Second Table Ministries DBA SidebySide

As our Side by Side name implies, we work to identify “Champions" that are leaders in service to their communities, who have a vision, and are willing and able to provide leadership. We then come beside them to help them reach their dream to make a positive contribution in meeting the needs in their communities.

Our strategy is outlined in the organization aim referenced above.

We have been working in South Africa for 15 years, have had projects from Cape Town to Mpumalanga, have many contacts with churches throughout the country, and have raised over $1,000,000 to help provide services there since we began in 2005.

The founders of Side by Side have been involved in anti-poverty program administration in the US at local, state, and national levels since 1963.

In connection with South Africa churches, we have helped build 4 neighborhood community centers whose focus is service to the poor in their areas. Service provided by initiative taken by these “Champions," following construction of these facilities includes such things as Early Childhood Development (ECD), health services such as HIV/AIDS screening and health care, meals programs, community outreach, and after school tutoring. In addition we've built an ECD center, completed water projects, and helped initiate a home based ECD program.

In 2017 we established a micro-enterprise where women were trained to manufacture reusable feminine hygiene kits for young girls. This program, done in cooperation with Days for Girls International, also provides feminine hygiene education for girls who are provided with these kits. The kits are washable, and last for about three years if properly cared for. The reusable nature of these kits has significant environmental benefits for the community. The employment of sewists and health education instructors provides much-needed income for women in the settlements. We are in the fourth year of this program. In the first three years the enterprise conducted 283 workshops, providing menstrual hygiene education to 14,166 girls in 140 schools. They have sold or donated 13,977 reusuable menstrual hygiene kits. The goal for 2020 was to reach another 4,800 girls but due to Covid, this was not met.