Founded in 1995 by Reverend Linda Tarry-Chard, the Project People Foundation (PPF) grew out of the Black Doll Project (BDP). The BDP donated more than 15,000 black dolls to South African children who were largely alienated from positive images of themselves by a legacy of apartheid. Realizing a need for serious economic empowerment for the people of South Africa, Rev. Chard redirected the focus of the Black Doll Project and brought forth the mission of the Project People Foundation. PPF’s mission is to work with local communities in Southern Africa and the U.S. to provide: 1. humanitarian assistance; 2. economic empowerment; 3. leadership training; and 4. education for women, children and youth. 

Through its mission, PPF boldly established a model of partnership, skill-building and empowerment with the women of South Africa. It trained them to create their own products and receive a fare wage for their labor. Over the course of six years, PPF trained over 800 women to manufacture handcrafted dolls, jewelry and AIDS pins through the Crafting Social Change Project.