Teach to Value Access to Education

Read Basia’s reflections - 10 years old girl from NYC

NYC Skyline, Watercolor by BP, June 2018

“Right to Education” by BP 4/30/18

“I am very privileged to go to school, have a good education, nutrition and a warm and welcoming home every day. That made me think of Human Right 25 - Food and Shelter for All and Human Right 26 - The Right to Education. That reminded me of a true story my mom told me.

In 1998 my mom met a lady named Kate from South Africa. My mother went to visit her in Africa during the Christmas season. Later I learned that Kate, Chadd and his sister Shelly Bain had established an orphanage called Izulu Orphan Projects. This organization was made to educate, feed and support 1700 rural South African orphans, as well as children with HIV and widows. The first Izulu Orphan Projects Christmas party was held in 2002 with a small group of just 80 orphans. Today the organization takes care of 2435 orphans and widows in 737 households. The primary focus of the organization is education.

Read this story about one of their successful students named Sinquobile: Sinquobile lives with her grandmother, younger brother and two other orphans. The family survives on 1,600 South African Rand which equals $135 per month. Her mother died in 2002 and her father is unknown. Her school reports were always outstanding so the organization obtained a full scholarship to a local private school as well as her to retain re-education for a BSC in Accounting in 2014. Sinquobile is a good example of what a Young Ruler child with little to no future Prospect can achieve with the right mentorship and guidance.

The Izulu Orphan Project purchases and distributes school uniforms and essential school supplies. They also pay all the primary and high school fees. They train teachers and give them guidance. Lastly they provide extra enrichment activities for the orphans. The organization also has a feeding program for families with a low income,that make less than $120 a month. They feed the children a daily hot meal as well as a monthly food parcel distribution program for no less than 220 impoverished families. When families live in sheds, the organization helps them build brick houses with a proper roof, window and door. Izulu Orphan Project also has a safe house for victims of domestic violence, abandonment crisis, and disaster. There they can stay a few days until the organization finds a proper home for them. The most popular event is the Orphan Christmas party. Last year more than 3000 children and caregivers came. Each year every child gets a new toy, stationery pack and a healthy lunch with a sweet snack.

There are three main ways you can help. You can either donate money, sponsor a kid or volunteer your time and skills. This is the website you can use to visit the organization:

http://www.izuluorphanprojects.co.za I can't wait until my mom takes me there, where I can see all the children with my own eyes.”