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Publication: Irvine World News May 25, 2006 |
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Girls press buttons for African kids
- The Africa Project will have an information
meeting Tuesday.
- BY
PEGGY GOETZ IRVINE WORLD NEWS
The Junior Girl Scout troop from Culverdale Elementary spent a
recent afternoon making buttons for Irvine-based The Africa Project. The
girls, all fifth-graders in Troop 1082, are also giving art supplies and
baby blankets to help the children who have lost their parents to AIDS
in Nkandla, South Africa.
Nonprofit, all-volunteer The Africa Project is now in its first full
year of working to help improve the lives of children in the
KwaZulu-Natal township of Nkandla. The first major fundraising push will
be launched with an information meeting, Circle of Friends, at 7 p.m.
Tuesday at Irvine City Hall.
Anyone who wants to be a part of The Africa Project is encouraged to
attend, including those who can help spread the word about the project.
There will be a video about the plight of the children and efforts
being made to improve the situation for them. This year project leaders
hope to raise funds for several specific projects, including school fees
and uniforms, a nurse for the volunteer home-health care program, basic
care for orphans awaiting foster families, and improvements like
electricity for a high school.
A number of successful community fundraising events have already
made a start in raising money to help the kids in Nkandla. Recently
these have included baby blankets made by students at Springbrook
Elementary, a car wash by the Middle School Youth Action Team, the
benefit concert put on by Irvine High School’s Students for Social
Responsibility, and the High School Youth Action Team’s Battle of the
Bands. Students at Woodbridge High organized a cookie sale and Beckman
High students and staff joined the effort.
Already funds from the project have constructed a cinderblock home
for three teenaged young men, purchased or provided donations for 50
mattresses for kids at the school to sleep on and renovated two rooms as
a dormitory space. Funds have also helped set up a home care program and
provided support for families caring for orphaned children.
“Even the smallest of efforts can make a difference in the quality
of life of the children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by
AIDS,” the project mission statement states.
All funds raised go to help the kids, according to project leaders
Debbie Bianchi and Allison Hart. Travel expenses for those who have gone
and are going to Nkandla are paid for by the individuals and do not come
from Africa Project funds.
Information: www.theafrica project.com or call (949) 502-7921.
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For more information about this
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