Press Release

Faizal and Shabana Foundation launch crowd funding portal for PRISM program amidst grand celebrations in Nadakkavu

May 3rd, 2017

Calicut, 3rd May 2017: The Government Vocational Higher Secondary School for girls in Nadakkavu hosted “An Evening to Remember” – an event to commemorate the fourth year of its iconic upgrade to the standards of an international school on Wednesday. The Nadakkavu School, which now ranks among the Top 3 government schools in India, marked the occasion with an evening of music and festivities. Mr. Richard Pattle LVO, Vice Chairman, Standard Chartered Private Bank, was the Chief Guest of the evening. He covers global philanthropy for leading families in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Prior to joining Standard Chartered Private Bank, he was the Master of the Household for His Royal Highness, Prince Charles.

The Nadakkavu School is an initiative under the PRISM (Promoting Regional Schools to International Standards through Multiple Interventions) program. As part of the grand celebrations, Mr. Faizal E. Kottikollon, Chairman of KEF Holdings and The Faizal and Shabana Foundation also announced the launch of the online crowd funding portal to support the PRISM program.

The PRISM project – the brainchild of Mr. Pradeep Kumar, an MLA of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, was constituted for the upscaling of schools, became prominent in Kerala around 2013. It began with the 124-year-old Government Vocational Higher Secondary Schools for Girls in Nadakkavu, Kozhikode. The school’s refurbishment was undertaken by the Faizal and Shabana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Singapore based KEF Holdings, which focuses on education as one of their key areas of intervention.  Within a record period of 3 months, the previously dilapidated school, was equipped with eight fully furnished classrooms, four modern laboratories, 92 clean toilets, a corporate-style kitchen and dining hall. Other amenities included a sports complex which included a 13,000 sq feet indoor stadium, wood-floored basketball and badminton courts, spacious changing and locker rooms for students. An 18,110 sq feet AstroTurf multi-purpose playing field for athletics, football and hockey were also an important feature of the upgrade.

Mr. Faizal, Chairman of KEF Holdings and The Faizal and Shabana Foundation said, “We at the Faizal and Shabana Foundation have a desire to give back to the society in a way that creates impact. Through our online crowd funding portal, every person who shares our vision can contribute towards building schools and facilities for those whom quality education is still a distant dream. We are positive that, together, we will be able to empower India’s future leaders.”

Speaking at the event, Mr. Pradeep Kumar, MLA, Kerala Legislative Assembly and member of CPI-(M), said, “We began the PRISM program with great ambitions and the success of the Nadakkavu School has greatly encouraged us. Education is the cornerstone on which a society is built. With this portal, we aim to touch more lives by providing them with the gift of quality education.”

The success of the Nadakkavu School, prompted the Kerala government to use it as a model to renovate 1000 such government schools in the state. The Kerala Government has placed strategic importance to education and plans to scaling up educational facilities in the next 4 years.

The evening celebrated the success of the partnership of PRISM and the Faizal and Shabana Foundation. The celebrations saw many performances which included folk music and other art forms of the state by the students of the GVHS School. Earlier this week, the Foundation also unveiled the newly refurbished Panchayat Union Primary School in Kakkanpuram situated in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu.

About the Faizal & Shabana Foundation:

Founded in December 2007, The Faizal & Shabana Foundation was established with the aim to create sustainable initiatives that focuses on education, healthcare, sustainable living, housing, youth development and humanitarian aid. Since the launch of the foundation, they have impacted thousands of lives in India and the Middle East.

Fueled by the vision of ‘Giving to Create Impact’ the Faizal & Shabana Foundation works to create model solutions for social problems at the grassroots.  The mission of the Foundation is rooted in a set of values that span social justice, service, inclusiveness, relationship, integrity, competence and collaboration. Over the past 10 years, since its establishment in 2007, the Foundation has embodied itself in over 25 programs and projects which has impacted thousands of lives in India and the Middle East through 20 million USD having presence in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and UAE. The Faizal & Shabana Foundation is part of KEF Holdings, the parent company for KEF Infra. Website: https://www.faizalshabana.org

For More Information Contact: KEF Holdings – Melissa Pinto – melissa.pinto@kefholdings.com