International Programs (1999-Current)
Project Flight is dedicated to building upon and expanding its international services, because education and the ability to read and write is a universal human right. According to Dr. Cappella, “The Legacy of Literacy is Democracy and Freedom.” Thou it is true that charity begins at home, its boundaries are limitless. Project Flight is helping to provide resources and build libraries through fostering many programs that include using Peace Corps volunteers, for schools in the Federated States of Micronesia, specifically the state Kosrae, and volunteers in Rwanda, at the Institute of Agriculture, Technology, and Education in Kibungo and Crossroads Springs Institute, Western Kenya, East Africa. Some of the other programs are described below.
In 1999, upon hearing of an acute need for English language books and school supplies in a secondary school, “Les Hirondelles,” in Garoua, northern Cameroon, Project Flight responded by collecting and donating 12,500 textbooks and other reference materials to that school. These books were valued at an estimated quarter of a million dollars. As English is one of two official languages in Cameroon, Africa, these books were in high demand in this impoverished country. Two Buffalo State University graduates played a significant role in this project by identifying the need because this is their home country. They were familiar with the problem because it was their parents who started school. In addition, the College’s donated computers, printers, and typewriters to the school.
In 2002, Project Flight partnered with other organizations as part of the Doctors without Borders program to establish a literacy program in a devastatingly poor section of Mexico City, known as a “garbage dump” city. For this program, Project Flight donated a significant number of books, as well as sponsored and trained a Buffalo State University student to go along with the ‘Doctors Without borders Program to help create a tutoring program and school for students in literacy.
A very ambitious program was undertaken in 2001 in which 6,800 books were donated by Project Flight to the city of Tianjin, China. These books were then distributed to six universities and schools in that city. According to the Consul General for China, these books were needed to expand their understanding of English and our culture.
In 2000, Buffalo’s Sister City in France, Lille, was the beneficiary of a books exchange program in which Project Flight donated 500 books dealing with American Literature and History. These books were distributed to students with an avid interest in America and to disadvantaged individuals in northern France to improve their reading and writing skills. Also in 2000, Project Flight donated 1,200 Pre-K to 12 books to Colombia, South America for distribution to appropriate schools in that country.
Project Flight is well known in Western New York for donating over 100,000 books each year to children, schools, agencies, and families. However, Project Flight’s makes no distinctions between international or national programs when it comes to children in need. Clearly, children in Buffalo are no different than children in Africa or China—they all have a hunger to learn about themselves and about the world. To that end, Project Flight helps fight illiteracy overseas as well as at home. Children and adults in countries all over the world need books in English – books that can help play a role in their intellectual development, as well as in their understanding of American society and culture.
The donation, transport, and distribution of books and educational supplies overseas continue today in 2024, in South Africa, Calcutta, India and the Ukraine. It is a very complicated process, requiring the assistance of many individuals and groups. Project Flight benefits from a very close working relationships with many departments and International Student and Scholar associations at Buffalo State University. In addition, such overseas literacy efforts would not be possible without strong support from Buffalo State University’s President, Administrators, faculty, students, and alumni.
In another development, in 2003, a donation of a children’s library was established in the Masiphumelele Township near Cape Town with Nelson Mandela. A library of over 10,000 books was established along with computer and science labs. In 2011and in 2024, Dr. Cappella and Dr. Bard returned to Masiphumelele to provide more resources and do a site visit of the school that grew from 200 children to 2,000 in both primary and High School. The children that attend the Ukhanyo School in the township now have access to a future filled with promise because of the education they received. The inspirational quote from Nelson Mandela found on a wall of the library perfectly conveys the impact that the library has had on the community. The quote is as follows: “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president…” In 2024 Dr Bard and Dr. Cappella visited the school in South Africa to continue their work and vision according to Nelson Mandela, to expand the library, literacy workstations and school donations for the computer labs and other special needs.
