We have changed our name but not our mission. buildOn will keep doing what we do best: empowering people and transforming lives by partnering out after-school service programs in the U.S. with communities in developing countries to build schools.
buildOn is a non-profit organization that empowers primarily urban U.S. high school students through in-class and intensive after-school programs. In addition to tremendous contributions of community service in their own cities and neighborhoods, buildOn youth actually build schools and bring literacy to children and adults in developing countries around the world. buildOn programs are designed to build confidence and real-world capabilities in American youth while also empowering communities world-wide to overcome the crippling cycle of illiteracy, poverty and low expectations by opening the door to education.
buildOn’s unique approach not only encourages involvement but produces tangible results. In the past year alone, biuldOn students in six U.S. regions have contributed more than 461,000 hours of service and touched the lives of 208,000 elders, homeless, disabled and young children in their communities. Since 1992, U.S. student volunteers have helped build more than 295 schools in rural regions of developing nations including Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Nicaragua and Senegal. More than 122,000 children and adults have attended those schools, with 30,000 currently enrolled. Cumulatively, parents in developing countries have contributed more than 569,000 volunteer work days toward building schools, taking the first step toward changing their own lives and their societies.
The significance of such involvement cannot be minimized. Villagers in developing nations are becoming literate as a result of buildOn-built schools, and 97% of students involved with buildOn programs in the U.S. go on to college. In other words, no matter what sort of challenge youth face in their communities, families and schools – if they are empowered, they will succeed.
Upcoming Events:
No events at this time.
Who buildOn would like to meet: buildOn is interested in connecting with people and groups interested in fighting poverty, ending illiteracy or building schools in communities that want and need them. We would also like to meet youth in the U.S. who are interested in improving their own communities through service projects.
buildOn announced today the winners of an online photo competition to celebrate U.S. urban youth and rural villagers around the world that are overcoming the cycle of illiteracy, poverty and low expectations. The winning images were selected because they best reflect the work buildOn is doing to empower people and transform lives by partnering after-school service programs in the U.S. with communities in developing countries to build schools.
Students, staff and members of the buildOn community submitted over 100 images of community service activities across the nation as well as photos of rural villages across the world where buildOn members are participating with communities to construct schools. 558 members of the buildOn movement voted online for their favorite image in each of five categories.
