Maser Foundation expands Africa footprint with new volunteer programme

The Maser Foundation has launched a volunteer programme in Nigeria, with plans to extend the initiative across Africa, the organisation has announced. The programme marks a shift in how the foundation, established by businessman Prateek Suri, approaches community development on the continent.

Rather than relying solely on financial contributions, the Maser Foundation will recruit volunteers from a range of backgrounds, including students, educators, healthcare workers and community leaders, to work directly with local communities on ongoing projects.

The foundation operates across five areas: women’s empowerment, education, healthcare, humanitarian assistance and community support.

Prateek Suri, who chairs Maser Group and serves as chief executive of MDR Investments, said the initiative reflects a personal conviction that philanthropy must go beyond financial giving.

“Success is not measured solely by financial achievements, but also by the positive impact individuals can create for others,” he said.

Suri said his interest in charitable work developed gradually, shaped in part by childhood visits to blind schools and community centres. He said he came to appreciate the significance of those experiences only later in life, after building businesses across multiple countries.

Volunteers recruited by the Maser Foundation will be expected to identify community needs, support project implementation, monitor outcomes and provide feedback to improve future initiatives.

The foundation described its long-term objective as building a Pan-African network of volunteers committed to grassroots development. Nigeria serves as the starting point before a broader continental rollout.

The foundation did not provide a timeline for expansion beyond Nigeria or details on the number of volunteers it aims to recruit.