TEJ KOHLI
Philanthropist, Investor & Founder of the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation
For a long time, Tej Kohli has been an advocate for those in need of support. The philanthropic efforts of Kohli have truly made a significant impact on the lives of people from all corners of the world.
In the mid-2000s, the Tej Kohli Foundation was established to aid those in regions affected by extreme poverty. The foundation works directly with communities to give them a second chance at life.
This is shown through programs such as FundaKohli, which was launched in 2005 in Costa Rica. The program was established to provide food to low-income families and offer free daily meals to children and their families through a network of canteens.
The institute, active from 2015 to 2019, researched, optimised a corneal eye bank and offered free corneal transplants to those in need. This organisation went on to treat 56,083 outpatients and restored sight to 11,744 with corneal blindness between 2015 and 2019.
Tej Kohli has dedicated himself to addressing the issue of blindness and poverty. In 2019, he pledged $2 million to Harvard Medical School to establish the Tej Kohli Cornea Program, aimed at accelerating the diagnosis of corneal diseases and preventing scarring and blindness. Now, using the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation, Tej Kohli is tackling poverty blindness all over the world.
In 2021, he partnered with Dr Sanduk Ruit, known as the “God of Sight”, to launch the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation. The foundation is working to combat cataract blindness and provide eye care in developing countries, intending to cure 300,000 to 500,000 patients from Nepal, Bhutan, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Indonesia and many more nations by 2030.
On top of this, the Foundation’s focus has also been highlighted by the FutureBionics project. This program supported young people living with limb disabilities by utilising innovative technology. The program partners with a Bristol-based robotics company to develop cost-efficient bionic limbs that transform disabilities into abilities, greatly improving the confidence, social interactions, and lives of these young people. This project was a pioneering effort in its field.
Tej Kohli is particularly passionate about enhancing eye health, particularly in developing countries. In 2010, he began funding corneal transplant surgeries in India, which eventually led to the establishment of the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute in Hyderabad, India in 2015.
Research shows that poverty is a cause and consequence of poor eye health and blindness. The foundation aims to break this cycle by providing direct eye care interventions and improving the quality of life for the visually impaired, allowing them to earn a living and support their families.
With over 28,000 successful cataract surgeries performed in developing countries, the foundation has established many outreach camps in Nepal, Bhutan, and Ghana, and plans to expand its reach in the future.
The foundation’s work aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goal of ending extreme poverty in all forms everywhere by 2030. By combining Kohli’s business acumen and Dr Ruit’s expertise, the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is making a significant impact on the lives of those in need.
The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is fully funded by Tej Kohli and it is changing the lives of people and their families through a perfect blend of Kohli’s unparalleled generosity and Dr Ruit’s exceptional expertise. Despite his lavish lifestyle, Tej Kohli’s dedication to philanthropic efforts cannot be overlooked. He has lived up to the promise made in his younger years to make a positive impact in the developing world. In a time where philanthropy is not widely practised, Kohli’s generosity may come as a surprise but it has made a positive impact on the world.
