DUSHANBE, November 3, 2014, Asia-Plus — His Highness the Aga Khan has visited Kyrgyzstan.
According to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Kyrgyzstan, Hi Highness the Aga Khan arrived in Bishkek Saturday (November 2) evening and the purpose of the visit is for His Highness the Aga Khan to review AKDN activities in Kyrgyzstan.
His Highness the Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). In Islam’s ethical tradition, religious leaders not only interpret the faith but also have a responsibility to help improve the quality of life in their community and in the societies amongst which they live. For His Highness the Aga Khan, this has meant a deep engagement with development for over 50 years through the agencies of the AKDN.
The Aga Khan Development Network is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies working to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. The Network’s ten development agencies focus on social, cultural and economic development for all citizens, regardless of gender, origin or religion. The Network engagement has ranged from early childhood development to university and adult education, from micro-credit to banking and financial services, from supporting tradition-bearers in music and oral recitation to building capacity of civil society institutions, from tourism to infrastructure development. Its annual budget for social development is US$600 million. In Kyrgyzstan, close to 1,420 people most of who are local citizens are directly employed by AKDN and its various agencies.
