HUMA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Huma Education Fund Foundation

Sometimes change does not begin with large systems, but with a few names. With faces, dreams and stories that stay with you. The Huma Education Fund Foundation was born from the belief that education does not only bring knowledge, but above all light and perspective. “Huma” refers to the bird of fortune and the bird of paradise, also seen as a symbol of the phoenix: resilience and renewal.

The foundation is run by myself together with Marion Berndsen, who is married to a Pakistani man. Thanks to this direct connection, we are able to work without intermediaries, ensuring that no funds are lost and that support reaches exactly where it is needed.

We started by sponsoring three girls, with the intention of giving them a future that might otherwise not have been possible. But it quickly became clear that this can and should grow beyond them – not only supporting these three, but also offering the same opportunity to other children.

For me, this is where true sustainable entrepreneurship begins. Not only turnover and profit, but fulfilment, depth and real added value. The circle only truly closes when what you build is also given back to the world.

In Pakistan, education is not an obvious path for many young people. It requires perseverance, sacrifice and often support that is not always available. The Huma Foundation makes this difference concrete and personal.

Huma is the oldest of the three girls and carries the honour of the foundation’s name. Her path towards becoming a clinical psychiatrist is intense and requires many years of dedication. She has already come far – only three years to go but she has become stuck at this point. Not due to lack of motivation, but because the education could no longer be financially sustained.

Miriam has a different dream: she wants to become a doctor. Eraaj, just behind her, dreams of a future in the air force. Three young women with a clear vision of their lives, determined to find their place in the world.

The foundation deliberately operates on a small and personal scale to maintain this connection. Every contribution goes directly to where it is needed most: education, development and future opportunities.

What starts with three girls has the potential to grow into something much larger. Education does not only change one life, but ripples through families and generations.

For me, this foundation is an essential part of entrepreneurship. True success is not only about growth, but about giving back and transforming what you build into something meaningful.