Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation founders attend Isa Award Ceremony in Bahrain
At the end of February 2023, Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation co-founders Mr Tej Kohli and Dr Sanduk Ruit made their way to Bahrain to attend the Isa Award for Services to Humanity ceremony. The prestigious ceremony saw several members of the Bahrainian government greet both founders alongside the Royal Family.
Both Mr Kohli and Dr Ruit attended the festivities around the award ceremony, the two were invited to the celebratory banquet where they discussed what is next for the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation and how both Kohli and Ruit plan to upscale the number of surgeries to take place over the next few years.
During the ceremony, Dr Ruit was invited to the stage to receive the Isa Award by Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. The accolade is made up of a gold medal and a one million dollar prize for his contributions to humanity. Giving a heartfelt thank you speech, Dr Ruit discussed his collaboration with Tej Kohli and how the two have created a significant impact on thousands of formally cataract blind individuals across the globe. He stated that: “Mr Tej [Kohli] and I have vowed to touch half a million surgeries or more in the next five years, especially for those who cannot access and afford the surgery.”
Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam, the Speaker of the Council of Representatives emphasised that the Isa Award for Service to Humanity reflects Bahrain’s commitment to kindness and generosity towards humanity. This is based on the leadership and care of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as well as the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
He noted that the award contributes to the kingdom’s efforts to advance its civilisational initiatives. The Isa Award has gained international recognition as it celebrates and honours outstanding projects that benefit communities and people.
Al-Musallam acknowledged the award as a token of appreciation for the late HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa and his generous contributions to humanitarian work. He also commended His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, for his efforts to promote the award’s founding principles and goals.
Mr Tej Kohli and Dr Sanduk Ruit founded the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation to combat untreated cataract blindness in the developing world as a way to reduce extreme poverty. Their aim is to create a lasting legacy of social and economic change. The foundation fully supports the #2030InSight mission, which seeks to make the vision a key economic, social, and development issue. This aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal to eradicate extreme poverty, which is their primary goal.
The work of Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation has supported over 30,000 people in Nepal, Ghana and Bhutan since March 2021 and has no plans to slow down. Receiving the Isa Award for Services to Humanity puts the work that is achieved into perspective. Receiving the award out of a carefully selected shortlist is a true honour and a major achievement for both the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation and for Dr Ruit personally.
Co-founder of the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation stated that: “We are thrilled for Dr Ruit and respect all his hard work. Working with him has shown that, together, we can achieve great things and truly change the world.”
To find out more about the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation and what we do visit: www.tejkohliruit.com.
For more information on Tej Kohli as a philanthropist visit tejkohliruit.com and to read more of his views go to his Medium.
To read about Tej Kohli as an investor visit Kohli Ventures.
Find out more about Tej Kohli: Tej Kohli the technologist investing in human triumph, Tej Kohli the philanthropist trying to cure the developing world of cataracts and Tej Kohli the London tycoon with a generous streak.
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