IREAD and Aga Khan University

Dear Friend,

I wish to share with you the significance of this milestone agreement with Aga Khan University not just in IREAD’s journey to date, but also in my personal journey with early childhood development. This is something that I have not shared with many people, but I feel now is the time to do so.

On December 8th, 2008, I was very fortunate to be personally introduced to Hazar Imam at the inauguration ceremony of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa. In the ensuing very short exchange that we had, despite being informed that I was a dentist, he looked me in the eye and mentioned that one of the most pressing issues he was concerned about was the lack of access to early childhood development and education in the very remote rural areas of the developing world. He went on to say that this was a crucial component in improving the lives of these communities. He was then escorted away to meet other guests who were waiting for an audience.

While I cannot truthfully say that this was an epiphany for me, subsequent meetings with other professionals in the following year convinced me that as I transitioned out of clinical dentistry and looked for meaningful engagement to make a difference, ECD was the area that would have the greatest impact with whatever resources I could bring to the endeavour.

Thus, IREAD was incorporated in November 2009; IREAD USA in April 2019. By November 2021, 12 years after launching, IREAD – from its humble roots in Calgary – had gained enough credibility that the prestigious Aga Khan University through its Institute for Educational Development signed an agreement with us to enter into a multi-year project that will see community-based ECD sites – we anticipate at least 25 – opened in the most remote, mostly Ismaili villages in Pakistan. These centres will be open to all children in those hamlets, not just Ismailis. I feel very fortunate that I was able to, in a small way, rise to the challenge posed to me by Hazar Imam. The AKDN, of course, does a lot more globally to make ECD available and accessible.

The project with AKU-IED, coupled with a Memorandum of Understanding that will be signed before this year-end with Makerere University in Kampala to establish a brand new IREAD ECD Teacher Training College and model school on the campus, is another testament to the high regard in which IREAD is held. This IREAD College will be under the auspices of the Faculty of Education and will offer bachelor's and master’s degrees in ECD. As you may know, Makerere is one of the largest and most respected universities on the continent of Africa.

I am very fortunate to have the support of wonderful directors on our Boards in both Canada and the USA as well as a terrific Executive Director to steward IREAD through this tremendous growth. And, of course, everything has only been possible because of the generosity of people who believe as we do that every child deserves the chance to have a bright future. Again, thank you.

Best wishes that you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy and enjoy a wonderful festive season.

Noor Jaffer

Founder and Chair, IREAD