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Watch buildOn on the Today Show:

tinyurl.com/buildOnToday

buildOn (formerly Building with Books) 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.

buildOns 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.