Dollars for Change

A Housing Refurbishment (True) Story

2011-04-26T21:19:00.002+02:00

Refurbishing The Safe House

2011-01-14T11:18:00.000+02:00

During the first week of January, students from Southern New Hampshire University joined us to refurbish one of the safe houses. With the growing number of children in need of Safe House accommodation, Bitou Family Care needed to find a new home. Luckily, a dairy farm adjacent to the village offered three houses for the new site. The location provides a safe distance from the village where children can be away from daily threats of the village but are still within walking distance of the school.

While two of the houses have been fixed up and the children have been able to move in, the third house needed serious work. Our volunteers spent the week (with a heat wave!) scrubbing mold from the ceilings, plastering cracks, fixing windows, painting the entire place, and adding clouds to the newly painted blue ceilings in the bedrooms, as well as Yogi Bear for the lounge - making the house a home for the young girls getting ready for their move.

We also installed a solar water heater at one of the new safe houses. The old safe houses, located in the village, are in the planning stages of being turned into shelters for battered women, as well as after school care for children.

Thank you to our wonderful group from SNHU for giving up their vacation to help make a difference for children in Kurland! We wish you could have stayed longer!!

When Volunteers Stay Committed...

2011-01-10T16:04:00.000+02:00

Remember Maddie Rich? She volunteered with us from June - July 2010 and went home to the states determined to continue supporting Kurland Village.

In addition to raising money through friends and family, Maddie went back to the middle school she attended as a child and presented her experiences to the students there. Her efforts resulted in over $1,700 in donations to support DFC projects in Kurland.

DFC was lucky to have Maddie's help with projects on the ground in South Africa, and we are so appreciative that she has taken the initiative to go the extra mile.

Oh, and she just found out that she got into Stanford University... Congrats, Maddie!! Thank you for all the amazing things you have done!!!

Thank You, Grace

2010-11-20T16:57:00.000+02:00

When I go back to the States to fundraise, I stay with my sister, Anne, who owns the greatest restaurant in Portland, Maine - Grace. She has always supported me with everything I do, and was generous enough to help me host a fundraiser benefitting Dollars for Change and another organization, Friends of Kayanet Education Center, which was started by a good friend of mine. Anne's Event Manager at Grace, Sabin, worked non-stop to help me organize a silent auction, and their entire staff chipped in by asking around the city for silent auction items. Grace's Manager, Kate, donated her time to run the event with us. There was live music, appetizers, and cocktails, and we raised over $5,000 that night! I could not have done it without everyone's help and I greatly appreciate their efforts. Thank you to my sister and the entire staff at Grace! If you are in Portland, Maine, you must eat at Grace - tell them Dollars for Change sent you.

Another Successful Parents' Night

2010-09-25T13:39:00.001+02:00

Similar to last year, the after school program kids hosted Parents' Night 2010. The event gives kids the opportunity to share their work over the year with their family as well as other members of the community. I help them compile a powerpoint presentation that includes all the pictures and video from our projects throughout the year. This year, a few of the members got together and wrote a song about their group, which they performed for the parents, and everyone enjoyed snacks and cupcakes (yes, I baked all 96 cupcakes the night before). Dollars for Change handed out parent surveys in order to get some feedback about how the parents felt about the program and what changes they may have noticed in their child. The response was fantastic, and showed that we are definitely on the right track in making a real difference in the lives of these kids.

Sandy Spring Friends School Comes Back to Kurland

2010-08-21T13:24:00.002+02:00

We were happy to welcome back Sandy Spring Friends School from DC. Another great group of students came to volunteer with us to run programs for the children at Kurland's Primary School. This was the third time the school sent out a group of volunteers to Kurland. Their kids' programs ran after school and included dance, drama, soccer, and basketball. Not only did they contribute their time, but they came over with about 12 huge duffle bags filled with donated clothing, shoes, sports equipment, and two laptops for DFC's after school program. It was an amazing time for all people involved and we so appreciate their continued support. Details and pictures from their trip can be seen on their blog.

Dollars for Change Brings Grassroot Soccer to Kurland

2010-08-20T12:10:00.000+02:00

As part of Dollars for Change’s HIV/AIDS awareness week in Kurland, six Grassroot Soccer coaches traveled from Port Elizabeth to run a five-day intensive HIV/AIDS awareness curriculum for about 70 students at Crags Primary.

Grassroot Soccer’s curriculum, known as ‘Skillz’, focuses on building basic life skills that help boys and girls adopt healthy behaviors. Through a series of interactive activities and discussions, students gain a real understanding of HIV and AIDS and get a chance to practice the skills necessary for sustainable behavior change. Key curricular topics include making healthy decisions, avoiding risks, building support networks, reducing stigma and discrimination, increasing knowledge about testing and treatment, addressing gender issues, and assessing values.

A graduation ceremony was held on Saturday, 14 August, where all students who completed the program received a certificate of achievement, and some special prizes were given out to students who excelled in their participation.

Volunteers: Maddie, Gabby, and Chris

2010-08-18T13:09:00.000+02:00

I was lucky enough to have three great volunteers here for five weeks - Maddie, Gabby, and Chris. I first met Maddie when she came to South Africa a year ago with Windsor Mountain. She was the only person I really remembered from that group because she assured me she would be back to work in Kurland. Lots of people say that - but I had a feeling at the time that Maddie was serious. Gabby was her adventurous friend who was willing to make the long trip with her and volunteer as well. Chris made the EXTRA-long trip here, as he missed his connecting flight and got stuck in Johannesburg for a night! Fortunately, he loved it so much here that he extended his trip to continue to help out Dollars for Change. All three of them worked incredibly hard throughout their time here at the preschool and with Dollars for Change projects. They shared some of their experiences in the video and pictures below. We miss you all!!!

Chris, Maddie, & Gabby

The World (Cup) Comes to South Africa

2010-07-16T13:09:00.000+02:00

While FIFA brought excitement and national pride to South Africa for the Soccer World Cup, it also brought budget cuts for education and various programs, as well as an extended school holiday. Throughout that month, Dollars for Change ran a program offered to all kids in the Kurland Village on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. With the help of some great volunteers, we offered soccer, face painting, relay races, games as well as a few life skills activities. Each child received an apple each day and we consistently had 70 kids attend each day.

When Students Take Action

2010-05-13T12:52:00.000+02:00

It's always a nice surprise to receive donations from schools that have heard about Dollars for Change through the grapevine. Laura and her friend, both students from Massachusetts, started a group at their school called "The Power of One: Fighting Poverty in Africa". They held a fundraising contest between all the homeroom classes urging everyone to bring in one dollar. Their efforts resulted in over $300 for DFC. Thank you Laura!

One Step at a Time...

2010-03-26T16:53:00.002+02:00

On March 12th, sixteen volunteers from the Noble and Greenough School (Boston area) arrived in South Africa to work on the joint Dollars for Change - WWISA housing upgrade project. Prior to their arrival, Rocky (WWISA's founder) and I had several meetings with community leaders to identify elderly and disabled people that were in urgent need of help regarding their current living conditions. Old, dilapidated government-built homes are overlooked by the government while disability grants and pensions barely cover food costs, much less materials needed to fill gaping holes in the roof.... So we got to work...

Before After

Susan Baartman, a woman in her eighties was recommended to us by community leaders in Kurland. Her two room house was covered in thick layers of black soot that had built up over the years as a result of her outdated coal stove. Huge holes in her roof, massive cracks in her walls, broken windows, rotting doors and hazardous steps - all of which had caused major problems for her, particularly during harsh weather - were all repaired or replaced and her house was given a fresh coat of paint.

Before After

For many years now, Johanna Christian has been self-funding a soup kitchen she operates from her home to provide some of Kurland’s neglected youth with a square meal on a regular basis. She had tried to build a structure attached to her house that would provide the kids with shelter from the rain and extreme sun. It was constructed with unsafe scrap wood and didn't yet have a roof. Here, the volunteers supplied and fitted a new roof supported by strong, properly treated beams that were cemented into the ground.

What really made Joanna ecstatic was her new solar powered hot water system. The team carefully coiled and laid 100 metres of black plastic piping on the roof and fitted this, complete with all correct junctions and taps, to the existing cold water. Two hours later Joanna was able to enjoy piped hot water in her home for the first time ever.

Before

After (in progress)

Johannes "Boetie" Kato is 47 and has been wheel chair bound since birth. We supplied him with a wheelchair ramp for both his house and his outdoor bathroom.

The Nobles team furthermore supplied all the timber and fittings needed to construct a centralised garbage collection area for the informal settlement section of Kurland Village. This structure not only ‘hides’ the refuse from public view but also prevents free-range pigs from foraging through the bags and the wind and distributing the ensuing mess across the village streets and green belt areas.

Projects would not have been possible had we not hired our wonderful team of skilled and motivated workers from the village. Six young men from Kurland who are currently unemployed were given the opportunity to be a part of these projects. While the jobs were just temporary, the more volunteers we get, the more consistently we can provide jobs for people in this community. All projects were funded by WWISA volunteer donations through Dollars for Change.

A very special thank you to all the volunteers from Nobles (and to their families for letting them make the long journey)!! You have truly made a difference.

Paying it Forward... Goal #1: Hippo Water Roller

2010-03-01T11:30:00.001+02:00

The children in the Dollars for Change after school program understand that generous donations keep their activities running. While most of our projects center around the issues in their own community, the kids wanted to do something more to spread this generosity to other parts of South Africa. Thus, the "Pay it Forward Project". For the past month, the after school group (nic-named by the kids as "The Social Club") have been creating beautiful beaded bracelets, earrings, keychains and candle holders that can be sold to raise money for another community in need. They discussed and researched ideas, and decided on their first goal - buying a Hippo Water Roller for a creche in the Eastern Cape. Hippo Rollers (www.hipporoller.org) carry up to 90 liters of water and allow for an easy alternative to collecting small amounts of water in buckets several times a day. They have a positive impact on the social, health and economic aspects of life.

On February 27th, four representatives from the group spent the day at the Plett Main Street Market for our first day of sales - Shaneen Malatji, Juzeem Simon, Angelique Barnardo, and Melissa Mbongwe. The kids did a wonderful job staying organized with their sales sheet and explaining to customers what the project was all about. One Hippo Roller costs about R750 and by the end of our day, we had sold enough crafts to reach R760! That's the first goal accomplished and on to the next.....

A very special thanks to everyone who came to support us in our efforts!

ShowMe DFC

2010-02-15T11:17:00.002+02:00

Dollars for Change is getting some serious recognition on a local South African website, ShowMe, which showcases all things Plett - Plettenberg Bay, that is - our closest "city" (about 20 km away). It is a tourist hot-spot which entices travelers from around the world with its beautiful beaches and fancy hotels. The new ShowMe website has put together a section for local charities as they play a big role in what's happening in the area. A portion of ad sales from ShowMe goes into a pot that then gets distributed among the local non-profits. We are very excited to be included on this site. Check us out on our ShowMe Page!!!

A New Year...

2010-02-03T16:16:00.000+02:00

Back in sunny South Africa and starting a new year of the after school program. I was welcomed back by lots of hugs and happy faces - its good to be back. First on the list - the "Pay it Forward Project". Last year, we read some news articles together about schools in the Eastern Cape that are lacking basic necessities. Budget cuts for these schools are especially disturbing considering the money that is being spent on new stadiums for the upcoming Soccer World Cup... but that's another story... To raise money for these schools, the Social Club has been creating some beaded bracelets and other crafts that will be sold at local street markets. While so much generosity has allowed the Social Club to continue this year through Dollars for Change, they are now creatively passing it on to other South African children.

Oh, and did I mention? Our group now meets in one of the NEW classrooms that DFC helped build!!

Across the Pond...

2009-12-28T10:58:00.001+02:00

The day after Parents' Night, I headed back to the States for a few months of hard work and fundraising. Dollars for Change was the recipient charity for Greendrinks, a networking/fundraising group that holds one event per month at different venues, benefitting different charities. November's Greendrinks was hosted by Grace, a restaurant in Portand, Maine owned an operated by my sister, Anne. The event raised over $500 for DFC.

Ian Pitchforth, who attended Greendrinks, approached me about having a holiday fundraiser for Dollars for Change. The event was exactly the kind of fundraiser that Dollars for Change loves - a potluck gathering where everyone chips in some money for a good cause - what better way to have a holiday party?! A special thanks to all who attended, and especially Ian, who organized and hosted the event - it was wonderful to meet all of you and I greatly appreciate your support for DFC!

I'm also very fortunate to report that my plane ticket back to South Africa was donated AGAIN, and that Dollars for Change received grants from both The Verrill Foundation and The Heyman Family Fund.

Parents' Night

2009-10-30T10:55:00.000+02:00

After nine months of hard work from DFC's after school group, known to the kids as "the social club", we celebrated our progress at "Parents' Night". The event, which I had been putting together for the past few months, included all the kids, their parent's and/or grandparents, volunteers, and members of other local non-profits and volunteer organizations. We printed special invitations, ordered cakes and snacks, and made a presentation for the parents that was projected on the wall of the community hall in Kurland. The presentation was a chance for the kids of the group to share all the projects they had done with their families.

I was overwhelmed with the responses from everyone who attended - parents who told me how much they thought their children were benefitting from the group, guests who were impressed with the organization and behavior of the group as a whole, and of course the children who had a great time eating all the extra cake. I was so happy with the way they presented themselves and it was wonderful to see how proud they were of all the success they had accomplished.

One Person...

2009-09-15T12:42:00.005+02:00

I've always said, one of the best things about running Dollars for Change, are the people I get to meet. In addition to seeing projects run successfully and building relationships in the village, it's equally reassuring to meet people that believe in DFC and REALLY CARE about what's happening. Rachel Conrad (seen at the right) is one of those people.

Rachel recently graduated from Sandy Springs Friends School (SSFS) - a high school in the D.C. area. She was also one of several students to have traveled here last summer to volunteer in Kurland. After a DFC presentation at the school in September of 2008, SSFS raised over $4,000 for DFC - it's largest group donation to date. Rachel chatted with me during her free period before the presentation - she's the kind of person that you can tell, right off the bat, is going to do amazing things. We were talking about her upcoming university applications and she was so excited and determined about the years ahead.

Now at Pitzer College in California, Rachel contacted me about helping a child from Kurland go to high school. As these things are not as simple as they may seem, I was able to work out a situation with another local NGO to assist in facilitating Rachel's request. And so the process begins...

Not always about dollars and change, but rather opportunities. Rachel is providing a promising student from Kurland with the opportunity to go to a high school that is not a part of the regular government track and thus has the ability to send her even further.

This is just one of many examples of how amazed I am by the connections and relationships that people have with one another. Rachel's experiences in Kurland and connections to DFC may have shifted the path of a child's life. One person... making a huge difference.

Thank you Rachel and best of luck in College!!!

Big Steps Forward

2009-09-06T17:30:00.001+02:00

DFC After-School Group.

FINALLY, the primary school has the internet working after months and months of waiting... The DFC after school group was in there immediately getting email addresses and surfing the web - slowly. The kids are VERY excited to have their own email addresses and have written me several sweet messages saying how great the after school club is. As they get acclimated to the internet, we are building a blog together as one of their projects. Throughout this year, the group has focused their energy on addressing important issues in their community. They are GREAT kids. So, rather than make them stare at websites telling them how they should be, we are creating our own website (blog). Their only instruction was to research the issues online and pick out the facts they think children their age should know. The process helps to develop their computer, research and english skills, so it's a challenging task. They are working very hard - see their progress here.

We are also planning for our end of the year celebration - "Parents' Night"- scheduled for September 30th at the Kurland Community Hall. All the kids' parents/gaurdians have received their formal invitation along with several other community members and local NGO's. The kids are helping me put together a big powerpoint presentation with all the pictures and videos of all the projects they've done over the year. It will be shown on a big screen thanks to the DFC projector, and everyone will enjoy cake and beverages. They will all be wearing their t-shirts from youth day and it's turning out to be quite the special event. We are all very excited and proud of the progress they've made this year and I'm hoping for the night to make a lasting impression on the parents and community members.

The "Welcome to Kurland" Sign was put up at the first entrance to the village and has received great feedback from several people in the village. After racing against the heavy winds and approaching rain, the sign was up just in time. The kid are very proud of their sign that is now seen by everyone coming into the village.

New Classroom.

Can you believe it?! The pictures below are of the FINISHED addition to the school, funded by DFC and Born in Africa...

Solar Water Heater.

DFC's second solar water heater has been built for Jack, a friend of mine who works for WWISA. Jack is probably one of the nicest and hardest working people I have ever met. He greatly appreciated my offer of purchasing the supplies for his solar water heater, and the two of us spent a Saturday building and installing it. Though Jack's was a gift, the idea is that people on his street and further will see and hear about the benefits of his solar water heater, and want their own. In which case, they will pay for a small portion, and DFC will pick up the rest (handouts from charities have become a big problem in the village, so it's important that people learn to save a little to chip in for the cost). That family will then be supplied with materials and we will teach them how to put it together and install it.

A few days after installing it, Jack called me excited with the news that his was too hot, and we must figure out a plan to pump out the cold water along with it. Hot water and shower is a luxury in the village, as the government housing project does not provide either.

July has been a very busy month...

2009-07-31T14:12:00.007+02:00

Building Progress. I am completely amazed at how fast the classroom is finishing up! It's blending in with the rest of the building and it will be so exciting to get in there and start working.

Presents for the Creche. Dina from the creche requested some new guidebooks and workbooks for the teachers and kids. Taking part of the donation from the "Rock it for Kurland" benefit concert (organized by Joanne Platten, a former volunteer), DFC purchased two guidebooks, one in english and one in afrikaans, as well as five english workbooks and five afrikaans workbooks (pages will be photocopied to provide every childe with activities). These books will provide curriculum guidance for the teachers, and will also allow volunteers at the creche to jump right in and be able to organize learning activities alongside the teacher.

Joanne also requested that part of the "Rock it for Kurland" donation go towards purchasing new lunch boxes for the kids at the creche. I almost fell over with the mob of little kids all giving me hugs of thanks for their gifts. They were VERY happy and full of smiles.

Generous Visitors. A group of 14 volunteers from ages 15 -18 and their two leaders stopped by Kurland on their way to Cape Town where they would be flying back to the states. They were from all around the US and were traveling for a month as a group called Windsor Mountain International. After spending the morning with them while they helped out at the creche and telling them about DFC, the group donated R700 (about $90)! Many thanks and safe travels home!!

Back to School. The first week back to school after the July holiday, DFC after school kids researched the new AIDS Vaccine that was developed at the University of Cape Town. The vaccine research has been heavily criticized as some activists believe money is better spent towards HIV/Aids education as a preventative measure, rather than medical research. However, South Africa has the highest population of people living with HIV in the WORLD (5.2 million).

The kids worked hard to get all the statistics firmly in their mind and spent a couple meetings practicing their interviews in which they would go out into the village, educating people about this news, and asking them where they think the money should go. It was VERY exciting to have them come back with their flip videos and results.... This was one of the best projects yet as it got the kids educating other people in their village and initiating conversation about this serious issue that affects all of them.

Parents' Night has been booked for the 30th of September in the Community Hall. The kids and I will be putting together a big presentation showcasing all their projects from the year so their parents can see all the great work they've done for their community. Looking forward to it...

Check Out All Those Dollars...

2009-07-23T16:17:00.002+02:00

Well, it took over a year to organize, and only about two and a half weeks to build... As you can see, it's almost finished. Then begins the interior work and soon we'll actually be using it!! Can't wait!!!

All Smiles.

2009-07-12T10:41:00.010+02:00

Still on school holiday, members of the DFC after school group have been visiting the village creche twice a week. Each meeting has a theme - the first was friendship, the second was heroes, and the third was animals. Group members work in pairs, and each pair has its own group of little ones. The meeting starts with a discussion based on the theme followed by a fun activity. While they've been provided with guidelines and ideas for each discussion, it's been wonderful to see how the older kids expand on each topic differently; taking pride in this new leadership position. The children at the creche never say goodbye without lots of hugs for the older kids, looking forward to their next meeting.

The video below is from our friendship theme meeting at the creche. After the group discussion, the leaders helped each child write their name and construct their link. I asked Jasmine to explain to the kids why we were putting all the links together. She had all the kids hold hands and compared our paper links to friends holding hands. The Xhosa teachers then explained the links to the few Xhosa-speaking children by saying no matter what race you are in village; black, white, or colored, we are all ONE.

"Welcom, Wamkelekile, Welcome"

2009-07-02T14:13:00.006+02:00

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...

2009-07-02T13:59:00.003+02:00

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

2009-06-16T14:27:00.007+02:00

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....

2009-05-29T18:14:00.010+02:00

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

2009-05-19T09:45:00.012+02:00

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

2009-05-13T10:08:00.007+02:00

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

2009-05-11T14:27:00.008+02:00

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

2009-03-31T16:41:00.000+02:00

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...

2009-03-15T10:57:00.007+02:00

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

2009-03-11T08:55:00.023+02:00

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

2009-02-17T16:30:00.006+02:00

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

2008-10-09T23:54:00.015+02:00

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.

2008-03-22T15:21:00.000+02:00

I Have Arrived!

2008-03-22T14:47:00.003+02:00

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...