足球员创办的非营利组织在非洲支持初创企业

AS IT IS 2016-08-08 Football Player's Non-Profit Supports Start-ups in Africa 足球员创办的非营利组织在非洲支持初创企业

While recovering from a football injury, an American college student named John Cefalu decided¹ to use his free time to develop a plan.

He wanted to create a non-profit organization.

Now in its third year, his organization operates 12 offices in Africa. The program, called Health 2 Humanity, trains people to develop, use, and sell sanitary² products.

The goal is to not only improve sanitation³ services and fight disease, but create jobs and economic growth, too.

How does the program work?

To finance Health 2 Humanity, Cefalu and his team sell soap made in the United States to Americans. Half of the money goes to his business and half goes toward funding Health 2 Humanity.

Individual donations also support the non-profit organization. Health 2 Humanity identifies people who agree with its goals and would support its programs in Africa.

The organization trains candidates to start up a business. It teaches these men and women to make soap and other sanitary products, and then gives them a short-term subsidy⁴. The money from the subsidy buys raw, unprocessed materials and helps these entrepreneurs launch their business.

On average, establishing a soap-making microbusiness that will last 10 to 20 years costs $10,000, said Cefalu. The hope is to help entrepreneurs make and sell products to sustain themselves and their communities.

Local Perspectives

Hezron Njeri grew up in Central Kenya. He dreamed of directing a business or a hotel. He never imagined an American college student would help make his dream possible.

Njeri told VOA, "When Health 2 Humanity came to Kenya, I noticed that this is my opportunity now to become a manager that I've been dreaming to be and also to work with the community, to work with the children … and also encouraging them and giving hope about life and their future."

Children are important to Njeri because he grew up without his parents in an orphanage⁵.

He started his own business, making and selling soap. He was so successful that Health 2 Humanity asked him to lead its implementation⁶ program. Now, Njeri helps other people to become entrepreneurs.

Not just a charity

Cefalu said Health 2 Humanity is different from many non-profit organizations that work in Africa. It is different, he said, because it is not just a charitable group.

Cefalu says that his non-profit's goal is to make sure that people are able to develop themselves.

Cori Maass, Health 2 Humanity's Marketing⁷ director, said most charity work does not do this. She added that charitable work has created an environment in Africa where people do not believe in themselves.

Cefalu added that most of the entrepreneurs helped by Health 2 Humanity have never had any work experience. Many of them lack education and live in places that offer no possibility of employment.

"We found that the people we're training … they're looked up to because they’re not looking out for just themselves," Cefalu noted⁸. "They want to bring the community under their wing and create awareness⁹ and make their lives better."

He added that the entrepreneurs get more than financial security. They also develop a sense of satisfaction and a desire to help others.

Cefalu says the program has helped people. It has created jobs, decreased illness rates, and improved awareness of hygiene¹⁰ products. And there are other benefits.

"We seeing just overall self-value and self-worth – something about holding onto your own business and having your own opportunity and providing for yourself," he added.

Cefalu hopes to expand Health 2 Humanity to Asian and Latin American countries.

Words in This Story

sanitary – adj. of or relating to good health or protection from dirt, infection, disease, etc.

subsidy – n. money that is paid usually by a government to keep the price of a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue to function

entrepreneur – n. a person who starts a business

sustain – v. to provide what is needed for (something or someone) to exist, continue, etc.

implementation – n. the act of doing or using (something, such as a plan)

hygiene – n. the things that you do to keep yourself and your surroundings clean in order to maintain good health

benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect

fund – v. to provide money or financial support

charitable – adj. done or designed to help people who are sick or poor

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 sanitary   

adj.卫生方面的，卫生的，清洁的，卫生的

参考例句：

• It's not sanitary to let flies come near food.让苍蝇接近食物是不卫生的。
• The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。

3 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

4 subsidy   

n.补助金，津贴

参考例句：

• The university will receive a subsidy for research in artificial intelligence.那个大学将得到一笔人工智能研究的补助费。
• The living subsidy for senior expert's family is included in the remuneration.报酬已包含高级专家家人的生活补贴。

5 orphanage   

n.孤儿院

参考例句：

• They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage.他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。
• They gave the proceeds of the sale to the orphanage.他们把销售的收入给了这家孤儿院。

6 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

7 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

10 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。