About Building with Books

Building with Books (BwB) 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, BwB youth actually build schools and bring literacy to children and adults in developing countries around the world. BwB 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.

BwB's unique approach not only encourages involvement but produces tangible results. In the past year alone, BwB students in six U.S. regions have contributed more than 100,000 hours of service and touched the lives of 156,000 elders, homeless, disabled and young children in their communities. Since 1992, U.S. student volunteers have helped build more than 260 schools in rural regions of developing nations including Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Nicaragua and Senegal. More than 108,000 children and adults have attended those schools, with 30,000 currently enrolled. Cumulatively, parents in developing countries have contributed more than 510,000 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 BwB-built schools, and 97% of students involved with BwB 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.

Rather than resting upon its accomplishments, BwB is looking forward to engaging significantly more youth in the U.S. and globally. By 2012, we envision 820 schools built that will have served some 336,000 children in some of the poorest countries, as well as 400 U.S. after-school programs that will have empowered more than 35,000 students. Or, to put it grandly yet realistically, BwB hopes to touch the lives of more than 1,000,000 people around the world.

Please feel free to connect with BwB here on YouTube. You can also visit our website at the following link:

http://www.buildingwithbooks.org/

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Building
• with
• Books
• Literacy
• Education
• Africa
• Asia
• South
• America
• Poverty
• Youth
• Leadership

[Annehduh]

omg i got to go to Mali, Africa with bwb! (: this club and organization is so amazing!!

[tony15virgo]

i am a menber of this organization and believe me this is really cool!!.... we do a lot of community services........

[lorilynn32]

Wow, this sounds like a really great organization! I am canadian, and was wondering if there is anyway i can get involved with the international aspect of the organization?