"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."
The Uganda pilot focused on the Mugiti Primary School in Bwikomba I village in Budaka, Pallisa District. The Mugiti Primary School is seven kilometers away from the last electricity pole. The school currently 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.
- Enable village children to study in evening hours and complete their homework with ease
- Restore hope and enhance self-confidence within students now able to wear new school uniforms, often own their first pair of shoes, and have underwear.
- Reduce the rates of school absenteeism and improve academic performance.
- Alleviate health and safety issues (associated with kerosene lights) for families.
- Free up family resources to supplement nutrition, buy school supplies and attend to healthcare.
The Black Doll Project
Under apartheid, South African children were not able to have with 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. Relying on the kindness of volunteers traveling between the two countries and a relationship with South African Airways, the goal of transporting 15,000 Black dolls to children in South Africa was achieved.
In 1995 Project People Foundation endeavored to collect 15,000 Black dolls for children in the townships of South Africa. Relying on the kindness of volunteers traveling between the two countries and a relationship with South African Airways, the goal of transporting 15,000 Black dolls to children in South Africa was achieved.
"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
- Dr. James A. Forbes Jr., Sr. Minister Emeritus, The Riverside Church of New York City
- 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 in which they can make a difference in other people's lives."
- Felicia Halpert, Senior Producer/Content Director Scholastic Network
Aid-to-Aids
On June 13th, 2000, PPF launched Aid-To-AIDS, a campaign to raise public awareness about the increase in AIDS cases among minorities int he U.S. and of 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.
"I am always proud when DDB people contribute their time and talents to groups that work to relieve poverty and suffering. Project People Foundations (PPF) is one of those organizations. 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."
- 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.
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, 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)
Bundles of Brightness: Shining A Light in the Village
Bundles of Brightness was an interracial, interfaith initiative of Project People Foundation (PPF) and Innovation: Africa (IA). Its goal was to bring renewable energy, educational opportunity, and economic power to rural villages in Uganda and South Africa. Bundles of Brightness provided solar power to schools 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” have been distributed to children in Southern Africa.
"I lost my parents 5 hard years ago; it has been so challenging for me as a young girl. I have been staying with my jaja (grandmother) since then... and as you may see the kind of life we are living in, we sometimes entered this house without any light except the fire on the firewood. I could not revise my books… When I brought the solar lantern home, my grand mother could not believe how much light we had that night. We had never seen a light so bright. Now I gladly revise my book… I put on the shoes the first day you gave them to me. I now have two dresses for the uniform from [originally having] nothing... Actually two days before you brought this dress, I had been told by the class teacher to come back home because I lacked a uniform. During my monthly periods, the first 3 days, I would dodge classes. Now I have two undergarments. THANK YOU."
"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."
"This is my first pair of shoes in my life."