Impact and Achievements
Project People Foundation launched its programs in 1995 with the goal of making a lasting difference in the lives of South African children and women who faced the bitter legacy of apartheid. For the children it was the gift of black dolls, for their mothers it was the gift of work. From these initial projects, PPF has grown to encompass programs and partnerships that continue to make a positive difference in promoting economic empowerment for women in South African townships and facilitating access to education for black South African children.
The Black Doll Project: For PPF’s inaugural project in 1995, 15,000 new black dolls were distributed to black and brown South African children who, because of apartheid, had never seen dolls made in their likeness. This goal was achieved through PPF’s mobilization of volunteers in churches, synagogues, schools, colleges and community organizations throughout the U.S.
Crafting Social Change: Beginning in Cape Town, South Africa, 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. To support the project, PPF received a grant from the World Bank to replicate this successful program in Basadi Pele, outside Johannesburg, South Africa. More than 200 women have since been trained as master sewers and entrepreneurs, and the community is now home to an accredited manufacturing and training facility for other women. This program has enabled previously unemployed women to move toward economic self-sufficiency and provided self-esteem and hope for the future.
Cause-Based Sales: PPF has sold over 25,000 handcrafted items created by women in South African townships through synagogues, churches, schools, civic organizations, government agencies, colleges and universities, and black professional associations.
U.S.–South Africa Student Exchange Programs: PPF has worked closely with New York City high schools and other organizations, including the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem and Face to Face-Faith to Faith, to provide exchange opportunities for Harlem and South African youth. PPF also co-hosted South African students visiting the Frederick Douglass Academy.
Grant-making & Humanitarian Assistance: PPF extends humanitarian support to projects and organizations to increase their sustainability in critical areas of service delivery. Organizations we have supported include: Nkosi’s Haven in South Africa for HIV-positive children and their mothers, the Maru a Pula School in Botswana, and Iris House for HIV positive women in Harlem, among others. PPF has channeled close to $100,000 in humanitarian grants to community groups and schools.
Aid-To-AIDS Campaign: At a reception hosted by the Consul General of South Africa, PPF launched the sale of hand-beaded AIDS pins, a major component of their Aid-To-AIDS campaign. Akin to the AIDS "red ribbon" in the U.S., these AIDS pins were crafted according to South African hand-beading traditions and symbolized the AIDS epidemic in South Africa.
Uniforms 101: PPF has distributed over 3,000 school uniforms to low-income students in the South African provinces of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Limpopo provinces. Many of the uniforms were manufactured by our women's sewing partners at Basadi Pele in the townships of Johannesburg.
US Youth Action Network: PPF has mobilized at least 800 American youth and adults across race, religion, geography and generation to make a difference in South Africa, providing valuable training on philanthropy, team-building, cause-based marketing, leadership and project management.
Site Visits to South Africa: PPF has coordinated eight trips to South Africa, introducing at least 120 Americans to this country, its grassroots leaders and their extraordinary, tireless work.
Bundles of Brightness: The Bundles of Brightness pilot in Uganda provided solar lighting for Mugiti Primary School in Bwikomba I village in Budaka, Pallisa District. The School is seven kilometers away from the last electricity pole. In addition to installing a solar panel for the school, Bundles also provided solar lamps, school uniforms and school supplies to 245 students.
Crafting Social Change: Beginning in Cape Town, South Africa, 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. To support the project, PPF received a grant from the World Bank to replicate this successful program in Basadi Pele, outside Johannesburg, South Africa. More than 200 women have since been trained as master sewers and entrepreneurs, and the community is now home to an accredited manufacturing and training facility for other women. This program has enabled previously unemployed women to move toward economic self-sufficiency and provided self-esteem and hope for the future.
Cause-Based Sales: PPF has sold over 25,000 handcrafted items created by women in South African townships through synagogues, churches, schools, civic organizations, government agencies, colleges and universities, and black professional associations.
U.S.–South Africa Student Exchange Programs: PPF has worked closely with New York City high schools and other organizations, including the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem and Face to Face-Faith to Faith, to provide exchange opportunities for Harlem and South African youth. PPF also co-hosted South African students visiting the Frederick Douglass Academy.
Grant-making & Humanitarian Assistance: PPF extends humanitarian support to projects and organizations to increase their sustainability in critical areas of service delivery. Organizations we have supported include: Nkosi’s Haven in South Africa for HIV-positive children and their mothers, the Maru a Pula School in Botswana, and Iris House for HIV positive women in Harlem, among others. PPF has channeled close to $100,000 in humanitarian grants to community groups and schools.
Aid-To-AIDS Campaign: At a reception hosted by the Consul General of South Africa, PPF launched the sale of hand-beaded AIDS pins, a major component of their Aid-To-AIDS campaign. Akin to the AIDS "red ribbon" in the U.S., these AIDS pins were crafted according to South African hand-beading traditions and symbolized the AIDS epidemic in South Africa.
Uniforms 101: PPF has distributed over 3,000 school uniforms to low-income students in the South African provinces of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Limpopo provinces. Many of the uniforms were manufactured by our women's sewing partners at Basadi Pele in the townships of Johannesburg.
US Youth Action Network: PPF has mobilized at least 800 American youth and adults across race, religion, geography and generation to make a difference in South Africa, providing valuable training on philanthropy, team-building, cause-based marketing, leadership and project management.
Site Visits to South Africa: PPF has coordinated eight trips to South Africa, introducing at least 120 Americans to this country, its grassroots leaders and their extraordinary, tireless work.
Bundles of Brightness: The Bundles of Brightness pilot in Uganda provided solar lighting for Mugiti Primary School in Bwikomba I village in Budaka, Pallisa District. The School is seven kilometers away from the last electricity pole. In addition to installing a solar panel for the school, Bundles also provided solar lamps, school uniforms and school supplies to 245 students.