Partners in Action

Humana People to People in South Africa and Dell YouthConnect

Humana People to People in South Africa and Dell YouthConnect are making positive change possible.

Making Positive Change Possible

Change. The word evokes emotion on many levels. It often feels like a big hurdle—a daunting challenge. Yet one organization, Humana People to People in South Africa (HPP-SA), is working one day at a time to effect positive change. HPP-SA believes it’s the day-to-day, collective efforts that create lasting change.

With this guiding philosophy, HPP-SA creates development projects that provide opportunities for people to participate in efforts to improve their own living conditions. It’s these collective efforts that will help bring about the changes needed to overcome the many challenges facing South African communities.

Since 1995, HPP-SA has worked with South Africans from ages four to 59 to “help where help is needed and lead where leadership is needed.” These are its target areas:

  • Fighting HIV and AIDS
  • Improving the lives of children
  • Providing education and skills training
  • Promoting job training and economic development
  • Protecting food supplies and the environment

Its partnership with Dell YouthConnect gives HPP-SA more ways to improve the lives of South African children by providing them with greater exposure and access to academics and modern technology. Perhaps most significantly, the program is opening doors for the students in the poorer Johannesburg townships and sparking an interest in further education.

“We’re excited about cooperating with Dell YouthConnect. We know from our existing work in the townships that there’s a huge interest among the young people to acquire knowledge and skills, especially computer skills,” says Anne Dorte Hoejrup, HPP-SA country director.

The three new Dell YouthConnect centers, powered by 75 Dell computers, make it possible for 1,200 students to attend after-school computer classes for 10 weeks. Through the center’s learners’ program, 75 youth will get a second chance to complete the 10th grade. Each Friday, these same 75 teenagers visit nearby schools as peer-educators. In this role, these students have an incredible opportunity to share HIV and AIDS prevention information with 5,000 children, young adults and community members.

These are just a few of the ways in which HPP-SA and Dell YouthConnect are working together to make a positive difference in the lives of South African youth. To learn more about HPP-SA, visit www.hpp-sa.org

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In the past 14 years, HPP-SA has had a direct impact on more than 300,000 children though its Child Aide projects. HPP-SA has reached another 750,000 children through its programs in youth clubs and schools as well as home-to-home visits.