The month in pictures: March

These women have recently joined a women’s self-help group (SHG), established by AKF in partnership with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in India. The all-female SHGs have received financial support from the Ministry to begin saving and rotating the money within the group and investing in local development. AKF is providing technical assistance and supporting the women as they discuss changes they’d like to make in their village. At the moment, this particular group is considering installing solar-powered streetlights.

In partnership with UNHCR, AKF has provided sheep to more than 50 households in Syria’s Hsraya and Hamamyat villages in Hama. Each family received four sheep, providing a sustainable source of income through milk production, herd expansion via newborn lambs, and improved soil fertility through organic fertiliser. The initiative is part of AKF and AKDN’s efforts to help lay the foundations for Syria’s recovery, supporting Syrians to rebuild their futures with dignity.

Teacher Mwajuma Mlezi has been experimenting with paper recycling in her mathematics lessons as a playful and climate-friendly learning tool for her students. The children collect, grind, and dry discarded paper before cutting it into various shapes and writing numbers on the homemade cards to build their foundational math skills. The hands-on process blends play with progress, helping children engage more deeply while strengthening collaboration and teamwork. Mwajuma is one of 1,668 Tanzanian teachers trained by AKF since 2023 to develop inclusive, innovative, and climate-resilient learning activities.

A grandfather shares a joyful moment with his grandchildren in rural India, demonstrating the power of everyday interactions to support children’s early brain development. Through the Vroom programme—part of the expanded partnership between AKF and the Bezos Family Foundation—we are working with families and caregivers across Asia and Africa, providing science-based tips and tools to boost early childhood development during their daily routines at home.

In Moinkaj village, just outside Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, over 100 dedicated staff members from across the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Forestry Agency under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan came together to plant more than 2,000 trees. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to environmental sustainability and the broader goal of greening the country for future generations. By the end of 2025, the aim is to plant 500,000 trees nationwide, including 10,000 along Tajikistan’s highways.

AKF’s Zanatany rice cultivation system enables farmers in Madagascar to save up to 80% of their seeds and maximise their yields while reducing labour time (by up to 25% from the first year). After having flooded, ploughed, and flattened the field, farmers use a Zanatany rake to materialise the sowing grid. Then, the farmers sow seeds and cover them with a mix of ash and manure to protect them from birds while providing much-needed nutrients to the seedlings.