Mission Statement: Helping to provide equal educational opportunities and to encourage sustainable development to communities living in poverty in Zambia.

Who We Are: HANDZ is a group working together to form a nonprofit, tax exempt organization to help provide educational scholarships, tutoring programs, college tuition, career development resources, community development and sustainability in Zambian villages.

History: The idea of HANDZ came about after Emily Smith and Andrea Bowden, both Pacific University graduates set off to Zambia to stay with a community based women's group in rural Muchinshi Village in the summer of 2005. These two women formed strong bonds with local people as they worked with the tribal community, taught at Muchinshi Upper Basic School, and administered healthy living workshops to local women's centers. During the trip, Emily not only gave aid to women's cooperatives, but also identified a dire need for individual school funding for middle school and high school students in Zambia. Many young children ended their education after seventh grade due to lack of funds to pay for books, uniforms, and administration costs. The next year, Emily Smith set out to start a grassroots scholarship fund based on private donations. Among friends and family, the donations amounted to over $3,000. Working with a scholarship committee of teachers and community members the donations were allocated to fund the school fees of 57 middle school and high school students.

The Future of HANDZ: HANDZ is being organized by four directors: Andrew Gross, Emily Smith, Jill Winger, and Kimberly Lewis. HANDZ has recently been recognized as a Public Charity, Nonprofit Corporation in the State of Oregon and through the IRS! We now have a business ID number and a small business bank account! We are currently raising funds for our annual trip to Zambia to further support community sustainability programs and sponsor students. Last year, HANDZ sent 57 students to school who would otherwise not have had the opportunity. Education is essential to the development and sustainability of rural and impoverished communities. We could not be as successful without the support of our sponsors and volunteers. We plan to keep the scholarship program developing and becoming more organized. After the scholarship program is accomplished and sustained, HANDZ will continue with forming projects for the local women's center projects and other community development.

How to Donate: In Zambia, every dollar really does help! Currently, administration fees, books, and uniforms at Muchinshi Basic School cost between $100-325 each year at Muchinshi Upper Basic School depending on grade level. College tuition in Zambia costs between $1,100-1,400 each year, a fraction of the cost of one year at US Universities! All donations are welcome and appreciated. Visit our Get Involved page for more details.