J Neysmith and Hands Up Out of Poverty

J. Neysmith loves sub Saharan Africa and through Hands Up Out of Poverty his trust fund supports women and girls in that area. Why women? They make communities run. They are the mentors of all children, inculcate values and a sense of family; and, when educated stay to their villages. The villages tend to be small with most black women under 30 years of age. Almost 90% have HIV but unlike their male counterparts they seldom get AIDS. There are very few men in the villages, most leaving for economic reasons and never returning. This leaves the women pretty much the dominant force.

J. Neysmith does much of his work through churches and small NGOs. His trust finances rain water harvesting so that gardens can be irrigated; purchases goats that can be milked; and, brings electrification to isolated communities. The electricity alone means lighting for schools and refrigeration for medicines. The women who raise crops or milk goats often have more than enough for their families and are able to sell the extra to earn money.

His trust uses 100% of the funds donated to help the women and girls with none used for administration. Here is his wish list for those who want to help: dairy goat - $100, solar panels for medical clinic lighting - $600, pedal powered pump - $150, water storage tank - $500, 20 textbooks - $100, bicycles with heavy duty carriers - $135, rough terrain motorbikes for delivery of medicine and veterinary supplies to rural villages - $5100.

Neysmith believes there are three big world issues, not just in developing countries but often in first world countries. They are food security, potable water and education. His trust and co-operating trust called The Jubilee Charitable Trust put their efforts into helping the poor in Africa.