SALIM NENSI / Partnership Walk

Partnership Walk 2001 – Celebration of Hope and of Opportunity

By Suresh Jaura

The Partnership Walk was organised by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) across Canada on May 27.

The Partnership Walk took place simultaneously in Calgary, Edmonton, Kitchener, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg. Some 60,000 people took part in the Walk, either as sponsors or walkers, and raised an estimated $ 2.5 million.

The funds will go toward fighting poverty in some of the poorest areas of South Asia and East Africa.

Mr Bahadur Madhani, recipient of the Order of Canada award, was the Guest of Honour at the Toronto Walk. Other special guests included Deputy Mayor Case Ootes, Councilor Mario Silva, Mr. Caplan MPP, Beverly Thompson of Global TV and Joe Ng (Pan American & Commonwealth gold medallist-Table Tennis).

Karim Mamdani, Toronto Convener for Partnership Walk 2001 was glad that there were “about 3400 walkers who walked despite the rain.  Although it was wet, their spirits were not dampened, this really shows their dedication and commitment for International Development”.

Al Karim Manji, Media Coordinator for the Walk, confirmed that the Walk in Toronto and raised $1.1 million, almost 50% of the nationally raised $2.5 million.

This is the 17^th anniversary of the Partnership Walk. The Walk is Canada’s largest event in support of international cooperation. It raises money and awareness about international development initiatives in Asia and Africa, and provides an experience – both meaningful and fun for Canadians and their families through activities that are informative, educative and entertaining.

Since its inception, the Partnership Walk has raised over $15 million. All funds go directly to health, education and rural development projects as well as to strengthen local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa and Asia that help disadvantaged people improve their lives and communities.

Not only 100% of funds raised by the Walk go directly toward programs and projects in the developing world, but also these funds are matched by a contribution from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

“The Partnership Walk is an opportunity for people to come together to demonstrate Canada’s long-standing tradition of caring about those less fortunate than ourselves in the developing world”, says Nazeer Ali Ladhani. CEO of Aga Khan Foundation Canada. “The Walk is a celebration of hope and of opportunity.”

“The unparalled support shown across the country – both from individuals and corporations - is an indication of the bond Canadians feel with people in the developing world”, adds Nazeer Ladhani.

Volunteers across Canada played a key role in inspiring Canadians from all walks of life to help people in the developing world. The Walk demonstrated that international cooperation – supporting poverty alleviation and improving social conditions at home and abroad – regardless of race, origin, gender, religion or political affiliation, is a truly Canadian tradition.

For 20 years, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) has been creating smart solutions to problems of global poverty. This “Smart Solutions” approach includes listening to the needs of the poor and providing beneficiaries the means to be active participants in efforts to improve and sustain the quality of their lives. Smart Solutions focus on long-term sustainability, may be replicated in or adapted to other regions, are cost effective and able to withstand stringent evaluation.

The Foundation is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), and works with partners in thirteen countries. The AKDN is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities. The Network’s underlying impetus is the ethic of compassion for the vulnerable in society.

An evaluation commissioned by the Canadian International Development Agency states: “AKFC projects exhibit strengths in community development, self-reliance and popular participation. Sustainability is a major thrust of AKFC projects… The value-added that AKFC provides to the Canadian public helps to distinguish it from other international charitable organisations…”