What’s Our Story…?
How it all started… “I have an idea…”
Karim posted an article entitled “The Pencil” on Mez Mag:
Allan then responded as follows:
I have an idea, send all your unused pencils to me at Mezimbite and I will make sure that they find there way into a creative child’s hand.
Weight for weight, dollar for dollar I have no doubt that they will have far more effect than any other program that you can dream up, because pencil and paper is how dreams are best expressed.
- Allan Schwarz, Mezimbite Forest Centre, Mozambique
What’s Our Mission …?
To recycle the used pencil you send us into its full creative and literacy potential.
How do we accomplish our Mission…?
By making sure that the used pencils you donate end up in the hands of a child on the poverty line in Africa, who can make good use of your used pencil by either doing a homework or classroom assignment, or using your used pencil for creative expression such as writing poems, drawing or coloring.
How do we define a “used” pencil…?
Executive Director, Olivia Ramsay, describes a used pencil as a pencil in “perfect creative condition”:
The children in Africa will take this resource: one that may be half used or missing an eraser but is in perfect creative condition, and create and invent something new each time they use it. Pencils for Africa honors the pencil, and aims to promote the creativity that can come from it.
– Olivia
What’s out Motto
Frugalis Creativus
The Latin translation = “Frugality and Creativity”