Professional Development Centre Graduation
Students create weekly Portuguese newspaper at AKA Maputo
Danish Dhamani (Class of 2013): Everything’s gonna be Orai
Critical thinker. Life-long learner. Global citizen. Three traits, fostered during his time at the Aga Khan Academy, that characterise Danish Dhamani as he now graduates from Drexel University with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. A 2013 graduate from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Danish was an integral part of the residential community and president of the Student Representative Council during his two years at the school.
When asked about his most cherished memories, Dhamani reminisced about the sense of community that developed as a result of the residential program. “People became really close to one another, like an extended family. We had meals together, we celebrated birthdays and special occasions together, and we studied together… One really memorable event for me was singing ‘Happy birthday and kata keki’ (‘cut the cake’ in Swahili).” Danish’s term serving as president of the Student Representative Council was similarly rooted in the idea of building a familial sense of community, and most of his events were geared towards achieving this goal.
Four years later, Danish continues to think outside the box and combine his personal interests with making a difference in the society. Upon arriving at university, he discovered that he needed to improve his public speaking skills. Danish realised that this is a problem that affects many people around the world.
His solution to this problem? Orai.
Orai is a mobile app that aims to make anyone become a better public speaker using artificial intelligence. From tracking the number of ‘ums’ and ‘you knows’, to assessing the “tone” of your speech, the app provides a comprehensive report and suggestions on how you could become a better presenter. The intelligent engineering of the algorithms and attention to detail in the app literally leaves no person speechless.
At present, his venture has won approximately $50,000 in prizes. Orai won 2nd place in the Microsoft US Imagine Cup Finals and advanced with 6 other ventures to the Imagine Cup World Finals in July 2017. Motivated to take his venture to the next level, along with his co-founder, Danish will be working full-time on Orai post-graduation. His efforts and dedication towards Orai has now impacted the lives of over 30,000 users around the world.
As he reflects on his time at the Academy, Danish specifically remembers his classes with Mr. Alchin. “He looked at the world very differently,” he notes. Teachers such as Mr. Alchin instilled in Danish the capacity and willingness to think outside the proverbial box. In preparing him for university, both the International Baccalaureate curriculum and the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities broadened his perspective towards the world and made him a lifelong learner.
His vision for the future is to be able to reside in a world where individuals are exposed to the global issues such as food insecurity and global warming from a young age, and are equipped with knowledge on latest technological advancements to engage in problem solving and action driven initiatives.
By Karina Hussein
New academic year
The 2021-2022 academic year for the Aga Khan Academy Maputo will start on 9 August 2021 via online learning for all students. The AKA Maputo campus will be closed for students and online class schedules will be sent by teachers.
Meet Xenia Manasseh
Atlanta-based magazine, Voyage ATL, features AKA Mombasa alumna, Xenia Manasseh (Class of 2014).
Taniya Dharani - alumna returned as visual arts fellow
“The Academy has made me the person I am today,” she says. “I wanted to give back to the Academy what it has given me.” After graduating from the Diploma Programme, Taniya went on to pick up a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Reading, England. In her current role at the Academy, Taniya wants to help visual arts students prepare for university level art courses. It’s also on her agenda to introduce art students to careers in their field that they might not have considered.
“I want to help give our Diploma Programme art students theoretical practice that will be useful at university,” she says. “I also want to help visual art students understand what opportunities the art world outside holds for them; artistic pathways they can opt for including business and law options in sectors that not everyone is aware of.”
Though she has her task laid out in front of her, returning to the Academy in her new role is understandably strange for Taniya. “I still feel like a student at heart,” she says. “But I’ve learnt to act like a teacher and take responsibilities.” Taniya understands that her experience as a student at the Academy puts her in a unique place of understanding in her current role as teacher. “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to see Academy life from a different light this time. Now I understand the day to day challenges teachers face, as well as the hardships of student life.”
Taniya fondly remembers her time as a student at the Academy. When she graduated, Taniya was the only student in the visual arts department. “I really enjoyed visual arts in school. Being the only student, I had the entire art studio and Ms. Meenakshi to myself.” She is referring to Meenakshi Joshi, who is now MYP coordinator in the Senior School. She also remembers history classes with Koel Ray, and service opportunities at old age homes and government schools that taught her humility and empathy.
However, her most cherished memory at the Academy is meeting His Highness the Aga Khan. At the inauguration ceremony of the Academy in 2014, Taniya had the opportunity to show and discuss her art work with HH. “It was the most precious gift that I ever received and a memory that has helped me hold onto my passion.”
In her personal life, Taniya cites her father as her source of inspiration. It is a common trope that parents discourage their children from pursuing a career in the arts, but this wasn’t the case for Taniya. “Despite people not understanding my passion for painting, he [Taniya’s father] always stood by me and helped me achieve my goals,” she says. Taniya is also proud of her father’s efforts in community service and the life he has led. “His struggles and achievements inspire me. It makes me want to do great things.”
“Growing up I realised that the only thing that ignited a fire in me was holding a paintbrush in my hands and dropping paint all over my clothes. It made me feel like all is well in my world, even when almost everything in life was falling apart.” Taniya is in some ways a time capsule from the Academy’s early years, and like a time capsule, she reminds us of things that have changed, and also about the things that have remained the same.
Written by Ajay Sundaram
Fee Schedule
Fee schedule for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Click here to download the AKA Dhaka fee schedule for the 2023-2024 academic year.
NOTES
- All students are required to pay the Academy fees on a timely basis.
- On first joining, students must pay the admission fees (non-refundable), tuition fee, and caution money deposit (refundable) in advance, prior to attending the Academy, by the designated date.
- Students are required to pay tuition and transport fees (if eligible) based on the invoice issued through BEFTN or direct deposit at the bank.
- Fees include course fees, library books, IT and science laboratory equipment, and certain classroom resources. The fees do not include day-to-day stationeries, course books and uniform costs.
- Field trips and any other such off-campus educational experiences which are not included as part of the compulsory curriculum are charged as and when the same is conducted.
- Exam fees for the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme will be billed separately based on the actual fee charged by the IB and other related and incidental expenses.
- Payments made after the due date are considered to be late.
- Fees not paid by the due date will attract a late fee penalty of 2% per month on the outstanding balance at the end of the month.
- The Academy will send reminders to the parent, requesting payment in full of all fees due (along with late fines if applicable).
- If the payment is not made within the stipulated time, the student shall be suspended and shall not be allowed to attend classes.
- If fees remain unpaid after four fortnightly reminders, a letter will be issued to parents, followed by de-enrolment.
- In the case of a student being de-enrolled or expelled, no fees will be refunded except for the caution money deposit.
- The Academy retains the right to set off or adjust dues from the caution money deposit or any other amounts the family owes to the Academy.
- Claims for refund of caution money deposit are to be made in writing, using the required form, within one year of the date of leaving the Academy.
- The Academy reserves the right to withhold results, school certificates, transfer certificates, transcripts, university referrals or any other information and/or documents in the event that fees or any other dues payable to the Academy are outstanding or not paid in the manner directed.
- The board of directors of the Aga Khan Education Service, Bangladesh, reserves the right to make changes to these rules from time to time as it deems necessary.
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