buildOn is a community benefit organization that works to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through education and service. We've built 430 primary schools in some of the most rural and isolated communities in the developing world, and we are now completing a school every 6 days. In the United States, our members engage in community service, raise funds for the construction of schools abroad, and travel to the countries where we work to build schools.
Mali is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, and has an illiteracy rate of 75 percent. With an acute shortage of access to primary school education, children in Mali face enormous challenges in gaining literacy skills that help them break out of poverty. Simultaneously, high school students in Washington, D.C. face inequitable opportunity in accessing meaningful life experiences, and the ability to make positive change locally and internationally.
buildOn will work in partnership rural communities and the Ministry of Education in Mali to build a new school where no other educational infrastructure exists. Ministry of Education paid teachers will administer the school once construction is completed. 10 high school students and 5 working professionals from Washington, D.C. will travel to Mali for 10 days to help build the school. Participants will live in the community and work side by side villagers in the construction of the school.
Literacy is the backbone of development, and by building a school in a rural village in Mali, buildOn will be increasing access to education and literacy for more than 200 girls and boys every year. Hundreds of parents from a rural Malian village will volunteer in the construction of the school and learn valuable construction skills and community development practices. 10 High School Students from inner city D.C. schools will engage in a transformational cross cultural trip to Mali.
