Service Learning
From an early age, our students learn to care about the people and environment around them. They put their theoretical learning into practice through sustainable work on local community projects, whether partnering with local organisations, working with branches of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) or initiating their own projects.
Community Outreach
Core to the vision and mission of the Aga Khan Academies is that students should be developed in terms of their values of giving back and contributing to the communities in which they live. This short film follows a group of students from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, who formed the group STEM for Growth to mentor younger students at a local school and help them gain higher achievement levels and greater confidence through hands-on experiments and activities.
Stepping into Service Learning
Grade 6 and 7 students at AKA Dhaka participated in a Service Learning activity at the Academy.
Grade 7 students learnt how to grow vegetables such as cucumbers, radishes, carrots and cabbage. They researched soil types and seasonal crops, planned based on time and resources and divided into groups to cultivate one vegetable each over 15 weeks. Each group took turns to water their plant, measure its growth and care for the weeds.
The students used their knowledge from the classroom and applied it to the fields while working with their respective teams. Meanwhile, the Grade 6 students made lemonade to demonstrate their understanding of mathematical proportions. They worked at home and earned money for the materials to make the lemonade.
In the end, students from both grades served their products to the Academy’s support staff.
Students Win Global Youth Action Fund
The Global Youth Action Fund, part of the International Baccalaureate (IB)’s Festival of Hope, celebrates young changemakers aged 12–19 who are addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Among 300 winners worldwide this year, three student teams from the Aga Khan Schools stood out for their innovation and compassion.
From the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka, projects Mindful Steps and Probaho (Flow) showcased the students’ commitment to mental wellness and community health. Mindful Steps aims to create a supportive digital platform promoting mindfulness and emotional well-being, while Probaho (Flow) focuses on raising sanitation awareness among children through partnership with local NGOs. Their initiatives reflect the spirit of youth-led change – combining empathy, creativity and purpose to build a more caring and sustainable future.
“We have always been inspired to work for the community we live in. As a team, we wanted to channel our passion and empathy into working towards positively impacting children’s health.”
Probaho (Flow)
Student group from AKA Dhaka and recipients of the Global Youth Action Fund
Service Learning in Action
Raphael Mwachiti: Using technology to advance the community
Raphael Mwachiti, a DP student at AKA Mombasa, joined in 2015 on a full scholarship through the Talent Identification Programme. Inspired to give back, he created a device to assist the visually impaired, winning the Ryerson Sandbox Basecamp prize and a CAD $5,000 grant.
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AKA Hyderabad Junior School steps up for Kerala
When devastating floods struck Kerala, the Junior School at AKA Hyderabad turned compassion into action. During their Super Saturday, students from Grades 1–5 cycled, read, swam and danced their hearts out – raising over ₹5,81,000 for relief efforts.
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Service as action at the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka
At AKA Dhaka, students step beyond classrooms to teach and connect with a nearby government school. Planning, mentoring and sharing knowledge, they witness transformation on both sides. Through peer learning, gratitude blooms, privilege becomes purpose and giving teaches as much as receiving.
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