What does "Bana" mean?
Bana is the Sesotho word for children of hope. Sesotho is a tribal language spoken in the Tswane area of South Africa.
What does The Bana Project do?
The Bana Project works with orphanages throughout the world, focusing on meeting the physical and educational needs of the orphans. This is accomplished through the Bana REACH Programs (Resources, Education, Agriculture, Community, Health). Bana's unique approach provides the support to implement these Programs as well as/and also the system to sustain them through local volunteers who are experts in these areas.
What does REACH stand for?
REACH is an acronym that stands for Resources, Education, Agriculture, Community, Health. See Programs link for more detailed information.
How did The Bana Project get started?
The Bana Project was inspired by a group of volunteers in the United States and South Africa who had been working with orphanages since 2004. Alumni from The Louis August Jonas Foundation (an international leadership camp for teens) and others joined to form The Bana Project in September 2005. These volunteers are passionate about children and the idea of bettering their own communities.
Where does The Bana Project receive its funding?
The Bana Project is currently being funded by grants and donations. How is the money used? 100% of donations goes toward implementing the REACH programs which directly benefit the lives of all the orphans we serve.
What do the volunteers do?
The Bana Project recruits three different types of volunteers:
1. Team Bana: The Bana Project is operated by a group of volunteers from Salt Lake City, UT, Peru, and Ecuador. These volunteers direct The Bana Project in the United States and recruit teams to run the project within their own communities. Jobs for this team include Fundraising, Donor Relations, Marketing, Accounting, Development of REACH programs, Human Resources, and Education. 2. Country Teams of Community Leaders: These volunteers build teams within their own community and work together to implement the REACH programs in existing orphanages in their area. Country Teams propose the need for assistance in their area and follow the criteria The Bana Project provides for assisting orphanages. Once a team is in place and criteria are met, these leaders recruit and train local volunteers to assist with and sustain the REACH programs. Currently there are teams in South Africa, Peru, and Ecuador. 3. Local Volunteers: These volunteers consist of those who live near locations where The Bana Project is implementing programs. Local volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to volunteer at orphanages. We are presently recruiting volunteers in the Tswane area of South Africa. These volunteers are trained by Country Teams to assist in various areas of the REACH Project.
What is the difference between The Bana Project and other humanitarian aid groups?
Many humanitarian aid groups try to keep their projects going by sending and resending volunteers from the outside. The Bana Project specifically targets volunteers from the local community of the orphanage/where the orphanage is located?. This provides volunteers with a sense of responsibility and useful training. Using local volunteers allows The Bana Project to sustain its programs and to work in more than one area of the world.
The Bana Project focuses on educating children through stimulating their minds by teaching them useful skills. The Bana Project believes to really help these orphans we must give them something that will last a lifetime. Education serves as an important tool to bring these children hope for a better future
.
Bana is the Sesotho word for children of hope. Sesotho is a tribal language spoken in the Tswane area of South Africa.
What does The Bana Project do?
The Bana Project works with orphanages throughout the world, focusing on meeting the physical and educational needs of the orphans. This is accomplished through the Bana REACH Programs (Resources, Education, Agriculture, Community, Health). Bana's unique approach provides the support to implement these Programs as well as/and also the system to sustain them through local volunteers who are experts in these areas.
What does REACH stand for?
REACH is an acronym that stands for Resources, Education, Agriculture, Community, Health. See Programs link for more detailed information.
How did The Bana Project get started?
The Bana Project was inspired by a group of volunteers in the United States and South Africa who had been working with orphanages since 2004. Alumni from The Louis August Jonas Foundation (an international leadership camp for teens) and others joined to form The Bana Project in September 2005. These volunteers are passionate about children and the idea of bettering their own communities.
Where does The Bana Project receive its funding?
The Bana Project is currently being funded by grants and donations. How is the money used? 100% of donations goes toward implementing the REACH programs which directly benefit the lives of all the orphans we serve.
What do the volunteers do?
The Bana Project recruits three different types of volunteers:
1. Team Bana: The Bana Project is operated by a group of volunteers from Salt Lake City, UT, Peru, and Ecuador. These volunteers direct The Bana Project in the United States and recruit teams to run the project within their own communities. Jobs for this team include Fundraising, Donor Relations, Marketing, Accounting, Development of REACH programs, Human Resources, and Education. 2. Country Teams of Community Leaders: These volunteers build teams within their own community and work together to implement the REACH programs in existing orphanages in their area. Country Teams propose the need for assistance in their area and follow the criteria The Bana Project provides for assisting orphanages. Once a team is in place and criteria are met, these leaders recruit and train local volunteers to assist with and sustain the REACH programs. Currently there are teams in South Africa, Peru, and Ecuador. 3. Local Volunteers: These volunteers consist of those who live near locations where The Bana Project is implementing programs. Local volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to volunteer at orphanages. We are presently recruiting volunteers in the Tswane area of South Africa. These volunteers are trained by Country Teams to assist in various areas of the REACH Project.
What is the difference between The Bana Project and other humanitarian aid groups?
Many humanitarian aid groups try to keep their projects going by sending and resending volunteers from the outside. The Bana Project specifically targets volunteers from the local community of the orphanage/where the orphanage is located?. This provides volunteers with a sense of responsibility and useful training. Using local volunteers allows The Bana Project to sustain its programs and to work in more than one area of the world.
The Bana Project focuses on educating children through stimulating their minds by teaching them useful skills. The Bana Project believes to really help these orphans we must give them something that will last a lifetime. Education serves as an important tool to bring these children hope for a better future
.
