Introduction to Rupani Foundation
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Welcome to the Rupani Foundation
Founded in 2006 by Mr. Nasruddin Rupani, a U.S. citizen of Pakistani origin and a renowned industrialist in the global Gems and Jewelry industry, the Rupani Foundation aims to reduce poverty and promote social entrepreneurship within Mountain communities. Motivated by the Islamic ethics of philanthropy and the ethos of corporate social responsibility, the Rupani family has resolved to invest their time, knowledge and resources toward this end.

The Foundation's objective is to create economic opportunities, knowledgeable leadership, and 'aristocracies of merit' for the marginalized communities, particularly women and youth. The first significant area of endeavor is to assist the Mountain communities in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and the surrounding regions.
 
Focus on Gems, Jewelry & Minerals
Since 2006, Rupani Foundation, in partnership with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and Karakoram Area Development Organization (KADO), has established six Gems Cutting and Polishing Training Centers in the Northern Areas of Pakistan that have trained more than 300 people.

In Afghanistan, the Rupani Foundation has recently opened five Gems Cutting and Polishing Training Schools in Ishkasim, Wakan, Darayum, Baraok, and Zabak. A new center has been established in early 2009 in Khorog, Tajikistan. It is expected that these combined six centers will provide training in faceting and stone carving skills to approximately five hundred mostly unemployed or under-employed men, women and youth in the region each year.

Beginning in April 2009, RF has started to transition all its Gemstone Cutting and Polishing Centers into half training and half production. This new investment will create the value chain for converting the mined gemstones into quality jewelry for the local, national, and international markets. It will provide sustainable employment and entrepreneurial opportunities to local families through capacity building of miners and gemstone dealers, successful integration of skilled artisans, and business development in the area, in addition to the transfer of technology.
 
Early Childhood Development
In order to adequately prepare children in our target areas, Rupani Foundation in collaboration with Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan, is currently piloting two ECD programs, Agah Walidain (Informed Parents), pre-natal to age three, and Project Umeed (Project Hope), ages three to six. The programs are designed to create a microcosm in which the needs of the whole child can be met and educators can provide an environment where holistic development can take place. It is not generally known that the most effective way to ensure a child develops to his/her full potential is to intervene during the formative years between prenatal to six years.

Since it is not possible for the government to put a school in every village, Rupani Foundation believes its programs can empower mothers to become their children's first teacher.
 
New Rupani Foundation Office - Houston, TX
On Monday, November 24, 2008, His Excellency Muhammad Mian Soomro, Chairman of the Pakistan Senate, formally inaugurated the new office in Houston, Texas. Chairman Nasruddin Rupani, its board and staff, welcomed the invited guests with a tour of the new offices, followed by an overview of the Rupani Foundation projects in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A live demonstration of the Millennium Alliance Portal (MAP) was presented; this revolutionary software provides a unified platform for creating public-private partnerships by matching resources with opportunities to help achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
 

Making A Difference

The mission of Rupani Foundation is to engage in the Mountain regions of the world to integrate underprivileged areas and people into the evolving global socio-economic society during the coming decades.

Volunteer

The Foundation is always in need of dedicated volunteers who can assist in the war against poverty. Do you want to contribute to the international development of Mountain Communities?

Partnerships

Rupani Foundation will continue to cultivate relationships with NGOs, private foundations and local institutions that share our Vision and Goals. The scope of these partnerships will span the globe with the objective of maximizing the reach and impact of our collective efforts for the benefit of Mountain Communities.