The Ismaili Southeast Asia

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...

07/08/2026

🌱 Saying YES to Waste Less—one practical step at a time

Ismaili CIVIC is pleased to support NEA’s Say YES to Waste Less campaign and its reminder that “There’s a Price to Waste.”

At our shared space, we have begun making small operational changes to reduce reliance on single-use items. These include introducing recycling bins, food waste management, a water dispenser, reusable stainless-steel cups and plates, and a dishwashing machine.

These measures are not the complete solution, but they help make lower-waste choices easier during our everyday activities and community programmes.

As Dr Janil Puthucheary highlighted, small choices can add up when practised consistently across households, organisations and communities. We hope to continue learning, improving our practices and encouraging more mindful consumption, reuse and responsible recycling.

31/07/2026

Calling all Youth!

Have you ever wanted to learn how to code but didn't know where to start?

Ismaili CIVIC is partnering with Bit by Bit Coding, Singapore's youth-led non-profit dedicated to making advanced coding education accessible to everyone, to offer free beginner-friendly Python programming workshops for young people aged 13–22.

Whether you've never written a single line of code or are simply curious about technology, this programme is designed to help you build practical programming skills in a supportive and engaging environment. No prior experience is required.

As part of this partnership, reserved places are available for youth from the Geylang neighbourhood, creating an opportunity for local young people to explore the world of coding, problem-solving, and digital innovation.

Interested? Register your interest to secure a place at: https://tally.so/r/rjLWOv

Together, let's build the next generation of innovators—right here in our community.

28/07/2026

28/07/2026