Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva is a proponent of philanthropy

If philanthropy means, the desire to promote welfare in others, then Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva is most definitely a proponent of that. Born in Uzbekistan, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva recognized a need back in her home country and responded by launching a foundation called You Are Not Alone in 2002. Along with her husband, Timur Tillyaev, the organization aids orphaned and abandoned children to have a second chance in life.

The concept of philanthropy differs from that of charity by looking beyond the immediate needs of those it assists. Where charity may breed dependence, philanthropy invests in the capabilities of those receiving assistance with the longer-term goal of imparting skills to enable them to achieve autonomy. In this way, over time, recipients develop the ability to support themselves unaided. It is for this reason that while, Lola Karimova and her foundation, You Are Not Alone do provide a variety of services like healthcare, the major focus is education. In their own words; “Education is at the heart of everything the You Are Not Alone foundation does,” (http://timurtillyaevtimurtilliaev.over-blog.com/you-are-not-alone-foundation-timur-tillyaev-lola-karimova).

Guided by the philanthropic ideal that, to give a man a fish and you’ve fed him for a day; teach him to fish you feed him for life, the You Are Not Alone Foundation’s Educational Centre has assisted over 2,500 children and seen no fewer than 240 go onto to university.

Though philanthropy by necessity requires a certain amount of financial resourcing, true philanthropy goes far beyond that. It entails a sincere investment of time and personal attention. Here too Lola Karimova demonstrates how philanthropy applies in the furiously-paced, globalized world of today. Whilst being a mum to her three children and running her own perfume house, The Harmonist, Lola still finds the time to be regularly engaged in You Are Not Alone, it is this personal commitment that truly demonstrates the depth of her attachment to philanthropy.

In 2004, Lola Karimova expanded her philanthropic commitments in Uzbekistan by opening the National Centre for the Social Adaptation of Children. This ambitious project seeks to “provide life-enhancing opportunities to children with disabilities” and offers “diagnosis, orthopaedic and neurological treatment, speech therapy and education free of charge”.  Since opening, the centre has assisted over 7,500 children and their families.