This project was born from a genuine commitment to fighting poverty and creating sustainable employment opportunities.
While working at Khidmat Foundation, I was developing programs focused on poverty alleviation and job creation. At the time, I was working almost entirely on my own, trying to find a practical way to turn these ideas into reality. Despite my efforts, I could not find even one person willing to volunteer a few hours of their time to support this humanitarian mission. The work was demanding, and there were moments when the pressure and loneliness left me exhausted and discouraged. Yet I never gave up. I continued reaching out to people, making phone calls, and asking for support. Since there was no financial reward involved, very few people were willing to join the effort.
Finally, I called a close friend and asked what his son was doing these days. He told me that his son was studying. I suggested that, if he was interested, he could come to the foundation and work with us on our poverty alleviation initiatives.
That same day, Matiullah contacted me, and the following day he came to the foundation to discuss our plans for creating jobs and reducing poverty. We already had a vision for an employment-generating project, but finding someone willing to dedicate their time and energy to launching it on a voluntary basis had seemed almost impossible.
During our conversation, I explained the foundation's mission and the goals we hoped to achieve. I then asked him if he had any ideas that could contribute to poverty reduction. He spoke about his limited experience in chocolate making and suggested producing handmade chocolates. I immediately proposed that we start the business together and gradually grow it into a sustainable enterprise.
I also shared the humanitarian purpose behind the project: that a significant portion of the income generated by the business would be dedicated to charitable initiatives focused on poverty alleviation and job creation for those in need. He embraced the idea wholeheartedly, and it quickly became clear that we shared the same values, the same humanitarian vision, and the same commitment to creating positive change.
Before we finished our meeting, I asked him, "When can we begin?"
Without hesitation, he replied, "Whenever you're ready."
I smiled and said, "Tomorrow morning at 8:00."
And that was the beginning of our journey.
From the very next morning, we started working side by side with hope, determination, and a shared purpose. What began as a simple conversation has grown into a mission-driven enterprise—one that strives not only to produce high-quality chocolates, but also to create jobs, reduce poverty, and improve lives. We believe that business can be a force for good, and every step we take brings us closer to building stronger communities and creating opportunities for those who need them most.
