School Supplies - School Year 2020-2021

Angola / Namibia: As part of One Pencil’s continuing commitment to the communities of northern Namibia and southern Angola, we will once again be providing school supplies to children during the upcoming school year. We are currently in the process of sourcing school supplies for approximately 2,500 children and will be distributing them with the help of the Hizetjitwa Indegenous Peoples’ Organization (H.I.P.O.)  HIPO is a great organization and partner, and we owe them special thanks this year as the pandemic has made travel by One Pencil’s American based team impossible this year. We thank HIPO for their partnership and collaboration.

Bolivia:  Earlier this month, Bolivia announced the cancellation of school for academic year 2020/2021. This unfortunate reality is estimated to affect more than 2,000,000 students nationwide including the Tsimane communities that One Pencil assists. The Tsimane have virtually no access to internet and it is difficult to estimate the long-term impact upon this group that has been transitioning to the market economy. One Pencil will be providing alternative aid to the Tsimane, although we have not determined the form of such assistance as of the time of this newsletter.