The Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi is hosting its annual Careers Fair on Saturday April 19, 2008 from 9am to 1pm. This year’s theme is Careers That Change the World and the goal is to expose high school students to careers that will have a high impact in Kenya and in the world in the coming decade. This year, we will feature careers such as Entrepreneurship, Bio-Technology, Environmental Management, and Banking, to name a few. Several high-profile speakers will give an introduction to their chosen professions to parents and students.

There will also be several Career and University booths for guests to tour.

Where: The Aga Khan Academy Nairobi, Limuru Road & 1st Parklands Avenue
When: 9am to 1pm

The Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi put on a stage adaptation of Disney's High School Musical. The shows held at the Alliance Française from Thursday 28th February 2008 to Saturday 1st March 2008. The shows were a huge success and students put on a display of true excellence. This memorable production showcased the remarkable talent of Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi students in song, dance and drama. All shows were sold out and an extra show was added to accommodate the demand for tickets. The production was also featured on KTN's Art Scene.

Nairobi, early Tuesday Morning, several enthusiastic teachers from the Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi accompanied the AKESK, CEO and a representative from Aga Khan High School, Nairobi to one of the many Internally Displaced Peoples Camps within Kenya. The purpose of the visit to the Limuru Camp, was to provide resources and support, alongside the AKES, K initiative of active involvement towards peace and normalcy within Kenya.

Upon arrival, it was obvious that organisation and sanitation were challenges facing the many citizens now located in this temporary facility. Red Cross volunteers accepted our donations of writing and learning materials, as they attempted to allocate our teachers to the various makeshift classes that had formed. SO along with local volunteers, who demonstrated a masterful grasp of the situation, we engaged ourselves with the primary classes.

Highlights involved witnessing the tenacity and readiness to learn amongst pupils displaced from far, having lessons under the shade of indigenous flora, interacting on a personal level with students as they successfully completed their mathematics exercises, and remembering smiles and farewells as our time came to a close.

The Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi and AKES, K have continued to call upon willing staff to maintain involvement with the Camp’s day to day progress, in an attempt to instill in students, self importance and self worth, a respect and admiration for education and an understanding of the necessity for peaceful conflict resolution.

The Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi hosted an event entitled Jazz Notes, which took place on Saturday February 23rd from 3:00 pm to 6:00pm. It was an afternoon of coffee, provided by Dormans, live jazz by Nimrod Hellon, and a book review by David Wandera on Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho. In attendance at the event were students and parents from Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi and other Nairobi schools as well as individuals from the corporate, diplomatic and NGO communities. The event was a success and we hope to more of these in the future.

On Wednesday 5th March the Aga Khan schools in Kenya collectively presented a cheque of Ksh 1.2 million to the Kenya Red Cross and UNICEF to support internally displaced persons (IDPs). Numerous food and clothing items were also donated. The presentation ceremony took place at the Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi. Students from the Aga Khan Schools performed songs, poems and peace messages for the Guests of Honour and the parents and students in the audience.

Kenya Red Cross representatives Dr Simuyu Tabu, Head of Disaster Preparedness and Response, and Mrs. Dolat Premji, Chairperson of the Parklands Branch, as well as UNICEF Communications Specialist Pamela Sittoni, attended the event and received the cheque. The ceremonial presentation of the cheque was done by the students who raised the highest amount from the Aga Khan Junior and Aga Khan Senior Academies.

Aga Khan Education Service, Kenya teachers were also recognized for the service provided to IDPs at various camps in Limuru and Nairobi in January and February. The teachers provided recreational and educational activities for children in the camps. Over one person-month of hours were donated by AKES, K teachers in this effort.

The Aga Khan Academy’s annual Business Day was held on November 23, 2007. The annual event is held for business students to come up with innovative business plans which they must implement with a small loan of only Ksh 2000. On the event day, student teams competed against one another to raise the most funds for their respective businesses. Student sold baked goods, held a dance competition, exhibited art, created a gaming room and held concerts. The day’s highlight of the event was a star-studded concert organized by a group of over 10 Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi students. The concert featured top Kenyan artists including DNA, Pili Pili, Wyre, and Big Pin. Over Ksh 54 000 were raised to during the Business Day. The proceeds went towards the purchase of textbooks for the students of Olasiti Secondary school in Narok, an underpriveliged school the Academy has been supporting to improve.

On July 18, 2007, Akpezi Ogbuigwe, Head or Environmental Education and Training at UNEP came to the school to give a talk. Prior to Akpezi starting her talk, a former student of the Aga Khan Academy, Qaisara Khan, gave a short talk on how her involvement in the IB programme has shaped and influenced her current work in the Nairobi slum of Kibera. Qaisara’s talk provided a perfect introduction to Akpezi’s talk.

Ms. Ogbuigwe presented a lively and engaging talk that entitled "Innovating Higher Education Towards Environmental Sustainability and Poverty Eradication in Africa". The talk lasted approximately one hour and there was a question and answer period thereafter.

Aga Khan Academy students were instrumental in making this event a success – our students hosted our guests in true Aga Khan Academy style. Students worked hard to prepare the food and drink for the reception, set up the event and even provided live musical entertainment for our guests.

A big thank you to all those who worked to hard to make our event such a success!

The Aga Khan Academy held its 4th annual graduation ceremony on 3rd June 2005 at the Aga Khan pavilion. This auspicious occasion marking a transition in the lives of both IB2 and Grade 11 students was graced by Mr Paul Wassanga, Secretary to the Kenya National Examinations Council. The ceremony began with a word of prayer and then the choir, orchestra and dancers once again transformed an otherwise conventional ceremony into a musical feast of astounding talent.

The wise words of Mr Paul Wassanga were indeed a reminder for both the graduates and the rest of us students as to how important the learning experience as a whole is in face of the challenges life throws at one.

The IB2 and Grade 11 representatives were testament to the merits steadfastness and dedication as regards the quest for knowledge.

And as the graduates walked down the aisle to a deafening applause, the determination in their eyes was patently clear as they faced an uncertain future, but with courage because of an education at the Aga Khan Academy.

The Aga Khan Academy wishes to attract high caliber students who maintain or advance the academic standard of the School. At Grade 7 - 9 one scholarship of 100% remission of tuition fees is awarded for outstanding performance and two others at 50% remission of tuition fees on merit basis. At Grade 10 - 11 two scholarships of 100% remission of tuition fees are awarded for outstanding performance and merit. The school also offers four IB scholarships to top performers at O-level of up to 100% of tuition fees for outstanding performance. One scholarship is also offered for a student with an outstanding sports background. Special talents in Music, Art and Leadership are also recognized and scholarships awarded for these up to 25% of tuition fees. All scholarship are awarded for a period of one year.

At Grade 7 the Parents Association grants two scholarships to the top performing candidates amounting to a maximum 25% of tuition fees for a year.

For IB studies the Parents Association awards 2 scholarship of up to 25% fees remission for 1 year to top performers at O-level.

To assist families who would like to educate their children at the Academy, but cannot afford full fees, a limited amount of assistance may be granted in exceptional cases. The value is not likely to exceed 50% remission of fees and only the most able students will be eligible. The families concerned may apply to a special Aga Khan Education Service, Kenya panel for consideration.

The new Aga Khan Academy Art Gallery opened its doors to the first ever International Baccalaureate (IB2) Visual Arts Exhibition. Our five artists namely, Densu Moseti, Anohita Amjad, Aziz Ganijee, Enitan Sarr and Musa Butt amazed us all with a large body of beautiful, creative highly inspired works of art in both 2 and 3 dimensions.

Impressive life size works that depict the days of our lives drama, struggle, joy, laughter, evil, music and so much more are displayed in the exhibition.

You are all invited to view these expressive and interesting pieces of artwork at the exhibition.

The Academy’s drama production this academic year will be William Shakespeare’s famous play Macbeth. The play has been adapted by our Drama teacher, Mr. Wandera, to make it more accessible to audiences of all ages, but the flavour and intent of Shakespeare’s original work has been retained.

As Macbeth is a set book for Grade 11 and IB, students from Grade 10 to IB2 will especially benefit from attending this performance. However, the entire cast and crew have been working extremely hard to ensure that everyone who comes to see the play will have an enjoyable and entertaining evening.

The production was originally scheduled to run in November 2004, but due to unavoidable circumstances, the performances have been rescheduled for 27 - 29 January, 2005. There will be four performances, daily evening shows, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., and a matinee show on Saturday 29th, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

The play will be put on at the newly-refurbished Kenya National Theatre, located opposite Norfolk Hotel. Patrons of the KNT will know what an excellent venue this is for a play; anyone who has not attended a recent performance at the KNT will be pleasantly surprised at the new-look theatre.

Tickets are on sale through the School secretary, at Kshs.350 for adults and Kshs.250 for students. Matinee prices are Kshs.250 for adults and Kshs.150 for students. Please book your tickets in advance to avoid any disappointments.

On 26th November 2004, 43 students and 3 teachers set out with much excitement for the President’s Award Scheme Bronze expedition; a two-night trip to Machakos. On the bus, we passed the time by socializing and singing together. We arrived at our first campsite, The Machakos Institute for the Blind, at about 11 o’clock and split into our previously decided groups. Each group was assigned an area of the field, and all four groups began setting up camp, starting a fire and cooking dinner. On an expedition, no aids of modern living, such as canned or instant food, are allowed, so we had to make wholesome food over the fire. After dinner, most people started turning in for the night, but some had the duty to stay up and keep watch over the camp and keep the fire burning all night. These duties were carried out in shifts to allow all the group members to sleep; during the expedition, students would come to cherish sleep as if it were a stolen treasure.

Our next day started at dawn; we made breakfast, cleared the campsite, and then had some physical activities and stretches to prepare us for the hike ahead. We set out at around 7 o’clock, with one group following the other. Our first checkpoint was the summit of the hill under which we had camped. This was a real test for most of us who were new to the President’s Award expeditions, as climbing a dusty path with about 15kg on your back is no easy feat! Our next checkpoint was the Coffee Factory, and by the time we reached it, we were craving for food and drink. Shoulders were beginning to hurt and muscles beginning to cramp as we started up again, walking along the main road for about 5km to reach our campsite for the night, The Kasewe Primary School.

We followed the same procedure to set up camp, but we were like different people: fatigued was a mild way of describing us; by the end of the day, we had hiked at least 20 km. Dinner was relished as never before, and sleep was even more loved. The most challenging thing was waking up for your night shift, your shoulders sore, muscles cramped, and sleep the only thing on your mind.

Waking up the next morning required a lot of effort, and the hot tea tasted heavenly. The day’s hike saw us climbing another hill to reach Kituli Secondary School, and then descending back to the Coffee Factory. Although it was hard starting up, once we got into the rhythm, it was straightforward walking. We had a bird’s eye view from the rock face at the top of the hill; the land below us looked like a canvas painted by God.

Upon arriving at the Coffee Factory, there were sighs of relief and cheers of joy – despite the fatigue and hunger – as everyone realized that we had just completed our Bronze Award expedition. We got on the bus to Susu Centre, where we had what seemed like our first solid meal in days. Personally, the taste of a coke was the highlight of my day! The journey back to Nairobi was much quieter than the one out, as most people found any space they could, and went to sleep.

When we arrived back at the Academy we were all in a jolly mood, having completed a feat few have done. Even though everyone was dead tired and hungry, the thought of going on the Silver expedition was now in our minds.

On the 15th, 16th and 17th of November 2004, the French Cultural and Cooperation Centre organized an inter-school competition, called Franco Fun. This was aimed at preparing students for the upcoming Francophone Week, that is planned for early February 2005.

Our School was invited to compete in the quiz held on the 17th of November; we were ably represented by two Grade 11 students - Qainoor Khan and Imran Premji, and two IB2 students - Kevin Kiarie and Enitan Sarr.

Our team met competitors from Nairobi Academy, Moi Girls (Eldoret), and Thika. Our students proved the superior French speakers, and won all three sections of the quiz. Congratulations!