The Heartbeat Project was founded in 2022, originally named “Supporting Senegal” until the project expanded its scope of impact into other locations. Essentially, the leader of the project, Ava Stern, a Freehold Township High School student, focuses on African students’ specific needs by communicating with them directly through Zoom and Whats App, establishing a relationship and then figuring out funding and methods to fulfill their needs. Thus far, Heartbeat Project/Supporting Senegal has allocated over 10,000 units of dental supplies, 6,200 maxi-pads, clothes, hats, and games to the Senegalese farming communities of Ngnith and Ronkh, at the students’ requests. Currently, the Heartbeat Project is working with a prominent Kenyan outreach, Shoe4Africa, in Eldoret, Kenya, sending thousands of maxi pads, socks, and other resources. The project has also delivered 1,000 pads to the Freehold Area Open Door in order to create an impact closer to home. This movement has truly changed the lives of so many people, and continues to aspire to do more. I am Ava Stern, and this is a column featuring updates about my organization: The Heartbeat Project.

The Heartbeat Project’s newest mission involves working closely with Shoe4Africa in Kenya to create a longer-lasting impact on communities. The project wants to positively impact the Kenyan economy rather than simply sending goods from the US. Furthermore, Shoe4Africa communicated a need to support the women in their community who have survived gender based violence (GBV). Often, women are not treated with respect and dignity in Kenya and throughout communities in Africa. Many women are victims of beatings and abuse due to the social structure of a male dominated society. Before women are married, their parents pay a dowry to the prospective husband’s family. This truly exemplifies women being treated like objects and less than their worth. Additionally, once married, husbands often see their wives as “useless” because they bring little or no income to the family. Many women are kicked out of the house by their husband; forced to leave their families, money, and belongings; and need to create a life of their own, completely impoverished and abandoned. The Heartbeat Project sought to find a way to instill economic independence and confidence in women. Through fundraising, we have subsidized three farms, each led by a GBV survivor, who will mentor, protect and support young girls in the communities from harm all while teaching the basic tenets of farming. The value of these farms transcends beyond the funds they will provide to the ladies and the girls. The girls will find mentorship, protection and safety to help stop the cycle of this violence. The three extraordinary GBV survivors who manage the land and mentor the young girls are Mercy, Maurine, and Joanne. This pilot program is currently funded for one year with the hopes that the revenue made by each farm will sustain their existence the following year, as the women will become less dependent on the Heartbeat Project. In this way, the mission deeply strengthens the economy. I am so proud of the project’s work, and will continue to post on the column with new updates!