Chikumbuso is a grassroots project that brings hope and opportunity to widows and vulnerable children in Ng’ombe Compound in Lusaka, Zambia. The project provides free education and meals to 450 students, and provides meaningful work and income for 45 widows and 25 at risk youth who make beautiful, handcrafted items. BoPH has engaged with Chikumbuso students through arts in education projects.
Taking IT Global empowers youth to understand and act upon the world’s greatest challenges. Described as a “social network for social good,” Taking IT Global informs, inspires, and involves students to work together to address global problems. BoPH’s mission of building bridges complements the Taking IT Global vision of shaping a more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable world.
Music in Common empowers students and artists from diverse cultures and faiths to discover common ground through collaborative songwriting, multimedia, and performance. Although BoPH hasn’t worked directly with MIC we share a mutual dream of a more peaceful world where every individual and group have the opportunity to have their voices heard and respected.
CEESA, the Central and Eastern European Schools Association is a network of American and International Schools that leads educational transformation through collaboration. CEESA promotes professional development and cooperative sharing of best practices and innovative ideas. BoPH members have done several presentations at CEESA conferences. In 2017 an international team of six BoPH educators, plus BoPH founder John Farrell, did a featured workshop at the CEESA conference in Sofia, Bulgaria.
A.I.S. Vienna, the American International School of Vienna is an outstanding Pre-K to Grade 12 school that serves nearly 800 students from 50 countries. The schools core values are Nurture, Include, Challenge, and Respect. Teachers from A.I.S. Vienna started the first Bridges of Peace and Hope Club in 2016. The club has been actively engaged in collaborations with the Mukwashi Trust School in Lusaka, Zambia. Four AIS Vienna faculty members traveled to the Mukwashi School in Lusaka, Zambia and two Zambian educators have visited AIS Vienna. This partnership grows stronger each year.
Judith’s Reading Room is a non-profit organization located in Pennsylvania. Their mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy. JRR has provided custom libraries to close to 100 sites and organizations around the world. In 2016, BoPH founder John Farrell was honored as one of JRR’s “Freedom Through Literacy” award winners.
The International Preschools are located in New York City and the group is a recognized leader in the early childhood community and welcomes families from all around the world. BoPH has done many programs at the school and IPS has been a supporter of BoPH projects and our mission of building bridges of understanding and respect.
Ready for Reading is a small non-profit doing really big things. RfR built and operates the Rwinkwavu Community Library and Learning Center (RCLLC) located in an underserved rural area in Eastern Rwanda. RfR empowers the community through providing literacy, technology and life skills, and offering a variety of personal and community growth programs to children and adults in the region. The RCLLA was named the #2 library in the entire country. RfR has participated in BoPH projects and plans to start a BoPH club soon.