Teach People believes that all people, regardless of nation, race or circumstance, deserve dependable access to nutritional food, clean water, good health, clothing, access to education and educational materials, as well as, shelter through self-discovered, sustainable and self-administered means. To this end, Teach People is dedicated to providing on-site project-based solutions coupled with on-going instruction designed to equip people to see, hear, understand and solve these challenges for themselves.
Our vision for Teach People is to provide opportunities for people to teach themselves.
Create the conditions necessary for people to find what they need to know, when they need to know it through multiple-context-driven mediums that they can apply, adapt and own without dependence on external third-parties for success or evolution.
To provide static and dynamic educational opportunities spanning the seven fundamental human rights including water, food, clothing, housing, health, internet and education
To be on the ground funding and/or running point on projects that build self-sustaining ecosystems comprised of the seven fundamental human rights
When not able to be on the ground, partner with existing organizations who are working to solve these problems in a like-minded manner
Provide what is necessary for self-sustaining solutions with a planned exit of three to five years from project inception
Teach People was born in 2012 after the organization’s founder and family returned to the United States post-living and working in Zimbabwe for two years. Initially unsure how to be helpful, the organizational structure was not formalized until 2016 after much time traveling, exploring, researching and questioning how to value and help people.
The Teach People organization is an Iowa and United States 501(c)3 structure. We exist to enable people in emerging countries choice, autonomy and sustainable solution opportunities for themselves, their families and communities by focusing on the seven fundamental needs of people.
When water, food, shelter, education, clothing, health and access to internet communications and commerce exist as cultural, community, family and individual assumptions, people are free to focus on other facets of life such as advanced self-improvement, hobbies, travel, cultural development, civic participation and international relations. When these fundamental components of life are not available, people are forced to exist uniquely in pursuit of these items leaving little to no time, effort or energy for anything else.
We exist to enable people in emerging countries to discover and solve problems for themselves without long-term dependence on third-parties.
Our vision, mission and purpose is to provide people with personal access to knowledge and experience with the intent of enabling them to meet their own needs, as well as, those of their families, communities and nations. Providing access does not guarantee choosing knowledge. However, our perspective is having a choice is a step in the right direction of empowering people.
We practice the “teach it, live it, coach it, support it” approach. Rather than creating a situation whereby we become inseparable components of a community to which we do not natively belong, we are designed to leave after three to five years in each project situation. We become an immersive part of a community, lead by example, step back and coach while someone else does it, step back further and watch that it is happening and then prepare to leave people with knowledge, experience, instruction and autonomy.
Our priority will always be to provide direct, on the ground action and results with people in need of knowledge, experience and opportunity. When the direct approach is not readily achievable or accessible, we’ll partner with those already on the ground, already helping people, contextually. Our goal will remain the same: to enable people knowledge and skills for their pursuit of self-sustaining, autonomous lives.
We practice the “teach it, live it, coach it, support it” approach.
While we act independently, as well as, partner with other NGOs, Charities, Non-Profits and Institutions, we are concurrently working towards becoming an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) recognized by and consultative to the United Nations. We support, respect and are built upon the principles as stated in the Charter of the United Nations and Millennium Development Goals to provide relief and developmental aid to developing countries around the world.
The Teach People organization is concurrently pursuing membership in the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO) with the intent of working with other great organizations seeking the same thing — to equip people with opportunity and autonomy.
We are always seeking opportunities to be helpful and useful, whether immersive or partnership-based projects.
We believe addressing the holistic needs of people in a context that makes sense for the local geography, demography, political climate and partnership opportunity is a good combination of determinents enabling us to decide where, when, with whom and how.
We are currently building programs in Zimbabwe to teach and enable water acquisition, filtration, storage and distribution, preventive health behaviors education, computer skills for teachers, students and business development, aquaponics and conservation based farming – all spanning adults and children alike.
Our desire is to implement fully self-sustaining community solutions as illustrated in the associative graphic working to addresss the whole person. All project commitments are designed with the exit in mind. We design for and contribute to autonomy, not dependence.
We need your help! Contact us to learn about what we’re doing and how you might help.
Operational efforts requiring time, effort consultation and contribution include:
Financial efforts include:
All donations are tax-deductible according to United States 501(c)3 rules and regulations.