FAQs:

1. Why did you start These Numbers Have Faces?

In 2006, TNHF Executive Director and Founder Justin Zoradi spent a summer in Cape Town, South Africa and was very moved by a number of relationships he had built with township youth. In these relationships, he saw a missing link between young people graduating from high school and those who end up as leaders in their community or with good paying jobs. That missing link was access to higher education and opportunities for internships, skills training, and social capital

Upon return from South Africa, Justin began graduate school in Portland. One day after class he was sitting on a bench and felt God ask, “Justin, will you deny for others what you demand for yourself?” At that moment, very hesitantly, he knew what I had to do. Because he’d been given so much, it was now his job to pass that on to others.

So Justin bought a book, How To Start and Build a Nonprofit Organization, gathered his friends around and together they started These Numbers Have Faces.

2. Where does the name come from?

These Numbers Have Faces believes that relationships can change the world.

We care deeply about issues of poverty, disease, and conflict, but the driving force behind TNHF is the connection we have with our friends in South Africa.

Numbers, statistics, figures, and data are important ways to evaluate and measure complex issues like global poverty. But in terms of actually reducing it, we believe transforming statistics into human relationships to be one of the most effective and powerful steps forward. It is in these relationships where hope comes alive, where God is real, and where our lives find significance greater than ourselves.

No matter what the news media tell us, our dear friends in South Africa are not numbers. They are not color coded charts, pie graphs, or economic statistics. These Numbers Have Faces.

3. Why are college opportunities important for youth in South Africa?

A college education in South Africa means empowerment, opportunity, and academic equality for township youth.

With only 3.5% of black South Africans graduating from college, higher education is a key way to transform South Africa and confront the devastating effects of generational poverty.

Education is lasting aid. An education doesn’t go away, it can’t be used up. Rather, it expands and the benefits grow exponentially. It is aid put to use forever by people within the community.

The majority of our current TNHF students are the first in their families to attend college and represent a new generation of young South Africans educated and empowered to ignite transformational change in their communities.

With a college degree and involvement in our education program and Community Impact Model, TNHF students will be able to provide for their families and transform their communities in ways they never thought possible.

Please visit the education page to learn more.

4. Why should I invest in college opportunities for South Africa when there are so many deserving young people in America?

As citizens of the United States, a nation that values justice, equality, and democracy, we here at TNHF feel compelled to support a country that is desperately trying to stabilize after a long history of apartheid rule.

We know that the health of a country like South Africa will ultimately benefit the global climate, reducing the amount of aid needed from external sources. It is our goal to invest in the South African youth of today to help support the South Africa of tomorrow.

There is a lot of great work being done in South Africa, but it seemed that very few efforts were being made to empower young people through education and community reinvestment. Governments were focused on the crumbling economy, large NGO’s on South Africa’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, who would step in to provide opportunities and hope for a handful of young people in the townships?

5. Do students attend college in South Africa or America?

TNHF students attend local colleges in Cape Town, South Africa. Attending college in Cape Town makes our students more likely to invest locally and stay connected to their township community.

6. Who benefits from your scholarships?

The primary beneficiaries of the project are ambitious youth from the Cape Flats townships, both male and female, ages 18-25. All TNHF students show promise and dedication in their academic endeavors and community involvement, yet are prevented from pursuing higher education due to extreme financial hardships.

Please see our education page to learn more about our education model.

7. How much does a college scholarship cost for a TNHF student?

The numbers vary from student to student based on their need, where they attend school, and what degree they choose to pursue. Costs range anywhere from $2,500-$5,000. For specific breakdowns for specific students, please contact us.

8. What are the requirements to receive a TNHF scholarship?

TNHF Students must:

• Pass their "matric" exam (The matric exam is a final test that qualifies students to graduate from high school in South Africa. It also refers to the minimum university entrance requirements.)
• Complete the extensive TNHF application process that demands both a written application and a personal interview.
• Adhere to the Community Impact Model
• Commit to passing classes, displaying academic integrity, and carrying themselves as role models and leaders in their community.

9. Is These Numbers Have Faces a non-profit organization?

Yes. These Numbers Have Faces is a registered tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. (Tax ID #26-0416765). All donations are tax deductible. Donate Here.