On a spirited and sunny Sunday morning on October 13, 2013 in Fremont, California, 650 men, women and children enthusiastically participated in The PartnershipsInAction Walk focused on Ending Global Poverty – raising $ 275,000. This is an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. and its volunteer network which started 19 years ago in key US cities. (Approximately 15 million of the world\’s Muslims, the Ismailis, follow the leadership of His Highness Karim Aga Khan.) The families in the audience enthusiastically applauded the mayors of local cities from San Jose to Fremont and were then treated to two exceptional keynotes, Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women and Jason Doherty, founder of the Daraja Academy which he runs with his wife, Jenni Doherty in Nanuki, Kenya.
Kenyan born, Dr Kanyoro, well acquainted with the work of the Aga Khan in her country of birth, punched out her point: \”Poverty is not natural. It is a man made problem.\” Dr. Kanyoro did not mince her words: \”Poverty has the face of a woman and illiteracy bears the face of a girl.\” So she says: \”Let\’s pull up our socks, put our hands in our pockets and deliver literacy to every boy and girl.\” And she warns: \”There should be no discrimination – this is important.\” She assured her audience that better education would result in less poverty and freedom from violence.
Ismailimail 