Tufenkian Imports

Since its inception, Tufenkian has made a commitment to social justice--including a firm stand against using child labor--through its work in the form of schooling, shelter, and health care for its employees, their families and the community. Rather than providing handouts, the company's business model is based on capitalism: motivating employees to create the best product possible and having high quality drive the market demand, which in turn enables profit sharing, better work conditions, better product and a better environment.

Tufenkian has established a program for worker welfare in Nepal and Armenia that far exceeds international standards. Although other facilities in Nepal consider someone 16 years of age to be an adult, Tufenkian does not hire anyone under the age of 18 to work in its facilities. In Nepal, Tufenkian provides food and comfortable housing for its workers, and has established both a medical complex and a Montessori school for employees' children. The company dedicates nearly $300,000 a year for the improvement and expansion of facilities for its employees. In Armenia, activities include sustaining projects for all age groups from school and orphanage programs for young children to food and shelter programs for the elderly.

The Tufenkian Foundation has annually contributed over $1 million to social justice programs in Nepal and Armenia that benefit the company's 5,000 employees and their families. Tufenkian's ongoing efforts have been recognized recently by leading publications including Metropolitan Home, Traditional Home and Travel & Leisure. Among the awards its has won for its work, Tufenkian was recognized in 2005 as the recipient of Travel & Leisure magazine's first Global Vision Award for Economic Development for its work in Armenia.

In 1999, the N.E.E.D. model led to the formation of the Tufenkian Foundation, a non-profit organization improving the quality of living in Armenia. The Tufenkian Foundation serves communities in Armenia by creating sustainable projects that enrich the beneficiaries both spiritually and physically. Foundation projects include: employing the poor to make food and clothing for the elderly and handicapped; buying lambs from poor farmers to loan to refugees who volunteer to resettle abandoned villages; funding a radio station to play spiritual and classical music; and the reforestation of many areas.

For more information, please visit the Foundation section of our website or log on to www.tufenkianfoundation.org for more informaiton.

Following is one example of a successful program that helped the poor and elderly in Armenia.

Armenian Knitting Ladies

Their Story

The Armenian Knitting Ladies were organized by the Tufenkian Foundation in December of 2000. Our aim was to give Christmas employment, and some desperately needed income to 30 skilled knitters who were among the poorest women in the newly independent country of Armenia. So we gave each woman dyed yarn, and instructed her to knit a "bedcover" of a given size, using colors and design of her own choosing.

The results were astonishing. As we inspected the finished pieces, and took a moment to inquire into the lives of the knitters, we found ourselves uplifted and inspired. First by the great skill, creativity and heart which they had invested in each beautiful piece. Second, by the positive and courageous spirit with which they approached the difficulties of each day. What started as a Christmas hand-up for just a few, has evolved into life-changing employment for nearly 400 women.