- Description
Jacob Lief is the co founder of Ubuntu Education Fund, a nonprofit community-based organization that works with the people of Port Elizabeth to develop educational and health initiatives. Over the past eight years, Jacob has served as Ubuntu's President and has grown the non-profit from a small fund supplying basic educational materials to an international development organization employing over 55 people in the township of Zwide. Ubuntu now reaches over 40,000 orphaned and vulnerable children and 13,000 adults. Lief is also the recent recipient of the Crystal Eagle Award for outstanding service to humanity and the Douglass Dignitary Award for Exemplary Service to the Harlem Community.
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Kaylyn Smialek 04/19/2008 09:27 AM Report
I agree fully with Damon. Having travelled to Port Elizabeth and met Jake also, I can say that he has done wonders with the Ubuntu Education Fund. He strives to help each individual and create unity within a very widespread community through education. Working with the Ubuntu Fund was honestly life changing, it opened my eyes to the world around us and inspired me to go beyond my everyday life and help out where I could. If lots of people could take Jake's outlook on life and his passion we could probably help others that struggle for education and peace throughout the world!
Hugh Koeze 04/16/2008 09:26 AM Report
I met Jacob, and beyond his amazing work in Port Elizabeth, he's a born story-teller who inspired me. His honesty, straight-forwardness, earnestness and compassion are a model for us all.
Gretchen Young 04/15/2008 04:04 PM Report
I've spent many years living and working in various parts of Africa - including South Africa- so I am in awe of people like Jacob Lief who have embraced Ubuntu and used its power to make the world a better place. I plan to contact him to collaborate! May we all learn to be people through people.
Damon Hatheway 04/14/2008 10:37 AM Report
As a student at Jake's old school I can attest to the tremendous affect that Jake is having in Port Elizabeth. Transformed by the trip that I took last year, I am returning to Port Elizabeth once again with other students to work with Ubuntu Educational Fund in their efforts to improve the quality of life in Port Elizabeth. What the organization has accomplished under Jake is truly inspirational and it is his commitment to the people of South Africa that has driven me to return to Ubuntu.
Emily Axelrod 04/14/2008 10:08 AM Report
What a great inspiration Jacob is. Not only is he helping thousands of people, but he is empowering children and adults through education and skill development. We need to hear more from Jacob--his story could spark similar work around the world.
Barb Fernald 04/13/2008 09:43 PM Report
It is amazing to see what Jacob Lief has accomplished in just 8 years. By helping the people of Port Elizabeth learn new ways to improve their health care and education systems he is creating an effective model for sustainability. Affecting the lives of 40,000 children and 13,000 adults in a positive way is no small feat. It could not have been accomplished by just throwing money at their problems. The Ubuntu Education Fund helps empower people to help themselves. This is a model which could be followed by communities all over the world.
Kate Chaplin 04/13/2008 06:54 PM Report
I want to hear more from Jacob Lief and his work in South Africa. This kind of focused, involved aid in needy communities is exactly what this planet needs. I'd like to see how he was able to set it up.