The alumni, who travelled on a cruise from Canada and the United States of America, were greeted at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa by members of the senior leadership team who gave them an informative presentation about the institutions and the schools’ and Academy’s progress. After some refreshments, the group attended a school tour, exploring the campus and engaging with students. 

They then made their way to Dar es Salaam where they were greeted by members of the senior leadership team, including AKES, Tanzania CEO Ms Shelina Walli. The team gave the alumni a presentation on the organisation's future plans and opportunities for them to get involved.  

“Hearing stories of success and engaging in discussions about decades of change and opportunities made the alumni visit truly enlightening,” Ms Shelina said. “We were proud to host those who preceded our current students and to share our experiences with them. We look forward to a continued dialogue with all our alumni and learning from their wisdom.” 

After some refreshments, the group were received by 15 Diploma Programme (DP) students who acted as guides for a school tour around the secondary school and the nursery school. The students were thrilled to meet the alumni and engaged in conversations about life in Canada, the academic opportunities available there and their favourite memories from the schools. The alumni were also happy to share their stories and point out their favourite spots on campus to the students. The event concluded at the nursery and primary school with delicious madafu, or coconut water, and the signing of the school’s guest book. 

“The alumni engagement was a genuinely touching experience,” said DP1 student Emmy Weston Tirane. “It will always be memorable to see the nostalgic looks on the faces of all the alumni as my friends and I guided them around the nursery and primary and secondary school premises, which the majority of them attended more than 45 years ago. We all experienced emotional and humorous moments together as we realised the significance of memories in our lives. Overall, my friends and I are truly grateful that we were a part of this alumni engagement as it's an experience that we are unlikely to soon forget.”