There is no greater joy than watching the faces
of our young
friends accepting a donation of 10 brand new HP
computers! Without computers, HFL’s mission for a self-sustaining future for
the VMS students could never be realized. Technology is a vital
component in even the smallest of tasks in today’s world. It could be said that
without the generous donation from Hewlitt-Packard Co. coupled with an earlier
donation from Newman's Own Foundation and the hard work done by Ofhani Shaun
Mandiwana, and the Enactus Chapter at the College of Idaho to secure this donation,
the children of Vhutshilo Mountain School (VMS) would be left without the tools
to create a successful future for themselves and their community.
Ofhani has been working for years to realize his
dream of helping VMS students to access the best resources possible so that
they might further their educational goals and keep the premise of Ubuntu (a
universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity) foremost in their minds.
At the College of Idaho, Ofhani is involved with Enactus, an international non-profit
organization dedicated to enabling progress through entrepreneurial action.
With the help of Charles Griffend, adviser Scott Johnson and the entire Enactus
Chapter, Ofhani created a prospectus called A Byte of Peace. The prospectus
outlined the background, framework, objectives, and significance of Ofhani’s
plan.
The proposal was a success, and a grant was
awarded by Hewlitt-Packard Company Foundation to Hope for Limpopo, Inc. for the
donation of 10 computers dedicated to the ARV Workshop.
What the HP CO Foundation really did, however, is
provide hope and opportunity to the VMS students. This donation will allow the
students to overcome the saddening statistics surrounding the youth of South
Africa and particularly those infected with the HIV+/AIDS virus. Already there
has been a whirlwind of ideas and proposed curriculum changes within the
school, all of which will open the students to more opportunities than their
supporters could ever predict.
Thank you to our past, present and future donors
who believe that knowledge is the key to success and are willing to give these
impoverished but eager students the chance to make it happen.
