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PartnershipsInAction, Northeast Style: Spotlight on
Karim Hassanali of the Northeast Region Volunteer Team, New York

Karim Hassanali pictrured on right.Though you may not have heard of the PartnershipsInAction initiative Partnership Reception, these private receptions hosted by the AKF USA Northeast Volunteer Team in New York City are having a big impact.  The Northeast Volunteer Team, established in 2006, has already won over the support of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office, which officially recognized June 5, 2008, the date of the last year’s reception, as PartnershipsInAction Day.  Karim Hassanali, who for the past 18 months has been involved in outreach and reception planning, speaks of his team’s achievement with great pride.  “Even though it’s not as outward of volunteering as the Walk, in our own way we’re making an impact and we feel good about what we do.”

"Our region is uniquely placed; it is the cradle of education in the country, with competitive universities, and we are looking to contribute to development education at the top schools in the region."
--KARIM HASSANALI

After three successful receptions, Karim and his team are ready to take their region to the next level – but on their own terms.  In 2007, the avid volunteer, who is also involved with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of New York, was approached to help with the first New York Partnership Reception.  The private event was held at the Rubin Museum of Art to raise awareness about Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A and the larger Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and primarily targeted audiences from New York’s financial sector.  Having “a lot of fun working with people who have the same passion” for the organization and global issues, Karim has continued his involvement and is ready for 2009.  He hopes to expand reception participation to individuals of all professional backgrounds and to double the number of attendees and funds raised.  Although his team is still very much nascent, “I’m excited to see it grow, and eventually reach something similar to the Walk, in terms of caliber.”

However, as the Northeast Region volunteer team expands its reach, initiatives will continue to have a distinct Northeast touch.  “Our region is uniquely placed; it is the cradle of education in the country, with competitive universities, and we are looking to contribute to development education at the top schools in the region.” Because “it’s not all about networking,” Karim and his team are looking forward to adding educational activities, like a speaker series, to the region’s repertoire. 

For Karim, engaging the New York community in global education activities is invaluable.  These activities are important in “bringing to life amazing work, such as the Network’s its community-based approach of “starting in the villages and working up, which he says “ is smart and it works.”  He particularly enjoys witnessing people’s amazement when he tells the story of Al-Azhar Park and how the Network built a beautiful park on top of what used to be a rubbish dump in Cairo, Egypt.  A second reason raising awareness about innovative solutions to global issues is crucial is that  given today’s polarized global landscape and the issue of terrorism, “AKF and AKDN are in a spot to bridge the world together; the Network has connections to the countries it works in that can be used to promote everyone working together to share ideas.” 

Just as the Northeast Volunteer Team found its own niche to participate in fund and awareness raising for the Foundation’s projects in the developing world, Karim believes that it’s easy to find a volunteer position within the various PartnershipsInAction initiatives to match your own awareness level and passion. “If you have even the slight interest in global development, you can find a facet or project of AKDN that you’ll be interested in and connect with.  This will engage you to want to learn more.”

Bring your own style to PartnershipsInAction with a volunteer position fit for you!  Please visit the "Get Involved" section of our site for more information.