“My parents brought me into the world, but my teacher has lifted me up and made me reach for the skies.”
March 15, 2017– We all experience the world a bit differently, depending on where we’re raised and what the circumstances are in our environment. But one almost-universal constant is that one inspiring teacher can make a world of difference.
Far beyond teaching them to read, write, and count, teachers are often role models for students under their care. For many of us, our most memorable teachers went beyond the pages of textbooks to inspire us to work hard, do good, and be our best selves.
Aga Khan Foundation Canada is pleased to share that Salima Begum, an alumna of the Aga Khan University (AKU) Institute for Educational Development, is one of 10 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize.
For Salima, now a teacher in Gilgit, Pakistan, the ability to inspire students to reach their potential and make a difference is the most fascinating and rewarding aspect of her teaching career. Thanks to her efforts to create awareness in the community regarding girls’ education and its benefits, more young women are able to complete their education and build brighter futures for themselves, their families and their society.
Education is a cornerstone of our development work, and Canada has been a key partner in those efforts across Africa and Asia, including in the establishment of Salima’s alma mater, the Institute for Educational Development, in 1993. To learn more about the real results that collaboration has achieved, explore the special education feature in our 2016 World Partnership Walk Impact Report.
The winner will be announced March 19, 2017.
About the Global Teacher Prize:
Awarded by the Varkey Foundation, the Global Teacher Prize is presented annually to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession. It serves to underline the importance of educators and the fact that, throughout the world, their efforts deserve to be recognised and celebrated. It seeks to acknowledge the impacts of the very best teachers – not only on their students but on the communities around them.
