Chahal Foundation Turns Ten

I founded the Chahal Foundation when I was twenty-nine, because I wanted to make a difference, but I was naive enough to think it was easy since I didn’t know the first thing how. All I knew was that I had to act and do something. Somewhere along the way, we figured it out. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the foundation. What an amazing journey, full of unforgettable relationships, emotions, and experiences.

The foundation has generally remained private and has declined all media interviews and, as a principal, didn’t share its public activities in order for us to focus on the goals rather than the noise. As the old adage goes, when it comes to charity, it’s best to leave the camera at home. For the first time in many years, though, the foundation updated its website to share some of the various projects completed over the last decade, as well as to engage with other like-minded individuals who want to collaborate with us. We’ve discovered that capitalizing on the network effects of a common cause is always the best option.

Reflecting on the last decade, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. In many cases, we know that some of the outcomes will have generational effects rather than just situational effects, and knowing that we will be able to make such a difference gives us such a profound sense of joy. We enjoy hearing these stories because they inspire and motivate us to keep moving forward. I can also see how the foundation has always evolved over time.

• In order to change the system, we began as a change agent, creating powerful public awareness campaigns on key systemic social issues.

• The foundation then invested in education and has provided 1,600 students with university scholarships and private grants to help begin or continue their education. Some students enrolling in college for the first time in their families’ history.

• We then invested in over 100 schools to improve their infrastructure and provide day-to-day school necessities for children to thrive.

• In addition, the foundation donates a significant amount of medical supplies, equipment, and medication to assist millions of people worldwide in disaster relief efforts, where assistance is sometimes a matter of life and death, and this has been our primary donation focus in recent years.

Looking ahead ten years from now, I see the foundation continuing on its mission of creating brighter futures for families, communities, and children all over the world. Poverty, corruption, social issues, and natural disasters have the power to destroy lives, shatter dreams, and dim hope, and this needs to change. Nobody’s expectations should be dashed. We are confronting injustice head on, addressing the root cause, and working to bring new life, hope, and opportunities to people all over the world.

Here’s to reminding ourselves that we all have limitless dreams and limitless possibilities.

Please visit our website, and if you share our vision and want to work with us at the Chahal Foundation, please contact us at any time.