Official website of the Ismaili Muslim community is reporting that Prince Hussain Aga Khan and his wife, Princess Khaliya, attended the formal inauguration of the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme’s (HCP) travelling exhibition at the City Hall, in Sugar Land, Texas. Mayor of Sugar Land, David Wallace was also present and he thanked Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya for their presence and the Council for USA for choosing Sugar Land as the site for this inaugural event. He recalled the 2002 opening of the Ismaili Jamatkhana in Sugar Land by Governor Perry of Texas and His Highness the Aga Khan.
Historic Cities Programme featured large panels depicting various projects that the Aga Khan Trust for Culture has been involved with. Young Ismaili tour guides described the historic significance of particular sites, the ethical underpinnings of AKTC projects and their impact on the surrounding communities. Projects in the exhibition included the gardens of Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi, the Al-Azhar Park in Cairo and the Grand Mosque in Mopti.
- Present as a guest, Professor Donald Sweeney of Texas A & M University, commented: “What I saw in their approach to community development was very, very wise based on huge amount of experience… I’m going to talk to my faculty and colleagues about it and to my students… I’m extremely impressed with the values and the skills of this organization.”
- Addressing the audience, Mayor David Wallace said: “The Aga Khan Foundation is a leader in creating innovative solutions, helping to lift people out of poverty and offering something very precious, and that is hope.”
- Mayor presented Prince Hussain with the Key to the City of Sugar Land.
More at the source: http://www.theismaili.org/ne1.htm
Earlier Stories at Ismaili Mail Blog
Event Pictures:
Welcomed by Mayor
Welcomed by Mayor, his wife and Council President Mahmoud Eboo
Examining the description and model of Cairo’s 12th century Ayyubid wall
Listening to Mayor Wallace addressing the audience
Listening to Aga Khan Foundation Chairman
Demonstration at the Partnership Village
Young dancers from the Houston
Standing ovation
Ismailimail 