University students and faculty are reaching out to those who need it most.
The nonprofit organization known as Project Learning Around the World provides school supplies and funding for children with AIDS in poverty-stricken schools in South Africa.
The restaurant Max and Erma's, located in Levis Commons, will donate 20 percent of any bill toward the program tomorrow. Restaurant-goers need to print a flier off bgviews.com to qualify for the donation.
Audrey Ellenwood, coordinator of the School Psychology Program, began working with the University of South Africa Psychology professor FJA Snyders years ago.
"I began a collaborative adventure," Ellenwood said.
The Psychology graduate students and faculty from the University visited black township schools in South Africa and learned that more than 80 percent of the children had AIDS and were homeless.
In March 2006, students who traveled to South Africa decided to do something about it.
"Students in the school of Psychology program collected 400 pounds of supplies [that year]," Ellenwood said.
The following year, the new program raised $1,200 which they used to purchase schoolbooks for grades K-8 as well as to provide crayons, scissors, pencils, calculators, erasers and puzzles. The program also received a donation of 500 toothbrushes, dental floss and toothpaste to deliver.
In 2008, the program delivered educational and hygiene supplies to schools in the Knysna rural area and a women's abuse shelter.
Students involved realized how much they have as well as how similar they are to the kids in South Africa.
"They had never even seen a balloon," graduate student Stacey Frey said. "One of the things that really struck me was children are children wherever they are."
The visit to a place unlike their own was rewarding for everyone involved.
Intern and board member of the program Samantha DeWood helped deliver the supplies to South Africa twice. She said she would go back if she had the chance.
"I wish I had more time to put into the organization," she said.
DeWood said she remembers the most rewarding day was when her team spent time at an outdoor clinic.
"People in the community could come and talk and just have someone to listen," she said.
The program recently received official nonprofit status and has even been contacted by organizations such as Twitter.
"It started and now it's starting to bud out," Ellenwood said.
Master students at the University in the Environmental Management course are also involved in different ways.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund Web site, fire-related burns in Africa cause 9.1 percent of child deaths.
"My students are researching alternatives to an open flame candle," Graduate Adviser Shannon Orr said.
Students are broken up into a research team and a fundraising team in hopes to fund the alternatives found.
"I want to do something that's going to be effective," Master student in Public Administration Joe Fawcett said.
All donations go directly to the schools in South Africa and anyone can help.
Addresses and ways to donate, as well as information about the program can be found at Platw.org.
Download Max and Erma's Flier
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