The non-profit Pencils of Promise (PoP) asks a simple question, “Can you imagine not being able to read this sentence?” And then points to the fact that 250 million children cannot. In other words, 250 million children of primary school age lack basic reading, writing and math skills.
The organization was founded by Adam Braun. He recalls that while traveling he asked a young boy begging in the streets of India. “What do you want most in the world?” Adam recalls the boy replied, “A pencil.” And Adam reached into his backpack and gave the boy his. A smile erupted and his eyes brightened. Adam said it was then he saw the profound power and promise brought through something as small as giving a pencil to just one child. Over the next five years, he backpacked through more than 50 countries, handing out thousands of pens and pencils across six continents. In 2008 Pencils of Promise was founded. The nonprofit builds schools and provides quality educational programs in Ghana, Guatemala, Laos and Nicaragua.
PoP is a global community focused on reshaping the landscape of education. Based on their vision that EVERYONE deserve access to a quality education. They partner with local ministries of education to identifies communities with high need for education infrastructure. Through these partnerships and donations PoP helps build public primary schools owned and operated by local governments and community members. Since its inception the organization has served 232,046 children, provided 16, 132 teacher coaching sessions , delivered 1,046 water filters and facilitated 589 school building projects.
In addition to facilitating the building of new, much needed schools, its programs include teacher coaching and support as well as water filter delivery and health and hygiene education programs. The average global cost to build a PoP school is $50.000. Use your social platforms to spread the word about their good work or to start a campaign to facilitate a PoP school building project. To learn more, donate and get involved visit https://pencilsofpromise.org