In the bustling landscape of entrepreneurship, few stories captivate and inspire as much as that of Rufai Kasim, a Ghanaian visionary currently making waves in the United States. Beyond business success, Mr Kasim has distinguished himself through the establishment of the Carlo Van Foundation, a philanthropic endeavour dedicated to restoring hope and making a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need.
According to him the Carlo Van Foundation was born out of a deep sense of gratitude and a desire to uplift others. Witnessing how kindhearted his grandmother was, how she made everyone’s problem her own. “I grew up wanting to be part of a positive change. I want to sow a seed. Live a legacy . So my next generation will reap what I sowed.”
The foundation with Corey Jacob will from January 5, 2024 embark on a charity project to benefit the flood victims in the Volta region with cash gift, donate to prisons and some communities with solar lights, and also in collaboration with Afrikicks,will give out over 5000 pair of shoes to people on the street and 20,000 chess. “My foundation focuses on making an impact in their lives”
Born and raised in Accra, Ghana and relocated to the USA to live with his father and his two siblings. He went to college and studied criminal justice. With a priority to impact people’s life, he was in the process of joining the Navy but his entrepreneurial spirit took over, he started drop shipping while in school. His love for it got him to start a clothing brand, Carlovan Clothing, a luxury and street brand patronized by most celebrities from personalities, “It portray positive vibes. It was to connect people together on the same frequency of love . That was my mission. Inspire motivate to restore hope . It was a whole vibe. I had people rocking it, which they loved it.”
With the goal to connect the dots by bringing the diasporas back to their roots and investing in the motherland, he motivated and encouraged Michael Blackson to come to Ghana get a house and build schools. “Michael Blackson who has now built a free school started with me. I am proud and happy knowing I was part of this change and making it happen”
As a seasoned entrepreneur, after he got set up by his friend and got robbed “when I came to buy Michael a house. I almost lost my life . I was tied up , pistol whipped and cut with a machete. I was hopeless . I got PTSD from this but I decided to turn this traumatic experience into something positive.”
After the traumatic experience, he indeed used lemons to make lemonades, he created the Carlo Van Security to restore hope for people to live comfortably knowing their family and business/homes are safe. “The change that’s happening through me. God is using me to connect the bridges and there is more coming . The joy I see in my customers face or hear is priceless, after installing security cameras and providing them with other security services”
In pursuit to impact life, Mr Kasim founded the nonprofit Carlo Van foundation Ltd whose mission is to be a beacon of light. The foundation gives solar lights, to schools and communities with solar light.
Mr Kasim through his initiative to impact lives is bringing to Ghana, Corey Jacob, in January 2024 to help create opportunities that will benefit millions with the Carlo Van Foundation
