School Builds

Children around the world are often crammed into unlit, unsanitary, and unsuitable learning environments. For too many, school can be a dark and crumbling structure, a large tree when weather permits, or a structure in a neighboring village many miles away. In developing countries, 57 million children of primary school age have no classroom access at all. We believe a sound structure is critical to a strong education and creates a safe environment where children are comfortable learning.

In 2013, CofS began a school build program to complement the other ways we are assisting girl children in gaining access to education. We chose buildOn as an implementing partner because of their proven methodology and commitment to ensuring that girls have an equal chance as boys to be in these classrooms. buildOn’s methodology has been honed to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations. They do not believe, like us, that the world’s most economically poor need charity from the world’s wealthy. Instead, buildOn places the community at the center of its development projects and has high expectations for their participation, leadership, and partnership in school build projects. The community members build their own schools.

Additionally, local governments are active partners in these projects. Local governments help select communities for school construction and prioritize those most in need of school infrastructure. The local government also plays a strong role in sensitizing the community members to ensure that all children are welcomed in the schools regardless of gender, ethnic group, caste, or socio-economic status. The country’s ministry of education provides teachers and support to sustain the schools.

CofS donors, if they choose, are encouraged to choose a trek team to travel to the community to work alongside the community members to start construction on the school. Community members host Trek Teams in their homes and facilitate workshops to teach visitors about the richness of their culture. These treks are not a vacation, a poverty tour or “voluntourism.” The trips are an act of solidarity.

CofS donors have helped us fund the construction of 43 schools as of December 2023. Schools have been funded in remote villages in Guatemala, Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Senegal. Close to 6,000 students, 50% of which are girls, are attending school in their own communities/villages. Committing to a school build project transforms a community and impacts generations by breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations. 

2022

Senegal

Keur Adama Dia

Funded by University of Florida Panhellenic

2021

Malawi

Boma

Funded by Clemson University Panhellenic

2021

Malawi

Kasikidzi

Funded by UNC Charlotte Panhellenic & Western Kentucky University Panhellenic

2021

Malawi

Kasungu

Funded by University of Illinois Panhellenic

2021

Malawi

Mphowe

Funded by Quinnipiac University Panhellenic

2020

Senegal

Keur Malal

Funded by the Devine Family

2020

Senegal

Mbarague Lou Moussa

Funded by Rutgers University Panhellenic

2019

Malawi

Chimwang'ombe

Funded by West Virginia University Panhellenic

2019

Malawi

Kakuyu

Funded by Washington State University Panhellenic

2019

Malawi

Katope

Funded by Indiana University Panhellenic & University of Southern Mississippi Panhellenic

2019

Senegal

Ngarigne

Funded by Tulane University Panhellenic

2019

Malawi

Ntondoko

Funded by University of Maryland Panhellenic

2019

Senegal

Touba Mboufta

Funded by University of Florida Panhellenic

2019

Senegal

Touba Ndiene

Funded by University of South Carolina Panhellenic

2019

Mali

Warala

Funded by University of Rhode Island Panhellenic & Interfraternity Council

2018

Senegal

Mboyene

Funded by University of Tennessee Panhellenic

2018

Senegal

Sass Mack-Sateme

Funded by Georgia Tech Panhellenic

2017

Malawi

Mwanzolo

Funded by Tulane University Panhellenic

2016

Malawi

Msewa

Funded by Kennesaw State University Panhellenic

2015

Senegal

Mbelbouck

Funded by Clemson University Panhellenic

2013

Senegal

Ndoffane Bouré

Funded by Circle of Sisterhood

2019

Nepal

Gauripara

Funded by Texas Christian University Panhellenic

2017

Nepal

Premnagar

Funded by Clemson University Panhellenic

2023

Guatemala

Cantón La Soledad

Funded by Georgia Tech Panhellenic

2023

Guatemala

Cantón San Ramón

Funded by Texas Christian University Panhellenic

2023

Nicaragua

Wamblancito

Funded by the Sutton Family

2021

Guatemala

Canton Ojo de Agua

Funded by Phi Sigma Sigma

2021

Guatemala

Caserio Tojzunel

Funded by Phi Sigma Sigma

2019

Nicaragua

Aguas Calientes

Funded by University of Delaware Panhellenic

2018

Nicaragua

Achiote Pailas

Funded by Grand Valley State University Panhellenic

2018

Nicaragua

Cacao Central

Funded by University of Florida Panhellenic

2018

Nicaragua

La Chiclera

Funded by University of Miami Panhellenic

2017

Haiti

Astier

Funded by University of Tennessee Panhellenic

2017

Nicaragua

El Toro, Sector Los Alcantaras

Funded by Indiana University Panhellenic

2017

Haiti

Matador - Grand Anse Dept

Funded by Gamma Nu of Phi Sigma Sigma

2016

Nicaragua

El Jicaro #2

Funded by University of Kansas Panhellenic

2016

Nicaragua

El Jicaro #3

Funded by Texas Christian University Panhellenic

2016

Nicaragua

Linda Vista-Bocaycito

Funded by North Carolina State University Panhellenic

2016

Nicaragua

Valle Los Liras

Funded by University of Pittsburgh Panhellenic

2015

Nicaragua

Esperanza Apantillo

Funded by Florida State University Panhellenic

2015

Nicaragua

Likia Arriba

Funded by University of South Carolina Panhellenic

2014

Nicaragua

Elena Maria

Funded by University of Missouri Panhellenic