My Nonprofit Reviews

There are hundreds of non-profit organizations out there, each with its own mission and goals. Sometimes it seems like giving money to help impoverished children is like throwing pennies into a bottomless well, or getting stuck running through a revolving door with no end in sight. Although the charities that take care of these kids are important and they should receive support, it is overwhelming to hear that 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation (2006 United Nations Human Development Report). Or that 15 million children worldwide were orphaned due to HIV/AIDS (State of the world's children, UNICEF, 2005). Don't lose hope! We CAN make a difference! Despite all the statistics, you should always remember: These Numbers Have Faces. The global impoverished youth is not merely a tally mark on a bar graph, or a distant intangible cause. These are real people, with hopes and dreams, fears and doubts, and optimism and motivation beyond that which we can comprehend given their circumstances. These Numbers Have Faces is a unique community impact model through which South African youth are given the opportunity to receive a college education with the goal of creating a sustainable culture of reinvestment and mentorship. There are no better people to help a community than those who have been raised within it, whose families and friends depend on their support, and who have a personal and passionate interest in helping their townships succeed. Recently, These Numbers Have Faces has been able to start an initiative to raise $50,000 for a Women's Empowerment Fund, to support township girls as they pursue college educations, which many of them did not think could happen in their lifetimes. Students are nominated by township leaders and undergo an extensive application process to ensure their commitment to their community and their personal growth. The accepted students are required to maintain good grades, participate in community service, learn about financial literacy, and set examples for children and other youth in their neighborhoods. Throughout the process, they have community mentors from the JL Zwane Church or Football Club, and they also have the individual and group support of their friends here in the U.S. By donating to These Numbers Have Faces, you can have a personal relationship with one of the students in South Africa. You can send encouraging e-mails and letters, get updates on final exam completion and college graduation, and you can actually see your donations making a difference in the lives of the youth. These Numbers Have Faces is an organization with a goal of sustainability, which means one day the students who have been a part of this community impact model will be the township leaders, working to reduce poverty and improve the quality of the communities in which they live. For These Numbers Have Faces to go out of business because the students you helped encourage and support are doing such a great job of reinvesting their resources and their talents into their communities will be awesome. We should all get together and celebrate on the day These Numbers Have Faces can contentedly close its doors...I'll provide the pizza, you guys bring the drinks.

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