The Popli Khalatbari Charitable Foundation: Making a Difference, One Project at a Time
Founded in 1998 by Diana Khalatbari, the Popli Khalatbari Charitable Foundation (PKCF) was established in memory of her daughter Popli Khalatbari. Since then, the funds from Popli’s estate have been distributed with the aim of assisting children and disadvantaged communities worldwide. These funds continue to grow through the generosity of private donors and corporate sponsors.
Based in London, PKCF has disbursed over £3,000,000 to a variety of causes since its inception. The projects that they fund benefit not only those in need in developing countries, but also local communities in the United Kingdom.
PKCF’s major projects in Iran include the 7th Tir Orphanage in Tehran, which houses 100 physically disabled girls, and the PKCF Vocational School in Tehran, which provides the skills to secure future employment for poverty-stricken children. The school’s 340 students benefit from courses in Computer Science, Business Management, Accountancy and Physical Education.
After the devastating 2004 earthquake in Bam, PKCF launched a special fund to assist the region in building an institution that would have long-term sustainability and impact. The Hakim Farabi Vocational School was completed in 2007 and today provides vocational training for 400 children to help them become self-sufficient adults.
In the U.K., PKCF supports a number of organizations: Crisis, a charity that works to relieve homelessness throughout the country; Chickenshed, which runs youth theater workshops for 600 underprivileged and disabled children and provides education courses for 100 students; and Kids Company, which is devoted to providing practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children. Kids Company was founded by Camila Batmanghelidjh, recipient of the PARSA Ashoka Fellowship.
Outside of Iran and the U.K., PKCF participates in Ninemillion.org, a campaign led by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRA) to raise funds for education and sport programs for refugee children. Through UNRA, PKCF has funded the development of educational and vocational centers in refugee camps in Sudan and the Thai/Myanmar border.
These programs are only a glimpse into the numerous projects that PKCF has funded throughout the world. In paying tribute to the memory of Popli Khalatbari, PKCF has touched the lives of countless children and communities in all corners of the globe.