In our latest episode of The Ismaili Update, we look back at the exciting stories from the worldwide Jamat during the action-packed month of September.

As people spend more time immersed in TikTok, Instagram Reels, and other social media feeds, there’s a common perception that society is losing touch with history and culture. However, technology also opens up avenues to strengthen our relationship with our cultural heritage. Institutions like the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) have launched initiatives that leverage technology to make culture-based content easy to access.

The Aga Khan Museum (AKM)’s Remastered exhibit harnesses technology to bring the museum’s collection of paintings and artefacts to life. Users can simply go online and view animated renderings of historical paintings, as well as 3D-holograms and interactive versions of paintings that reveal information on various elements. AKM also provides state-of-the art virtual tours that allow users to view exhibits as displayed in the museum.

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When you’re next at the grocery store, reaching for that package of milk, why not consider an alternate option that’s more eco-friendly? To help keep your consumption as sustainable as possible, we’ve done some digging to unearth the most sustainable milk alternatives, and reviewed their taste and suitability for your tea and coffee needs!

We’re fortunate to live in a time with an abundance of dairy-free milks to choose from — just a few years ago the options were either limited or non-existent. However, this means we might struggle to find the most sustainable options, and ones with the consistency, taste, and texture we’re looking for when making a morning latte or afternoon cup of chai.

There are many reasons to make the switch to dairy-free milk; a major one being dairy’s excessive environmental impact in comparison to non-dairy alternatives.

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Salima Visram grew up in Kenya — a land of striking beauty and vibrant colours. She always had selfless aspirations: her initial career goal was to work for the UN. But while at university in Canada, she learned about different ways to make a positive impact on the world, and her journey took an unexpected detour.

In a time when corporate pursuits often seem at odds with social and environmental concerns, a new breed of entrepreneurs is rewriting the narrative. Salima, co-founder of Soular Backpack and Samara Bags, is one example. Through her work, she has crafted an altruistic path by intertwining business acumen with a commitment to generosity and sustainability.

“From a really young age,” explained Salima, “my sister and I realised we had access to good education, food on the table every day, water to drink. But just outside, life was so different for a lot of children that lived there,” she adds. “We always knew that as we grew, we wanted to give back to the people around us.”

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On Sunday, September 24, Prince’s Trust Canada and Ismaili CIVIC partnered for Global Ismaili CIVIC Day to deliver a 2-part in-person event in Toronto.

Check out the photo gallery here!

On Saturday, September 23, The City of Toronto's Nuit Blanche celebration took place at the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre, Toronto. 

This night-long celebration of art and culture, with exhibitions, installations, and performances, allowed individuals to reflect on the Museum's 2023 theme: Unearthing our Interdependence, while celebrating creativity and culture. 

Check out the photo gallery here!

Photo credit: Shafiq Shamji and Alnoor Meralli

In February this year, my life took an unexpected turn that left me grappling with emotions I never imagined I would face. At the age of 33, after a miscarriage, I found myself entangled in a web of challenges that would put my strength and determination to the test. As a woman, the struggle to overcome infertility is already a battle in itself, but when cancer entered the equation, it felt like an insurmountable mountain to climb.

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In the picturesque valleys of northern Pakistan, Shabi Noor Khan's life took a fortuitous turn. Last year, he received a small donation of honey bees with which he managed to generate an income that helped to clear his debts and cover his daily expenses. Shabi Noor is just one beneficiary of the Socio-Economic Development Programme (SEDP) that's changing lives through beekeeping.

The Ismaili Council for Pakistan’s SEDP introduced beekeeping in 2022 as a pilot project in the remote rural valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, which offered a lifeline to people in the region. It didn't just provide the bees — it conducted comprehensive training sessions that transformed novices into beekeeping experts.

“The training significantly improved my understanding and included practical demonstrations on beekeeping dos and don'ts,” Shabi Noor said.

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Environment Canada has issued a warning for strong winds from Monday, September 25 to Tuesday, September 26.

This is the first wind storm of this autumn with full foliage. The heavy tree branches are more prone to break in strong winds and it may lead to more damage and power outages than similar storms later in the season.

More information can be found at Environment Canada.

Please reach out to the Access Line at 1-888-536-3599 for any questions or for support.

For more than a century, a key aspect of the Ismaili community’s identity has been informed by a deep commitment to a culture of care. This concept isn't just encouraged; it's celebrated throughout our global Jamat. Nowhere is this notion of care more evident than in our tradition of serving others.

The power of care knows no bounds. It manifests itself through action and intention, via concern for the natural environment, our neighbours and friends, and wider society. 

Global Encounters (GE) is excited to join hands with Ismaili CIVIC in the lead-up to next summer’s GE Festival in Dubai. This partnership will see artists, athletes, and volunteers uniting across the globe to make a meaningful difference in their neighbourhoods and local communities this weekend. 

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