Pens for Kids Denmark – the founding organization
Claus Kusk Hjørnet started the project in Denmark after his first safari in Kenya in July / August 2000 with his wife Mette. When they planned the trip, they saw it as a once in a lifetime experience they just had to try, but on their way back to Denmark had already promised each other to go back some time.
Claus is a chemical engineer. Most of his spare time is spent on his “Help Africa” projects, but he also finds time to be a parliamentarian in IDA – the Danish Society of Engineers, where he is an elected member of the general assembly for IAK (IDA’s unemployment insurance for engineers) and supplant member of the general assembly for IDA – the main trade union organization for engineers.
You can see his Danish website (which includes text in English) at www.pensforkids.dk.
Pens for Kids Switzerland
Pens for Kids Switzerland has a similar founding story to Pens for Kids UK. Diarmuid De Faoite went online to find a useful way to donate a box of pens he had been given. The Pens for Kids Denmark page explicitly states that opening branches in other countries would be welcome.
After some initial contact with Claus, the new association, Pens for Kids Switzerland, was founded on 25 November 2020 by Diarmuid, his wife, Martina Negri and their friend, Jörg Schaarschmidt.
They run two websites, one in German: http://www.pensforkids.ch/ and the same one in English: www.pens-for-kids.com.
Pens for Kids UK
Chris Sissons stumbled upon Pens For Kids UK when he was looking for a way to recycle old pens & pencils that were found during a house move… Chris’ wife Ellie spotted that they were looking for someone new to take over the running of the organisation and he jumped at the chance to get involved! After some emails and a phone call to Claus, Chris, along with his trusty sidekick (his mother Val) had officially taken over from Malcolm O’Brien.
Chris has revamped the website www.pensforkids.co.uk, organised the Pens For Kids PO Box, started the registration process with the Charity Commission and is now focused on sending large shipments of pens and pencils to those who need them.
Chris is married to Ellie, and they have two young sons who seem a bit confused as to why the house is now full of stationery! The team is currently comprised of Chris & Ellie, his mum Val, his nieces and various other family and friends.
Pens for Kids Kenya
Pens For Kids Kenya is a non-profit NGO registered in Kenya. You can view the board members here.
If you donate a pen to Pens for Kids Kenya – they send it to a child who needs it. Pens for Kids Kenya is based on 100 % voluntary work – there are no employees, no-one makes money on the project, and the children do not pay anything for the pens.
Pens for Kids Tanzania
Pens for Kids Tanzania receives donated items from Pens for Kids organizations in the industrialized countries – and directly from donors – and distributes them to kids, orphanages, schools and charity organizations in Tanzania free of charge.
Pens for Kids Tanzania is operated by safari driver and guide Philip Amon, and registered as a non-profit charity organization by the Tanzanian authorities.
What Pens for Kids is – wherever it is based:
* An organization that remains free of any political or religious influence, economic motives or any interests other than helping children in developing countries to get an education
* Run entirely by unpaid volunteers
* An organization that needs your pens – either new or used (but still working please), or your donations to help get pens to the children that need them