Academy Hosts Leadership Camp 

Forty-one students aged 14–16 years from six different schools across Hyderabad attended the first Leadership Skills Camp of the Aga Khan Academy on Saturday, 19 November and Sunday, 20 November 2011.

The Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad is a not-for-profit school. It has expertise in developing ethical leadership, inspired by the vision of His Highness the Aga Khan: “At the very heart of our conclusions is one, central conviction: the key to future progress in the developing world will be its ability to identify, to develop, and to retain expert and effective home grown leadership.”

The camp used student centred techniques to promote leadership awareness by building confidence and communication skills. Participants visited AKA, Hyderabad outreach projects to sensitise them to changes in the local environment. Sessions were facilitated by Furthering Education and Save the Rocks, NGOs focusing on education for sustainable development.

The students shared what they learned in a programme for parents and invited guests. Mr Sudheer Babu, IPS Deputy Commissioner of Police Shamshabad Zone was the Chief Guest.

Saheb Lakhani, a participant, commented: "I’ve learned that to be a leader you have to self–rule and firstly improve yourself so you can help or lead others."

The event was organised by Shaun McInerney, the Dean of Students and Studies, in order to share the Academy’s vision of education with a wider audience. He commented: “This camp has been a celebration of the commitment that young people have to shaping the changes happening around them in ways that improve people’s quality of life.”

John Puddefoot, Head of Academy commented: “Developing leadership skills lies at the very heart of the Aga Khan Academies’ mission, and it is a great pleasure to have witnessed the remarkable progress the young people involved in this course have made over just two days in realising that vision in themselves.”