026

Beyond Buildings: The Aga Khan Award for Architecture in Singapore

What makes a building meaningful beyond its walls? And how can architecture help create more inclusive, resilient and connected communities?

On 15 September, architects, designers, engineers, academics and members of the wider community gathered at the Asian Civilisations Museum for Beyond Buildings: The Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

Organised by the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and Ismaili CIVIC at the Asian Civilisations Museum, the evening brought together an interdisciplinary panel to explore how architecture can respond to climate change, strengthen communities and shape the places where people live, work and belong.

The conversation featured Farrokh Derakhshani, Director of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture; Wong Mun Summ, Founding Director of WOHA; Sarah Ichioka, Founding Director of Desire Lines; Dr Hossein Rezai, Global Design Director at Ramboll and Milan Research Lab; and Associate Professor Gareth Doherty of the National University of Singapore.

From pluralism and climate-responsive design to the social value of the built environment and the evolving role of artificial intelligence, the discussion highlighted a central idea: architecture is ultimately about more than buildings. It is about people, relationships, livelihoods and the communities that grow around them.

The evening also offered an opportunity to reflect on the Aga Khan Award for Architecture's longstanding commitment to recognising architecture within its wider social, cultural and environmental context, as the Award looks towards its 50th anniversary in 2027.

A meaningful evening of ideas, dialogue and shared perspectives on the future of the built environment.

To read more: https://the.ismaili/news/beyond-buildings-aga-khan-award-for-architecture-brings-global-design-conversation-to-singapore

22/08/2026

18/08/2026

Fridays at Our Community Space

Every Friday, our community space welcomes 50 young people and their guardians for MINDS’ Independent Daily Living programme, with half-day sessions held in the morning and afternoon.

The sessions focus on practical everyday skills: folding clothes and sorting laundry to washing socks and completing tasks independently.

While the young people take part in their sessions, guardians have a chance to connect, share a cup of masala chai, or simply have some time to themselves. The result is a space that feels welcoming and shared, with plenty of small moments of learning, encouragement and connection.

Ismaili CIVIC provided the space; MINDS brings the programme and its expertise. Together, the partnership is a practical example of how community spaces can support learning, participation and care beyond our own community.

MINDS’ work to support persons with intellectual disability and their families through daily living skills and greater independence aligns closely with Ismaili CIVIC’s Care pillar and our commitment to making our spaces useful to the wider community.

14/08/2026

Our first Bit by Bit Coding taster session was a hit!
6 tutors. 20 young coders. Small breakout groups where every student got hands-on guidance — not just another lecture.

Here's the best part: this is a FREE, multi-year coding pathway (data structures, OOP, and foundational AI/ML) built for students aged 13–18 — no cost, no catch.

📍 Only 10 seats left before we lock in our next cohort starting 15 August.

If you're curious about code, and between 13-22yrs and want more than a beginner's intro, this is the bridge to real technical skill.

👉 DM us or reach out to secure a spot — seats are filling fast.

BAGUSTogether

14/08/2026

Fort Cornwallis: A New Chapter for George Town's Heritage

On 25 July 2026, the reopening of Fort Cornwallis in Penang marked a defining milestone in the regeneration of George Town's historic civic heart — a powerful demonstration of how heritage conservation can drive urban renewal, climate resilience, and community engagement. For the Jamat in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, the occasion carried special significance with the presence of Prince Aly Muhammad, alongside Malaysia's Prime Minister YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Penang's Chief Minister, Chow Kon Yeow. The President and Vice President of the Ismaili National Council for Southeast Asia were also present. The Ismaili community has called George Town home for over a century, making this moment one of deep and lasting connection to the city's shared heritage.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) served as Technical Advisor on the project, part of the wider North Seafront Programme — a partnership between the Penang State Government, Think City, and AKTC that embodies a culture-based development approach, integrating heritage conservation with economic, social, and environmental outcomes. Over 13 years of collaboration, this initiative has become a model for how historic cities can be stewarded with care, earning recognition including honours from the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

🎥 Click on the video below to see highlights from the event and learn more about this remarkable project.

Explore what changed at Fort Cornwallis in George Town, Malaysia, a...