Ever have a dream that you want to make come true? This is exactly what Beth Fitzgerald did when she created African Empowerment Project. African Empowerment Project is a Vermont-based not-for-profit organization. AEP works with African villages on community development projects to empower them with opportunities to build and maintain healthy, productive lives.
HISTORY:
Currently African Empowerment Project is in Mnang’ole. Mnang’ole is a rural farming village with about 900 people. This village, like many others in Africa, is in dire need of a clean, accessible water source, accessible health care, access to quality education, and opportunities for economic stability.
This organization has some AMAZING plans to help the people of Mnang’ole out. In March each house in the village will receive a solar lantern from AEP, but unlike many other organizations AEP isn’t just going to hand each house a solar lantern; they are going to educate them o the benefits of using a solar lantern over using a kerosine lantern. Besides the obvious health reasons for replacing the kerosine lanterns it is also important because the houses that make money (most just barter and trade) will make about $200 a year, and out of that they spend $93 a year on kerosine. So by having the extra money they would be able to send another 3 of their children to school (it costs $25 a year to send a child to school). Also, they have plans to teach the village about boiling water and why it is helpful.
PLANS:
There are also plans to find a way to teach some of the teenagers computer skills so that they can help work with the organization more effectively, and AEP is also looking in to away that the teenagers that are helping them will be able to make money for helping them out.
There is also a plan to start composting in the village as well; composting will allow the village to improve their crops and their is even the chance to have a worm farm started from the compost pile which would help them to make more money.
Teach the students English (this is something that the school really wants to be able to do, but they do not have the resources nor does anyone in the village really know English well enough to be able to teach it).
Build a hospital in the village since it is almost impossible to get to the nearest hospital right now.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?:
AEP is currently planning a water walk in order to raise money for a “Water for Life” campaign which will allow them to drill a well in the village so that they do not have to walk 4 hours in order to get water for their crops and other daily necessities.
AEP is always looking for anyone to help out you can contact Beth Fitzgerald at bethefitzgerald@gmail.com
oliviatenan 