Planet Aid
Circa 2010 - 2013

Planet Aid is a nonprofit organization that is well known for its collecting and recycling of used clothes and shoes. In addition the organization also supports international development community-based projects that improve the health, increases the income, aids vulnerable children, train teachers, and enhances the overall quality of life for people.

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It appears Planet Aid originally created this site to promote it's development works. At some point this domain expired. When I discovered this domain was available, I bought it with the goal of giving Planet Aid more presence on the WWW. This organization does vital work and I didn't want this site to disappear into the cellar of expired domains, nor did I want someone to buy it and use the site for unrelated purposes.

The present www.planetaid-development.org, was recreated from its 2010-2013 archived content.

View this site's content in its historical context.

Go to www.planetaid.org to contact them or view their latest news.

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Mission

Planet Aid embraces the principles of equality and self-determination in all that they do as well as fostering cooperation and understanding among peoples across the planet.  Disadvantaged populations are Planet Aid's priority, and they seek to empower such populations to create lasting positive change.

Mission elements:

  • Protect the environment, reduce waste, and increase the efficient use of vital resources.
  • Strengthen and organize communities.
  • Reduce poverty and promote small enterprise development.
  • Support sustainable local food production.
  • Improve access to training and quality education.
  • Increase health awareness and encourage healthy lifestyles.
  • Foster direct cooperation and understanding among peoples across the planet.
  • Help disadvantaged populations of the world create lasting positive change.

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Development Aid

 “Tired of Starving Children Photos?” That was the title of a recent story on AlertNet, a humanitarian news website. It brought to light the delay in procuring aid in advance of a predicted drought and subsequent famine in 2011.

Year-long warnings of a coming drought in the Horn of Africa and its potential catastrophic repercussions were well documented. Yet according to the article, official government declarations of a famine came too late. Four months too late. By the time international aid arrived, up to 100,000 had died of starvation – half of them children. The article asks “Why is it that, time and again, funding is not provided to respond to a hunger crisis until pictures of starving children are seen in the world press?”

Dependent on Emergency Aid

The unfortunate reality is, despite their best efforts, governments, funders, and international relief organizations must overcome multiple obstacles – logistics, politics, and cumbersome regulations, among them – before they can mobilize and deliver aid. However, more often than not, the international aid community makes a truly remarkable and monumental effort to secure aid and provide relief, when and where it’s needed. The task of gathering and delivering resources and manpower is an extraordinary undertaking even under the best of circumstances. And even more so, when racing against the clock or in unpredictable situations – a natural disaster or war zone, for example.

But how often can organizations and governments be counted on to deliver “just-in-time” aid to stricken areas? There is no obvious answer or magical solution, but there is a proven strategy to lessen the dependence of lesser-developed populations on emergency relief.

Prevention vs. Cure

In the past 50 years the number of children who die every year from hunger, malnutrition, and disease has decreased from 20 million to less than 8 million. The proportion of people living in extreme poverty has been cut in half in the same time frame. That still leaves some staggering numbers to overcome, but the improvement is significant. These results came about for many reasons, but key among them was the focus on anticipating and preventing crises rather than simply shipping emergency aid.

In For The Long Haul

At Planet Aid, emphasis is placed on long-term programs to address the underlying cause of the problem or issue. Multi-year support of programs that address education deficits, health concerns, food security issues, and lack of job skills, are hallmarks of Planet Aid’s mission. Having a consistent in-country presence, year-in and year-out, in the same villages and communities is essential to the organization’s steady, but measurable progress.

Commitment to Mission

While other higher profile aid programs may gain more media and public attention, Planet Aid continues to deliberately move forward in areas where it has earned the trust and recognition of the local community. Those who work with and depend on Planet Aid know they can count on the longevity of the organization’s programs and commitment. By carefully deploying its available resources, leveraging its local knowledge, and building upon its core competencies, Planet Aid has successfully established itself as a preferred partner among international foundations, other aid organizations, and national governments.

Proven Track Record

For the past 15 years, Planet Aid-supported programs have built and staffed schools, established on-going health initiatives, and helped train farming cooperatives to address the fundamental issues that face local populations every day. And PA is not limited by location or climate - it provides aid wherever it is needed, whether in hot desert zones where water is scarce and heat is an issue, or in colder regions where warm clothing is required. Donated clothing includes sandals and t shirts, to boots and warm clothing, like the donated new North Face Gotham jackets that were provided by the manufacturer to support the indigenous people of Alaska & Northern Canada. Corporations like North Face donate unsold inventory in exchange for the promotional benefit of their good will. Children are the most vulnerable to climate issues, so PA often focuses on their comfort. Individuals who attended Planet Aid-funded schools as children are now returning to their villages to teach a new generation after graduating from one of 26 teacher training colleges which Planet Aid supports. This has resulted in over 3,000 new teachers entering the education system every year. The same is true of agricultural and vocational programs supported by Planet Aid. Knowledge and resources introduced by Planet Aid and its partners have been passed through to new generations of farmers and workers over the years, thanks to Planet Aid’s consistency of mission. Farmers’ Clubs supported by Planet Aid have demonstrated year-to-year improvements in food production, income, and reduction of crop loss. Numerous stories abound of farmers moving from purely subsistence-level farming to achieving extra-income by selling surplus crops. Many of these farmers recorded double and triple-digit increases in harvest totals after implementing new crop techniques learned at Farmers’ Clubs.

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Programs

Planet Aid, Inc. supports Child Aid community Development programs operated by members of the Federation Humana People to People worldwide. The program is based upon an adaptable model that changes to suit the needs of each community. The program has different focus areas, or lines, that it pursues in order to help people create sustainable Development and improve the lives of future generations.

Currently Planet Aid, Inc. operates Farmers’ Club programs in Mozambique and Malawi through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and in-country implementing partners ADPP Mozambique and DAPP Malawi.

Currently many developing nations are suffering from a shortage of well  qualified teachers,     especially in rural areas where they are needed the most.  Since Planet Aid is dedicated to helping create sustainable Development in the countries where we work, it is natural that we give our utmost support to programs that support the education of children. Planet Aid, Inc. supports DNS Teacher Training programs operated by members of the Federation Humana People to People worldwide DNS Teacher Training is a program, created and designed by members of Humana People to People, to address the growing need for primary school teachers in rural areas of the developing world. The program operates in conjunction with local and national authorities on education in order to produce passionate, qualified graduates. In addition to teachers who are invested in the education of their students, the program seeks to produce teachers who also serve as community leaders.

Vocational schools cater to young men and women who cannot continue with their education due to a lack of funds and those who cannot take up any form of employment because they lack the necessary technical skills. The aim of the vocational training is to train youth who will promote rural Development by going back to work in their communities of origin. After graduation they have technical skills necessary for them to contribute to the Development of their country.

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Farming

Now, 4 Hundred foremost foodstuff security and safety authorities coming from Thirty-five nations around the world introduced the fact that the entire world is establishing for just a “perfect storm” of enhanced foods need and shrinking offer. The result would be a damaging number of individuals affected by lack of nutrition and being hungry.

An alert was delivered for a article publicized by a United kingdom Government’s Experience Program. The statement, named “The Future of Food and Farming,” alerts for the carrying on with requirements of populace rate of growth (which can be supposed to go beyond Eight billion within 2 decades). This stresses the necessity to think again about initiatives to stop cravings for food right now.

It is very important to refresh proceeds to absolve being hungry. Greater priority really should be offered to countryside advancement and farming for the reason that driver of broad-based earnings rate of growth, plus more rewards offered to the agricultural sector to resolve challenges which includes poor nutrition and gender inequalities.

Although the warnings were horrible and also the proactive approach immediate, there would be also very good news. That news originate from a continent often related to starvation instead of optimistic food generation. Experts considered Forty accounts of success through sub-Saharan Africa. They established that multiplication of current guidelines could highs foods making for that part. A lot more details on all these successes will be posted during the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability in The month of february Year 2011.

Planet Aid is very proud to have been aiding sub-Saharan growers in growing Environmentally friendly harvest generation and increasing their income source. We've been promoting most of these farmers through the plan referred to as Farmers’ Clubs. The program produces momentum within just country communities for positive effective improve that lowers low income and rises food stuff protection.

As an example, much more than 12,000 producers in Malawi have taken part in Farmers’ Clubs since The year 2006, and fifty percent (practically 8,000) of such people are females. This program continues to be working within the zones of Chiradzulu, Zomba, Lilongwe, and Dowa. An unbiased assessment conducted in '09 demonstrated that the program improved average Development by 250%, once-a-year funds income by 120%, and also having access to watering by 280%.

Planet Aid is attempting to extend the kind of Farmers’ Clubs over the full country of Malawi as well as anywhere else in the community, and is also trying to find assist for that work to ensure a lot more may be part of the resources. To find out more in relation to Farmers’ Clubs go to the Humana People to People web page

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Farmers' Club

Gorongosa is best known just for its 1,455 square-mile nation's park. The park has been the topic of the 2010 award-winning Nation's Geographical film, Africa’s Lost Eden. As described from the film, Gorongosa would be a region of marvelously plentiful animals, however numerous years of municipal war took its cost, and both sides in the conflict hunted down many of the park’s animals in order to survive. Now, serenity has came back, the park is gradually being renewed, and around communities have begun to develop and grow.

Ten Farmers’ Clubs have been structured inside Gorongosa area by ADPP Mozambique - Planet Aid’s in-country sister group. I just have a opportunity of ending up with the president of one of those clubs, who gave me a tour of the group’s demonstration field.

In the village of Gorongosa, we followed small vehicle roadways in to the country. As we slowly bounced across the dull potholed roads, I caught glimpses of Mt. Gorongosa in the distance. With nearly 6,000 feet in elevation, this land can be seen for miles around when it's never engulfed in clouds and haze. Water constantly cascades down it's slopes to the valleys below.

“Too little water is not a problem here,” explained Luis Bila, the ADPP project leader for Farmers’ Clubs in the area, and my guide during the day. “Still there are problems,” he introduced. “Occasionally there is too much water.” Luis explained how through the wet season water may rush on the sloped areas, cleaning aside top dirt. The Farmers’ Clubs plan may be dealing with this problem, assisting to apply steps that prevent soil deterioration.

We parked our truck on the side the road, and also began just to walk around a path through high grass which towered above my head. After about ten minutes, all of us came to a cleaning and had been met there by just Joao Bernas, a stocky farmer having a mild tone of voice along with a firm handshake. He introduced him self as being the president of the Aedodromo Farmers’ Club in Gorongosa.

Once we strolled round the demonstration fields, Joao explained he joined the ADPP Farmers’ Club program during 2006. Just before that period, he and the some other Thirty team people ended up growing callus the same way that they had always done. With the training in preservation farming that they received during Farmers’ Club, that expanded the types of harvest they planted and changed their farming practices, they've observed a considerable rise in harvest yield.

All of us walked down to in which a flow was flowing quickly. Joao explained that the stream is really a dependable cleansing source. Still, there is a problem of getting water to the crops. “Farmers Club has helped us with irrigation by giving motor-driven pumps as well as other devices, which has been a tremendous help in increasing our bounty,” he was quoted saying. He additionally directed to the way the series of beans and other harvest were planted perpendicular in to the slope, assisting to slow the stream of water across the areas during the wet season. In days gone by, Joao explained which he have previously removed corn stalks following the harvest and burned them. Right now he laid all of them down in rows similar for the grow series, which additional assisted decrease dirt break down.

Before leaving, Joao invited me to his family home. He and the family reside in a small brick house with a tin roof. An electrical line also comes in via one wall. On the roof I seen a small satellite dish. Inside, Joao proudly demonstrated his television and refrigerator.

Although modest along with flooring and walls which were also earthen, his home is dissimilar to some other thatched roof homes in the village. A dishwashing desk and dehydrating carrier have been put up in the front yard. Jaoa said that the Farmers’ Clubs health and hygiene training taught him this using this type of carrier can help decrease the spread of illness. Just before, his family had left dinners on the ground to be able to dried out. Farmers’ Clubs hence not only aids participants in growing harvest production, but in enhancing their overall health and well-being.

Joao thanked me before leaving and welcomed me to travel again. I responded that I could be happy to achieve this and also wished him luck, adding that I might anticipate seeing what exactly new progress I'd notice in my returning.

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Support Planet Aid

Planet Aid’s record of progress and success comes about only through the generosity of those who donate to its cause. In 2010, clothes donations in the U.S. allowed Planet Aid to provide $12 million in direct and in-kind Development support in 15 countries. Corporate funding, foundation grants, and aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Agency for International Development continue to help Planet Aid make a difference every day. For more information about how you can help Planet Aid carry out its mission, visit their new site, www.planetaid.org/. Your monetary gift or clothing donation, no matter how small or substantial, will help those that need it most.

Making a Difference with Planet Aid

Planet Aid believes in both safeguarding our Earth and taking care of those less fortunate than ourselves.  Every year we offer a hand up to thousands of people worldwide, helping them to lift themselves from poverty, while also working hard to protect the environment that we all share. In 2011, 84% of all funds generated by Planet Aid were spent on either environmental programs or international development, while 9% was spent on administration and 7% on fundraising.

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Planet Aid, Inc., 6730 Santa Barbara Court, Elkridge, Maryland 21075



PlanetAid-Development.org