The month in pictures: October

A young girl attends a community outreach clinic in her village, where mothers and children can access vaccinations, immunisations and nutrition services. For families facing poverty and limited access to healthcare, these clinics can be lifesaving, helping protect children from preventable diseases, identify malnutrition early and connect mothers with healthcare. By bringing care directly to communities, outreach teams help ensure that distance and cost are not barriers to a healthy start in life.

The clinics form part of the Strengthening Nutrition and Immunisation in Pakistan (SNIP) programme, delivered by AKF, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme and Aga Khan University, and funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and The Power of Nutrition.

Seen from above, the newly rehabilitated Al-Zubair Park brings together green spaces, children’s play areas and shaded seating in the heart of Damascus’s Al-Tadamon neighbourhood. The revitalised park has been designed to provide a safe, welcoming environment for children and families, creating opportunities for recreation, learning and community connection.

The rehabilitation included integrating disability access, landscaping and tree planting, repairs to benches and play equipment, the installation of solar-powered lighting, and the creation of shaded areas for sitting and study. Implemented by Aram Association for Social Services with support from AKF and in collaboration with local authorities, the project aims to strengthen social cohesion and encourage greater community participation through a shared public space.

Students study plants in a newly opened greenhouse at School No. 77 in Bishkek. Through hands-on learning, they can now explore plant growth and environmental science in their biology lessons. By observing crops up close and investigating factors such as soil, water, temperature and humidity, students can connect classroom lessons with real-world experiences.

Established through AKF’s Schools2030 programme, the greenhouse serves as a practical STEM learning space designed to spark curiosity, encourage experimentation and build problem-solving skills. School No. 77 is one of 70 schools supported by Schools2030 in partnership with the Ministry of Enlightenment of the Kyrgyz Republic, helping advance educational innovation and strengthen teaching and learning across the country.

On World Food Day (16 Oct), an AKF Green Champion shares regenerative farming techniques with young farmers during an exhibition in Zanzibar. Through hands-on training, participants – mainly students and farmers – learnt practical ways to grow nutritious food, make better use of limited space and adopt sustainable farming practices, including the production of organic fertilisers and natural pest-control solutions.

The exhibition forms part of the Maendeleo Plus programme, supported by Lady Fatemah Trust, which helps communities strengthen food security and improve nutrition through locally led solutions. In response to a request from local communities, Green Champions have also delivered organic farming training to 20 members of Village Savings and Loan Association groups, helping build the knowledge and skills needed for more sustainable agriculture.

To date, Maendeleo Plus has reached 2,460 people, while Nutrition Champions have supported 751 households across Zanzibar.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) use a fire extinguisher during a practical training exercise at the National Preparedness and Emergency Response Camp in Tartous. Bringing together volunteers from across Syria, the camp combines classroom learning with hands-on simulations to strengthen skills in firefighting, search and rescue, first aid and safe emergency response.

Implemented by AKF in partnership with the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, the training is designed to build CERTs’ technical skills, teamwork and readiness to support official emergency response efforts. The first camp brought together 94 CERT volunteers, who completed practical assessments and received certification upon successfully finishing the programme.

Residents fill bottles with clean drinking water from a solar-powered reverse osmosis plant in Hussainabad, a coastal village in Sindh where rising salinity has made access to safe water increasingly difficult.

Built by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) with support from the community, the plant produces around 3,000 gallons of clean drinking water each day for residents and neighbouring villages. The solar-powered facility uses reverse osmosis technology to remove salts and other impurities from brackish groundwater, providing a reliable source of safe drinking water.

Before the plant was established, many families paid 100-200 rupees for each 19-litre bottle of water bought from Sujawal city, often purchasing several bottles a day. Today, the community can access the same amount of safe drinking water for around 700 rupees per month, directly in their village, freeing up income for other priorities, including children’s education.

Community foundation members and leaders stand ankle-deep in mangrove mud during a visit to restoration sites on Kenya’s coast. The visit formed part of the Africa Community Foundations convening in Mombasa, organised by the East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN), which brought together community philanthropy practitioners and partners from across the continent under the theme ‘Rooted Giving, Durable Institutions.’

Through exchanges, field visits, and shared learning, participants explored how community foundations can mobilise local resources, strengthen leadership, and build resilient institutions that support lasting change from within communities.

AKF was one of the convening’s funding partners and supported the participation of groups from the Swahili Coast Community Foundations Initiative (SCCFI). Co-financed by AKF and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, SCCFI was established to support community-driven development along the Swahili coast.

Founders and mentors connect during a speed-mentoring session at the launch of the latest Bloom Your Biz (BYB) Startups cohort in Lisbon. Bringing together 15 startups, the programme’s orientation day provided entrepreneurs with the opportunity to share their ideas, discuss challenges and gain insights from experienced business leaders.

Delivered by AKF Portugal in partnership with Unicorn Factory Lisboa, the programme supports founders to validate their business models, strengthen their skills and build valuable professional networks. Throughout the day, startups took part in peer learning, alumni discussions and one-to-one mentoring sessions designed to help them accelerate their growth and turn promising ideas into sustainable ventures.

A newly completed suspension bridge spans the Ishkoman Valley in Ghizer district, restoring a vital connection for local communities after floods washed away the previous access route. The 61-metre driveable bridge, together with a six-kilometre link road connecting two nearby villages is helping improve access to schools, healthcare, markets and other essential services.

Supported by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), the bridge is part of wider efforts to strengthen connectivity and resilience in remote mountain communities. Since its inception, AKRSP has supported more than 5,000 community infrastructure projects across Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, helping communities overcome geographical barriers and improve quality of life.