Her Highness the Begum Aga Khan

Since 1999, the Begum has been supporting micro-loans and third world development projects through the German foundation “Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe” (UP foundation). The foundation funds micro-loans to families and single parents to promote self reliance and to end the vicious circle of poverty in developing countries, which include Vietnam, Pakistan, India, Cambodia and the Phillipines.

Together with her mother Renate Thyssen-Henne and her step-father Ernst-Theodor Henne, the Begum founded in 2002 the German aid organization “SOS Projects for People and Animals” to help mentally-ill, handicapped and traumatized children with animal-assisted therapies to overcome their pain and suffering.

In order to respond in a more effective way to the above mentioned humanitarian programme the Begum founded an umbrella organization, The Princess Inaara Foundation, in 2004. The purpose of the foundation is to provide philanthropic assistance to the causes and charitable organizations whose work represent the humanitarian goals that the Begum has long supported

Since 2004, the Begum has become intensively involved in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic by supporting the German AIDS Foundation. In March, 2007 at the Conference of EU Ministers on AIDS, the Begum, together with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, appealed to the international community to join forces in tackling HIV/AIDS with renewed vigor and closer trans-national cooperation between governmental bodies and NGOs.

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In March, 2007, the Begum travelled to Palestine and Israel at the invitation of the then Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Shimon Peres, in support of peace-building projects amongst Palestinian and Israeli children. During her visit the Begum met with various religious and political leaders in the region and called for the promotion of tolerance as the foundation for lasting peace in the Middle East.

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