Mixing concrete, making cinder blocks and placing rebar may not sound like much of a getaway, but one glimpse at the villagers' joy as you help build their school and you’ll know you’ve chosen the right course. Take experiential philanthropy to a whole new level with buildOn’s Ambassador Trek Program.
About Ambassador Treks
A unique and rewarding opportunity for groups and individuals to share their generosity, Ambassador Treks raise much-needed funds for the construction of buildOn schools in developing countries while offering generous patrons the opportunity to go and build the school they have funded. Along with such good work, Ambassador Treks are an unforgettable entrée into the culture and lifestyles of developing communities, with the added benefit of affecting change by opening the door to literacy and hope for a multitude of children and adults.
For donors, the Trek investment is sizable, requiring a generous $32,000 contribution to buildOn’s School Construction Project, as well as an average of $3,500 in travel expenses.
Ah, but the rewards.... Trek participants are forever changed by the tasks and experiences that await them in distant and developing lands. The strong sense of community and family you will witness amid village life is nothing short of eye opening.
You’ll act as an ambassador, sharing your own culture while observing first-hand the deeply moving hardship and despair that grips destinations where buildOn works. You’ll also experience the hope and joy that access to education and life-changing literacy can bring. It’s an affirmation of the human spirit and our own ability to affect positive change throughout the world.
The Nuts and Bolts of Ambassador Treks
The work of your Ambassador Trek begins well before your departure. While some may be able and willing to cover the cost and contributions on their own, most donors typically raise resources via group fundraising efforts, such as hosting dinners and benefit parties, or soliciting online donations – as well as through appeals to friends, family and co-workers.
We recommend that you launch your fundraising efforts at least eight months prior to your trip. buildOn can lend support to such efforts, as well as help to develop and execute an effective fundraising campaign. We can also help monitor necessary medical, travel and visa preparations prior to departure.
Ambassador Treks are actually a three-way partnership between buildOn, trek participants, and the villagers they aspire to assist. buildOn will coordinate travel dates based upon availability and the schedule of school building in each Trek country. Participants (typically a group of four) are then asked to sign a covenant with buildOn committing to raising $32,000 toward the building of a school, plus related travel expenses per person – including airfare, immunizations and visa, as well as accommodations in and travel around the country.
As part of their commitment, participants are asked to provide the funds for construction of the school in advance of their departure. Such funds can be donated directly or raised. Rest assured, it’s money well raised!
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Where, When and for How Long
For 2010, buildOn is offering Ambassador Trek opportunities in Mali, Malawi, and Nicaragua. Treks typically last one week, enough time to see progress on the school you are building and to grow close to the new set of friends you are sure to make. A buildOn staff member stays with participants from their arrival in the host country until they fly home.
What to Expect
One can’t overestimate the welcome that awaits you from eager villagers as you begin working together to build their new school. You’ll be received with warmth, humor and appreciation, often expressed through elaborate and festive ceremonies reserved for esteemed guests. You’ll live with a host family, dine with the host cook, and exchange stories about culture with children and adults throughout the village.
Don’t get too comfy, as the hard work begins soon enough. Mornings are spent on the construction site, working alongside villagers as they make bricks, sift sand, carry water and excavate the foundation for their new school. In the afternoon, buildOn arranges cultural events to immerse you in village life. Whether meeting village elders, consulting with the local medicine man, or touring buildOn schools that are already in use, each encounter offers a lasting glimpse into culture rooted back hundreds of years, as well as the opportunity to build personal relationships with the villagers you’ve committed to help.
Departure from the village is usually a grand affair, with ceremony and a few tears.
Learn More
For more information about buildOn’s Ambassador Trek Program, please contact Carrie Pena, Vice President or the Midwest, at carrie.pena@buildon.org.
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