The month in pictures: October

A student enjoys her school garden – a green space created by teachers and students to bring science lessons to life and nurture care for the environment. The Minister of Education and Science in the Kyrgyz Republic recently visited this school to see the impact of the gardens. Since, the Ministry has issued a national decree to establish greenhouses in state schools across the country. These spaces will provide low-cost, interactive environments linking classroom learning with real-world sustainability practices.

This work is delivered through AKF’s flagship education initiative, Schools2030.

The newly built Ruji Arkari Jeepable Bridge connects the remote Arkari Valley with Lower Chitral in the rugged Hindukush mountain range. For years, residents of the valley relied on a broken bridge. The old structure, unable support heavy loads, weakened over time and caused frequent accidents. Meanwhile, pedestrians risked their lives crossing an unstable footbridge that swayed in the wind. Constructed by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in Pakistan, the new bridge has transformed life for nearly 10,000 people across fifteen villages. It provides a safe and reliable connection to Lower Chitral’s markets, schools, and healthcare services, and reduces travel distances by two kilometres.

This Common Interest Group (CIG) in Um Eltoyur Village is producing high-quality feed mixes for smallholder farmers. With AKF’s support, the group has installed a new crusher and feed mixer to enhance production and reduce the financial burden on breeders and farmers. By coming together in CIGs, communities can manage larger-scale solutions that benefit local agricultural businesses, further strengthening their resilience to economic uncertainty and environmental shocks, which remain ongoing challenges in Syria.

This initiative is supported by KfW Development Bank.

Mirzoeva Anisa inspects fresh vegetables using newly acquired equipment at the Food Security Centre in Panjakent City. Before, it would take Mirzoeva days or even weeks to complete quality checks and release results. Now, thanks to the provision of innovative tools to every department, the Centre has significantly improved its efficiency and accuracy. The upgraded equipment has not only enhanced the speed of testing but also raised the overall quality of market inspections. With improved systems in place, the Centre now conducts more frequent and reliable checks, ensuring safer, healthier food for the local community.

The Centre is being supported by AKF in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, funded by the European Union.

AKF staff oversee the construction of a new centralised control room connected to the Barri Village water tank. The water tank is already strengthening water security in the village, enabling residents to become more resilient to the rapidly changing arid climate. The new control room will improve the management of operational processes and further ensure the sustainable and safe supply of drinking water to the local population.

On 22-34 October, AKF brought The Learning Hub to AidEx in Geneva. AidEx is the world’s leading humanitarian aid and disaster relief event, bringing together UN agencies, local and international NGOs, donors, impact investors, foundations, government, and the private sector. AKF’s Ana Barfield, César Moreira, and Malika Giles hosted a booth where attendees were invited to immerse themselves in our 360° videos through VR headsets, as well as to discuss opportunities for partnership.

Children joyfully learn new baal geet (action song/rhyme for children) – an activity that strengthens language development, builds confidence, improves motor coordination, and brings fresh energy into the classroom.

AKF is strengthening the capacity of about 2,087 Anganwadi workers (government early childhood care and education workers) across Bihar, East Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh on key elements of the Nurturing Care Framework, helping them create engaging, inclusive, and developmentally rich learning experiences for young children.

AKF colleagues Sultan Abbas (National Manager for Programme Development in Afghanistan), Holly Jackman (Partnerships Officer), and Atiqullah Khaliqy (National Programme Manager, Planning and Oversight, in Afghanistan) stand for a photo at the iconic site of the Paris Peace Forum in Paris, France.

At the Forum, representatives from AKF contributed to sessions on women’s leadership, youth action, and energy access, and presented a booth on Opportunities for Mainstreaming Inclusive Development (OMID) – a flagship peace-building initiative in Afghanistan, implemented by AKF and supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Afghanistan.