Pilot Kelly Slingers started the Plane Project with the hope of inspiring young girls to pursue studies that could get them into the aviation industry.
Johannesburg, South Africa (22 December 2020) – Kelly Slingers has a passion for empowering and uplifting young girls from low-income areas. Her hope is to inspire the next generation of women in the aviation industry.
The Plane Project is a registered NPO born out of the desire to enhance the accessibility of aviation to rural communities throughout Africa. It was founded in 2014, Kelly Slingers dreamt of using her passion for fighting social equality and justice, along with her career as a pilot, to serve and inspire those in need. Starting with workshops and mentoring at schools to introduce young girls to the aviation sector.
One of the cornerstones of The Plane Project is deeply rooted in the desire to empower and encourage youth to engage in STEM education, especially the socially marginalised youth in local communities.
Kelly recently spoke at Curro Helderwyk high school to a group of the female students to inspire them to follow their dreams in STEM industries. Beyond promoting STEM education and more specifically aviation, The Plane Project engages in a fruitful dialogue about how aviation can be used as a tool to bridge the gap between privilege and basic human rights.
The Plane Project has since expanded its mission to include working towards fulfilling the human right to basic healthcare for all Africans, irrespective of location and socioeconomic status.
During 2020, the Plane Project has ensured the continued access to essential health care services and basic needs items, against the backdrop of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Plane Project revved up during COVID-19 and following national lockdown in South Africa and focused its efforts on delivering Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to rural communities in need.
Since lockdown commenced in March 2020, The Plane Project has delivered 30,000 PPE items around the country, including the Free State, Northern Cape, North West Province, KwaZulu-Natal, in partnership with various organisations such as CANSA Association of South Africa, Shout South Africa, Adventist Development and Relief Agency, and Point of Rental Software.
Kelly is also now heading up The Plane Project full-time, and serves as the Captain on all flights, delivering desperately needed medical and other basic need supplies to rural communities in South Africa, and beyond.
Looking forward, Kelly aims to expand The Plane Project’s positive influence by providing a wider range of basic needs such as educational supplies, water, food, and women’s health products by seeking partners who are able to provide access and donation of such items.
How to get involved
Partners are getting involved by sponsoring flights and/or items for donation. If you would like to learn more about or get involved with The Plane Project please visit www.theplaneproject.co.za or email kelly@theplaneproject.co.za.
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens or share your good news with us by clicking here.
Click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast, with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes that there’s good news all around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll hopefully leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
Pilot, Pilot, Pilot.
by 