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Village in Action Projects

Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. holds the annual Partnership Walk in several major cities to raise awareness and funds for innovative programs that reduce global poverty. This public event, Partnership Walk, is held in prominent city parks and attended by tens of thousands of participants who come out to support ending global poverty.  The Village in Action is one of the Partnership Walk’s most unique and fascinating aspects,  showcasing the positive results of Aga Khan Foundation’s projects.  In the Village in Activities, visitors learn about issues in the developing world by engaging hands-on in fun, educational and inspirational activities.  Student groups from local schools and universities take responsibility for developing and researching  and creating the exhibits and activities. Exhibits cover different issues such as environment, health, education, microfinance, water & sanitation or rural development. 

What is Village in Action?

How to Participate in the Village in Action

In the months and weeks in preparation for Partnership Walk, students from local schools can take part in researching and developing projects that are displayed in the Village in Action.  These community service projects show visitors and dignitaries solutions to ending global poverty through hands-on, interactive activities. Village in Action displays shows how progress is possible through practical, smart solutions.  Through the process of exploration and research, students will learn valuable concepts and models that help them to better understand our interdependent world.  Student have the opportunity to become more sensitized to problems that others around the world face.  That’s a key factor in becoming a global citizen.  Greater understanding and sensitivity about the issues other people face, may help you realize your role in the world and what you can do to.

Getting Involved in Village in Action Activities is Fun, Motivating and Broadens Your Horizons

Each student group can form a team to get involved and highlight one of the key focus areas of the Foundation’s work. Students are given case studies and facts and then challenged to create their own imaginative way to portray the issues to the American public. The students are given the opportunity to express their creativity by displaying key messages through fun, exciting learning exercises. For example exhibits could highlight:

• promoting girls education in Afghanistan
• improving pre-schools in East Africa to ensure that marginalized kids have a better chance to succeed in primary school
• building safe water & sanitation projects in Pakistan that save lives by preventing water-borne diseases
• immunization programs in India
• organizing grassroots village organizations in Tajikistan
• microfinance programs that expand the safety net for the poor
• environmental conservation and natural resource management
• building seismic-resistance housing in earthquake prone regions
• training teachers, especially women, in regions where resources are scarce 

Photographer: Anthony Robert La Penna

In past years, Village in Action exhibits have included games, obstacles courses, displays, skits and Q&A sessions to get visitors directly involved in learning about specific projects.

Exhibits have made huge impressions on the visitors. They walk away with a better understanding that solutions are not only possible, but happening day by day.  As a participant in the Village in Action, you can take great pride that you are sharing meaningful and valuable information with the public. Educating others gives them hope that progress is happening.                                                                 

Even though the news media often reports gloom and doom, you can show the public that there are many, many others working each and every day to make real progress happen. Projects in developing countries that save and improve lives on a day-to-day basis may not make it to the headlines, but it is indeed happening, day by day. By educating others, you are helping to make that progress happen!

Students' projects may spark the interest of the media. In past years, reporters at the Partnership Walk have shown great interest in covering the Village in Action with its photogenic displays and youth involvement on global issues.

Opportunities for Participation and Community Service Hours

Students are eligible to receive community service hours by volunteering their time for the non-profit organization, Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A.