Supporting the Education of Children in Remote Communities
Originally a farming family from Gujarat, India, the Tejani family went on to set up a successful coffee business in Uganda before they were forced to flee when Asians were expelled from the country in 1972.
The family arrived in the UK as refugees with very limited resources, however, their entrepreneurial spirit led them to become a successful business family. The Tejani family originally opened a grocery shop in Loughborough. It was whilst running the shop that the family noticed toilet paper was in short supply, and so, seven brothers started a toilet paper factory, which developed into a prosperous enterprise which encompassed 4 European countries with more than 1,200 employees. Alongside this, the family had a business interest in pharmaceuticals and real estate. Now, the third generation run a thriving portfolio of dental clinics called A&U Dental, and recently exited the paper industry through a successful sale in 2020.
Second-generation member and Mother to Ayaz, Amba, Aly & Aamira, Rumina Tejani, had a very strong interest in books and volunteered, teaching children in the local community. In 2012, however, she was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. Whilst she was ill, she sold her wedding jewellery to raise funds to educate girls in Pakistan – an initiative that is still running today.
Sadly, Rumina lost her battle with cancer in 2014. However, the family wanted to continue Rumina’s love for learning and continue her legacy of educating girls, which was when The Rumi-Tejani Foundation was born.
As part of their IFB membership, they were introduced to another member, John Good & Sons Ltd, who had set up the Matthew Good Foundation in memory of Matthew, a lost loved one. The Tejani family spoke with the Good family who helped them discover the best route to set up their own family foundation.
The foundation has so far partnered with CEENA, which works with disadvantaged children, including some abandoned at birth, in Gilgit-Baltistan, a mountainous region of Northern Pakistan made up of remote communities. Together, Rumi-Tejani Foundation and CEENA, have set up a digital library which has given children access to books and resources from libraries across the globe and allows them to stream lessons on a wealth of subjects. Further, it gives them an opportunity to gain the technological literacy skills required to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.
13-year-old Anita says the new library has helped her with school projects and is now using it to discover Microsoft Office. She hopes to use these skills to become a Lawyer when she is older.
The library has benefited 96 children and will continue to benefit more children as the scope of CEENA grows.
The Tejani family has, so far, funded the foundation through contributing a percentage of annual profits from their family businesses. They have recently registered the foundation as a UK registered charity with hopes of receiving donations to scale up their work and thus, impact. Using their networks, the family’s vision is to help other communities across Asia using the digital library initiative.
“An education for one is an education for many” Aamira Tejani