December 15, 2006 -- Ellen McCurley, executive director of The Pendulum Project, used to help people in need on a grassroots level – she went back to school and earned first her master’s in social work, then her master’s in public health. Then, six years ago, she founded The Pendulum Project, a non-profit humanitarian foundation that helps families and communities care for, support, and protect orphans and other vulnerable children in Malawi, where the HIV/AIDS epidemic is raging. The Pendulum Project links those who help these at-risk children with those who can provide resources and hope. She explained that every family in Malawi is affected by the AIDS crisis – the death rate among children 5 and under is 23 percent; the life expectancy of an adult is age 42; and 25 percent of all children are orphans, many of whom are caring for not only their own brothers and sisters, but cousins and other unrelated children who have no family left.

McCurley recently returned from the project’s office in Malawi, where she spends about four months a year. Her son and daughter, both college students, accompanied her on this most recent trip, and it was a life-changing experience for both. She told the Brewster students that no matter what they ended up doing in life, they should realize they are part of a small world, a global community, and should look for ways to help, to take over from the generation now helping but getting older.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffet, and even pop star Madonna were praised for their help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. McCurley stressed that the funds her organization raises via grants and other donations world-wide do not go to pay for high salaries nor benefits for the project’s staff, but for helping Malawi children’s aid organizations at the most basic level with medicines, education, books and other school supplies, training, and simple technology.

McCurley urged the students to consider accompanying her group to Malawi in the future. When asked what kind of help a student could offer, McCurley explained that some have helped the aid organization workers learn how to use a laptop; some have helped build houses, taught guitar, or helped with planting farms. McCurley stressed that just going over and working with the children, letting them know that other people care about their plight, is a tremendous help and gives hope to a generation without a lot of hope.

Students and faculty gathered around McCurley after her talk to ask questions about her work and how they might get involved. Students and adults also admired the handiwork of the Malawi children on display, purchasing necklaces and bracelets priced at $1 to support the project in a small way.