About Us
The journey of Marafie Foundation began in 1995. Active philanthropists, the prominent Kuwait-based Marafie family members decided to extend their humanitarian efforts to Gilgit-Baltistan following an encounter with Sheikh Muhammad Hasan, a respected Balti cleric who shared with the Marafies the sad plight of the Baltis in Gilgit-Baltisan. In stark contrast with the scenic beauty of the majestic Karakoram range girding the lush valleys in which the Baltis lived, underdevelopment in the area had mired them in poverty and unemployment. Access to healthcare and education was negligible, and where available, was of poor quality.
Informally starting our philanthropic work with the help of donations from the Marafies, we obtained registration as a
formal non-profit organization in 1995. Having commenced with uplift projects in Baltistan, we have expanded our reach in recent decades to cover areas of Gilgit contiguous to Baltistan. In a pioneering move, we have been the first non-profit organization in Gilgit-Baltistan to forge partnerships with government departments and NGOs, recognizing the need to amplifier our impact through collaboration.
Back when Marafie Foundation began its work in Gilgit-Baltistan…
Towards a brighter future: children enrolled in a Marafie-established school…..
Our Community Partnerships
To create ownership of the projects and to ensure community buy-in as well as sustainable change, we encourage land donation, resource donation, and active participation by the local residents in our community initiatives. Mobilizing communities in this way has helped us to ensure that our projects continue to thrive when eventually transferred to local stakeholders.
We also continue to focus on education in the region. Our approach is multi-pronged and includes developing literacy and widening access to higher, professional and vocational education through the establishment of schools and colleges and scholarship programs for higher education. We believe that good health and a sound education empower underprivileged communities, providing them with the physical and mental robustness as well as the awareness and enlightenment to influence decisions that concern them and to take charge of their future.
