Building SchoolsWorldwide, one in five school-aged children do not attend school.
There are many reasons for this, but lack of access should not be one of them. Too often students in our partner countries are forced to walk miles just to get to a classroom. Even if they do make the walk, they are too often left to learn in poorly constructed shelters – or even outside.
We Build Schools
We work to improve school access by constructing new school blocks through our school-building program, in partnership with the non-profit organization, buildOn. After construction, the school is often the most structurally sound building in the area. There’s a palpable sense of pride throughout the community. School attendance increases and the community-focused methodology sets the foundation for future development.
Every school construction initiative begins with establishing a local committee to take ownership of the project. The community is responsible for donating the land and collecting local materials such as sand and gravel to make cement. The community also provides the manual labor necessary to reach the final project and agrees to send girls and boys to the school in equal numbers as part of the initial agreement. There is no heavy machinery involved, and the entire process is done by hand. As a result of their contributions, the community takes ownership of the project upon completion. The result: A sustainable, high-impact project that will affect generations of students.
The Sonder Project believes education is a ladder of opportunity, helping pull future generations out of poverty. Being able to climb that ladder often depends on other factors, such as the availability of clean water, food security, and health and economic stability. With this in mind, The Sonder Project takes a holistic approach to development. Discover all of The Sonder Project initiatives that help children stay in school.
SCHOOLS BUILT
Students ATTENDing sonder schools every day
SONDER SCHOOL NEWS
Back-to-School: Sponsor a Student Today!
Every student deserves a first day of school. Across the United States, students are heading back to school. Families are shopping for supplies, packing backpacks, meeting teachers, and settling into new routines. It is a season filled with anticipation and...
An Afternoon with Moses: The Sonder Project’s First College Student
Just a few years ago, Moses Humphrey had dropped out of school and believed his education was over. Today, he is a third-year university student in Malawi, studying Social Work and Youth Development and inspiring the next generation to pursue their goals. Read how Moses became the first student supported by The Sonder Project to attend university—and why he hopes to use his education to serve others.
Noel’s Story: Pursuing Opportunity through Education
Meet Noel, one of our newest graduates through The Sonder Project’s Education is Power program in Malawi. His journey is an inspiring example of the kind of determination, talent, and potential we see in the students we choose to sponsor in Malawi and Burkina Faso.
Meet Cecilia Kwenda
Meet Cecilia, a bright and determined student in Malawi whose dream of becoming a chemical engineer is back on track thanks to The Sonder Project’s Education is Power program.
Power Student Spotlight: Meet Antoinette
15-year-old Antoinette Guirou from Doundouni, Burkina Faso is one of the brightest students in our Education is Power program. She’s been in the program for 2 years and ranks 2nd in her Grade 9 class.
Celebrating a Milestone Year in Burkina Faso
Highlights from our February visit to Burkina Faso, where we revisited the roots of The Sonder Project, celebrated ten years of impact, and helped shape the next chapter of community empowerment.
Unwrap Dreams: Meet Monica
When Monica Kamphokoto stepped into her classroom at Chitenje Secondary School in Malawi, she wasn't just taking classes—she was breaking barriers. At 17, Monica is the first girl in her family and, in fact, her rural community, to graduate from secondary school, a...
Power Student Spotlight: Osward Cosmas
In the face of hardship, hope emerged for Oswald Cosmas through The Sonder Project’s Education is Power program. Oswald’s story begins with adversity, as he was forced to drop out of school in Grade 9 due to financial constraints. Despite his parents’ efforts‑‑who are...
The Man on a Mission is Back!
Kurt Freudenreich is back out on the trail! This time he is hiking the Ouachita Trail in Arkansas and Oklahoma with the goal of sponsoring 50 students with The Sonder Project.
Daniel’s Story
Daniel Kalumbi was just starting Grade 10, but he already had his future mapped out. As a precocious lover of math, physics, and chemistry, Daniel was eager to finish high school and pursue a career in engineering.