Simerg is an independent initiative dedicated to Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan — their Hereditary Imam — and the Ismaili Imamat, and Islam in general through literary readings, photo essays and artistic expressions
In his Talika (written message) to his Ismaili Muslim followers, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his family), mentioned that his family members at his request had assumed additional responsibilities to assist him in important areas of his work. The Aga Khan’s younger brother, Prince Amyn, his eldest child, Princess Zahra, and his three sons, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad, have responded magnificently to the Imam’s call, showing a united front in their efforts.
Pope Francis warmly greeted Prince Rahim Aga Khan during their private audience in Lisbon, Portugal, on August 4, 2023. The Pope was visiting Lisbon for World Youth Day. Photograph: Vatican News. Please click on the image for Prince Rahim’s articles.
They have travelled worldwide to review the work of the Ismaili Imamat and attended significant events related to the expansion and development of ongoing and new projects. Prince Rahim, a graduate of Brown University, celebrated his 53rd birthday on October 12, 2024, and he is arguably perhaps the busiest among all family members. Our sister website highlights 53 years of his life through a two-part series. Please read Prince Rahim Aga Khan (1971-2021) and Prince Rahim Aga Khan (2022-2024).
Featured photo at the top of post: Prince Rahim, in the company of his father, His Highness the Aga Khan, visited an Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) project in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in 2008.
Date posted: October 12, 2024. Last updated: October 22, 2024.
From Running for Earthquake Victims to Acting as an Advocate for Education for Girls, Izmir Kassam Has Participated in 25 Races Since the Age of 4 and Raised Thousands of Dollars
11-year-old Izmir Kassam, a fifth-grade student in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, aims to raise $40,000 by running 40 km in honour of the 40 years of the World Partnership Walk (WPW) that is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at Calgary downtown’s beautiful Prince’s Island Park.
TThe WPW is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), an agency within the vast Aga Khan Development Network dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need, mainly in Asia and Africa, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender. The AKDN’s multifaceted development approach aims to help communities and individuals become self-reliant. In Canada, the AKFC has partnered with the Government of Canada, Canadian institutions, and individual Canadians on hundreds of programs to tackle the root causes of poverty and inequality. One of its fund raising programs, the WPW, has united Canadians of all ages across the country for 40 years to fight global poverty. The WPW is Canada’s largest public movement in support of global development.
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Izmir Kassam running the final 10 km in 10x10km run for earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria at the Glenmore Athletic Park, Calgary, June 10, 2023. Photograph: Izmir Kassam.
While hundreds at Sunday’s Walk will be walking, Izmir will be running! Izmir’s love for running has led him to conquer various distances, from 10 km races to half marathons and even 100 km. Since starting to run at 4, Izmir has completed over 25 races. Despite the lack of distance running competitions for students of his age, he boldly races with adults, often finishing in the top 5% to 10% of runners.
“We are so glad that Izmir chose the Humanitarian Coalition for his fundraising initiative. We re all in awe of his dedication and commitment” — Catherine Dufour
When he was 8 years old, Izmir watched the withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan and the takeover by the Taliban, with graphic images of Afghans hanging onto the moving front wheels of planes taking off, making a desperate last attempt to leave a country doomed to abject poverty and total suppression of freedoms. He learnt subsequently about the ban on girls’ education that the Taliban placed immediately upon taking over the rule of Afghanistan.
Izmir, upon discovering that girls his age in Afghanistan were denied the right to education, was not just saddened but deeply empathetic. He had a newborn sister then and could not imagine her growing up without an education. The thought was unbearable. This profound empathy for the girls’ plight fueled his determination to transform his passion for running into a campaign for girls’ education in Afghanistan. That year, he completed a half marathon of 21 km, raising a significant $ 2,000 to support Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (CW4WAfghan). His inspiring effort was recognized in a Calgary Herald story titled Young Runner Going the Distance for Afghan Girls.
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Eight-year-old Izmir Kassam poses for a photo at Sandy Beach Park in Calgary, SW, before his September 17, 2021, run to raise money for Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan. Photograph: Brendan Miller/Postmedia.
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Izmir Kassam with medal after finishing the 10 km race in The Calgary Servus Marathon held on May 26, 2024, at Enmax Park, Calgary. His time was 43.20 minutes. Photograph: Izmir Kassam.
In 2023, on his tenth birthday, a powerful earthquake hit Turkey and Syria. This earthquake resulted in over 50,000 deaths and over 250,000 buildings being damaged or destroyed in the region. That morning, after seeing the images of the devastation the earthquake caused, Izmir was spurred into action again! He took on the challenge of running 100 kilometres (ten runs of 10 kilometres each) to raise money via the Humanitarian Coalition. This Canadian charity unites top aid organizations in responding to global crises.
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Izmir Kassam, shown wrapped in a Canadian Flag, with members of the Calgary Turkish community, friends, and family after the final 10 km run (out of 100 km) for earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria at the Glenmore Athletic Park, Calgary, June 10, 2023. Photograph: Izmir Kassam.
With the added support of government matching, Izmir raised $30,000, and his fundraising efforts were recognized by His Excellency Kerim Uras, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Canada. Catherine Dufour of the organization Humanitarian Coalition commented, “We are so glad that Izmir chose the Humanitarian Coalition for his fundraising initiative. We are all in awe of his dedication and commitment.”
“Women and girls should have the opportunities and freedoms my sister and I have in Canada. No girl should grow up without an education or the freedom to be who she wants” — Izmir Kassam
The Aga Khan Development Network’s mandate is to work in challenging places where peace and stability are not always present. Infrastructure is often limited to help ensure that all women have a chance to harness their potential, have decent lives, and contribute to their communities. Izmir’s dedication to advancing this commitment is unwavering. He eloquently states women and girls should “have the opportunities and freedoms my sister and I have in Canada. No girl should grow up without an education or the freedom to be who she wants.”
Inspired also by his great aunt Mehrun Hassanali’s work with the World Partnership Walk, who was instrumental in its founding 40 years ago, Izmir decided to commemorate the WPW’s 40th anniversary by running 40 kilometres (four 10-kilometre runs).
His culminating run of the 10 final kilometres will take place on June 2 at the Calgary WPW event. He aims to complete the run within 40 minutes. The fundraising target for this 40th WPW Anniversary run is $40,000, and Izmir invites others to join him in this worthy cause.
Through this website, I invite readers to support Izmir and others like him in Calgary and around Canada, trying to raise money to support the Aga Khan Foundation’s annual World Partnership Event. In Izmir’s case, he aims to raise $40,000 to help eliminate global poverty. If 400 people donated $100 each, Izmir would reach his goal of $40,000. He also welcomes the support of other individuals to help him reach the target. Please click 2024 WORLD PARTNERSHIP WALK – IZMIR KASSAM
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World Partnership Walk setting. A view of Prince’s Island Park in downtown Calgary, the venue for the 40th WPW to be held Sunday, June 2, 2024. Photograph: Brenden Matthews via Wikimedia.
And to all Calgarians and visitors to Calgary, please come to the beautiful Prince’s Island Park on June 2 and watch Izmir cross the finish line. The Park is located in Calgary downtown on 4 St. and 1 Ave. S.W.
“His Highness has used his own faith background to speak directly to the goodness of all people.” — President Alan Rock, University of Ottawa, January 13, 2012. Photo: University of Ottawa. Copyright.
For over 60 years the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), under the leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismailis in direct lineal descent of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him), has been building institutions and delivering essential services by creating schools and hospitals, newspapers and electricity generation plants, and social programmes of all kinds. These services have helped improve the lives of hundreds of millions of people of all races and faiths in places as varied as Cairo, Kabul, Delhi and Bamako.
We provide an organizational chart highlighting the breadth of the work of the Ismaili Imamat, and compile a piece about the most identifiable emblems, logos and seals of the AKDN.
Please click on image to enlarge
Credit AKDN*
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FAMOUS LOGOS, SEALS AND EMBLEMS OF AKDN AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS
1. Aga Khan University (AKU)
The Seal of Aga Khan University is a visual representation of the principles which underlie the founding of the University. The circular form of the Seal, with its different levels of imagery contained in concentric circles, has its visual roots in the rosettes of early Islamic periods. The circle also symbolises the world and reflects the international presence of the University.
At the centre of the Seal is a star, or sun. Light is a universal symbol for the enlightenment that education provides.The light emanating from the star is also symbolic of Nur (Divine light).
The star incorporates 49 points to commemorate the University’s founding by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. The outer ring circumscribes a Qur’anic ayat rendered in classic thuluth script and reads as follows:
“And hold fast, All together, by the rope Which God (stretches out for you), And be not divided among yourselves, And remember with gratitude God’s favour on you: For ye were enemies And He joined your hearts In love, so that by His grace Ye became brethren” — Sura 3, Ayat 103.
2. Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)
In every language there are idioms and proverbs illustrating the importance of the right hand as an instrument of human skill, achievement and caring.
The Aga Khan Foundation logo is based on the right hand, and represents the humanitarian and positive philosophy underlying the Foundation and its activities.
In Islam, the hand has a number of meanings: its shape reflects its comprehensive and positive character, while its constituents represent the five principles of Islam and the five senses of the human body. The stylized fingers represent “Allah” in the Kufic script, and the interlacing beneath the fingers correspond to the anatomy of the hand and also delineates the sign, which in Chinese stands for Wisdom.
The logo of the Aga Khan Foundation was designed by Mr. Zahoor-ul-Akhlaq of Pakistan.
3. Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS)
Photo: Isabelle Prondzynski. Copyright.
The emblem of the Aga Khan Health Services shown on the cup and saucer represents health care and compassion. The crescent is an ancient icon which, when used in red, has become the equivalent of the International Red Cross. The three-crescent design in its simple, poetic form creates an internal space symbolising how institutions and programmes using the symbol surround, attend and care for those in need.
4. Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA)
The logo of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture was designed by Karl Schlamminger, a German Muslim of the Shia tradition.
The Name of Allah in Kufic script, reflecting Itself and repeating Itself, forms the basis of the logo design.
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