Its (not unambitious) goal is to see Southern Africa transformed in a generation from the ground up.
Africa is forecast to account for 40% of the world’s population by 2100, from 19% today. On the current trajectory, job creation won’t keep up, resources will come under increasing strain and poverty ever more pervasive. Our goal is to contribute to solutions in education, agriculture, wealth creation, policy implementation and climate adaptation.
We hope that, in combination, our efforts will help to empower people to select leaders who are willing to introduce inclusive political and economic institutions, allow free markets to function, facilitate unfettered ownership of land and promote education, enterprise and innovation.
Perivoli Foundation is comprised of
We believe in a training model that focuses on:
Ours is a Training Model
Teach a girl to read and she will choose to have two children
Show a teacher the power of play and she will have a more productive time in the classroom
Explain to a small holder farmer how to adopt natural farming practices and her soil will recover and she will save money
Encourage farmers to convert encroacher bush into biochar and they will restore the rangeland and be richer for it
Nursery School Education
Since 2012, Perivoli’s nursery school teacher training programme has shown 36k+ teachers across 6 countries how to create stimulating classroom activities out of recyclable waste materials.
The programme is expanding at a rate of 10,000 teachers per year and costs USD 5 per child per annum.
One of Perivoli’s goals is to see the girls reading before they go on to primary school. And the boys too.
The use of recyclable waste shows both young and old the power of repurposing.
Soil Rejuvenation
On soil, Perivoli has a twin strategy. It shows nursery school teachers and their communities the case for Natural Farming.
And its Biochar Carbon Removal Project in Namibia is a platform for farmers to earn carbon offset credits for converting encroacher bush into biochar which is returned to the soil.
Both efforts lead to a recovery in soil health and the production of cheaper, more nutritious food. Meanwhile, more greenhouse gases are captured and stored as Soil Organic Carbon.
Our Impact
The impact of the programme has been assessed by local ministries and by a three-year joint study by the Universities of Namibia and Bristol. To read more click the link to access the Full Reports, Executive Summaries and video.
These studies conclude that the programme has a highly positive impact.
Our 2035 Targets
Our programmes focus on where systems shift: early education, women empowerment, family health, soil rejuvenation and climate change adaptation.
Teacher Training
Train 200,000 nursery school teachers across 8 countries, reaching 12 million children.
Natural Farming
Encourage 500,000 farmers to switch to Natural Farming covering 1 million hectares.
This aims to increase calories of food production by 45% and reduce farm input costs by 38% per hectare on average.
Family Health
Deliver 6 modules on Family Health topics to 5 million people (majority women).
Biochar Carbon Removal
Support 400 Namibian farmers to thin 1.6 million hectares of bush-encroached rangeland, turning 6.4 million tonnes of biomass into 2.1 million tonnes of biochar, returning it to the land, locking away 1 million tonnes of CO₂, and earning USD 120 million in offset carbon credits.
*all of which (after PRI overhead) will go to the farmer
Teacher Training
Train 200,000 nursery school teachers across 8 countries, reaching 12 million children.
Natural Farming
Encourage 500,000 farmers to switch to Natural Farming covering 1 million hectares.
This aims to increase calories of food production by 45% and reduce farm input costs by 38% per hectare on average.
Family Health
Deliver 6 modules on Family Health topics to 5 million people (majority women).
Biochar Carbon Removal
Support 400 Namibian farmers to thin 1.6 million hectares of bush-encroached rangeland, turning 6.4 million tonnes of biomass into 2.1 million tonnes of biochar, returning it to the land, locking away 1 million tonnes of CO₂, and earning USD 120 million in offset carbon credits.
*all of which (after PRI overhead) will go to the farmer
Funding
The Perivoli Foundation has been funded by the family office of James Alexandroff OBE.
It is envisaged that exit proceeds from the family offices’ portfolio of positive impact venture investments held through Perivoli Innovations will fund the Foundation.
