One of the main ways I curate connection is through my involvement with the Global Encounters Internship Programme. Global Encounters brings together Ismaili youth from around the world and places them in internship opportunities with Aga Khan Development Network agencies across India, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan. For me, this work reflects a strong belief that meaningful connection especially across cultures and borders is essential for building community and creating lasting change. 

My first experience with Global Encounters was as a participant in the summer of 2025. Living and working alongside youth from diverse backgrounds challenged my assumptions and deepened my understanding of shared learning, humility, and mutual respect. Those relationships continue to influence how I engage with people and communities today. 

I am now involved on the administrative side of the programme, where I support coordination, communication, and participant experience. In this role, I aim to intentionally foster environments where young people feel supported, connected, and accountable to the communities they serve. Key stakeholders in this work include youth participants, global volunteers, and programme partners within the countries where Global Encounters operates. 

When working with communities, I believe the voices and needs of community members must always come first. My individual passion is secondary to listening and responding to lived experiences, as communities best understand their own realities. This approach was reinforced during my work supporting the mental health research being conducted in Kyrgyzstan. By listening closely to community priorities, I saw how centering others’ experiences leads to stronger, more sustainable outcomes and transformed how I approach collaborative, community-based work. 

Connection will play a central role in my future work because it is the foundation of meaningful development. Effective development work requires a genuine understanding of the communities involved, which can only come from listening, building trust, and valuing local knowledge. When community perspectives, values, and lived experiences are placed at the centre of the work, solutions become more relevant, respectful, and impactful. 

Lasting change also depends on collective effort. Development is not an individual pursuit, it requires collaboration across cultures, disciplines, and institutions. I have worked with people from around the world who brought different perspectives and skills, yet shared a commitment to serving others. Through these partnerships, ideas were exchanged, responsibilities were shared, and stronger outcomes were achieved. Working as a team allows development initiatives to be shaped collaboratively, ensuring communities feel ownership and are able to sustain progress over time. 

Looking ahead, sustainable and inclusive development will continue to be driven by cooperation and shared responsibility. Strong relationships between community members, practitioners, and organizations help amplify diverse voices and reduce power imbalances. When people work together with humility and mutual respect, development becomes more inclusive and durable. Meaningful impact is created not through isolated efforts, but through collective action grounded in trust, collaboration, and a commitment to serving one another and the communities we work with.