"Welcom, Wamkelekile, Welcome"

To kick off the school holidays, I brought some of the kids from the DFC after school group to Rocky Road, the headquarters of the volunteer organization WWISA. We spent an afternoon there constructing a Welcome sign for the village out of recycled materials - old broken ceramic tiles, left over paint, and an old discarded wooden board. The kids had a fun time learning some new things, spending time with eachother, and creating something beautiful that they can be proud of. The sign will be displayed at the first entrance of their village (once I'm done putting several coats of sealer on it to water-proof it).

Groundbreaking...

After about a year of waiting, we have finally broken ground at the Primary School for the new classroom that Dollars for Change contributed over $20,000 to. The classroom will provide a space for grade R (kindergarten), a grade level the school currently lacks. The two-story building addition will also be the new home for the DFC after school program as well as Born in Africa's literacy program. Adult education programs and other supplemental classes for children will finally have a place at the Crags Primary school thanks to all the dollars collected around the world. Just one picture for now - and it doesn't look like much - but keep checking back as I will add pictures throughout the process. I'm so glad to finally put your dollars to work and can't wait to see all the great programs it will provide for Kurland.

Thank YOU.

Youth Day

Unfortunately, the sun was only shining for the Youth March, so the rest of the day's activities are postponed until Saturday due to heavy winds and rain... But the morning was great!

Calling all volunteers....

All the dollars that I have been collecting, with your help, for the past two and a half years have all gone towards projects that are meant to put Kurland on a healthier path to the future. Most of these initiatives have focused on youth and education. As Dollars for Change grows, we are tackling more issues in the community that deserve our attention and efforts...

I have now partnered up with the volunteer organization that first brought me to South Africa, WWISA, to deal with what we have identified as an urgent need in the village that requires volunteers NOW. In Kurland, as in many impoverished communities around the world, living conditions for many residents are dismal. With winter rapidly approaching in South Africa, we need to help specific families immediately with improvements to their house/"squatter shacks". The situation is especially difficult for several elderly disabled members of the community.

We need volunteers immediately to help us meet the needs of these people, and we would like to extend an invitation to you and anyone you feel may be interested in such initiatives. WWISA is located within a 5 minute drive to the village. They have restructured their volunteer accommodation fees and programs in order to make it possible for these projects to get underway as soon as possible. Programs are available for two week intervals or extended stays, making it possible to make the trip on any of the university holidays, summer breaks, or vacations. Any group of 10 upwards entitles the group leader to a zero fee.

If you are interested in traveling to Africa and making a real difference in people’s lives, please take a look at the program available on WWISA's website.

Please do not let these issues go unnoticed. We ask that you take the time to examine our websites – even if just to spread awareness - as there are several initiatives on-going in this village that always need volunteers.

http://www.dollarsforchange.org/
http://www.wwisa.co.za/

please email Katie@dollarsforchange.org if you have questions or inquiries.

The Faces of Change

A couple months ago, my friend, Kellan and his parents came to visit Dollars for Change on their way from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Kellan is on sabbatical working for Grassroot Soccer, an amazing organization that educates youth on HIV/AIDS through soccer (if you haven't heard of them, check it out). They were kind enough to send their pictures on to me which is great because I don't get to take pictures of many of our meetings when they are discussion-based (plus his camera is way better than mine).

In the activity below, we broke the big group into smaller groups and handed them all a few tiny sheets of paper. The kids in each group were asked to think about the "ingredients" it takes to make a "good person" in the same way that baking a cake requires certain ingredients. While sitting in our circles, the kids wrote down their ingredients and confidentially put them in the box in the middle. Before revealing their answers, we discussed what it meant to be successful in life. The kids all concluded that success didn't necessarily mean having a lot of money or possessions. I asked all the kids to right down what they wanted to be when they grew up, and to put those answers in a different pile in the box.

With the two piles in front of me, ingredients and aspirations, I picked one from each pile and we analyzed. For example, the "caring for others" ingredient along with "I want to be a policewoman". Everyone was in agreement that you have to care for others in order to be a successful policewoman. We discussed each random pairing and agreed that in order to fulfill these aspirations - doctor, teacher, nurse, policewoman - they also required these same "ingredients" - honesty, generosity, love, etc. It proved to be a great exercise, fully powered by the kids and their own ideas.

Thank you Kellan, Brendan and Lyn!

Preparations for Youth Day and Other Updates

On June 16th, 1976, black South African students from Soweto protested peacefully for a better education. Police responded by releasing tear gas and opening fire on the school children, killing several people (picture at right). Today, that event is commemorated as South Africa's Youth Day - a national holiday celebrating the youth and bringing attention to their needs.

DFC's after school group, The World is in Our Hands, has decided to hold a peaceful march in Kurland on Youth Day to let people know of the changes they feel are important to the community.

Instead of making signs for the march, we decided to make t-shirts - something that would last longer and provide a fun activity for the kids. The group has written a song for the occasion and is planning for special activities that they will lead for the smaller children in the community. This will be the first big event for the group to be working together out in the community. The pictures below are from yesterday's t-shirt making.

In Other news, the creche (preschool) is always needing paper for the kids to draw on. Instead of buying more paper every week, I approached a restaurant in town that uses large sheets of white paper over their table clothes. Instead of discarding the paper after a table leaves, they agreed to hang on to the sheets of paper that don't get too dirty, and I pick the stack up every week and deliver it to the creche. Better for the environment, great for the creche, and no dollars being spent.... but still a change. Thanks Miguel's Restuarant!

Increase Miller Elementary School, Goldens Bridge, New York, raises $825

Fifth grade students decided to hold a bake sale to raise money for charity. Rather than choose a major charity, where their efforts would have minimal impact, they wanted each cupcake they baked and sold to count. With over 300 million people in Africa living on less than $1 a day, they knew that every dollar would make a difference. The event was a big hit with customers and volunteers alike. The bakers produced a wonderful selection of delicious treats from ‘smores in doors’, to exotic biscotti, breads, coffee, marble and many other delicious cakes, cup cakes that sold like hot cakes, cookies galore, to homemade granola. The student volunteers turned up with smiles on their faces and raring to go, and worked those sales carts, with some impressive sales pitches!

-Contributed by Lucy Kneebone, one of the parents who helped run this awesome fundraiser

Fundraising Success Stateside and Beyond

Over the past two months, several dedicated and generous students in the US have organized successfull fundraisers for DFC. A fifth grade in New York held a bake sale at their school fair that raised over $800. This was their third annual bake sale benefitting DFC. A special thanks to all those students and parents who helped organize the event!

Two charity events have taken place at Utah State University. The first, a benefit concert, raised over $500 (during a snowstorm!). Pictures from the concert have been posted in the fundraising gallery of the website. The second was a 3 on 3 basketball tournament. The event was a service project for a business class organized by James Brindley, Whitney Sant, Carl Crosland, Jace Ruppe, Dan Hilker, Keda Yang, Jesse Mace, Linsey Robinson, and Jake Actkinson. They created their own website to market the event, Buckets for Change , and raised $1,000 for DFC. Thank you all for your efforts!

Another benefit concert, organized by Joanne Platten (a former WWISA volunteer), was held in Chelmsford, England and raised over $1,000 for Kurland. Some funds have been allocated specifically to the creche per Joanne's request, as she volunteered there years ago. Thank you Joanne!! Pictures from the "Rock it for Kurland" concert are also posted in the fundraising gallery.

Regarding Change...

People start organizations (or atleast I did) because they feel strongly enough about an issue or a situation, and it motivates them to do something about it rather than sit on the sidelines. There is a need somewhere that creates enough frustration or anger which leaves you asking, why is more not being done? Nobody has an immediate answer or solution - whether they claim to or not. In the case of development, every community is unique and each has their own challenging issues that need to be dealt with. Whether it's micro-finance, improving childcare or education, dealing with disease and hunger, every program will require a specific implementation strategy and produce different results. I don't believe there is any book you can read or advanced degree that exists to equip someone with a cookie-cutter solution to such challenges.

I have been fortunate enough to have only recieved kind words of support and encouragement since the incorporation of Dollars for Change. There is, however, a set of checks and balances imbedded in my conscience. I often ask myself if I'm doing the best I can with the money that people have so generously donated and entrusted me with. I question whether I am investing this money in projects that have the greatest potential for making a difference in this community's future. I have read articles recently that claim people are throwing their money away if they are not donating to micro-finance operations. Let me say this; I think micro-finance is wonderful and I think everyone should take a look at the Grameen Bank - how it started and what it has accomplished. I quote Muhammad Yunus, Nopel Peace Prize winner and one of the founders of micro-finance, on my website and newsletters. I do agree that it is an amazing tool in lifting communities out of extreme poverty.... in certain situations.

Since living and working in South Africa, I have screamed at the top of my lungs at a white man during a traffic stop for pushing a black man to the ground for no reason. I have picked a woman up on the side of the road, bleeding and bruised after she was abused by her boyfriend while he was drunk. I have taken a boy, who I now consider to be my little brother, to see his mother in the hospital on mothers' day after she had been horribly burned in an attack; and then took him to her funeral a month later. Kids are dropping out of school, teen pregnancy is on the rise, and the same political party as Nelson Mandela is now lead by a man up for several counts of corruption who has also been aquitted of rape resulting in a similiar public opinion as when OJ Simpson was found innocent. That man will most likely be elected president this coming April. As important as small businesses are to job creation and development, I don't believe the problems stated above can be fixed with just mini-loans. So when I question myself on how Dollars for Change is doing in Kurland, I can say with 100% confidence that the programs being run have enormous potential for making a difference. I am equipped with these experiences above anything else. I have had the opportunity to work with local non-profits that all have different ideas and opinions. Many Dollars for Change projects in Kurland don't require much money from donations, but rather the investment of time and effort. I learn from the kids in the community everyday and I am proud to say that I can be a part of this process with them. I see the example that the older kids from the after-school program set to other people in their community. Dollars for Change is there to support them along the way, but they work through discussions and ideas for changing their community together. That, to me, is sustainable development for Kurland. Those kids will make a difference and have significant influence on the future of their community.

Progress: The World is in Our Hands

The recycling art project is well underway! A professional sculptor from the area is guiding the children in DFC's after school program through the process of creating a large fish sculpture (example shown to the left; fish is 2 meters wide). The scales of the fish will be made out of metal cans and bottle tops. The sculpture will be the group's ongoing project, in addition to its regular activities. Children have asked their neighbors and family to help them with collecting materials, and cleaning community.

The ideas and goals for the after school group, "The World is in Our Hands", were presented to the faculty at the Crags Primary School, and we are happy to report that the teachers give their full support and are excited to see the kids involved in a new project. We're crossing our fingers that the Department of Education will get the computer lab fixed and running soon so that the kids can start corresponding with students overseas as planned. A university art department has also shown interest in getting involved with the recycling art project. Hopefully we can get many people on board and really make it a global effort.

The purpose of the group is to get the kids thinking about new ideas that will effect positive change in their own community. Dollars for Change is there to assist in the process and guide them when they need it, but the kids challenge each other in discussing the issues and coming up with possible solutions. They are already talking about leading a march through the village on South Africa's Youth Day, as well as organizing an assembly for their school to demonstrate the role they have in protecting their future.

Every meeting is different and exciting. They have their fair share of serious conversations, but plenty of reasons to laugh, and they're always extra excited on the days I bring them chips. I'm always amazed at the questions they ask and the discussions they share. If the rest of the community could follow the lead of this group of kids, I'm sure the entire village would be a completely different place.

The following pictures are from yesterday's meeting. I brought in a heap of recent news magazines, broke them up into groups, and each group made a collage of words, phrases, and images that illustrate the issues and problems that we have been discussing. When they finish them next meeting, we'll hang them up around the school.

The World is in Our Hands

42 school children from Kurland Primary recently signed up for a new environmental club founded by Dollars for Change and Kurland English and Life Skills teacher Mrs. Merle Davids.
The group was given the job of naming their club and decided on “The World is in Our Hands”, a fitting name considering the direction of the activities and the proposed linking up of projects and communications with students overseas in the U.K. and America.
Students were asked to suggest points of interest to examine in terms of the natural environment but the response was much more diverse - from social concerns and prevention of cruelties to domestic animals, to a desire to learn more about computers - the club promises to be educationally useful and exciting.
One of the intended activities will be run in conjunction with an overseas school and will be geared towards art and recycling – with both groups creating a piece of sculpture out of found materials and displaying their progress on an online blog on the internet. The students will be able to correspond with their foreign friends and exchange opinions and ideas whilst learning more about computers and the internet as an educational and research tool.
As a means of expanding horizons while also teaching more about the world immediately around you, the club seems set to make the world more within the grasp of Kurland’s youth.

Projects in South Africa

Through five months filled with frustration and success, tragedy and joy, Dollars for Change has returned to the States with a greater knowledge and understanding to move forward with its mission of bringing positive change to communities in need. Collaborating with South African NGO’s and investing in common goals has become the backbone to progress in Kurland. Though there is no quick fix, determination remains as the driving force in this uphill battle.
As challenges continue, here are some updates on what has been done and what lies ahead.

Classroom – Crags Primary
Dollars for Change linked up with Born in Africa, a Belgian non-profit organization to build an additional classroom at the primary school in Kurland. The purpose of the classroom is to accommodate grade R (kindergarten) which the primary school currently lacks. We are also planning to use the classroom for extracurricular activities organized by local NPO’s for the pupils as well as the community. These include sewing classes, art classes, parent working workshops, holiday programs, fire fighting courses and many more that are on the drawing board.
With money from DFC and Born in Africa, funding is about half-way. Building approval has been granted by the municipality as well as the Department of Education, and architect plans and budgets have been completed.

Career Fair
Dollars for Change also collaborated with Masizakhe, another small non-profit that works with Kurland, to host a career fair. University representatives from all over South Africa were invited to the village to help teach the children of Kurland and surrounding communities about education and career opportunities that may be available to them. Guest speakers from various career paths were also invited to present to the children and over 800 students were transported to the career fair over a three-day period.

School Holiday Program

Dollars for Change purchased a high-resolution projector that is being used to show educational videos to adults and children of all ages. Kids’ movies were shown during the school holiday program as part of a schedule put together by all the local NPO’s working with Kurland.

DFC also funded a community mural project. Local children were asked to paint pictures that focused on education and their community. The mural was then given to the local preschool and hung on the outside wall to be visible to the entire community.

Solar Water Heater

Dollars for Change built and installed a solar water heater for Chrissy, a close friend and hard-working woman from Kurland. It was hooked up to a shower built under the banana tree next to her house and is providing for entire family, including children and grandchildren.

I Have Arrived!

After 34 hours of traveling (plane, layovers, bus rides), I am finally here. It's nice to be away from the snow and see the warm sun again. As I am settling in, I'd like to share a few paragraphs from the latest TIME magazine that I was reading on the plane. It was written by Jeffrey Sachs, a famous economist that is currently trying end extreme poverty by 2025 (I need to become friends with this guy - he's got a bit more experience in this area than I do). It reminded me why I'm here in South Africa and settled my nerves a bit about the coming months and their importance. And since I don't have many updates for you yet, I'm going to let him do the talking:



"Great social transformations - the end of slavery, the women's and civil rights movements, the end of colonial rule, the birth of environmentalism-all began with public awareness and engagement. Our political leaders followed rather than led. It was scientists, engineers, churchgoers and young people who truly led the way. If as citizens we vote for war, then war it will be. If instead we support a global commitment to sustainable development, then our leaders will follow, and we will find a way to peace.

Each of us has a role to play and a chance for leadership. First, study the problems - in school, in reading, on the web. Second, when possible, travel. There is no substitue for seeing extreme poverty, or deforestation, or the destructive forces of nature in New Orleans, to understand our generation's real challenges. There is no substitute for meeting and engaging with people across cultures, religions and regions to realize that we are all in this together. Third, get your business, community, church or student group active in some aspect of sustainable development. Americans are promoting the control of malaria, the spread of solar power, the end of polio and the reversal of treatable blindness, to name just a few of today's inspiring examples of private leadership. Finally, demand our politicians honor our nation's global promises and commitments on climate change and the fight against hunger and poverty. If the public leads, politicians will surely follow.

Our generation's greatest challenges - in environment, demography, poverty, and global politics - are also our most exciting opportunity. Ours is the generation that can end extreme poverty, turn the tide agains climate change, and head off a massive, thoughtless and irreversible extinction of other species. Ours is the generation that can, and must, solve the unresolved conundrum of combining economic well-being with environmental sustainability. We will need science, technology and professionalism, but most of all we will need to subdue our fears and cynicism. John F. Kennedy reminded us that peace will come by recognizing our common wealth. 'If we can not end now our differences, as least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.'"



Well... I've got the travel part and the talking to people thing down... As for the rest; I'm working on it. Hopefully Dollars for Change can continue to pick up steam to help take care of the rest...