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The Sonder Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to empower impoverished communities through high-impact, sustainable development.
WHAT IS HIGH-IMPACT, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?
Community development efforts that support basic needs and increase the opportunity to change the lives of a significant number of people for an extended period of time at an efficient cost-per-person impacted.
All administrative costs are paid for by our committed Board of Directors. This means 100% of all donations go directly to our programs.
A GLOBAL REACH
Our headquarters is in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and we focus our efforts in economically developing countries where the need is great. As GiveWell, the “gold standard for giving” puts it, the developing world is where “your dollar goes a lot further.”
Non-profits operating in the United States often work to resolve complex problems. They also have to account for the high cost of living and staffing. Organizations working overseas, on the other hand, often work to solve more basic problems that have inexpensive solutions. Solving these problems can make a tremendous difference for a great number of people at a fraction of the cost (check out our Core Values to better understand why we do what we do). Currently, we have program offices in the sub-Saharan African countries of Burkina Faso and Malawi.
OUR PROJECTS + OBJECTIVES
CLEAN WATER
785 million people in the world lack access to clean drinking water. The Sonder Project partners with communities to drill wells (sometimes as deep as 300 feet) to tap into naturally filtered aquifers. All wells are fitted with manual pumps and maintained by a locally established water committee with support from local Sonder Project staff members. Each Sonder Project well supports at least 500 local community members—and often many more.
INCREASING ACCESS TO EDUCATION
263 million children and youth did not attend school in 2016—and that was before the Coronavirus pandemic. There are a number of reasons why students do not attend school around the world. The Sonder Project currently focuses on ensuring a healthy and safe learning environment in a permanent structure by building schools and sponsoring students who attend some of those same schools to reach their full potential. The school blocks we build, and the sponsorship we provide, send a clear message to the local community: “Education is key.”
FOOD SECURITY
815 million people are undernourished around the world. In the rural communities with whom we partner, the local population is primarily subsistence farmers. Climate change and unreliable growing seasons have forced families to often make-do on one meal a day. This means that farming typically provides little in terms of economic opportunity. In 2018, we piloted a solar-powered irrigated community farm to allow farmers to harvest year-round, thereby increasing the annual incomes of everyone in the local area. We remain actively involved in this ongoing initiative.
OUR IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
Since 2015, The Sonder Project has drilled wells, built schools, sponsored students and increased food security around the world!
wells drilled
People with increased access to clean water
schools built
Students ATTENDing sonder schools every day
Solar-Powered IrrigatedCommunity Farm
Number Of PeopleWith increased Food Security
sonder project partners
We are thankful for the support of our corporate partners who believe in the importance of giving back and making the greatest impact.
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