About
Project Espwa
A registered Irish charity delivering humanitarian aid to communities in crisis — through financial support, structured programmes, and the power of the circular economy.
Humanitarian Aid to
Communities in Crisis
Project Espwa is a registered Irish charity with a mission to deliver life-changing humanitarian aid to communities in crisis across the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
The word Espwa means "Hope" in Haitian Creole — and hope is exactly what we deliver. Since September 2016, we have surpassed the landmark milestone of 4,000 tonnes of vital humanitarian aid distributed across 207 shipments worldwide, with a combined value of over €20 million.
What makes Project Espwa unique is our circular economy approach: we rescue usable surplus goods — clothes, food, medical equipment, construction materials, and more — that would otherwise be wasted, and transform them into lifelines for the world's most vulnerable communities.
Our Three Core Approaches
Financial Support
We provide direct financial aid to fund food, shelter, medical care, and essential services for communities in crisis. Your donations go directly to where they are needed most — quickly and transparently.
- Direct cash transfers to partner NGOs
- Emergency response funding
- Programme operational costs
Build Programmes
We design and deliver structured, sustainable aid programmes — from food distribution networks to educational supply chains — building lasting infrastructure that empowers communities to recover and thrive.
- Food distribution networks
- Educational supply programmes
- Community infrastructure support
Circular Economy Aid
We rescue surplus goods from hospitals, retailers, food distributors, and commercial companies across Ireland and the UK — and reharnessing them as vital humanitarian aid via the circular economy.
- Surplus goods rescue & redistribution
- 740+ tonnes delivered annually
- Air, road & sea freight logistics
Vital Surplus Goods
Every year, Project Espwa redistributes over 740 tonnes of vital surplus supplies — by air, road, and sea freight — to destinations domestically and worldwide.
Clothes & Textiles
Clothing, uniforms, blankets and fabric goods rescued from retail surplus and donations.
Construction Equipment & Materials
Building supplies, tools, and materials diverted from disposal to rebuild communities.
Diapers & Baby Supplies
Essential infant care items sourced from surplus stock and distributed to families in need.
Hygiene Products
Soap, sanitisers, feminine hygiene products and personal care items for vulnerable communities.
Educational Equipment & Supplies
School furniture, books, stationery and learning materials from educational institutions.
Food & Water
Surplus food parcels and water supplies rescued from distributors, delivering over 1.5M meals.
Bedding & Survival Materials
Sleeping bags, mattresses, tents and emergency survival supplies for displaced communities.
Medical Equipment & Supplies
Medical devices, medicines, PPE and healthcare supplies sourced from hospitals and suppliers.
Delivering Aid by Air, Road & Sea
Project Espwa redistributes over 740 tonnes per year of vital surplus supplies across three freight modes — reaching communities domestically and worldwide.
Sea Freight
61 × 40ft Containers
4,620 m³ | 1,360+ tonnes
Destinations: Haiti, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Kenya, Uganda, Romania, Lebanon, Syria/Turkey, Ukraine
€5.5M+ donated aid value
Road Freight
146 Aid Loads
12,200 m³+ | 2,870+ tonnes
Destinations: Ukraine (war-affected communities)
51,400+ food parcels delivered
Air Freight
Rapid Response
Emergency & time-critical aid
Destinations: Domestic & international crisis zones
Fastest route to those in need
Combined Sea & Road Freight — 2016 to 7 March 2026
Total Aid Shipments
Tonnes Distributed Since Sept 2016
Volume of Goods
Total Aid Value
2,444 cars
off the road for one year
183,280 trees
absorbing CO₂ for 10 years
1,265 homes
powered for a year
Equivalent CO₂ savings from 11,328+ tonnes tCO₂e net carbon footprint saved
A Decade of Impact
Project Espwa founded — first sea container shipped to the Caribbean
Expanded operations to Africa — Kenya and Uganda aid programmes launched
Ukraine road freight programme launched in response to the war — 146 loads to date (7 March 2026)
Middle East emergency response — Lebanon and Syria/Turkey containers shipped
207 total aid shipments worldwide — over €20M in combined aid value. Landmark milestone: 4,000+ tonnes of humanitarian aid distributed since September 2016
Proudly linked with UNEP for International Day of Zero Waste, 30 March
Where We Source Surplus Goods
Project Espwa works with a wide network of donors and partners across Ireland and the UK.
Hospitals
Food Distributors
Educational Institutions
Retail Surplus
Commercial Companies
Support Project Espwa
Your donation directly funds humanitarian aid shipments, food parcels, and circular economy programmes that reach communities in crisis around the world.
€25
Provides a food parcel for a family of four for one week
€50
Funds hygiene kits and baby supplies for two families in crisis
€100
Contributes to the cost of shipping a tonne of vital surplus goods
€250
Helps fund an entire aid load of educational materials for a school
Secure donations powered by iDonate · Registered Irish Charity CHY 19799 · www.projectespwa.ie
In Partnership With
#ZeroWasteDay · 30 March 2026 · Turning Waste Into Hope