About IPE

Mission and Goals

IPE’s primary mission is supporting the secondary education of girls in St. James Presbyterian Church of Blantyre, Malawi who have been orphaned (lost one or both parents) by HIV/AIDS and support them as they matriculate. 

In addition, IPE offers support to the Women’s group at St. James Presbyterian Church for emergency health and food needs of families with orphaned children and group’s administrative costs related to grant goals. 

As the budget permits, IPE will: 1) support college tuition and stipend for one or more young women; 2) support secondary education for boys who are orphaned who otherwise could not attend public secondary school; 3) consider making grants to other churches women’s groups for the same purposes.

"In Sub-Saharan Africa, 11.4 million orphans suffered from HIV/AIDS"

History

IPE was founded as a non-profit organization in May of 2006. In late 2005 Ellen and Karen were co-workers at the University of Illinois at Chicago Global Health Leadership office. In late 2005, they contributed a modest sum to St. James Presbyterian Church in Blantyre when Ellen went home to Malawi to conduct research. These funds were directed toward the Widows and Orphans group at Ellen's church, St. James. Ellen and members of the Cholinga Women's Group used the funds to meet basic food needs of orhpans and with leftover funds paid children's school feeds. Though primary school is free in Malawi, students pay fees three times a year for secondary school. As Ellen and Karen become involved with CWG, this group was undergoing its own spiritual renewal and realizing how they could serve orphaned children. The synchronous action of Ellen and Karen and that of CWG led to an ongoing mission of supporing the education of childern who became orphaned through HIV/AIDS.

Photo: First IPE event in Malawi

Financial Process

IPE follows the following financial procedure to make things run smoothly:

Before the beginning of each school term the African organizations with whom IPE partners, compose budgets for the next term. The budgets are reviewed by the IPE board members in Africa. They are then submitted to the treasurer. The treasurer presents the budget to the boards for approval. The board passes or makes inquiries, and additions that are deemed necessary. If the budget is found favorable the requested monies are sent to Malawi. The monies are then distributed to each school and receipts are obtained. Documentation of how the money was distributed is sent to the treasurer. Figures of expenditures and receipts are matched with the earlier budget proposal. Any discrepancies are resolved.

Photo:  From left to right, Karen Solheim, Co-President, Ellen Chirwa, Co-President, Jennie Petrack, former Bookkeeper and Board Member 

  Board Members