glimMERS OF HOPE
Glimmers of Hope is Project People Foundation's (PPF's) emergency grant initiative created in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic fallout. Through this initiative, we’ve provided relief to community based organizations in New York City and Port Elizabeth, South Africa -- with a focus on addressing the immense challenge of food insecurity, including:
Ubuntu Pathways out of Poverty in a Pandemic: A long-time PPF grantee, Ubuntu provided monthly food parcel deliveries and counseling for 225 learners in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Meals for Good: A PPF grant was awarded to provide food coupons to elders and families for use at local farmers markets and food distribution sites in Central and East Harlem.
Harlem Hebrew Language Academy: PPF funding has provided sliding scale scholarships for working families that need childcare on days off from school. Students receive daily lunch, outdoor exercise, and access to the school nurse.
Neighborhood Women's Collective’s (NWC): With PPF support, NWC recruited five new facilitators, including mental health counselors, social workers, teachers, and nutrition specialists for its Women’s Circle’s “Speaking Life” series for Harlem residents, and distributed 1,000 masks donated by Silver Lining Mission to community members.
Custom Collaborative: With PPF support, custom collaborative has provided work and training opportunities for low-income and immigrant communities to design, sew, and sell personal protective equipment (PPE), allowing them to develop skills and earn income during the pandemic.
RDG Refugee Shelter: A PPF grant provided a weekly stipend over the course of twelve weeks for food and other basic necessities to current residents.
Ubuntu Pathways out of Poverty in a Pandemic: A long-time PPF grantee, Ubuntu provided monthly food parcel deliveries and counseling for 225 learners in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Meals for Good: A PPF grant was awarded to provide food coupons to elders and families for use at local farmers markets and food distribution sites in Central and East Harlem.
Harlem Hebrew Language Academy: PPF funding has provided sliding scale scholarships for working families that need childcare on days off from school. Students receive daily lunch, outdoor exercise, and access to the school nurse.
Neighborhood Women's Collective’s (NWC): With PPF support, NWC recruited five new facilitators, including mental health counselors, social workers, teachers, and nutrition specialists for its Women’s Circle’s “Speaking Life” series for Harlem residents, and distributed 1,000 masks donated by Silver Lining Mission to community members.
Custom Collaborative: With PPF support, custom collaborative has provided work and training opportunities for low-income and immigrant communities to design, sew, and sell personal protective equipment (PPE), allowing them to develop skills and earn income during the pandemic.
RDG Refugee Shelter: A PPF grant provided a weekly stipend over the course of twelve weeks for food and other basic necessities to current residents.
the giving circle
The Giving Circle is PPF's current grant making program to support education and economic development for women and youth. While continuing our 25 year legacy of giving in Southern Africa through this initiative, the PPF board is also investing in grassroots organizations in New York City that are aligned with our funding priorities and that pass a rigorous evaluation process.
Custom Collaborative
Custom Collaborative provides women from low-income and immigrant communities the opportunity to launch fashion careers and businesses through a rigorous training program, business incubator and a worker owned collaborative. Participants professionalize their sewing and design skills, overcome barriers to employment, and ultimately, change the economics of the industry. Project People Foundation funding supports Custom Collaborative’s Business Incubator and its worker-owned cooperative Fashion That Works.
In the Business Incubator, emerging designers master the production of made-to-measure clothing and acquire skills in marketing, finance, sourcing, and ethical manufacturing to create sustainable businesses. With support from PPF, the Incubator served 49 participants last year, providing training, one-on-one coaching, access to business financing and income generating opportunities at pop-up shops citywide. Fashion That Works produces eco-friendly women’s clothing and accessories, and offers design and manufacturing services for designers and smaller businesses. Project People Foundation’s support has contributed to training in “hard” skills such as finance, compliance, and routine administration, but also “soft” skills essential to effective participatory management and the viability of a cooperative, including group decision making, representative organizational leadership, strengths-based community building, and ecosystem integration.
Custom Collaborative provides women from low-income and immigrant communities the opportunity to launch fashion careers and businesses through a rigorous training program, business incubator and a worker owned collaborative. Participants professionalize their sewing and design skills, overcome barriers to employment, and ultimately, change the economics of the industry. Project People Foundation funding supports Custom Collaborative’s Business Incubator and its worker-owned cooperative Fashion That Works.
In the Business Incubator, emerging designers master the production of made-to-measure clothing and acquire skills in marketing, finance, sourcing, and ethical manufacturing to create sustainable businesses. With support from PPF, the Incubator served 49 participants last year, providing training, one-on-one coaching, access to business financing and income generating opportunities at pop-up shops citywide. Fashion That Works produces eco-friendly women’s clothing and accessories, and offers design and manufacturing services for designers and smaller businesses. Project People Foundation’s support has contributed to training in “hard” skills such as finance, compliance, and routine administration, but also “soft” skills essential to effective participatory management and the viability of a cooperative, including group decision making, representative organizational leadership, strengths-based community building, and ecosystem integration.
Harlem Hebrew Language Academy School - Splash Fit Swimming Partnership
In 2019, Project People Foundation launched an initiative with Harlem-based Splash Fit Swimming to provide swim safety skills and instruction to students attending Harlem Hebrew Language Academy School. Splash Fit Swimming (SFS) is dedicated to filling a void in the New York swim education community by teaching communities of color basic swim skills and water safety awareness. Harlem Hebrew Language Academy is a charter school that provides students in the diverse community of southern Harlem an academically rigorous curriculum focusing on global citizenship.
In 2019, Project People Foundation launched an initiative with Harlem-based Splash Fit Swimming to provide swim safety skills and instruction to students attending Harlem Hebrew Language Academy School. Splash Fit Swimming (SFS) is dedicated to filling a void in the New York swim education community by teaching communities of color basic swim skills and water safety awareness. Harlem Hebrew Language Academy is a charter school that provides students in the diverse community of southern Harlem an academically rigorous curriculum focusing on global citizenship.
Neighborhood Women's Collective
Neighborhood Women's Collective (NWC) is a Harlem based non-profit that empowers women and girls who are vulnerable to social and economic challenges through work preparedness and entrepreneurial skills development. NWC’s unique model centers its own thrift store/business incubator, as a training ground for skills development. By volunteering at NWC Thrift and Vintage, women and girls learn how to manage and operate a small business. The thrift store is also an incubator from which women can market their products. Through its Referral Bank initiative, NWC participants are able to access a network of support and additional business resources.
With Project People Foundation support, NWC offers monthly onsite workshops, designed to develop self confidence, self motivation, creativity, and the intellectual capacity necessary to engage in entrepreneurial efforts. Its most popular workshops include: how to start a micro business, business basics and office etiquette, resume writing, interviewing skills, methods of obtaining a GED (TASC), college preparation, motivation and empowerment, basic computing, and budgeting.
Neighborhood Women's Collective (NWC) is a Harlem based non-profit that empowers women and girls who are vulnerable to social and economic challenges through work preparedness and entrepreneurial skills development. NWC’s unique model centers its own thrift store/business incubator, as a training ground for skills development. By volunteering at NWC Thrift and Vintage, women and girls learn how to manage and operate a small business. The thrift store is also an incubator from which women can market their products. Through its Referral Bank initiative, NWC participants are able to access a network of support and additional business resources.
With Project People Foundation support, NWC offers monthly onsite workshops, designed to develop self confidence, self motivation, creativity, and the intellectual capacity necessary to engage in entrepreneurial efforts. Its most popular workshops include: how to start a micro business, business basics and office etiquette, resume writing, interviewing skills, methods of obtaining a GED (TASC), college preparation, motivation and empowerment, basic computing, and budgeting.
UBUNTU PATHWAYs
While immersing ourselves in stateside efforts, we continue to empower local townships in South Africa - where we began over 20 years ago with our Black Dolls Project. For the past five years, Project People Foundation has provided targeted support to Ubuntu Pathways, a dynamic community institution using a cradle-to-career approach to break the cycle of poverty amongst South Africa’s most vulnerable children.
In 2015, PPF began a three year effort to support Ubuntu’s Early Childhood Development Program (ECD), providing hundreds of children with school uniforms, daily transportation, lunches, home visits to ensure household stability, and quarterly medical checkups. PPF also granted Ubuntu funding for its ECD Grandparent Outings Programs across 2 grant cycles (2017 and 2018). The curriculum based trips allow the children to contextualize their classroom lessons while spending quality time with their families, and solidifying ties between the larger community.
For the last two years, PPF has extended its support to Ubuntu’s Job Skills Training (JST) program, and its small business simulator, Ubuntu Cafe, to provide non-university-tracked youth with comprehensive work-readiness and job placement support. Over the most recent reporting period, Ubuntu provided 214 non-university students with training and placement support -- with 139 graduates beginning corporate entry-level positions, specialized learnerships, and internships, attaining a 65% placement rate at some of the most prominent local companies in the region. Retention specialists deepened connections with JST graduates, ensuring that they maintained their new positions and advanced their professional goals.
Ubuntu Pathways: From the landmark South African Black Doll Project launched by the Reverend Linda Tarry-Chard in 1995, we continue to contribute to the lives of women and children in South Africa. Today, we are making a difference through our long-standing partnership with Ubuntu Pathways. This innovative model provides an integrated support system of health, education, and social support in the townships of Gqeberha, South Africa, previously known as Port Elizabeth.
This year, we provided funding to support the staff of Ubuntu Pathways. They have gone above and beyond on the front line of the pandemic over the past two years. Our Staff Wellness Grant helped to provide: 300+ hours of school-wide professional development, cost of living raises in October 2022 for 108 staff members, and financial literacy sessions for nearly 50 employees.
In addition to our mission in South Africa, we continue to be vested in local communities close to home. We have several grassroots efforts focusing on Harlem and the Bronx. Here are some highlights from our year:
View the Six Month Report.
In 2015, PPF began a three year effort to support Ubuntu’s Early Childhood Development Program (ECD), providing hundreds of children with school uniforms, daily transportation, lunches, home visits to ensure household stability, and quarterly medical checkups. PPF also granted Ubuntu funding for its ECD Grandparent Outings Programs across 2 grant cycles (2017 and 2018). The curriculum based trips allow the children to contextualize their classroom lessons while spending quality time with their families, and solidifying ties between the larger community.
For the last two years, PPF has extended its support to Ubuntu’s Job Skills Training (JST) program, and its small business simulator, Ubuntu Cafe, to provide non-university-tracked youth with comprehensive work-readiness and job placement support. Over the most recent reporting period, Ubuntu provided 214 non-university students with training and placement support -- with 139 graduates beginning corporate entry-level positions, specialized learnerships, and internships, attaining a 65% placement rate at some of the most prominent local companies in the region. Retention specialists deepened connections with JST graduates, ensuring that they maintained their new positions and advanced their professional goals.
Ubuntu Pathways: From the landmark South African Black Doll Project launched by the Reverend Linda Tarry-Chard in 1995, we continue to contribute to the lives of women and children in South Africa. Today, we are making a difference through our long-standing partnership with Ubuntu Pathways. This innovative model provides an integrated support system of health, education, and social support in the townships of Gqeberha, South Africa, previously known as Port Elizabeth.
This year, we provided funding to support the staff of Ubuntu Pathways. They have gone above and beyond on the front line of the pandemic over the past two years. Our Staff Wellness Grant helped to provide: 300+ hours of school-wide professional development, cost of living raises in October 2022 for 108 staff members, and financial literacy sessions for nearly 50 employees.
In addition to our mission in South Africa, we continue to be vested in local communities close to home. We have several grassroots efforts focusing on Harlem and the Bronx. Here are some highlights from our year:
View the Six Month Report.
the black doll project
Under apartheid, South African children were unable to have Black dolls, depriving them of the opportunity to see themselves in the toys with which they played. In 1995 Project People Foundation endeavored to collect 15,000 Black dolls for children in the townships of South Africa. Crafting an orchestrated campaign, that relied on the kindness of volunteers traveling between the two countries and a relationship with South African Airways, we met that goal and launched relationships that would build the foundation of a cross continental partnership for decades to come. As an outgrowth of the Black Doll Project, PPF worked with a local community organization that trained and employed over 800 township women to produce high-quality handcrafted items, including dolls, stuffed animals, home decorations and beaded jewelry.
"The "Doll Project" for South African children offers one of the clearest expressions of compassion and encouragement because it contributes to the self-esteem of the recipients. Equally important is the gentle way it helps the donors to know they were opting to be benefactors of a newly empowered people."
- Dr. James A. Forbes Jr., Sr. Minister Emeritus,
The Riverside Church of New York City
"I want to tell you how pleased Scholastic Network is to be the online sponsor of the South African Black Doll Project. As an educational computer network used by thousands of K-12 teachers and students, we believe that the project has provided an excellent opportunity for children around the world to learn about the ways they can make a difference in other people's lives."
- Felicia Halpert, Senior Producer/Content Director Scholastic Network
"The "Doll Project" for South African children offers one of the clearest expressions of compassion and encouragement because it contributes to the self-esteem of the recipients. Equally important is the gentle way it helps the donors to know they were opting to be benefactors of a newly empowered people."
- Dr. James A. Forbes Jr., Sr. Minister Emeritus,
The Riverside Church of New York City
"I want to tell you how pleased Scholastic Network is to be the online sponsor of the South African Black Doll Project. As an educational computer network used by thousands of K-12 teachers and students, we believe that the project has provided an excellent opportunity for children around the world to learn about the ways they can make a difference in other people's lives."
- Felicia Halpert, Senior Producer/Content Director Scholastic Network
Bundles of Brightness:
Shining A Light in the Village
In partnership with Innovation Africa, PPF's Bundles of Brightness project brought renewable energy, educational opportunity, and economic power to rural villages in Uganda and South Africa. Specifically, Bundles of Brightness provided solar power and “bundles of brightness” (school uniforms, school supplies, and solar lanterns) to children in village schools. The pilot project in Uganda pilot focused on the Mugiti Primary School in Bwikomba I village in Budaka, Pallisa District -- which is seven kilometers away from the last electricity pole. The school educates 1,177 students (586 boys and 591 girls). Over 20% of these students are orphans. PPF’s role focused on providing bundles while Innovation: Africa focused on provision of a solar panel for the school and micro-enterprise for women through cell-phone charging stations. The pilot project in Uganda was completed in 2012 and was replicated in Limpopo, South Africa and Malwelwe, Bostwana. Over 1,000 “Bundles of Brightness” were distributed to children.
"We have light in the evening. I can study at night. We use it to prepare our beds as we go to sleep at night. My granny does her beed work in the evening. My granny fix things at home in the evening. We can now take a bath outside in the evening. We can go to the outside toilet at night. We can get up early in the morning without fearing darkness. We can do our home work and study in the evening. I now look like other children and all children look neat in uniform. We now wear uniform not worried about old and dirty clothes. No children tease other nor others bragging to those who do not have uniform."
- Tshifanyi, Student Recipient
"This project has not only helped the orphans who benefited from the Bundles kit but also the family and community at large in many different ways: Each student is now able to do his/her homework with ease now that there is a brighter light, without worries of the kerosene getting finished. The day is not ending with the setting in of the darkness; they now have extra hours to do schoolwork. The guardians of these children are able to save some money. The money which was used to buy kerosene is either used to supplement nutrition, by scholastic materials or take care of other pressing domestic problems like health. This project has made the orphans and vulnerable children have a sense of belonging and love. Most of these children are staying with paternal uncles and sometimes grandmothers. They are often looked at as a burden. This time, they are the source of light."
- John, School Administrator
"We have light in the evening. I can study at night. We use it to prepare our beds as we go to sleep at night. My granny does her beed work in the evening. My granny fix things at home in the evening. We can now take a bath outside in the evening. We can go to the outside toilet at night. We can get up early in the morning without fearing darkness. We can do our home work and study in the evening. I now look like other children and all children look neat in uniform. We now wear uniform not worried about old and dirty clothes. No children tease other nor others bragging to those who do not have uniform."
- Tshifanyi, Student Recipient
"This project has not only helped the orphans who benefited from the Bundles kit but also the family and community at large in many different ways: Each student is now able to do his/her homework with ease now that there is a brighter light, without worries of the kerosene getting finished. The day is not ending with the setting in of the darkness; they now have extra hours to do schoolwork. The guardians of these children are able to save some money. The money which was used to buy kerosene is either used to supplement nutrition, by scholastic materials or take care of other pressing domestic problems like health. This project has made the orphans and vulnerable children have a sense of belonging and love. Most of these children are staying with paternal uncles and sometimes grandmothers. They are often looked at as a burden. This time, they are the source of light."
- John, School Administrator
Aid-to-AIDS Campaign
On June 13th, 2000, PPF launched Aid-To-AIDS, a campaign to raise public awareness about the increase in AIDS cases among minorities in the U.S., and about the AIDS crisis in South Africa.
A series of beaded AIDS pins were created by women in the townships of Cape Town, South Africa and sold in both countries; the proceeds of the campaign benefitted AIDS organizations - Iris House in New York City and Nkosi's Haven in Johannesburg.
People Foundation (PPF) is about empowering women in the townships of South Africa. First, the women were taught how to manufacture black dolls for children, many whom had never had a doll at all. Now the newly trained artisans are turning out a series of beaded AIDS pins, designed to raise public awareness in the U.S about the AIDS crisis in Africa. The pins will be sold to raise money for PPF's "Aid-to-AIDS" campaign, the marketing and merchandising plans for which were developed by a top team from DDB New York. I am always proud when DDB people contribute their time and talents to groups that work to relieve poverty and suffering. Project People Foundation (PPF) is one of those organizations."
- Keith Reinhard, Chairman Emeritus DDB Worldwide
A series of beaded AIDS pins were created by women in the townships of Cape Town, South Africa and sold in both countries; the proceeds of the campaign benefitted AIDS organizations - Iris House in New York City and Nkosi's Haven in Johannesburg.
People Foundation (PPF) is about empowering women in the townships of South Africa. First, the women were taught how to manufacture black dolls for children, many whom had never had a doll at all. Now the newly trained artisans are turning out a series of beaded AIDS pins, designed to raise public awareness in the U.S about the AIDS crisis in Africa. The pins will be sold to raise money for PPF's "Aid-to-AIDS" campaign, the marketing and merchandising plans for which were developed by a top team from DDB New York. I am always proud when DDB people contribute their time and talents to groups that work to relieve poverty and suffering. Project People Foundation (PPF) is one of those organizations."
- Keith Reinhard, Chairman Emeritus DDB Worldwide
uniforms 101
Since 2004, PPF’s Uniforms 101 Project has provided over 3,000 new school uniforms for low-income students in Cape Town, Limpopo, Durban and Johannesburg. In Johannesburg, school uniforms are produced by PPF’s Crafting Social Change program at Basadi Pele Foundation (BPF), a community training and manufacturing site. Through the generosity of PPF donors, these children can now attend school without stigma or the threat of expulsion.
"We have different categories of families; some are child-headed, some are unemployed parents, and some children are taken care of by their grannies. The mortality rate of parents is growing daily. We appreciate the PPF partnership because you are making a difference and adding values. The children appreciate what they have been given and realize that there are people like you who recognize them and acknowledge their existence. The uniforms you have given have instilled pride in them and a sense of belonging."
- Mrs. E.M. Mahambe, Principal of Patrick Mashego Primary School (Kagiso Township, Johannesburg)
"The skills I gained through the school uniform project enabled me to tender for other contracts of the Department of Social Development. I could buy my own machines. Once my baby falls asleep at night, I can produce garments on order. I can really make a personal contribution to the family income!"
- Oniccah Time, seamstress (Kagiso township, Johannesburg)
"We have different categories of families; some are child-headed, some are unemployed parents, and some children are taken care of by their grannies. The mortality rate of parents is growing daily. We appreciate the PPF partnership because you are making a difference and adding values. The children appreciate what they have been given and realize that there are people like you who recognize them and acknowledge their existence. The uniforms you have given have instilled pride in them and a sense of belonging."
- Mrs. E.M. Mahambe, Principal of Patrick Mashego Primary School (Kagiso Township, Johannesburg)
"The skills I gained through the school uniform project enabled me to tender for other contracts of the Department of Social Development. I could buy my own machines. Once my baby falls asleep at night, I can produce garments on order. I can really make a personal contribution to the family income!"
- Oniccah Time, seamstress (Kagiso township, Johannesburg)