Volunteer mentors from BASF help 527 under privileged students in Pakistan learn and thrive

• BASF employees contribute over 500 volunteer hours to mentorship
• Seven-week intensive program helps students develop positive outlook and plan to realize their goals

Karachi, Pakistan – 2 June 2016 – Employees at BASF are helping make a difference in the lives of 527 children in Pakistan by volunteering at The Citizens Foundation (TCF) Rahbar Mentorship Program, which primarily aims to promote education among under privileged students.

At a seven-week intensive mentorship program powered by TCF, volunteers from BASF provide counselling to help mentees develop a positive thought process, discover their inner strengths and plan to realize personal goals. BASF employees in Pakistan have contributed more than 500 volunteer hours to the program.

“Mentorship is a powerful tool to expose young people to education and opportunities, and at the same time to develop employees’ management and coaching skills. By matching BASF employees with promising young minds, we not only help nurture future leaders but also contribute to improving society in Pakistan,” said Faisal Akhtar, Managing Director, BASF Chemicals & Polymers Pakistan (Private) Limited.

TCF offers three cycles of the Rabhar Mentorship Program every year to inspire and empower youths to become responsible and productive members of society. Established in 2008, the program has completed 22 successful cycles in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi over the years. The key feature of this program is the “Thought to Destiny” outlook which serves as the guiding principle to inspire young minds to think of themselves as creators of their own destiny.

About The Citizens Foundation
The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is a non-profit organization set up in 1995 by a group of citizens who wanted to bring about positive social change through education. 21 years later, TCF is now one of Pakistan’s leading organizations in the field of education for the less privileged. The TCF model focuses on providing quality education through purpose-built schools located in the heart of Pakistan’s urban slums and rural communities.  As of 2016, TCF has established 1202 purpose-built school units nationwide with an enrolment of 175,000 students. The organization ensures that girls represent nearly 50% of overall student enrolment.

About BASF in Pakistan
BASF has been present in Pakistan for more than four decades. With production in Karachi, BASF offers innovative solutions for key local business sectors. BASF maintains offices in Karachi, Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, and Islamabad. BASF also supports education and community development projects in Pakistan. In 2015, BASF posted sales of approximately €110 million to customers in Pakistan and had 68 employees in Pakistan. Further information on BASF in Pakistan is available on the Internet at www.basf.com/pk.

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of more than €70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information at www.basf.com.