Irie Foundation

IrieLogo250x150

The Irie Foundation, inspired by the legacy of Nelson Mandela and the work ASoH is doing in South Africa, is supporting five water projects at our partner schools – Nkotobona High School, Nyamande High School, Masweng Primary School, The Thornybush Collection Community Project at Manyangana High School, and Thandokazi Primary School (located in Qunu, the home village of Nelson Mandela).

In October 2015, the Irie Foundation traveled to South Africa to visit some of the schools and watch some of the work in progress.

  • Manyangana High School received a borehole earlier that month and Irie and his team were there Thursday, October 15, 2015, for the official ceremony organized by The Thornybush Collection.
  • Irie and his team watched as we drilled a borehole and hit water at Nkotobona High School on October 14, 2015.
  • They also visited Masweng Primary and Nyamande High School. IRIE Foundation-sponsored boreholes are scheduled to be drilled at these two schools in the very near future.  In the meantime, the children at Masweng welcomed us with a traditional dance. The ceremony was beautiful, despite the heavy rain..which we considered a good omen!

We are extremely grateful for the involvement of people like DJ Irie, his foundation, and programs like his PenPals program, which empowers South Florida’s at-risk youth with the tools they need to provide sustainable water sources to over 1600 children spread across 5 rural regions in South Africa. In connecting their local learners with peers halfway across the globe who are deeply affected by our world’s water crisis, their goal is to provide our South Florida After-School All-Stars with formative enrichment that boosts their optimism and #InspIRIEs affective action as they #AspIRIE toward a better tomorrow!.

Established by entertainer and entrepreneur, DJ Irie, the Irie Foundation works with troubled youth in South Florida. They see the clear benefit of providing opportunity, via social and economic development, to these young students in South Africa.