BwB members in Connecticut prepare for a book drive to benefit their community.
Independent Programs allow youth who are not in a BwB region to take action and make a difference wherever they are. (Click here for a list of current BwB regions and schools.)
As part of a BwB Independent Program, American youth engage in three core activities:
intense volunteer service in their community
sponsorship (fundraise) to build schools in developing countries
global education
What You Do
Independent Program members engage in BwB's core activities of community service,
sponsorship, and global education. In order to achieve these activity goals, BwB
programs must participate in the following activities:
Community Service
hold at least one large service project per term (minimum 2 per school year), involving
at the majority of your members. Programs are encouraged to do much more service
however, ideally on a weekly basis.
Sponsorship
hold at least one fundraiser per
term (minimum 2 per school year). All funds raised by your program will be
used to help build BwB schools overseas.
Global Education
BwB will set up a cultural exchange between you and a village in a developing country.
Starting an Independent Program
To begin an Independent Program, high school students or a teacher/advisor first registers for a program by emailing the following information to dmishra@buildingwithbooks.org:
Name
Phone
Email address
Whether you are a teacher, student or other
Your school name, city and state
Be sure to provide an accurante email address and phone number so that we can contact you to send you more information.
Information will include a
free video that explains BwB and the Indepdendent Program
in more detail, including how to recruit other members, and how to
set up and run your program. All programs should have at least one teacher/advisor to help members carry out the BwB core activities.
Programs are also encouraged
to elect officers as outlined in the handbook you will receive. Once an
advisor and members are in place, members should identify a community service
project to participate in, and choose at least one fundraiser that can be held to
raise money.
Sponsorship of a Village
BwB brings
youth from around the world closer together through the use of internet school construction reports, with stories and photos by the BwB project staff located in the villages where we build schools.
Project reports will enable your program to see the benefit and need for
its sponsorship work, while also fostering cultural education among your
members.
For more information about Independent Programs, please
contact Dianne Mishra at (248) 262-2714 or
dmishra@buildingwithbooks.org.
