At the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, Ham Serunjogi – CEO and co-founder of African fintech giant Chipper Cash – realised the importance of staying connected to something larger than himself. The Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree is now serving as an advisor to the US President on African diaspora engagement.
Tanish Panjwani (Class of 2019) - advocating scientific solutions for a better world
Tanish Panjwani is an alumnus of the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad's Class of 2019 and is determined to follow a path he will carve independently, “off the beaten track.” He attributes this fierce individuality to the opportunities he has been presented with in school.
"The Academy has pushed me to boundaries and spaces which I never imagined being in,” he expressed. “It has taught me many important life lessons which I wish to take with me as I move towards university. One of these is to always try something new. It gave me so many opportunities to explore my passions for which I am eternally thankful."
Tanish was one of the three student organisers of Academy in Hyderabad’s pioneering TEDx conference, which took place in May 2018.
“TEDxYouth@AKAHyderabad began as a revolution of ideas that inspired me to dream big and accomplish more. I wanted the students in the Academy to dream and imagine with the same ferocity, and come up with ideas that not only solve global problems but also inspire. This was my motivation behind organising such a conference here.”
Additionally, he held key leadership positions in the Academy’s Model UN conferences, played in the Senior School football team and was a chief editor of the student newsletter.
However Tanish’s passion lies in the realm of physics, believing in the power of scientific solutions to address current global issues.
“A better understanding of our surroundings helps us gain a better understanding of ourselves," he said. "The biggest breakthroughs have come from principles based on physics – smartphones and normal appliances are built on the foundations of quantum tunneling. Not understanding physics hinders us from truly understanding the world around us.”
For his Grade 10 personal project, Tanish focused on the importance of a future free of climate change and pollution. He used an old television to make a cathode ray tube (CRT) that disintegrated plastic and created something new in its place. He draws inspiration from his physics teacher Sudipta Roy.
“He teaches with such great passion and his zestful energy lights up my mood inspiring me to study even the most boring (and difficult) topics.”
Tanish was accepted into University College London and the University of Glasgow to study pure physics, and intends to make connections in the fields that interest him. He wants to get involved in actively educating people about the possibilities of approaching everyday problems through the lens of science, by utilising concepts learnt within classrooms to bring small changes in their immediate environments, leading to big changes in a bigger context.
Contributed by Saheb Lakhani (Class of 2014).
Videos
The videos below provide more information about the Academies and glimpses into student life at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad.
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AKA Alumni - Welcome to our Potential Mentors
The Aga Khan Academies is looking to enhance its offerings to its graduates, in an effort to improve communication and aid these individuals as they launch into the working world. As a result, The Aga Khan Academies invites you to be part of the inaugural career mentorship initiative. It is through this one-on-one mentorship programme that we hope to connect AKA mentees (graduates) with professional mentors (alumni/other professionals). We would like for students to be able to do the following with a mentor:
- Discuss potential career choices/moves.
- Get experience that complements and gives them context to their academic pursuits.
- Practice industry-specific, transferable & self-management skills.
- Guidance to improve chances of landing jobs.
- Increase self-awareness and understanding of how to contribute to the work world.
- Expand career options by learning job search strategies.
- Exchange knowledge, insights, and experience with a mentor.
The career mentorship program would run a year in cycle, with an opportunity to renew your capacity as a mentor, if you so desire. In order to make the appropriate career matches, and understand your availability and commitment, we have a few questions to help us with the pairing process.
We ask that you kindly fill out the information request in this form (click here) Rest assured that your personal information will remain confidential and will be for the Academy’s purposes only.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
AKA Alumni Office
Videos
The videos below provide more information about the Academies and glimpses into student endeavours at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa.
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Videos
The videos below provide more information about the Aga Khan Academy Maputo and the Aga Khan Academies programme.
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Diploma Programme
The Aga Khan Academy Dhaka is a Candidate School* for the Diploma Programme. This Academy is pursuing authorisation as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education that the AKA Dhaka believes is important for our students. *Only schools authorised by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorisation will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.orgThe Diploma Programme is a demanding, pre-university-level course of studies. It is internationally recognised by over 2,000 universities worldwide.
The DP has a reputation for rigorous assessment of student achievement. Each student’s performance and levels of knowledge are examined internally by teachers according to set criteria. They are also assessed externally by independent examiners according to global standards applied to all IB schools.
Our students study all the subjects covered in a traditional, broad curriculum, including languages, social sciences, experimental sciences, mathematics and the arts. The DP also takes the curriculum a step further through three unique programmes:
- theory of knowledge
- creativity, activity, service
- extended essay.
Theory of knowledge
Theory of knowledge (TOK) is an interdisciplinary requirement unique to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It encourages students to reflect on the knowledge they gain both inside and outside the classroom.
One hundred hours of classroom time are dedicated to the TOK programme. We challenge our students to question the nature of knowledge across disciplines, to recognise biases and to analyse evidence using rational thought and argument. By making our students consider and appreciate different perspectives, TOK contributes towards a pluralistic outlook.
Creativity, activity, service
Creativity, activity, service (CAS) is an important component of the IB curriculum and is required for every DP student at the Academy. Our students participate actively in a variety of creative endeavours, physical activities and community service projects. They develop self-confidence, teamwork and leadership skills, and a sense of civil responsibility.
Students take part in sustainable projects that have real and lasting effects on the greater Hyderabad community. They develop strength of character and an understanding of their ability to bring about change.
The CAS programme is valued for its power to transform the lives not only of students but also the people they work with. It serves as a platform for interpersonal exchange, personal growth and greater understanding of the issues we face as a global community.
Extended essay
The extended essay requires students to pick a subject of their choice and research and develop it into a 4,000-word essay. Students may choose to investigate a subject from one of their higher-level courses more deeply. Or they can broaden their academic experience by researching a subject in a field they are not currently studying.
Through the extended essay, we introduce students to the kind of independent research and writing skills expected at the university level.
For further information on the IB Diploma Programme at the Academy, please see the admission requirements or contact us.
*Only schools authorised by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorisation will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org.
60 Stories for 60 Years
His Highness the Aga Khan, the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network and the visionary behind the Aga Khan Academies, is marking his Diamond Jubilee beginning on 11 July 2017. In honour of the 60th anniversary, the Academies are featuring 60 Stories for 60 Years, highlighting some of the many people whose lives have been profoundly impacted by the Aga Khan Academies.
To meet these inspiring individuals, check here for a new story each week during the Jubilee year. On social media, you can like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AKAcademies.
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Alumna, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
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Felix Ngumo |
Samson Suhas |
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Karishma Bhagani |
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Alumnus, Aga Khan Academy Mombasa |
Khushboo Khoja |
November's Green Spotlight on Vasanthi Thandlam
Student Spotlight - Chasing her dreams to build for the future
Ajey Balaji: His Unflinching Love For Teaching French
Ajey Balaji, who hails from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, joined AKA Hyderabad in 2013. He is a French language facilitator, form tutor for grade 11 and the Academy’s fervent Francophile. Ajey holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and did his post graduation in medical microbiology until finally deciding to pursue several specialised certifications and degrees in French. Currently, Ajey is a PhD scholar at the University of Artois, France.
Ajey’s professional journey into teaching French at the Academy happened much later in life. He moved to Hyderabad in 2000 after having found work at a laboratory. “When I moved to this city, I was working for a lab producing vaccines for cattle. As a matter of fact, my first friends and colleagues in Hyderabad were hamsters, rabbits and sheep!” Ajey recalls with a smile.
He channeled his spare time by successfully completing an advanced diploma in French language and civilisation in 2003. However, Ajey being a man of determination and dedication didn’t quite stop there. His journey towards mastering the language gained traction at the University of Nantes in France, where he obtained a master’s degree. His master's dissertation on “The linguistics of medical evaluation forms in French for doctors and nurses aspiring to work in francophone countries” is now a textbook on the subject. And, in the midst of this whirlwind French romance, he secured a position at the Academy in 2013. “I had finally found my calling,” he says.
Today, Ajey is one of the most adored members of the teaching staff, praised for his abilities in pedagogy and for his abilities in baking in equal amounts. “Having worked all my professional life with adults, I was uncertain of rising to the challenges of teaching at a school. However, Ms. Meenakshi Joshi (MYP coordinator) set the tone for my MYP journey. Thanks to her unfaltering faith in my abilities, today, I have discovered the innate paternal instincts in me. This challenge has taught me a precious lesson that it is important to nurture equally both, a child’s emotional and academic well-being.”
His innate talent for French has garnered him many exciting opportunities. One such recognition that he cherishes the most was his appointment as an official interpreter for eight senators of the Republic of France who visited Hyderabad on a diplomatic mission. One of the meetings he translated for was with the activist Ms. Sunitha Krishnan, a co-founder of Prajwala, an NGO that rescues, rehabilitates and reintegrates sex-trafficked victims into society.
The academic year 2018-19 has been fantastic for Ajey as he accomplished many professional titles and international recognitions. For instance, this year saw his selection by the Embassy of France in India for the teacher training program at the Centre for Applied Linguistics in the city of Besançon, France. This position enables him to be trained under a pedagogical expert from the International Centre for Pedagogical Studies, Sèvres, France which will help him soar higher as a master teacher in French at a national level.
Also this year, Ajey has had the distinction of working as a teacher-mentor; being a referent translator-interpreter; and working as a jury member of the examiners of the DELF-DALF exams of the Ministry of National Education, Government of France. These are benchmark achievements in the field of French language acquisition. Reflecting upon the year, Ajey states, “The unconditional love and acceptance I receive from my students is the best testimony to my professional accomplishments.”
Should you find yourself in the dining hall during lunchbreak, you would find Ajey walking ahead followed by a trail of grade 7 students. The convoy travels from Senior School like an excited atom with Ajey as its nucleus and orbiting around him are a bunch of recent Junior School graduates, all immersed in deep conversation. At their lunch table, students will sit flanking Ajey on either side and sharing key insights of the day.
Post lunch, the crew may take a couple of minutes to test if the tree outside the Commons is still sturdy enough to hold a few 7th graders. On a hot summer day, Ajey will join them at basecamp under the benevolent shade of the tree, deeply invested in both, the safety of the children and to see just how far they can go.
