Brick by brick: Students work to fund African school

By Katie Thisdell, staff writer
Posted on November 19, 2007

The founding members of JMU’s chapter of Building Tomorrow have an ambitious goal: $32,000 to build a primary school for 300 children in Uganda. 

“We have a big, bold vision and want to have every kid on campus know about this,” founder Claire Moore, a senior international affairs major, said.

According to the organizations Web site, buildingtomorrow.org,  35 percent of Ugandans are illiterate. Only 57 percent of Ugandan children will complete primary school.

“I think that education of youth in Uganda is the key to securing a bright future not only for the country, but for the generation of youth who have been left to deal with overwhelming and devastating situations,” founder junior Erin Coleman said.

Moore agrees that educating students about differences between the two cultures is important. Her nine-week internship teaching English last year in Uganda inspired her to help bring Building Tomorrow to JMU. 

“I got to know and see what was going on,” Moore said. “Students there take an education so much more seriously than here. American students know that we’ll get an education, but they don’t, so it’s more valuable.”

The organization joins nine other college campuses in promoting Building Tomorrow’s mission. The international organization raises money through universities to construct schools in sub-Saharan Africa. It was founded about three years ago by a former student at the College of William and Mary. So far, it is the only school to complete fundraising and construction of a building. The University of Virginia also has a chapter.

After learning about the program’s successes at the college, a group of six to ten students launched the organization at JMU. They were granted status in October and are now planning fundraisers and events.

“We want this to be a JMU-wide effort and have everyone be proud of helping to build a school for 300 kids,” senior Matt Abraham said.

Abraham, justice studies and Spanish double major, said he and the other members are still brainstorming ways to involve everyone on campus with their fundraising. Some of their ideas include an ongoing T-shirt sale, a benefit concert and an art auction. They have also discussed partnering with the University Program Board and WXJM radio.

“We’re trying to be as creative as we possibly can,” Abraham said. “We want to think bigger and broader and attract people because it’s unique and different.”

He also said that they eventually hope to become comparable in size to the Relay for Life group at JMU in order to gain attention and meet their goal.

All donations go toward the construction fund, while only membership fees are used for administrative costs. Each university contributes 75 percent of the costs for each building, which equals $32,000. The government of Uganda provides the remaining 25 percent through labor and resources. They also educate and pay teachers to work in the schools.

“Our goal isn’t just to build one school,” Abraham said. “We want to keep going with it.”

After raising the initial money for the school, later fundraisers will be for school supplies and other resources to make the school sustainable.

The group’s goal is not just to raise money, however. They also hope to educate others on global issues, specifically in the sub-Saharan African region.

Coleman said that educational events will be a large focus for the group and important for everyone involved.

“I personally hope that JMU students will become more aware of the world around them, and the role that we as college students can play in the lives of children who face violence, poverty and disease daily,” Coleman said.

The partnership between the community, Building Tomorrow, and the universities is key to success, according to Abraham.

“The vision of Building Tomorrow is to have a constant relationship between the school, Uganda, and the university,” Abraham said. “It’s not about America going in and building a school and then leaving. We want to build a school with them.”