The Children’s Hope Foundation (CHF)

was founded in 1997 in England with the aim to provide medical, learning and leisure equipment for children and young persons suffering from severe illnesses or disabilities; or who were enduring extreme circumstances and for the relief of poverty and the advancement of education.
Keeping this philosophy in mind, a branch was opened in Dubai in 2000 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Mrs. Zenny Hirji, the CHF Chairperson, played a key role in forming the Dubai branch of CHF. She moved to Dubai from London and brought with her years of charity experience with various groups in the UK, including Children''s Hope Foundation. Zenny quickly assembled a group of like-minded volunteers to continue CHF''s work in Dubai and, most importantly, she secured a large number of sponsors who generously support CHF''s work. Currently, there are 10 volunteers on the CHF organizing committee including Mrs. Deena Motiwalla, CHF''s Co-Chairperson.

CHF’s small but hard working volunteer committee pledged to support both local and international charities, with the help and generosity of the broad community. To date, the charity has provided funds to a variety of causes, from smaller individual projects, like providing a wheelchair for a local child, to supporting schools and hospitals on an annual basis.

CHF is currently celebrating its seventh year in Dubai. The public response to CHF continues to be tremendous and, to date, CHF provides assistance to no less than 60 beneficiaries in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Asia, Africa and Europe. Donations to these various recipients come in the form of funding, equipment, facilities and/or manpower.

Because Children''s Hope Foundation does not identify itself solely with one particular illness, project or disability they are uniquely able to respond to cries for assistance from many different areas and for many different purposes.

It is this flexibility that allowed CHF to instantly respond to the plight of the people in Gujarat when the area was devastated by a huge earthquake in 2001. CHF sourced the funding and expertise to build 7 houses for people in the region.

In 2002, CHF responded to a call from the Shaikh Mohammed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation as they set up the first refugee camps inside war-torn Afghanistan.

In early 2005, CHF once again responded immediately to the worldwide call for tsunami relief. Funds were sent to India and in Sri Lanka CHF donated funding for a home. Tragedy struck again this fall when Northern Pakistan was devastated by a deadly earthquake that has left thousands homeless. CHF immediately sent blankets and all-weather army tents through the Pakistani Consulate in Dubai.