Grass roots activism and heart offers opportunity to African orphans
By 2010, 20 million African children will have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
Wanting to consign to philanthropic endeavors and service, a Minnesota-based church group started brainstorming ways to effectively give back to their community and abroad, in 2000. Dr. Scott Augustine first suggested Africa to the group. “Why don't we get out there and see what we can do?” he said. The Peace House Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit organization committed to bettering the lives of disenfranchised AIDS orphans in Africa, was soon to follow. Dr. Augustine became the group's founder and serves as chair on the organization's board of directors.
“School is not free in Africa and for many orphans paying mandatory school fees is impossible,” reads the Peace House Foundation mission statement. “Without parents to support them, even very promising children are often forced to abandon school ... Only 1% of Tanzanians ever graduate secondary school.”
Dedicated to educating Africa's AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children in order to bring them hope and opportunity, the success of the foundation's efforts was rewarded by the Tanzanian government. Allotting 100 acres of land to the Foundation, the government approved the PHF's goal of building and operating a boarding school for secondary school-age orphans, the Peace House Academy.
According to PHF documentation, “The school will provide a quality education and a nurturing living environment … The school will be built in phases and will expand by 120 new students each year, potentially accommodating up to 2,000 students after completion of the third phase.”
With plans to embark on the first phase of the multi-million dollar project in place, volunteers were needed to travel abroad and initiate the building and organizing process: Enter Project 640.
Chicago resident Ernie Nattson was frustrated by his AIDS fundraising efforts. Having taken part in the Aids Ride and the seven day mountain trek in South Africa, he felt these events were great in fostering AIDS awareness, but the money raised wasn't directly impacting the cause. Contacting the Peace House Foundation, Nattson founded Project 640. Named in honor of the first 640 teens that will be enrolled in the Academy, Project 640 raises money to sponsor volunteers who travel to the Tanzanian construction site and take part in the building process. The first round of volunteers was sent in February 2006.
At an event raising money to sponsor the two Project 640 trips planned for 2007, both organizations met this past October at Chicago's Hot House, featuring a silent auction of original art and Tanzanian photography, cocktails, light appetizers and bright and brilliant performances by the amazing Muntu Dance Company.
“It's not a coincidence that this event is being held the day Oprah Winfrey and Bono started the Red Campaign (an effort by the GAP and other major retailers to raise money for African AIDS victims),” announced Paula Dyrhaug, The Peace House Foundation's Director of Development. Dyraug beseeched the event attendants to be generous in their donations, suggesting the purchase of a donor's brick that will be used to honor contributors on a celebratory wall at the Peace House Academy.
“I was unaware of just how bad the AIDS pandemic is in Africa,” says Dyraug of her recent decision to work full-time with PHF. “Once I learned of it, I was immediately drawn to the children.”
Project 640 is currently seeking volunteers for the two Academy construction crew trips slated for 2007. Volunteer, donation and all other information can be found at www.peacehousefoundation.org.
Wanting to consign to philanthropic endeavors and service, a Minnesota-based church group started brainstorming ways to effectively give back to their community and abroad, in 2000. Dr. Scott Augustine first suggested Africa to the group. “Why don't we get out there and see what we can do?” he said. The Peace House Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit organization committed to bettering the lives of disenfranchised AIDS orphans in Africa, was soon to follow. Dr. Augustine became the group's founder and serves as chair on the organization's board of directors.
“School is not free in Africa and for many orphans paying mandatory school fees is impossible,” reads the Peace House Foundation mission statement. “Without parents to support them, even very promising children are often forced to abandon school ... Only 1% of Tanzanians ever graduate secondary school.”
Dedicated to educating Africa's AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children in order to bring them hope and opportunity, the success of the foundation's efforts was rewarded by the Tanzanian government. Allotting 100 acres of land to the Foundation, the government approved the PHF's goal of building and operating a boarding school for secondary school-age orphans, the Peace House Academy.
According to PHF documentation, “The school will provide a quality education and a nurturing living environment … The school will be built in phases and will expand by 120 new students each year, potentially accommodating up to 2,000 students after completion of the third phase.”
With plans to embark on the first phase of the multi-million dollar project in place, volunteers were needed to travel abroad and initiate the building and organizing process: Enter Project 640.
Chicago resident Ernie Nattson was frustrated by his AIDS fundraising efforts. Having taken part in the Aids Ride and the seven day mountain trek in South Africa, he felt these events were great in fostering AIDS awareness, but the money raised wasn't directly impacting the cause. Contacting the Peace House Foundation, Nattson founded Project 640. Named in honor of the first 640 teens that will be enrolled in the Academy, Project 640 raises money to sponsor volunteers who travel to the Tanzanian construction site and take part in the building process. The first round of volunteers was sent in February 2006.
At an event raising money to sponsor the two Project 640 trips planned for 2007, both organizations met this past October at Chicago's Hot House, featuring a silent auction of original art and Tanzanian photography, cocktails, light appetizers and bright and brilliant performances by the amazing Muntu Dance Company.
“It's not a coincidence that this event is being held the day Oprah Winfrey and Bono started the Red Campaign (an effort by the GAP and other major retailers to raise money for African AIDS victims),” announced Paula Dyrhaug, The Peace House Foundation's Director of Development. Dyraug beseeched the event attendants to be generous in their donations, suggesting the purchase of a donor's brick that will be used to honor contributors on a celebratory wall at the Peace House Academy.
“I was unaware of just how bad the AIDS pandemic is in Africa,” says Dyraug of her recent decision to work full-time with PHF. “Once I learned of it, I was immediately drawn to the children.”
Project 640 is currently seeking volunteers for the two Academy construction crew trips slated for 2007. Volunteer, donation and all other information can be found at www.peacehousefoundation.org.
