Develop Africa in partnership with The Pencil Project [1]: Enabling the next generation as they learn

"The Pencil Project was born from a simple idea. On a trip to Africa in 1998, a photo was taken of a lively group of second graders...102 to be exact...with only one teacher. One little boy in particular stood out. He was clutching a small broken pencil. It was all he had and was his most prized possession.As a writer and someone who lived in Africa as a child, something struck me about that photo. It symbolized everything about the value of education and how important it is that all the world's children have access to the tools they need.For less than a soft drink, a pack of one dozen pencils can be purchased which would in turn help 12 children. It seemed too easy!  With your support, we can make a mighty difference in the world...one pencil at a time."

Excerpt   is a quote from The Pencil Project
www.thepencilproject.com [2]

This project focuses on helping to provide the essential tools - pencils - that are widely used in schools in Africa.  Pencils are seeming small and insignificant, yet they play a vital role in the learning process.  Children have an on-going demand for them in their educational process.

Develop Africa agrees with the Pencil Project that it is vital that "all the world's children have access to the tools they need".  We invite schools, groups, companies and individuals to partner with us to collect or sponsor the sending of a drum of pencils and other school supplies.  Together with the Pencil Project, we are continuing to empower the education and development of Africans in diverse ways. Read below a report from one of our support groups and partnership schools.  A students in a junior high school in Illinois  dared to make a difference. You can make a difference too.

 Completed Pencil Project - Prairie Grove Junior High School [3] 

Email quote one of our newletter readers:

  “The Pencil Project brings to mind the young people in Kenya from many years ago who wanted our pens and pencils---I had gone armed with extras. I was down to just one pen when I dropped it in an unsavory puddle of water. Being without a writing instrument was very inconvenient for the rest of the trip. Something so simple we take for granted. I just recommended to the mother of a student who is going to Africa this summer to take pens and pencils with him for gifts."    Janet F.  Tennessee

Should you be interested in gathering and sending pencils (or other vitally needed school supplies), to African schools please see our drive information page [4]

 Donate Towards Shipping:
Help cover the cost of shipping supplies to Africa.  Freely providing all the books and supplies we receive costs thousands of dollars yearly in shipping costs.  Please make a donation today to help pay for shipping [5].

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