Founder’s History: Arfa & Faroque Khan were both born and raised in Kashmir.
They were in the first batch of graduates (1965) from the then newly established Government Medical College Srinagar, Kashmir.
After Medical School they married, immigrated to the USA and settled in New York in the 1960’s and frequently visited Kashmir.
The 1990’s turmoil in Kashmir affected the Khan’s, resulting in the formation of AFK Foundation
as a non-profit in Dec. 1997 — to provide humanitarian, charitable, and educational relief to Kashmiri people in need.
AFK Foundation believes in the importance of preserving one’s culture and heritage.
Kashmiri Handicrafts are internationally known bringing worldwide recognition to Kashmir.
Recent events have caused international trades that provide economic development to the J&K region to have decreased.
AFK Foundation may fund the continuing education for young adults in Kashmir who are interested in training
with skilled craftsmen or handicrafts artisans to pursue these lines of handicraft work as a career.
AFK Foundation may provide Sadaqah Jariyah (interest free loan) to motivated young adults with an entrepreneurial spirit who are interested in starting an import/export business specifically for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts.
AFK Foundation believes in the importance of continuing education.
Therefore, AFK Foundation will provide financial assistance to motivated young adults, in Kashmir and its diaspora,
who are focused on increasing their specialist knowledge or pursuing a specific area of professional interest.