When the new school year begins this month in Karachi, Pakistan, approximately 140 primary students will enter a brand-new school building, thanks to Ciranda and its partner, The Citizens Foundation (TCF)-USA. 

Ciranda, the premier North American provider of certified organic, non‐GMO and Fair Trade food ingredients, partnered with TCF-USA in 2022 to build and operate the much-needed school in Sindh Province, where Ciranda sources certified organic and non-GMO rice syrup and starch. TCF-USA identified Karachi as an area of high need for a new school building. Currently, the demand for quality education is beyond what existing schools can supply.

Ciranda believes education is one of the most important investments it can make. This value drove the company to contribute an initial $20,000 USD toward construction of the school and its operations for the first two years. Access to this high-quality school and education will offer underprivileged children a chance to dream of a brighter future that would otherwise be out of reach. 

Ciranda's commitment to the TCF-USA school project in Pakistan is well-aligned with the company’s mission: to create connections that nourish life. Each year, the 100-percent employee-owned company gives back 2.5 percent of profits to organizations locally and globally that improve lives.

"Ciranda has a long history of supporting global communities, particularly in areas where we source our organic and non-GMO ingredients," said Joe Rouleau, head of sustainability for Ciranda. "We are proud of our contributions to this new school as we know education, particularly for children who may not otherwise receive it, is something that will have a positive ripple effect for years to come."

This school project began in June 2022. Sindh, where Karachi is located, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and is in the southeastern part of the country. Ciranda has worked with suppliers in Sindh since 2018. Agriculture, including the cultivation of rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane and fruits, is an important sector of the Sindh economy. 

"We are grateful to Ciranda for their support of our mission, which is to help build a civil society in Pakistan by providing quality education to underprivileged children, promoting gender equality and working with the government to reform public education," said Eric Temple, officer of grants and new initiatives for TCF-USA. "Our vision is for every child in Pakistan to have access to a quality education which enables moral, spiritual and intellectual enlightenment. We appreciate that Ciranda is helping us realize this vision by aligning with us to support Pakistan's children and communities." 

About Ciranda                                                                                                                                        

Ciranda is the premier North American provider and innovator of certified organic, non-GMO and Fair-Trade food ingredients that create and inspire change. The company has expertise in gluten-free flours and starches; syrups and sweeteners; cocoas and chocolates; coconut products; liquid and powdered lecithins; and vegetable oils. Since 1994, Ciranda has helped grow the organic industry for the benefit of consumers, farmers and communities worldwide. The company is 100% employee-owned and headquartered in Hudson, Wis. To learn more, visit ciranda.com.

About TCF

The Citizens Foundation, USA (TCF-USA) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that supports the education of underprivileged children in Pakistan. It has an active network of more than 42 chapters in states across the United States. 

Among other activities, TCF-USA supports specific programs, initiatives and projects of The Citizens Foundation (TCF) in Pakistan – one of the leading organizations in the field of education in the country. TCF was started in 1995 by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to bring about social change through education. In 28 years, it has built and operates more than 1,800 purpose-built schools across Pakistan providing quality education to 280,000 children, with an all-female faculty of 13,000 teachers.

TCF is also the largest private employer of women in Pakistan. In addition to 13,000 teachers and school principals, many women work in TCF departments involving strategic planning, academics, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation of teachers, curriculum development, marketing, and school management. For more information, visit www.tcfusa.org.