Tej Kohli Foundation Celebrates Christmas with Underprivileged Children San Jose, Costa Rica, January 01, 2007 “Christmas comes but once a year”. So starts the traditional English Nursery Rhyme, but the children of the Tej Kohli Foundation, based in Costa Rica, could be forgiven for thinking that every day is like Christmas. But when the Tej Kohli Foundation, dedicated to tackling poverty and lack of opportunity forunderprivileged children in Costa Rica was founded, the future looked bleak, with many eking out a meager existence with little or no food or shelter. Shunned by the majority of people, their plight struck a chord with Grafix Softech CEO and “adopted son” of Costa Rica, long-term San Jose resident Tej Kohli, whose eyes were opened to a completely different kind of problem: the plight of needy children in Costa Rica. ”Having suffered an impoverished childhood myself, I felt I could not ignore these children, many of whom I was convinced possessed hidden talents, talents which at that time were submerged by the pressing imperative of an empty stomach and the need to find the next meal. After a conversation with a friend who convinced me I could help, it was time to act.” And act he did, founding the Tej Kohli Foundation in San Jose, Costa Rica, in 2005. After steady growth, the Tej Kohli foundation has joined forces with the Parroguia Jesus de Nazaret church and started a Sunday meal program for poor and underprivileged children, an undertaking which serves food to almost 800 children every weekend, with plans to collaborate with five more Churches to extend the program to over 4,000 children, some of whom walk several miles to attend the“food for brood” program. As part of this undertaking, Kohli himself acts as ‘Santa Claus’, visiting the churches and handing out gifts to the children, many of whom have never received anything similar in their lives. The meals on offer are a healthy and nutritious mixture of key food groups including fresh vegetables, rice, beans and chicken But it’s not just about handouts. The Tej Kohli Foundation is dedicated to the principles of self-help, providing economic opportunity; delivering relief in emergencies; influencing policy decisions at all levels, and addressing discrimination in all its forms, with the ultimate long-term goal of eliminating poverty of thought and circumstances, and creating in its place a fair and just society with the interests of all its citizens at heart. |
TEJ KOHLI SURROUNDINGS
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