barefootworkshops.org | Learn Africa

Learn Africa is a grassroots effort to help orphans of the AIDS crisis in Zimbabwe, where it is estimated that 1 million children will have lost one or both parents to the disease by 2005 — that is almost 10% of the population.

Can you imagine being 4 years old and living in a makeshift shack with no father, no mother, no water, no electricity, just your 11-year-old sister to take care of you? Do you know what it feels like to never own a pair of shoes?

Do you know what it feels like to have to put your sick brother on a bus and send him to die in the countryside because if he dies in the city you won’t be able to afford the cost of transporting a dead body?

Can you imagine being an unemployed 80-year-old grandmother looking after 8 orphaned grandchildren?

Can you believe that the problem is so extreme that street signs are being stolen and melted down to make handles for coffins?

Learn Africa is a call to action, a reflection of our community’s deliberate effort to address social issues and to effect change. No matter how geography divides us, we are all inextricably linked by our common desire for peace and happiness. We cannot and should not wait for governments and politicians to make decisions. We, as individuals, can make a difference.

How You Can Help

Donate

To make a donation by check, please download the donation form and mail it to us along with your gift. Your contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

A small amount goes a long way in Africa, so don't hesitate to give. The money that you donate to the children is used to provide food, shelter, basic health, and an education. In order to keep the vision and the project alive, it is important that you help in any way possible.

Buy the 2010 Calendar

Duarte Lourenço, a project supporter from Portugal, added his keen sense of graphic design to Johnny Fernandes’ photography to produce an attractive Learn Africa calendar.

Calendars are $17 each with delivery in the U.S.A.

Our goal is to sell all the calendars before the end of the year. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the children in Zimbabwe - please help us bring a pleasant start to their year.

Click here to preview the entire calendar

Our Wish List

The staff at Learn Africa is looking with hope to those of you who may not be able to help us directly with money, but may be able to make a difference by donating in kind.

Here is our current wish list:

Flip Video Cameras (quantity: 3)

To enable the children at Hatcliffe and Mashambanzou to take their own photographs which will be hosted and updated on our site on a monthly basis.

Approximate cost (new): $100 each

Frequent Flyer Miles (quantity: many)

To be used to buy tickets for Sr. Patrica and Sr. Margaret to visit the USA on educational exchanges, and for staff to travel to Zimbabwe to work with the children.

Dedicated Friends (quantity: thousands)

To be used in spreading the word.

Approximate cost (new): $0

We'll gladly accept used equipment in good working condition.

Your contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Learn More

To learn more about this project, please visit http://learn-africa.org.