Nyanya Project

Click here to read our updates from Africa 2010.

Students in the second grade class of Ms. Katie Williams in the Belmont School outside of Boston recently reached out to African families. They raised almost 100 toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste to send to Nyanya Project families in Kenya.  They are classmates of Hannah Pierce, youngest granddaughter of TNP Founder, who spoke at their class month.  One of the things they asked our founder was, how can we help?  They then decided on toothbrushes.  Hannah will bring their gifts to Kenya in July when she visits the Nyanya Project families with her family.  This is what the teacher wrote…

Dear Mary, We had a very successful Open House this morning where the children were able to showcase all of their hard work and learning about Kenya.  They did a fantastic job!  We are beyond excited to tell you that we collected a grand total of 64 small tubes of toothpaste and 95 toothbrushes!!!!! The kids were absolutely thrilled with what they had done.  If you could tell us exactly who and how many that might help, I would love to tell the students concretely what they have done.  :)  Their thoughtfulness and generosity touches me and inspires me every day.  Thank you for your inspiration as well.  We couldn’t have thought of a better organization to help than yours! Fondly, Katie Williams

Founder Mary Martin Niepold was honored at Wake Forest University on April 15.  She received the 2009-2010 “Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award for a Faculty Venture” for her work with The Nyanya Project.  The award was presented by Dr. Betsy Gatewood, head of the Wake Forest University Center for Entrepreneurship, and Sydney Kitson, a Wake Forest grad who was awarded for his entrepreneurship as a Florida developer. Kitson, a former NFL player, recently announced his latest development venture in a New York Times story on the same day as the awards banquet. Kitson will construct the nation’s first 100 percent solar-powered, all-smart grid, sustainable city in Florida. Niepold, who also graduated from Wake Forest, currently teaches journalism and writing at the University and travels to Africa twice yearly to visit and develop Nyanya Project programs for grandmothers and their AIDS orphaned grandchildren.

Click the link below to listen to the interview.  Denise Franklin of WFDD Radio 88.0 interviewed Mary Martin for her radio show Voices and Viewpoints.

click here to listen