In 2019, the Food for Knowledge (FFK) project provided more than 8 million school lunches to 87,450 students across four districts of Maputo Province, Mozambique. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, FFK launched in 2012 to help establish school gardens, train teachers, build or refurbish school kitchens and latrines, and teach children to read in their local languages. By the end of 2019, FFK had met or exceeded its initial goals in both the number of students it benefited and the reach of project activities.
Table of Contents:
Dear Supporters and Friends,
The year 2019 brought a change in the leadership of Planet Aid. I am saddened to share with you the passing of Planet Aid’s founder and long-term president and CEO, Ester Neltrup. For two years, Ester bravely fought an aggressive form of cancer, a disease that ultimately took her away from us on June 26. She was a cornerstone of the organization who advocated for a more equitable world. Her passing made many of us realize how precious life is and that we should not postpone pursuing our dreams and aspirations of creating a better world together with the poor and disfranchised.
Ester was a trained teacher, a background that helped her immensely in her role as president and CEO of Planet Aid. She founded Planet Aid in 1997 together with other teachers at a school for international volunteerism in the Berkshires, Mass. She soon left the school to work full-time to build Planet Aid, which over the years has become an important contributing member of Humana People to People worldwide.
Ester hired me in 1997 to start Planet Aid’s work in Boston. Together we built the organization to a large, used-clothing collection and recycling charity, with a second phase of securing funding for development programs as well as U.S. government and corporate grant programs. Worthwhile mentioning here is our long-standing partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has developed and expanded since 2004 to work with underserved people and communities in Mozambique and Malawi. This partnership has significantly improved their opportunities in education, health, nutrition, and food security.
The year 2019 was no exception. In Mozambique, over 100,000 children, teachers, and community members were impacted through Planet Aid’s integrated school feeding program “Food for Knowledge,” funded by USDA through its McGovern-Dole Food for Education program. I invite you to read more about the impact of this flagship program in this Annual Report.
I came into the position of president and CEO in early 2019 when Ester stepped down due to her illness. I want to thank all staff, colleagues, partners, and the Planet Aid board of directors for being supportive and working together during this transition period. As we move forward, I am inspired by how Ester took care of Planet Aid, and am committed to being a leader who remains steadfast in our mission and dedicated to the people who are the heart of it all.
Sincerely,
Fred Olsson
President & CEO
Planet Aid, Inc.
Planet Aid's mission is to inform, mobilize, and inspire individuals and communities to work together to drive worldwide environmental and social progress. A 501(c)(3) organization, we employ a unique model to tackle sustainable development from many angles. In the U.S., Planet Aid’s collection of used clothing via its signature yellow donation bins helps reduce waste, promote reuse, and save landfills. Abroad, Planet Aid uses the funds generated from these collections to support development projects implemented by devoted partners to ensure good health, education, food security, and sustainable agriculture among the world’s poorest, most vulnerable populations. In 2019, Planet Aid donated more than $3.1 million, supporting 50 projects in 12 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America.
Since its formation in 1997, Planet Aid has been committed to its overarching mission as a member of Humana People to People (HPP) – a network of independent, locally registered organizations, each operating autonomously with their own Board of Directors and local staff. Overall, HPP members are engaged in international solidarity, cooperation, and development to combat the world’s major humanitarian, social, and environmental challenges.
Collectively, these members reach approximately 12 million people annually through innovative programs in education, community development, sustainable agriculture and health. By working together as a network and leveraging local implementation, HPP is a conduit for lasting change in the third world. As individual organizations, all HPP members are located within the countries they serve. This facilitates opportunities for deep, meaningful connections with the people, community leaders, and governments in those nations.
Planet Aid builds the capacity of co-member organizations, specifically within the area of resource mobilization. Our U.S.-based partnership development professionals help HPP co-members navigate the U.S. government’s foreign aid system and acquire funds. This report highlights the work of Planet Aid, in conjunction with other HPP members, in community development, education, health, and sustainable agriculture.
For more than two decades, Planet Aid has been supporting development projects that help fight poverty. Through the funds generated by collecting and selling used clothing and by receiving support from public and private donors, Planet Aid has been able to provide life-changing, sustainable assistance to those in need. Below is an overview of the projects we supported in 2019.
| Angola | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Malawi |
| Belize | Ecuador | Mozambique |
| Botswana | Laos | South Africa |
| Brazil | India | Zimbabwe |
Education • Community Development
Health • Sustainable Agriculture
School lunches are the heart of FFK and a critical aspect of the program’s school health, nutrition education, and construction goals. Made of a fortified, protein- and nutrient-rich corn-soy porridge, FFK school lunches are packed with essential calories, vitamins, and minerals. At every school benefiting from the project, FFK built or refurbished fire-saving stoves, kitchens, and storerooms so that volunteer cooks (parents and locals alike) can prepare the porridge. In 2019, over 12 million school meals were distributed to 87,453 students.
To encourage variety in the students’ diets, FFK has also established school gardens or—at eight of the schools—small farms to help students get vital nutrients from leafy greens, tubers, and other vegetables. These agricultural initiatives not only supplement their school lunches, but also serve as outdoor classrooms where students learn subjects like biology and math, along with valuable life skills.
As a result of improved nutrition, reliable sustenance, and deworming1, school attendance, punctuality, and retention have significantly increased. As of the last quarter of 2019, 99 percent of all enrolled students attended class regularly, which has allowed FFK’s educational interventions to have maximum impact.
Young children in Mozambique speak one of several native languages when they enter school, but they are frequently taught to read and write in Portuguese, the official language of the nation. This creates an obstacle in their acquisition of early reading skills. FFK’s literacy initiative teaches children to read and write in their mother tongue, which helps accelerate learning and makes it easier for children to later learn Portuguese. FFK has developed classroom and other early grade reading materials in two native languages, Changana and Rhonga.
“Since this project came to our school, our community has been mobilized to support and actively participate in the preparation of soy [the corn-soy porridge] without needing anything in return, because we know that the work we do is for the benefit of our children. Today, we can see that even children who do not like to study go to school and like to stay in school because they know that here we prepare soy and sometimes diversify the food with the products we harvest from the school garden. We really hope that the Food for Knowledge project will continue to help our Tavira school.”
Laura Joaquim
Volunteer mother, TTC Tavira, Manhiça
Read more about Food for Knowledge.
1 Deworming efforts provided children medications that kill any intestinal parasites they may have developed from unsanitary living conditions or lack of access to healthcare.
Food for Knowledge students show off their early-grade reading skills during a Mother Language Day event.
The Kadam Step-Up Centers offer children who have never attended school, or who have dropped out, a form of “bridge education,” which helps them “step up” to meet the demands of regular public education. In 2019, Planet Aid–supported Kadam Step-Up Centers assisted more than 27,000 children. Approximately 18,800 of them transitioned to regular schools.
The Kadam program is defined by an interactive, child-centric, and dynamic pedagogy. This helps teachers implement a holistic approach in their classrooms, focusing on academic growth, students’ interpersonal skills, as well as relevant 21st-century societal knowledge. The 10-step Kadam methodology integrates logic and analysis with learning through real-life situations, delivering classes that are a unique blend of collaborative learning, active thought engagement, and self-tracking.
The centers’ curriculum covers mathematics, science, and English, along with other subject requirements established by the Government of India. Some of the centers also offer computer courses for the students. Additionally, the Kadam methodology is used in remedial education programs in the state of Tamil Nadu for girls in grades two through eight who are at high risk of dropping out of school.
Read more about Kadam Step-Up Centers.
Using modern teaching methods that include fieldwork and practical application, the Ramiro Polytechnic School engages students in their own education and inspires them to take responsibility for reaching their goals. The school offers two-year courses of study in fields that provide useful life skills in agriculture, electrical installation and maintenance, alternative energy sources, water purification, well construction, and irrigation. Students apply these newfound skills by helping neighboring communities with water and electrical installations, or demonstrating the importance of vegetable gardening.
Read more about vocational and skills training.
Better educational opportunities are key to helping children escape the cycle of poverty. Unfortunately, with a short supply of qualified primary school educators, one teacher can be at the helm of a class with upward of 100 students in Malawi. That’s why, in 2019, Planet Aid donated funds to support the training of new primary school teachers at Amalika Teacher Training College (TTC), one of four such colleges in Malawi. In December, more than 50 students graduated from Amalika TTC and were placed in primary schools throughout rural Malawi, which will help reduce oversized classrooms for thousands of children.
The TTCs are operated by DAPP Malawi, Planet Aid’s in-country partner who has been preparing primary school teachers to work in rural Malawi for more than 16 years. The colleges are made possible through a partnership with Malawi’s Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology and with help from other supporters. A hallmark of the Amalika TCC curriculum is its emphasis on creating exciting learning spaces for children, as schools in the region frequently have scarce supplies and limited facilities – sometimes they are even missing a roof and/or walls. Trainees at Amalika TCC also spend time in the community to get to know the families and become local development activists.
Read more about teacher training.
The Nikhalamo—Girls Stay in School project is implemented by ADPP Mozambique in partnership with Girl Child Rights and funded by USAID, with supplementary support from Planet Aid. "Nikhalamo" in the local Chuabo language means, “I am here to stay.” This name affirms the project’s central aim, which is to reduce obstacles for girls transitioning from primary school to secondary school and ensure that they stay in school.
In 2019, the project supported over 5,000 vulnerable girls by providing them access to girl education promoters and mentors as well as training teachers in gender sensitivity. Other activities included building latrines and distributing sanitary pads. Through active follow-up and tracking of a cohort of girls, the project prevented early and forced marriages as well as assisted pregnant students in their return to school.
Read more about the Nikhalamo.
Child Aid is a community-based, holistic model in which residents are mobilized to collaborate on improving living conditions and providing a healthy, nurturing environment for children. As demonstrated by Child Aid Doornkop, this model can be implemented in part by hosting youth and adult skills training programs to help lower unemployment. For little to no cost, people can learn computer skills, home-based care, and basic HIV counseling methods, including emphasizing the importance of getting tested. In 2019, over 17,000 beneficiaries were reached through health campaigns, skills development programs, and food security initiatives.
Among the most defenseless in the human family, children are the primary victims of poverty. Planet Aid supports Child Aid projects that fight shoulder to shoulder with people in the poorest parts of the world to overcome the challenges they face, including having little to no access to food, health services, education, water, and sanitation. Specifically, Child Aid Rushinga is implemented by DAPP Zimbabwe, Planet Aid’s in-country partner who has almost 40 years of experience in fostering social and economic change in rural areas of the country.
Self-governing Village Action Groups (VAGs) are the muscle of Child Aid Rushinga. The local community members who participate in VAGs solve some of the most difficult problems they encounter every day in the Rushinga District of Zimbabwe by equipping and empowering their neighbors with essential skills in the areas of health, education, and agriculture. In 2019, 160 VAGs distributed condoms, planted trees, and enrolled over 500 students in youth clubs. Child Aid Rushinga is made possible with support from the Government of Zimbabwe, Planet Aid, and other partners.
Learn more about Child Aid.
The comprehensive HIV/AIDS work of Humana People to People South Africa (HPP-SA) includes preventing the spread of HIV, identifying people who are HIV positive, and ensuring them access to life-saving treatment by implementing the widely recognized Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) model. The Total Control of the Epidemic: Preventing HIV in Vulnerable Populations (TCE-PHVP) program builds on HPP-SA’s extensive knowledge and successful track-record. In addition to a focus on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) testing and treatment have been added to the program, as well as resources and counseling for those who have experienced, or may be vulnerable to, sexual and/or gender-based violence.
This five-year program is aimed at stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS, TB, and sexual and gender-based violence in the farming and migrant communities of South Africa’s Ehlanzeni and Gert-Sibande districts. In 2019, Planet Aid donated funds to support TCE-PHVP, which is mainly financed through a partnership between HPP-SA and USAID. The program conducted HIV testing and STI screening, surveyed over 4,000 individuals about their experience with violence, and distributed condoms to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
TCE-PHVP, which began in December of 2018, uses a systematic approach designed to connect with hard-to-reach populations and at-risk communities, and empower them to fight the health challenges they face. TCE-PHVP Field Officers are recruited from the operation areas, trained, and equipped to run an effective people-to-people campaign. This local connection builds trust between the TCE-PHVP Field Officers and the community, leading to a higher testing and treatment rate.
Key activities for the project included:
Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) is a Humana People to People intervention model that helps communities control major epidemics, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria, that afflict many in developing countries. In 2019, the TCE Tonga Nzoto1 project was funded by the U.S. PEPFAR program via the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and received support from Planet Aid.
TCE Tonga Nzoto, implemented by Humana People to People Congo, focuses on preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout six health zones in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has a population of over 1.5 million people. The project’s goal is to identify HIV-positive adults and children, place them on a treatment plan, and ultimately reduce their viral load. Once individuals have a suppressed viral load, their ability to transmit HIV to another individual is negligible. Additionally, the project aims to strengthen the links between the Kinshasa communities and local health clinics to help them gain control of the epidemic and provide care for those living with HIV.
The project was launched in October of 2019 and will continue through September of 2024. In its first three months, the project tested over 7,000 people and began providing HIV treatment to individuals who tested positive.
1Tonga Nzoto means “take care of your body” in the local language of Lingala.
Humana People to People Brasil (Humana Brasil), a Brazil-based, Planet Aid partner, started a new kind of Farmers’ Club in October 2016 – a Farmers’ Club focused on fishing instead of planting. Farmers’ Club Bahia Pesca is supporting small-scale fishermen and shellfish collectors in their quest to achieve food security for their families and generate income to improve their living conditions. The project is funded by the Government of the State of Bahia, with co-funding from Planet Aid, and other HPP members.
In 2019, the project implemented collective training and capacity building activities for fishermen and women, reaching more than 1,200 families. The training covered the identification and study of marine species, eco-fishing techniques, and conservation of marine ecosystems. Additionally, the project encouraged women to take leadership roles in an effort to not only help Brazil fight poverty and hunger, but also cultivate greater gender equality in the household and the community.
Read more about Farmers' Clubs.
Planet Aid, along with other partners, supports the Farmers’ Club Macadamia Nuts project, which distributed over 100,000 macadamia seedlings in 2019. The project is implemented by DAPP Malawi, an in-country Planet Aid partner with over 12 years of Farmers’ Clubs experience. Along with growing macadamia trees, the farmers are intercropping legumes, which has increased the farmers’ income. They have also been acquiring climate-smart agricultural knowledge and working together to improve the sanitation in their homes.
Read more about Farmers' Clubs.
During 2019, Planet Aid helped divert 88 million pounds of clothing and other textile materials from disposal in the United States, saving valuable resources. Clothing that is disposed of in landfills releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Clothing that is instead reused not only reduces landfill burdens, but reduces the need to produce new textile fibers and manufacture new clothing—a resource intensive process requiring large inputs of fossil fuels, water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Reusing clothing saves resources and reduces harmful environmental impacts, including reductions in emissions that contribute to climate change. By making it more convenient for consumers to drop off their unwanted clothing, Planet Aid helps increase textile reuse and recycling rates.
Read more about our recycling efforts.
Here are a few highlights from our work in 2019:
During the grand opening, Thrift Store Manager Cedric Horton emphasized the importance of having a newer, more spacious store for the local community to shop secondhand. "The new store is more centralized to reach more customers in the DMV [DC, Maryland, Virginia metropolitan area],” he said. “This location also gives the Planet Aid Thrift Store the visual ability to grow our brand and mission and to become a household name in the DMV."
Visit the Planet Aid Thrift Store at 552 Randolph Road, Rockville, MD 20852. For store hours and more information, visit the Thrift Store online.
In July 2019, Planet Aid in Milford, Mass., donated 350 backpacks to HYPE (Helping Youth Prepare Everyday) Basketball Academy in preparation for their annual back to school program.
]HYPE is a year-round program that works at public elementary schools and public playgrounds to service hundreds of children each year. The program aims to equip young student-athletes with the proper skills and training essential for becoming effective role-models.
In 2019, Planet Aid donated over 1,000 winter coats to City Mission, a ministry that provides housing and services to people in need in Cleveland, Ohio. The coat drive began during the second week of November and lasted an entire month. Our dedicated drivers separated all of the coats received in our donation bins. Planet Aid warehouse personnel then washed and bagged them, ensuring they were all in good condition.
Additionally, Planet Aid, in conjunction with the IBERO Youth Division in Rochester, N.Y., held a winter coat drive in November 2019. Over 8,000 pounds of donated coats were distributed to families in need.
In April 2019, Planet Aid supported Friendship Place, a homeless housing provider in Washington, D.C., with donations of professional business attire and other clothing.
"Friendship Place is thrilled by Planet Aid's generous clothing donation, which will support participants in our employment program,” said Anne-Marie Buron, Friendship Place Community Engagement Manager. "The items will also be shared with our partners who distribute clothes and other basic needs through street outreach. Thank you to Planet Aid for supporting our mission of ending homelessness and rebuilding lives."
Friendship Place works to ensure every person has a place to call home. Their goal is to end homelessness in Washington, D.C., and to establish a sustainable model that can be replicated across the nation.
Dinorah joined Planet Aid in 2016 and has been key to helping develop the human resources department since March 2018. She enjoys working with employees in an organization that fuels worldwide environmental and developmental progress.
"The employees at Planet Aid are dedicated and compassionate about their efforts to make this world better for the less fortunate,” she said. “Because of this, I am constantly growing and developing personally and professionally."
Robert Gray is a public health specialist who works with Planet Aid's Partnership Office. As a member of this team, he spends the bulk of his time collaborating with other organizations in the global Humana People to People network—mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia—to conceptualize new development projects and secure funding to expand programs in health.
Robert has been working in global public health for more than 20 years, during which time he has been based in multiple countries including China, Uzbekistan, Laos, and Myanmar. During his impressive career, he has helped design, implement, and evaluate projects that prevent and treat malnutrition and diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and more among some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
"Local NGOs in the Humana People to People global network are already doing some incredible work in public health," Robert remarked. "For example, in countries including Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, DRC, and many more, these programs are helping extend life-saving HIV treatment to those who need it most. It is an honor to work with the local HPP members and play a small role in helping design and secure funding for projects that save lives."
Chris Larock is the Donation Center Manager of the Planet Aid Donation Center in Rhode Island. He is in charge of the day-to-day operations at the center, scheduling curbside pickups, and working with the local community to host charity and donation events.
Chris has been with Planet Aid since April 2016. His previous experience includes serving six years in the United States Army. He enjoys working directly with the local community and appreciates the bond his team shares.
“Other than serving six years in the Army, working for Planet Aid is the best job I’ve ever had. I don’t consider the people I work with co-workers—I consider them family. Keith Gregory is a boss you can always count on and is always there to help,” he said. “When I got out of the Army, it was hard for me to find a job, but Planet Aid welcomed me with open arms and, for that, I’m truly grateful. It’s always a great feeling when someone is donating items and they greet you by name and thank you for everything you and Planet Aid has done for the community.”
Roger Durst has been with Planet Aid’s office in Western Pennsylvania for over nine years. He started as a driver and was then promoted to Territory Manager. Roger’s primary responsibilities include working with the community to find sites to place our yellow donation bins, maintaining existing sites, providing excellent customer service to site hosts, and addressing any issues that may arise such as overflow and dumping at the bins.
The consummate team player, Roger also contributes by running routes if drivers are busy and painting bins. What Roger enjoys most about his job is Planet Aid’s mission. "I love what we’re doing to help others," he said.
*The loss in 2019 is from the timing of prior year net earnings and the Board’s planned donations.
| Task | Internal Program Support |
|---|---|
| Program Services | 83 |
| General and Administrative | 10 |
| Fundraising and Development | 7 |