Tomorrow more than 90 million kids will wake up and not be able to read a book or even write their own name. Global illiteracy drives extreme poverty, undermines democracy, and fuels intolerance. But what can we do? We can work to change this number and provide these individuals with a more satisfactory life.
Schools throughout our nation are forming clubs and societies to provide individuals from less fortunate countries with food, clothing, and other basic necessities. But how long will these items last? While continuously providing such materials temporarily helps individuals, the gift of education can establish long-lasting reinforcement. Knowledge is what makes the world go round; why must the human innovative spirit be halted by one’s economic status?
Confronted with this dilemma, a group of students at West Ranch High School decided to do something to address the problem. Breaking the cycle of illiteracy is the true mission of our club: BuildOn. I am the founder of the BuildOn chapter at West Ranch High School and am currently a junior. Our BuildOn family at West Ranch is fighting the education crisis around the world by helping those who need it most – children and adults living in poverty – engage in their future educational endeavors.
Providing individuals with access to education would allow individuals to rise above their situations and thrive in the real world, by finding jobs that support the basic necessities of life. On an international level, BuildOn has built more than 700 schools in seven countries that have historically lacked adequate educational support: Burkina Faso, Haiti, Mali, Malawi, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Senegal.
Our ultimate goal at West Ranch is to support BuildOn’s international mission. To do that, we are trying to raise $30,000 to build a school, and for every $2,000 raised, we can send one student abroad to contribute to the construction. If we raise all $30,000, we can send an entire team of 15 kids from West Ranch. With the community’s support, we can be the first BuildOn group from the Santa Clarita Valley to go abroad and establish a school in a Third World country. Help us change the world one school at a time – help us BuildOn!
To support the West Ranch High School chapter of BuildOn, visit https://act.buildon.org/fundraise?fcid=395741.
