School the World

Join The Boston Club on a service trip to Guatemala! For more information: https://lnkd.in/eBi6HqV9

We are proud to announce that School the World has been honored as a 2024 Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program Successful Practice Honoree! 🎉 This prestigious recognition celebrates organizations worldwide that create sustainable, innovative, and replicable solutions to promote literacy. Our work has been specifically acknowledged for its unique community engagement model, involving local governments, community leaders, teachers and parents. To celebrate this year’s winners and honorees, the Library of Congress will convene the award recipients for a symposium and recognition event at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. this October. At School the World, we believe in the power of community to transform lives through literacy. By working together with local stakeholders, we empower parents and community leaders to prioritize education, shaping brighter futures for generations to come. Our approach isn’t just about building schools—it’s about building relationships, fostering accountability, and creating lasting change. https://lnkd.in/eCwah__e 

Thank you IMG for all you do for School the World! We love working with you!

Thank you Flywire for all you do for School the World and for education everywhere. Our communities always love their time with Flymates!

We’re thrilled to announce that School the World has been selected as one of the top five organizations for the 6th annual .Org Impact Awards by Public Interest Registry in the field of Quality Education for All. STW was chosen from over 1,700 applications spanning nearly 90 countries. It’s truly an honor and a privilege to receive this nomination. We’re stoked to find out the results on October 8, 2024, in Washington D.C. All finalists, including School the World, will compete for donations ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 USD. Philanthropist and activist Alan Cumming – Emmy and Tony-award-winning actor and star and producer of the TV show The Traitors – will host the Washington, D.C. awards ceremony. It’s truly validating to be rewarded for all the hard work we put in every day so that our students can aim for a better, brighter future. To learn more, visit https://lnkd.in/evt78xUm

#NationalVolunteerMonth Ivan Butkovic was introduced to School the World through a conference in 2016. The attendees at this conference raised funds to build two new schools for STW. Our mission of making education more accessible to students in remote villages is something that deeply resonated with Ivan and he’s been volunteering with STW ever since. “As a child in Croatia, I spent time in the hospital when I was misdiagnosed with epilepsy at the age of nine. I saw children there without visitors and I always wanted to give back one day so that no child would feel forgotten or alone. I started Children Have Dreams Too after learning the ins and outs of building a charity when I attended a Landmark course. Our first project was the donation of a pediatric respirator at the hospital I was a patient at in Croatia as a child. Since then, we’ve expanded to other areas helping children in orphanages, hospitals and schools through organizations like STW. School the World is a very unique organization as they get the local community and parents involved to ensure the schools operate well. School the World also makes it seamless for organizations like ours to help as they do all the groundwork to ensure success. It’s also unique in the volunteering opportunities it offers for teenagers and others to help at the schools being built, a full circle of impact,” says Ivan.

#NationalVolunteerMonth 25-year-old Jack Berson works for the U.S. Leadership Coalition in Washington DC and volunteers for STW. He graduated from Georgetown University, concentrating on international development with an interest in Eastern European politics. He traveled to Guatemala on a student service trip with School the World when he was in middle school. At 14 years of age, this service trip had a monumental impact on his psychological growth, thereby affecting his life choices, including his area of study and work. “My service trip with STW had a big impact on what I do now for a living. I think it’s impossible for me to say that it didn’t because what I do is so closely related to the overall mission of what School the World does. Even when I was 14, on a foundational level, I felt a deep appreciation for the work that organizations like School the World do to improve lives, help people escape poverty, and improve education outcomes. It’s had an impact on my desire to stay in this field because that was my first experience in this space,” shares Jack. If you wish to go on a student service trip with us this summer, write to Meg Gilman, our Service Learning & Global Citizenship Coordinator at meg.gilman@schooltheworld.org for more details.

#NationalVolunteerMonth We can’t say this enough: it’s the people and our volunteers who have helped build School the World. One such volunteer is Christine Lathuras, who met our founder Kate at our first fundraiser nearly 15 years ago. For Christine, volunteerism is a way of life, impacting her as profoundly as she has impacted others. As a dentist, Christine has truly made a difference in the lives of the less fortunate by providing access to care and giving newfound reasons to smile. She has traveled extensively, experiencing many different cultures. Embracing this path, she welcomed two children from Guatemala into her family, a choice that made joining School the World effortless. “Why do I volunteer? Because I feel alive,” says Christine. “It keeps me connected to people, the world, and I’m able to help people, which gives me a sense of purpose. What I love about School the World is that it invests in many aspects of the community, understanding the importance of buy-in from everyone the program impacts. I also like the STW trips, because it gives so many people the opportunity to see how another part of the world lives and exposes them to volunteerism and adds to a rich global impact.”

#NationalVolunteerMonth Kevin Ramirez is many things: a website developer, a startup guy, a fixer of problems, and a humanist who sees humor in everything. His easy demeanor and warmth make it easy for people to connect with him. He loves to teach (if the student is open and willing) and listen. But most importantly, he leads a life of purpose and meaning. He’s always had a keen interest in supporting education initiatives, given that he runs a startup called FactSumo that develops educational content. This has made volunteering for School the World a natural fit for him and he's been helping us with our website for years. “I firmly believe that if you’re fortunate enough to be ‘above the baseline’ in life, it’s your duty to lend a hand to those struggling to meet their basic needs. Volunteering for me isn’t a chore; it’s actually quite the opposite. I genuinely enjoy it. It’s rewarding, never feels burdensome, and it’s a fun way to make a difference. I don’t necessarily look for uniqueness in everything, but I do value effective action. School the World stands out because they’re actively addressing specific challenges. They don’t just talk about making a difference—they do it. Their commitment to improving children’s lives and helping them realize their potential is something I deeply admire and support,” shares Kevin.

#NationalVolunteerMonth Meet Suzanne Korschun, a brilliant and talented graphic designer who has been volunteering for School the World since 2021. We sat down for a chat with her on Zoom and even through the computer screen, her warmth and kindness was palpable. A quiet soul with a big heart is how we’d describe her best. Her home is a beautiful oasis with her grandfather’s old cuckoo clock, polished wooden floors, and a perky dog keeping her company as she works in solitude. Dressed in a comfortable jumper with a cup of tea next to her, Suzanne told us that she is passionate about many things: promoting biodiversity, encouraging native planting, stopping pesticide use, providing access to education, improving social equity, and slowing climate change. “Volunteering helps make inroads in these issues. Donating my time and graphic design skills helps organizations like School the World focus on programming rather than paying for design services. As a graphic designer, I love seeing the beautiful School the World photos of children and their families enjoying new playgrounds, technology, books, and other resources. School the World is unique because it puts resources directly into the hands of the teachers and communities who need them. The training of teachers and tutors is such a valuable contribution to the schools they work with because it helps schools extend their reach to many more students and families,” shares Suzanne about why she feels compelled to continue volunteering for School the World.