. .--, . CONTENTS . Greetings from the President 02 . Mission. Objectives 03 . International Programs 05 . Recycling Clothes Collection . International Exchange and Training Programs . Financial Statements . Board 8.: Contact Information We are pl eased to share wi th you our 2008. Annual Report.. As you tu rn the pages, reading abou t people lea rni ng to lift themselves out of poverty and creale stronger commun ities, I hope you'll en joy their hopeful stories. Planet Aid 's story begins with a comm itment to help ou r neighbors in the poorest cou ntries of the world. It is becoming ever clea rer that we cannot escape our co mmon destiny as inhabitants of earth . No matter whi ch country we live in , whether we are rich or POOf, we, all have to share the same finite resources and all breathe the sa me atmosphere. 8 N Sharing and using the Earth's resou rces thoughtfully is essential if we are to secure decent living conditi ons for all human be ings. We live in the richest nation on earth, and our per capita consumption is among the. highest in the world . The average American consu mes 18 times more energy than does a person living in M oza mbique. The method we have devised at Planet Aid to share some of our wea lth with the rest of the world and to curb the use of our resources is to coll ect unwanted, but sti ll perfectly fine used clothing and make it avai lable to peopl e with limited access to clothes and other goods. W ith this simple act of taking surplus from one pla ce and bringing it 10 people and pl aces at a deficit, we not only improve living cond itions in the shorlterm, w ea lso contribute to reduction of carbon emission , th e major contributor to globa l warmi ng. (Be sure to take a look at the "Recycling and the Environment" section of this annual report to learn more about the many ways our used clothing program protects OUf fragi le planet. ) Every morning the news media greets us wit h shocking headlines about economi c recession, w arfare, epidemics, global warmin g and In th is disasters of all kinds. annual report, you' ll read about the good news you don't see in the head lines-the courageous way that communities are worki ng together to overcome poverty and misfortune with development programs that make sense . Young people are getting involved,. fa rmers are learni ng earth-friendly ways to increase their harvests, teachers are being trained, whole communities are com ing together to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and families are mobil izi ng to provide a better quality of life for them selves and a brighter fu ture for their children. Every person who contributes clothing, every business and school that hosts one of our yellow collection boxes and every organization that awards a grant to fund our development projects is part of the Planet Aid story. Thank you for helping us conserve precious resources w hi le creating happy endings for ourselves and for our fellow human beings. Ester Neltrup Planet Aid is committed to helping poor and disadvantaged citizens of the Earth improve their lives and the lives of future generations. We support people and commun ities in some of the poorest regions of the world through projects addressing health, educalion, food procluction and income generation. Planet Aid is committed to peace and to humanity, and we care deeply about the Earth as the home we share with mi ll ions of other species. Reusing discarded items from the rich part of the world as a vehicle to increase income and improve lives in other parts is good for. the Earth and thus be nefits all of us. Through our actions Planet Aid seeks to inform and to promote cooperation and understanding between people across countries and continents. OBJECTIVES OF PLANET AID The objectives of Planet Aid as expressed in ou r Articles of Incorporation are as follows: Emergency and Disaster Relief serving victims of hunger, wa r, natural disasters, atomic accidents, plagues and other catastrophes assisti ng in relocating people and rebu ilding areas hit by these types of disasters and accidents Development serving poorer nations,. the. poorest of the world's populations and self organ izing development in itiatives undertaking all kinds of development projects worldwide including, but not in any way limited to: schools, clinics, mini-banking, farming and small-sca le industry Protection of the Natural Habitat serving threatened elements of the Earth's atmosphere, its soil, its plants and its an imals initiat ing protective act ions to preserve rivers, seas, and forests from misuse undertaking all sorts of proj ects aimed at protecting the natural habitat of the Earth Building the Organization serving the general public so as to make it possible for it to participate in many ways in the activities of the organization establishing educational facilities fo r the training of personnel and voluntee rs forming members' associations, initiating su pport groups and establishing a worldwide network of cooperators and activists Research and Innovation serving the above mentioned activities through developi ng methods and systems for their implementation produ ci ng and d istributing informative materials to the public containi ng basic knowledge as well as specific information about the above me nti oned activities produ ci ng educational, informative materials so as to. orga nize. schools to. participate in the above mentioned activi ties 03 community members set up gardens to diversify ?5 and improve nutrition 3? 7' - and create new sources of family income. THE POOR 1_'---J_ ~- The Federation for Associations connected to the International Humana People to People Movement Planet Aid isa.member.of the Federation for Associations connected to the International Humana People to People Movement, better known as Humana People to People. The Federation, headquartered in Zimbabwe, has 32 nationa l associations as members, uniting more than 265 projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Members of the Federati on implement projects fighti ng poverty, increasing food security, promoting education, strengthen ing hea lth, combating HIV/AIDS and protecting the environment. More than 10 mill ion people in 42 countries are involved in or touched by these projects on a yea rly basis. The Federation has organized families to improve th eir own living conditions for more than 30 years, providing them with the resources and know-how to help each other. Working together with peopl e in so me of the poorest areas of the world, Humana People to People is developing the ca pacity of communities to bu ild a brighter future. Thanks to gra nt support and the generosity of people who donate to our recycling program, Planet Aid provided more than $16.8 million in d irect and in-kind support to Humana People to People projects in 2008, an increase of almost $4.9 million over 2007! These projects included Chi ld Aid commu nity development programs, schools for. street child ren and orphans, teacher training, vocational schools, leadership tra ining and projects that combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and care for those already infected. We supported clubs for small-SC:l le farmers to help them increase crop yields and income, envi ronmental programs and proj ects to • fight malaria. We provided nutritious meal s for vul nerable chi ldren and ad ul ts in impoverished co mmunities. Contributions from ca ring people enabled us to send books that will encourage readingand com puters to help organ ize, implement and monitor im portant projects that are making a positive difference in the world. Projects Supported in 2008 Child Aid/Community Development $168,551 HOPE - for those affected by AIDS $265,961 Child Aid/Community Development Computer equipment ~ 8N e 8. $2,215 Child Aid/Community Development $318,354 Child Ai(VCommunity Development $230,826 Computer equipment $3,422 "~ ~ 52,258,072 $14,848 Donation of books Child Aid/Community Development $26,300 Farmers Club $1,116,976 TCE - HIV!AtDS education and preventi on $1,507,252 Computer equipment Training Center for Global Development $499,042 $11,487 $1,754 5164,190 $103,435 ~ TCE - HtV!AIDS education and prevention $60,600 c " Green Action - Harit S(IIlkalp 543,317 Academy (or Working Children $10,581 06 Computer equipment - Teache~ TrJining Malaria PrOjl'Ct ~ ~ $943,174 Miscellaneous development programs Child Aid/Community Development ;: $788,994 $86,685 ~ " farmers Club TCE - HIV!AtDS education and prevention Ylmnan tn ,titute of Development & Child Aid & ,c h. $29,961 $3,047 Teacher Training S3,236,853 One World University S2,373,493 Soy Nutrition Program $566,597 Miscellaneous development programs $387,152 TCE - HIV/AtDS education alld preveillion $393,645 • Child Aid/Community Development HOPE - for those ~f(cclcd Distribution of Donations by Sector $84,420 by AIDS $21,935 HOPE - for those affected by AIDS $171,777 Child Aid/Community Development $190,000 ~IOPE $152,026 - for those ~ffcctcd by AIDS Child Aid/Community Development $79.700 Ponesai Vanhu Junior School & Technical Colicl,'e $96,300 Communal to Commercial Fa rmer $25,000 Program Food Aid Murl,'Wi Community Center USA 8 N • Food security & environment • Health 598,024 $150,000 Miscellaneous charities, schools. and filith-spons.ored programs 595,343 In-kind donations $34,408 In-kind & other program • Community Development Education 07 "In the firsl lhree months of the program, 95 percent of the orphans have gained weight with an, average gain. of 3- 4 kg. As they recover (rom malnourishment, their school attendance has increased significantly." - DAPP Zimbabwe report to U5AID, 200 8 A thi ck, cornmea l porridge, called sadza, is the primary food for many fam ilies in Zimbabwe and most of SubSaharan Afri ca. When there is enough money,. this simple, dish is supplemented with meat, fish or nutritious vegetables. But the most impoveri shed peopleespecially those families devastated by HIV/AIDS and the orphans who have lost parents to the epidemic-often go hungry and ca nnol afford to add prote in to the ir di ets. In 2008, the USAIO Office of Food for Peace awarded Planet Aid a grant of 75 metric tons of high-protein soup mix and funding to transport, deli ve r and distribute it to approximately 6,860 vulnerable children and ad ults in Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe. When prepared as a stew or added to traditional cornmeal dishes, th is lentil-vegetable mix adds protein and essential vitamins to create a nutritious meal. The project w as conducted in partnership with our sister organ ization; D evelopment Aid from People to People (DAPP) in Zimbabwe. 8 N Thanks to this grant; three servings of soup mix per d ay are being provided to the province's most vulnerable people, either prepared in a mea l or given to families to cook at home. Orphans who have lost one or both parents, people who are HIV positive and are trying to improve their lives through the HOPE program; peopl e with AIDS in homebased programs, their ca re-giving fa mi ly members, and children in 50 community preschools supported by DAPP are all benefiting from this nutritious diet. Program participants, both youth and adults, have increased their w eight and improved their hea lth. Children have improved their school attendance. The pre-schools have seen improved performance, confirming studi es that show that well -fed children are better able to learn. and retain informati on. In addi t ion , people who are HIV positive have increased energy levels and ca n be involved in activities that generate income. Home-based care patients have improved their health, relieving some o f the stress on their ca re-giving famili es . With the sea rch for food no longer a daily challenge, children and adults are able to concentrate on learning and on improving their quality, of life. ~ ....., "After my husband's death, I worried about taking care of my four children. Through. Ch ild Aid, I learned to cultivate a home garden and raise food. The money I used to spend at the market is now available for other necessities. I also learned how to take preca utions to prevent diseases. My neighbors and I have better communications-we meet every week and are creating positive change in our lives. fI -Silvia Romero, Volunteer Village Action Group Leader of EI Mirador, Ecuador. Ecuador, Belize and Brazil have joined a long list of cou ntri es where the Child Aid program is strengthen ing poor communities by organizing local fam ilies and build ing their capacity to improve living conditions and opportunities for themselves and their neighbors. Approximately 13 ,000 participating families in these three countries are worki ng together to improve economic opportunity, hea lth and hygiene, ed ucation and literacy, commu nity develo pment and the environment. They are in itiating programs that provide cu ltural, educational, soc ial and sports activities for children, with special attention to disadva ntaged and at-risk children. Since the Ch ild Aid programs were introduced in Latin America in 2007, they have achi eved notable success. Fam ili es have enrolled in weekly educationa l programs to lea rn about health, hygiene, nutrition and ch ildcare. Sessions have been conducted on the prevention of HIV/AIDS, malaria and dengue fever, and first aid classes have been taught. The Village Action Groups have painted and landscaped schoolsand conducted com munity cleanup and water drainage activities . Fami lies have. received materials and ass istance so they. could construct latrines and wells and plant vegetable gardens. The Chi ld Aid Program suppo rts preschools, givi ng chi ldren the skills and abil ities needed to. be successful as they enter first grade. Existing preschools are being improved so they ca n accommodate all preschool-age children, and Village Action Groups are mobili zi ng support for new preschools where they are needed. Child Aid also conducts teacher workshops, trains volunteers to assist teachers and promote hea lth and hygiene, and provides exciting cu rriculum ideas. Parents are encouraged to be interested and involved in their children's education. Youth clubs in all three countries are actively involved in planning activities and developing youth leadership. They have planted gardens at thei r schools, helped construct and repair sports areas and pl aygrou nds and set up sports teams. Some students are servi ng as peer mentors. .0- In addition, Child Aid-Belize has helped famil ies start pou ltry production and secondhand cloth ing businesses. In Brazi l, a local market has been set up, and seed banks have d istributed 11 tons of seeds through the Child Aid Program. When floods in February 2008 destroyed 75 houses in EI Triunfo in Ecuador, Child Aid volunteers joined with others in the community to gather clothes and. food for the flood victims. o With. the help of ou r donors,. Planet Aid was able to support Chi ld Aid/Community Development programs in 2008 in the following co untries : Belize, Botswana, Brazil , Democratic Republic of the Congo, China, Ecuado r, Ind ia, South Africa, Za mbi a and Zimbabwe. Thank you for hel ping us to empower local commun ities to independently solve problems and provide a brighter fut.ure for their children. C ::J E E U "'C....., C C to QJ "'C « "'C == .r=. .0- E a. 0 QJ > QJ UC ';4./D5 is no longer just a disease. It is a human right s issue. The. work or the Humana People to People TCE Programme goes a long way to restoring these rights." -Nelson Mandela TeE, Total Control of the Epidemic, is an education and mobilization program created to address the epidemic of HIV/AIDS and its tragic effects on the Earth's population. TCE is aimed at behavior change, increasing general knowledge about HIV prevention and improving the lives of those already infected. 10 TCE 's systemati c approach aims to reach every Single person in a specifi c geogra phica l area. This outreach is done by trained TCE Field Officers such as Lonia who spends her days knocking on doors an d talking to people in her village in South Africa. She tells of meeti ng a pregnant woman who was HIV positive and living in deplora ble conditions with an abusive boyfriend. "She looked like the world had fallen on her and told me she had decided to take her life," Lon ia remembers. The Fi eld Offi cer, with the help of a TCE volunteer, was able to contact the young woman's mother, who welcomed her daughter back home. With l on ia's encouragement, the young woman began PMTCT (prevention of Mother to Ch ild Transmi ssion ) at the loca l clinic and joined a support group. A few months later she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Fi eld officers like Lon ia become a resource for information, counseling and support i n their communities and are sought out by traditional leaders, health professionals and civic officials as well as families and i ndividuals. The Fi eld Officers begin by. mobilizing people to know their HI V status. They teach people how to prevent HIV; they help. infected persons get trea tment, join support groups and rece ive home-based care; and they offer support to o rphans and their caregivers. Field Offi cers also orga nize TRIO groups in which friends or family mem bers join with a person taking antiretroviral medication to help the individual adhere to a treatment regimen. Part of a Fi eld Officer'Sjob is to help the commu nity overcome stigma and mi sconceptions about HI V/AJOS in order to build a supportive environment. Sofi e Matebane, a Life- Orientation Coordi nator and grade-seven teacher in South Africa, expl ains the val ue ofTCE in the classroom: "It is very good for them to have this knowledge at an early age, because they will be able to abstain, they will be able to make positive decisions, .they will be able to grow without being in fected. And aga in they will have confidence to say yes or no, and why and under which conditions, because this program gives, them the information, and then it builds their morals also. It builds their self esteem. They will be able to stand for themselves in the future concerning their health, and they will be able to respect their body, and be able to teach others to respect them." Planet Aid supports HO PE projects which bring the commu nity together to conduct va ri ed activities to help people with HI V/ AIDS. From the HOPE Centers, vari ous activities are conducted incl uding Positive Living Clubs, Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), lessons in nutrition and ho mebased care, and garden ing which produces healthy. food andan. inco me,sou rce. Because of HOPE, people living with the virus and their famil ies are lea rning to support each Planet Aid is dee ply grateful to Johnson & Johnson, Inc. and to the United States Department of Agricu lture (USDA) for. their continuing support of TCE programs and their comm itment to improving hea lth and fighting HIV/AIDS. In 2008, Planet Aid supported TCE progra ms in India, Malawi, Mozam bique and South Africa, reach ing people in their homes, workplaces and schools. TCE has earned high praise from government offi cials, hea lthcare professionals, commun ity leaders and the individuals and fa mil ies who are lea rni ng and benefiting from the program. other and lead hea lthier lives. The projects also help the most vulnerable victi ms of AIDS, the children who have lost one or both parents to the epidemic. In 2008, Planet Aid supported HO PE programs in Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Our success in involving entire commu nities is demonstrated by the large numbers of volunteers who work with us to spread life-saVing messages and prOVide compassionate ca re. 11 Farmers Clubs mobilize and empower farmers to increase and diversify crops, use conservation methods and help their families and communities prosper. . . I fgfum?kw?j . .15..- ?Aha . rm . In 2008, Planet Aid was pleased to contribute to Farmers Clubs in Malawi , Mozambique and Zimbabwe and the Green Acti on Program in India. These programs train, mobilize and organize farmers to improve production quality, increase yields and strengthen market The programs included linkages. training in new farming methods and the introduction of new crops, better manage ment of water and soil resources and improved access to markets. The goa l of increased food security is being reached through orga nic farming methods, better access to inputs and resources, improved marketing slrategiesand cooperati on, organization and mutual support among farmers. In addition to growing a variety of nutritious vegetables for family consumption and for sale in the marketplace, fa milies have been engaged in animal husbandry through the Farmers Club pass-on grant system. The provision orsmall agribusiness grants has enabled fa rmers 10 increase their incomes and provide more food and essential proteins for their communities. In some areas, participants are growing soybeans, with training from the American Soybean Association, and soy ca nteens have been established to provide nutritious mea ls to vulnerable populations. "In Sofa/a we are running 50 soy canteens where people can buy a health y soy meal for an affordable price. To secure the supply, 100 farmers were invited to each grow ys hectare of soybeans." - Jacob Zu lu, Project l eader, Farmers Cl ub in Sofala, Moza mbique Farmers in deve loping countries faced signifi ca nt challenges in 2008- a worldwide recession that affected the prices of commodities, political upheava l that ca used runaway inflation, and weath er-related disasters that damaged or destroyed crops. But behind these depressing headlines were inspiring stories of rural co mmunities strengthened and empowered by sustainable agriculture and environmental programs. Environmental activities are an important part of these programs, involving children and adults in ecoloh'Y lessons, community clea n-u p ca mpaigns, pollution reduction initiatives and the planting of thousands of trees. Planet Aid continues to work with our in country partners to help the world 's poorest people reduce pollutioncausing farming methods, gain access to clean water and lessen the impact of global warming while increasing food security. Since 2004, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has partnered with Planet Aid to develop and support Farmers Clubs, making a significant contribution to the economi c and social development of rural com munities . "'C c: to V) .c c: 0 -UtJ0::::J ~« Q) c: E~ to L.. lL..C) 8 N 13 "When Humana People to People teachers came to my home, my mother told them there were seven o( us and that education is not important (or our caste ... as we are blacksmiths . The teacher said education is very important in our livE's ... Here (at school) I have learned the Hindi alphabet, in math 1 have learned counting, then general knowledge and the English alphabet. I want to go to Government School and later I will become a teacher and teach poor children like me." - Kuldeep l uhar, age 11 , a student at an HPP Academy for Working Children in Neemana, Indi a. For most of us, the opportu nity to go to school is taken for granted. However, in many developing cou ntries, a shortage of teachers and classrooms, unaffordabl e school fees, and the need for income from child labor prevent children from receiving a basic education . Pl anet Aid supports preschools (thro ugh the Chi ld Aid Program). primary and secondary schools, vocational education and teacher train ing colleges to make learning and its many benefits avai lable to the world 's children. 14 Primary and Secondary Schools Vocational Education Teacher Training Schools supported by Planet Aid create quality educational experiences and a safe haven for especiitlly vulnerable ch ildren. Academic subjects are taught as well as hea lth and hygiene. The schools provide a creative lea rning environment where children are involved in building strong communities while preparing themselves for futu re success. For example, Ind ia has approximately 21 million school-age chi ldren who are not attend ing school. These children, who live in slums or on the streets, usually work as rag pickers, in factories or at construction sites to hel p su pport thei r families. Planet Aid supports HPP-India's six Academ ies for Working Children, each providing basic education for all children as well as computer/vocational train ing for older youth. In thi s way, working children ca n spend several hou rs each day learning in a friendly, supportive environment. The program provides more than a free education- it gives children rea l hope to lift themselves out of poverty and live healthier, happier lives. Agriculture, carpentry, mechanics, construction, horticu ltu re and busi ness management are some of the many subjects introduced in the vocational schools supported by Planet Aid. The schools offer theoretical as well as practical subjects, offering the students a secondary education as well as basic vocational training . At the Ponesai Vanhu Technica l College in Zi mbabwe, students study the trade of their choice and then get real-life training and experience during their internships. Thi s on-the-job training often leads to offers of employment. By providing young people from poor communities with the ski ll s needed to earn a good living, vocationa l schools are an investment in economic growth and productivity. In partnersh ip with govern ments in several African nations, colleges have been established to train highly qualified primary school teachers. In 2008, Planet Aid, with support from USDA, supported thi s quest to alleviate the serious shortage of teachers in Mozambique and Malawi. In cooperation with each country's Ministry of Education, each teacher training college prepares futu re teachers to be innovative and to create exciting learning environments, especially in rural areas where facilities are frequently inadequate. In add ition to traditiona l methods, these teachers are trained to hel p mobilize communities to improve fam ily health and living conditions and conduct awareness cam paigns. Each college becomes a center of activi ty and a nucleus of development. People from the su rround ing com munity attend afternoon or even ing classes, and some of the colleges provide sports and conference facil ities and host seminars for area teachers. Planet Aid School Program in the US One World University/ISH In 2008, Planet Aid and USDA supported the construction of One World. University/ISH in Mozambiq ue. Itoffersa Bachelor 's Degree that qualifies graduates to be instructors at teacher tra ining colleges and prepares them for other careers in higher education . The Un iversity received certi fication from the country's Cou ncil of Ministers under the name Instituto Superior de Educat;ao e. Tecnologia (ISH). In October 2008, a second bachelor's degree program in commun ity development was officially lau nched ca lled "Fighting with The Poo r." The new degree, created by Humana People to People, was inspired by the President of Moza mbique with the aim of contributing to the struggle aga inst poverty. When a school places a Planet Aid collection box on its property, lessons and materia ls in recycl ing and protecting the envi ronment are offered to the students. In 2008, we worked with 300 schools in six states, teaching about the value of recycl ing and the countries and projects supported by Planet Aid. Many school students visited our recycl ing operations and engaged in exchanges and projects helping chi ldren in fa raway countries. In Africa, teachers trained in colleges supported by Planet Aid are providing quality lessons for children and helping rural communities develop and thrive. """""' ............ ~ ....... '-- '~"'" ---.,. ......... __ a ""M:IIo..,._ .....-.---...... ....- .. Every year, thousands of tons of clothing, textiles, shoes and books are placed in Planet Aid's yellow drop-off boxes by generous individuals and orga nizations. These items, which would otherwise have gone to landfills, are sold and the funds used for health , education, child welfare and othe r development programs in some of the poorest countries in the world. In developing countries, new cloth ing is usually not affordable or even ava ilable to the majority of the population . But recycled items, ava ilable in stalls in the market place, offer low- pri ced clothing to needy adults and thei r children. Th ere is no remanufacturing involved, just handling and transportation. Th us reuse is a low emi ssions form of recycl ing . Planet Aid's collection program helps save the environment. W hen clothing is reused and worn unti l it is nearly worn out, the need for new clothi ng is reduced . This, in turn, lessens production of new cotton as well as other texti le fibers, decreasing the strain on our ecosystem. To produce one pound of new clothes requires on average: -. 723. ga llons of water - 0.3 lb. of fertilizers - 0 .2 lb. of pesticides - 3. 6Ibs. of greenhouse gases In 2008 Planet Aid collected 102 million pounds of used clot hing. Recycl ing these items instead of producing new clothing saved 74 bill ion gallons of water, 31. million poun ds of fertilizer and 21 million pounds of pesticides. In additi on, 367 mill ion pounds of greenhouse gases were kept ou t of the atmosphere! Clothing that ends up in landfills takes a very long lime to decompose-about 6 months for a cotton sock, one yea r for a wool cap, 40-50 years for a leather belt and 50-80 years for a rubber boot. Tax dollars used for trash collection and landfill management are greatly reduced w hen clothing is recycled instead of thrown away. 8 N According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 11.8 million tons of clothing, textiles and shoes are disca rded in the United States each year, ending up in landfills or being incine rated. Many states and cities are working on increasing the recycling of textiles along with other items that could be used agai n. Planet Aid boxes are often fou nd at recycling stations as part of cooperat ive agreements with local authoriti es aimed at decreaSing pollution and improving the environment. 17 -. 't ItS E '" ~~ = ItS ItS U ....., ..... C E Maybe they're the wrong color, or no longer in style, or they just doesn't fit anymore-for whatever reason,. the clothes and shoes you don't wear are, taking up valuable space. in your dresser or closet. So you place your unwanted but u5"'C C C CIJ ItS .....'" CIJ on ..a c ·Vi ::: c u 0 ~a. u '" CIJ CIJ c:: L.. ~. ~ Planet ~id >~ - .pbn ......O'l Recycling Clothes For A Better Worldl International Exchange and Training Programs Planet Aid offers people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to hone their organizational and management skills and gain a wider understanding of world cu ltures. Krishan Yadav, originally from Behror, a rural community in northern Indi a, is working for Planet Aid in Marylilnd. He learns about non-profit management and inco me generation while he helps catalog and sell books and other recycled items to raise funds for development projects around the world. Krishan first became interested in environmenta l issues while working for Humana People to People (HPP) in India. Thei r Creen Action Program helps farmers organize dubs where they learn improved water, soil and crop management techniques and orga nic farming methods. He also helped people in Jaipur organize a water, sa nitation and hygiene program and taught at the Academy for Working Children in an industrial area near New Delhi. In Maryland, Krishan was glad for the opportunity to join other Planet Aid volunteers helping at a loca l soup kitchen and food pantry. When he returns home, Krishan hopes to work with HPP-India's Child Aid program. "People don't know their rights or how to bring about change," he expla ins, "but we organ ize self-help projects so that families can bu i ld better lives for their children. " Fernando Binhafa, who originates from Guinea-Bissa u in Western Africa, is completing his train ing program at Planet Aid in los Angeles. During hi s stay he has taken on different roles, visiting schools w ith the Partnersh ip in Education program, representing Planet Aid at Chamber of Commerce events and being active in the recycl ing program includ ing bin maintenance and quality control. Fernando has been involved with Humana People to People since 1990 when he started working with a Farmer's Club project in his native cou ntry. His second project was Child Aid, where he became a pre-school teacher. He also worked at HPP's international headquarters in Zimbabwe. When Fernando heads back to Guinea-Bissau, he hopes to work with either Child Aid or a TCE project. Besides lea rning publi c relations and fu nd raising skills, Fernando 5ulldlllJ! ,1'>11