The vision of the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board is to ensure Ismaili youth are exemplary, happy, healthy youth who are grounded in the principles and ethics of the Ismaili Tariqah, well-integrated into Western society, equipped to compete successfully in all walks of life through merit, and playing leadership roles in humanitarian service to communities around the world. The board is comprised of six national members and six regional Chairpersons.
The Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board is responsible to deliver youth programming and services to the Jamat under the age of 35 and sports programming to the entire Jamat.
Programs fall into the following portfolios:
- Secondary: Programming delivered to youth aged 13-17 years.
Platforms include CIVIC, Youth Clubs, Scouts & Girl Guides, and Duke of Edinburgh Award Program.
- Post-Secondary: Programming delivered to engage youth 18 – 25 years old.
The Board’s role is to provide direction and oversight of the post-secondary agenda, specifically supporting campus programming delivered through local Ismaili Students Associations.
- Young Ismaili Adults: Programming aimed at youth aged 21 – 35 years old. The aim of the events and programs under this portfolio is to enhance leadership development and the sense of community within these members of the Jamat though a multitude of regional activities.
- Sports and Active Living: Programming open to the entire Jamat.
The direction for sporting and active living includes the development and implementation of national active living programs and strategies and the management of regional and national tournaments and initiatives.
- Summer Programs: Programming for youth aged 6 – 17 years old.
The key programs for this portfolio include the development and implementation of Camps Discovery and Mosaic in each region and Horizons al-Ummah nationally. The portfolio also supports Canadian participation in international camping initiatives such as Global Encounters.
- Youth Resiliency: Programming and strategies for all youth.
This portfolio tries to actively anticipate the needs of the youth in the next 5, 10, and 20 years. The members look at the development of new programming or new initiatives through the youth resiliency lens to see how we can help build resiliency in youth.