Building a school in a third-world country
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It only costs $8,500 to build a school in a third-world country. Did you know that?
Ok, so the economy might not be at its best at the moment, but I know there are a lot of people who have money and don't know what to do with it. You might be retired, you might have come into an inheritance, or you might have saved up. Wouldn't building a school for children who really need it be a wonderful way to spend that money?
There are many issues facing schools in third-world nations. For instance AIDS/HIV kills teachers at rapid rates in Africa; in South Africa, 30 percent of teachers are HIV positive. Third-world parents seek to send their children to private schools, as government systems offer no incentives for high scores; teachers receive the same pay regardless of scores or attendance.
I just want to remind everyone about the power of compassion. We have to act with humanity in mind because, as people, we have that power to love and hate, as well as the power to choose which we will do. We shouldn't be at peace with ourselves until we know we've done what we can to help others, I think. Even to give a little bit helps; on the Free The Children website, there was a paragraph about a boy who wanted to help build a school and collected soda cans and bottles... from the trailer park where he lived. He found it within himself to give $30, as much as he could.
Even if you know other fortunate people who could help contribute to the building of a school, it would help. Schools collect money to do so; children helping children happens across the world.
I guess I thought of writing this for several reasons. I thought about the war in Iraq and what soldiers are doing overseas (well, not the ones who tortured and humiliated detainees, or murdered civilians), and the sacrifices they make to help us in America as well as those in the Middle East. I thought about the last lecture by Randy Pausch, which is one of the most inspiring movies I've seen. I also thought about turning 21 years old, and having something to show for it.
I just think that this is something worth considering. Maybe you're feeling a little down and you want to do something to feel good about yourself. Maybe you just want to spend some money. You may even want to travel a little. If you don't have the $8,500 to build a school, you can maybe pay $2,000-3,000 to go on a volunteer trip!
Look into the different options available to you. There is so much you can do with your time and money, maybe worth more than anything you can think of doing for yourself alone.
Volunteer Abroad in Belize
Additional resources
- SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES - Practical Action
- How To Build a School in a Third World Country | eHow.com
How to Build a School in a Third World Country. As the old parable says: 'Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.' There are many ways to help build schools in remote areas of the world that ... - Build a School in a Developing Nation
Build a school in a developing nation during a volunteer vacation: By constructing a school building, you'll help students to pull their families out of poverty - Help Build a School in Nepal
- Build a School in Africa, a volunteer-run charitable organization
- Jackie Chan's Build a School for a Dollar
- Volunteer Abroad - International Volunteering Guide - VolunteerAbroad.com
Volunteerabroad.com is the directory for international volunteer programs. Search through thousands of volunteer programs around the world. - Volunteer Abroad Opportunities
Volunteer Abroad with Global Crossroad in more than 30 Countries. Global Crossroad offers most reliable, quality, and affordable volunteer abroad, internship, adventure and cross-cultural experience world-wide - Volunteer Abroad, Gap Year Abroad, Intern Abroad with Cosmic Volunteers in Asia, Africa, South Ameri
Cosmic Volunteers offers international volunteer programs in 8 countries. Cosmic Volunteers is an international not-for-profit organization, founded in 2001 with operations in Ecuador, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines, Vietnam. - Build A School
- Free The Children - Home
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This is good information. I have 3 stages of giving money, none of which are huge. I pick one local charity, one national charity, and one worldwide charity.
I give time, anywhere the inspiration to do so hits, and the little bit of money I give doesn't help a lot, but it's rice for the hungry and mosquito nets for the ill, and shelter for the homeless. Every penny matters. Every minute of time counts. There are some sights that donate rice for every click on certain links. It's a fun google search to seek out how you can give online.
Thanks for reminding us of that. =)
It is good to know that a young person like you would think of doing good to people in Africa. Your mind is quite active in the right direction. Let us hope more young people will do the same. The world will be a better place to live in.
I just hope this article will reach those people who have lots of money and good heart and willing to donate their resources to countries who really need a school...well done...
The economy is bad for those of us who try to play by the rules, and that is a fact. However, I see a lot of people with more money than brains out there at the casinos, losing money right and left, and I wonder - where is their sense of humanity?
Whether one is religious, and therefore driven by the needs to do good things in the name of God, or if one is simply wanting to help others because we all live on this lonely, blue planet, I really wonder why people who get such a thrill at mindlessly pulling little slot-machine levers can't get an even larger thrill at building a school that will possible help educate a future doctor or help people learn to grow crops more productively while adding back nutrents to their otherwise depleted soils?
Maybe if those amongst us with excess cash - (I wish I were one of them, because I would definitely find ways to help others!) - would spend it on things that matter instead of feeding their own egos and addicitions, the world would slowly begin to climb up to a point where a bright future for everyone would be possible.
You may call me a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
Great hub!
Thank you on behalf of children across the world for writing this hub. There are so many ways for people to give back, but some simply aren't aware of the charities out there, or the struggles people are going through. We tend to be so caught up in our own lives that we forget how lucky we are compared to those wo have no schools, clean water, shelter, or even the promise of tomorrow. Hopefully some people will be inspired to give after reading this hub.
Great hub. it is wonderful that you can build awareness.
living africa one cannot be too aware of aids, poverty, education and the like. We (those of us ho can) are always giving to charities through our media and competitions (part of which in some cases is given to the needy) I also belong to an organisation whose prime purpose is to raise charity funds to give to the needy, Over one milllion Rand was given to Aids orphans last year.
Thank you for your comments, everyone!
It's so true that every click, every penny helps. It's the thought that counts, and though some of us don't have as much money as others (sigh), we can still do something. It helps to think about how much we have and what it would be like if we didn't have it all of a sudden.
I'm so happy to hear that you all have ways of giving, whether local charities or to AIDS orphans! :D
And about casinos... what a waste of money. I've never gambled and I certainly don't plan on it.
who do we contact if we want to donate money towards the $8500?
I have a question. I would like to start a charity in America, (my home country) that builds schools in Africa. I have alot of experience to fundraise, however I do not know how to find people "in-country" to build and run the schools. Anyone know how I can find honest and GOOD partners to be able to trust and PROVE!!!!! that the moneys being sent are building schools? Also, I want control over naming and some control over how the education is delivered.
Sorry, i can be contacted by email at www.butlerbenjamin@ymail.com. Thank you.
I know of a school complete that is not being used its in a rural area of Kwa Zulu Natal South Africa. It has great potential to be an adult learning facility in the mornings and an after school facility for students
dean.m@mailbox.co.za
I am very interested in finding out slot more information about building schools in third world countries an whom I should be talking to who can help me get pointed it the right direction! ie: how to get funding, how to get other people involved an where are there high demands for the schools that have to get built! I am a builder by trade but can get people in other areas involved also would just like to be pointed in the right direction an talk with some people about my ideas! Feel free to contact me at trewie21@hotmail.com I would be extremely happy to have some thoughts an ideas throw my way! Thanx
Thank you all! Luke, I've posted some additional information that can help to answer some of your questions in the Additional Resources section. Thanks for your questions.
Dear beloved servant of God,
The President / Executive Director,
Blessings, love and peace from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be unto you . Glorify the Lord On behalf of the organization’s board. I thank the Almighty Father Jehovah God who has just connected us to you in a very amazing and miraculous way as we were checking some work done with the Heroes of the Nation. As I was going through the HTN website, but the Lord keep on sending me back to your organization. I can not understand why, but Lord knows! I humbly ask you that even though your focus is to South Africa, I kindly beg you to extend your services to East Africa.
I’m pastor by call, lover of children by virtue. I’m married with 6 children. I’m also taking care of 6 orphan children and living with them in my house. A part from being God’s servant, I’m a Program Officer of a Christian non profit organization termed as Love Witness Alliance Champions of Africa Network (LWAC Africa Network) Reg: BN/2011/141900. This organization is an outreach arm of the church and it has established an Orphans and vulnerable children school based here in Kenya (LWAC Academy). The school currently has 360 pupils. Out of 360 children, 200 OVCS (most children are AIDS orphans), while 160 are from lower class families. There also 80 orphan children who are not admitted in this school, but are taken care of through home based care program. We therefore take care of 440 OVCS.The organization being an outreach arm of the church, is taking care of children from Kenya and Tanzania where our churches are planted. The LWAC Academy School therefore is accommodating OVCS from both countries mentioned above.
The school starts from baby class, pre-unit and nursery to class eight next year. Even though the school dearly needs 12 classrooms, but we currently only have three classrooms. Other children are learning just under the trees. The school has 12 teachers, but the ministry of education is pressing that 3 more trained teachers should be employed by next year, 2012. Besides the urgently needed classrooms as stated, these children are hungry and needs food. They dearly need books, computers, medical care, shelter and sufficient nutrition in addition.
The main goal of LWAC Africa Network’s program is entirely to support the church and community’s efforts to care for the affected OVCS, disabled and widows by assisting them with their daily necessities, e.g. shelters, school fees, moral, nutrition, cloths, medicine and spiritual support and to bring about a sustainable change in their lives.
We have never built an orphanage yet although it is our major vision to have one. We have two centers, one in Kenya and the other one is in Tanzania. There is a need to open one in the masaai land by 2012.
We’ve Read and seen how you worked and supported the Heroes of the Nation in Central Kenya to reach its goal. It’s a good work in deed. Since we believe it is every child’s birthright to receive hope for a better future, education to grow, unconditional love, protection from disease and illness and later become champions, humbly request you to come and pay a visit to this project.
“Just one second with these amazing children at LWAC Academy and you will fall in love, as we did, forever. They become a part of your soul, heart, and inspiration for life. These children have lost so much, yet their hearts are filled with love and hope for the future. Together, we can return the love by giving hope, education, love and protection.”
In this regard, we long to see you come and work directly with the people on the ground that is already making a difference. It’s the only way to make sure that your resources or donations are going to be used directly to the communities and used by people who really know what the issues are.
Never doubt that you can make a difference -- directly to the people who need it most. We’ll be praying God to lead you to us at His own appointed time. We trust that if this is really God’s will then He’ll bring it to completion. I’ve therefore attached a some photographs of the children hoping they might help you to understand what we have on the ground-children’s photographs.
Remember that as we’ve been praying God to open some doors that could enabled us to support the OVCS, thus it came as a surprise while surfing that God led us to your wonderful website. There are some people in your country who know about this project. A missionary lady by name Elizabeth Guntrip has been to this project twice when she came to minister at a conference hosted by our church. I can give you her email / phone contact if you requested. I hope meeting her could help you to know much about the project. She was led to us through a lady minster by name Kerrie Price who lives in Brisbane.
Please take our request into your deep considerations; we are always ready to send you our detailed proposal and any information you might need to know from us.
Yours in His Christ Jesus,
Pastor Rose Ocholla.
In The Doghouse 3 years ago
Glassvisage,
There are so many wonderful causes that can be supported when you check into them. This was a wonderful reminder of how every little bit can help others when we decide to give. I loved how you made the comparison of how little a school would cost to build in a third world country. We in the US simply cannot comprehend how good we have it until we look around ourselves and really SEE! Thanks for the reminder of how we need to be less selfish and more giving.