About The Africa Project

Founded in 2005 as an all volunteer non profit organization, The Africa Project is making a real difference in the lives of children and families in Nkandla, South Africa, where extreme poverty is exasperated by the HIV pandemic and extremely drug resistant tuberculosis. Nkandla has a population of 133,602 of whom 57 percent are women. An estimated 90 percent of the population are unemployed and the majority of households are headed by women. Over 61 percent of the population consists of children under 18 years of age and 14 percent are under 5 years, placing a high dependency burden on a relatively small group of adult earners.

The impact of HIV/AIDS in this region is particularly devastating since one in three women have HIV - and many of these women are mothers. Consequently, children are severely impacted. Often, they become the caregivers of their sick parent(s), other relatives and siblings. Far too many become orphans. Most do not have the most basic resources (adequate food, safe shelter, resources needed for schooling, access to health care) and are also particularly vulnerable to exploitation and violence. The Africa Project supports locally developed and implemented programmes and services that deliver help and hope to those living in the most remote corners of Nkandla.

The Africa Project Principles

The Africa Project is guided by the following principles:

  • The Africa Project is an all-volunteer organization.
  • The Africa Project works to meet the basic needs of orphans, vulnerable children and their extended families (safety, health, education and nutrition).
  • The Africa Project believes that even the smallest efforts can make a difference.
  • The Africa Project invests in projects that have enduring effects.
  • The Africa Project supports strategies that promote self-sufficiency.
  • The Africa Project uses existing resources within the African community to strengthen local economy.

The Africa Project Vision

To serve as a model for other communities throughout the U.S. who wish to adopt a village and commit necessary resources to improve the quality of life for children in Africa devastated by poverty and AIDS.

The Africa Project Mission

"Working together to make the difference in the lives of children in Africa devastated by poverty and AIDS.

Zulu Girl Age 10

Afraid is something I can talk
about, she said, her eyes wide
in the dark of her young face.
I was afraid my mother would die
because she took care of us and she
was my mother. She died in spring.
I was afraid my father would die
and it would be only me and my little
brother. He died the next winter.
Now I am afraid when I hear animals
at night. There's a leopard here.
I'm afraid when I hear men's
voices drunk outside, even baby girls
are not safe here. I use different
voices and rattle things to make
them think we are not alone.
I am afraid when I have no candles
left, night comes so soon. I am afraid
when our meal is running out,
I know I will have to teach my little brother
to steal. I am afraid I cannot get
to the school when it rains, and
then there is no hope. Afraid
is something I can talk about.

By Peggy Goetz, Africa Unfinished