Salom Fund’s origins trace back to a group of Tajik-American high school and university students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Calling themselves Club Salom, after the late, beloved grandfather of several of the members, they raised thousands of dollars in support of a busy polyclinic in downtown Khujand, Tajikistan with the help of their relatives and friends in the Tajik-American community. Their donation enabled the clinic to purchase much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for their staff during the pandemic, and to provide daily hot meals during the lockdown period.
Encouraged by this success, the students expanded their focus to education, funding free IT and English classes for low-income students at local educational centers and extra tutoring for students at an orphanage in Buston, Tajikistan. The members of Club Salom also raised money and sought out local partners to help fund a major renovation of the dilapidated orphanage facilities, including a complete renovation of the toilet and shower facilities, remodeling two of the dorms, purchasing modern, energy-efficient AC units, restoring sewer service, and building several new classrooms.
It was only after they had started work at the orphanage that the group discovered that the grandmother of several of them had lived at the same orphanage as a child for several years when her father served as director there!
In honor of the same grandmother and great-grandfather, the group also funded renovations to a number of classrooms at the public school in Khujand where the two had spent decades teaching chemistry and biology to generations of Tajik students.
Following these initiatives, they decided to form Salom Fund to secure broader public support and expand their activities. The mission of Salom Fund is to support education and healthcare and to promote sustainable development and environmental causes in Tajikistan. Several members of Club Salom have joined Salom Fund as officers, while the others continue their involvement as volunteers.
Salom Fund is currently seeking public charity (501(c)(3)) status.