• Tierra Coleman, Bronx Coalition Community High School, The Bronx, NY
• Samantha Ford, Central High School, Bridgeport, CT
• Jonathan Orc, International Studies Academy H.S., San Francisco, CA
• Michelle Aristizabal, Westhill High School, Stamford, CT
• BwB alumni
• More Thoughts from BwB Students & Advisors

Tierra Coleman
Bronx Coalition Community High School, The Bronx, NY
Speaker at BwB's Global Gala in November, 2007

	Tierra Coleman.

I joined Building with Books to help other people and mainly because of personal family issues. When my mother died in 2000, I had a nervous breakdown. I began stealing, fighting, and smoking. My attitude and behavior became worse until the death of my father in 2005.

By then I was fighting more than ever, and had started stealing [even more]. This was an incredibly challenging and difficult time for me. I even became a mute for a month because no one at school believed me about my father’s death.

These issues led me to make a dramatic change in my life. I wanted to help others and I needed to deal with the pain of my loss in a more positive way. I needed to find myself. I joined the BwB program at my school one week after my fathers passing because I wanted to change and do good in the world.

My younger sister was falling in the wrong direction, just as I was. So I strive to be a better person for myself AND to influence her. The goal is to make sure she receives an education because the community we live in only pushes us towards violence, early pregnancy, or dropping out of school. It’s difficult to be a parent for a younger sibling, especially since I’m still recovering from the loss myself. I take this responsibility very seriously because I know my little sister is counting on me.

Ever since I joined BwB, I have seen how people in situations like mine need help to help themselves. I enjoy helping people because at the end of the day I know they have a smile on their faces.

For example, at a retirement home where I volunteer, I’ve made a relationship with one of the patients named Birdie who has lost both her children. She always asked for me even when I’m not around. Birdie feels more comfortable with me than the nurses. Through BwB I have also done volunteer work in soup kitchens, juvenile halls, parks and for clothing drives.

BwB has helped me overcome my negative ways and find myself. I am now very dedicated and determined to keep people safe and give others hope. Through BwB, I have been able to give back to others who wouldn’t otherwise feel that there is someone out there who cares about their life. After being a member of BwB for three years, I feel proud of what I’ve accomplished and I know my parents are proud too.

Samantha Ford
Central High School
Speaker at BwB's Global Gala in November, 2007

For the majority of my life I never thought that I would be president of anything, nor did I think that I could use my life as a tool for the betterment of others lives. I also never dreamed that my hands would be used as a tool to build a school in Mali, Africa.

	Samantha Ford.

Two years ago, the BwB experience was unimaginable, especially for a kid from Bridgeport and a foster kid at that. Though I now live in Bridgeport, I was removed from my family when I was 12. At the time, I lived in Fairfield but my parents were too poor to heat our home. This made me feel inferior.

Both parents were alcoholics, my father was addicted to crack and my brother is now in jail. Our family always felt bad about issues in our community like poverty, homelessness and drugs, but never cared enough to do something about it.

I would sometimes throw trash on the sidewalk, refer to my classmates as “bad kids”, and stereotype Bridgeport - believing it would never change. All I did was criticize others. But I remember the first time I saw a BwB flyer posted in a barren school hallway. It said, “Make a positive difference in your community while changing the world!”

I thought to myself, Bridgeport could sure use a positive change, and the world certainly has issues that need to be corrected. I was tired of complaining and decided to go to the meeting. Since BwB was new to my school, they were electing the first officers and I ran for vice-president. I won the election and soon found that BwB was the fuel I needed to ignite the passion buried in my soul.

I can honestly say that I have become a more active and aware member of my community, a strong leader, and a promoter of change. BwB pushed me to become involved in community service, which, contrary to what I originally thought, is rewarding in ways that one cannot imagine without experiencing it firsthand.

I used to be so consumed with my own issues that I couldn’t bring myself to help others. By spending time at local shelters as well as participating in large-scale BwB service projects, I feel much more connected to other people. I no longer think only of myself.

My trip to Mali allowed me to view service on an entirely different level. I was able to step out of the confines of my neighborhood, city and state, and become immersed in an entirely different culture. Their needs were completely different from any I was accustomed to. This put things in perspective and expanded my view on service.

I now understand that life is not a fight that has to be fought as an individual. Instead, we must help others to succeed while we help ourselves. Through all the opportunities BwB has provided, I have determined a new career path for my life. I put away the childish fantasy of “being rich” and decided to pursue something that is really important: committing myself to service. After I graduate college with a master’s degree, I plan to join Peace Corps, eventually work for BwB!

I want to thank my BwB mentor Maurice Muchene for believing in me. I am proud to tell you that this year I was elected President of BwB. I will never forget the way Maurice went out on a limb for me that first day. He gave me the opportunity to prove myself.

This program has provided me with a sense of importance. I now realize just how powerful one set of hands can be.

Michelle Aristizabal
Westhill High School, Stamford, CT
Speaker at Inner City Foundation’s Gala in November, 2007

My high school is like the jungle, a food chain, where only the strong survive. Freshmen at Westhill are the weaklings. Next, you have the nerds and last the popular kids. I worked hard to get into the popular group, but the work that I put in was not positive.

I didn’t know that being a cool kid had consequences until it hit me hard. But even though I was in the cool group, and surrounded by negative peer pressure, I was also a determined student who earned A’s. I would even find excuses to go to class when my friends wanted to skip. I was always trapped between my friends and education. Once you get sucked into a group who wants to bring you down, it’s hard to get out.

I couldn’t talk to my parents about it because they couldn’t relate. My mom and dad came from a poor family in Colombia, and didn’t really have the education that I have now. My mom didn’t finish high school because her parents didn’t believe in education, so she didn’t have the chance to go to college. My dad dropped out in the fifth grade.

Now, my mom works as a baby sitter and my dad works in construction. They want what is best for me, and I appreciate it, but I couldn’t talk to my parents about life in high school, because they never experienced what I am going through. This was a struggle I had to deal with on my own.

One day in class the Building with Books advisor, Ms. Simoulidis, showed us a video about students doing something positive and making a difference in the lives of others through community service, global education, and fundraising. I started secretly going to the BwB meetings.

I didn’t want my friends to know what I was doing. Once the cool kids find out you’re in a CLUB, it’s over. Even though my mom always told me not to be scared to tell my friends that I am a good student, this was a no-no on my agenda. At that point, I wasn’t giving my friends the chance to see the kind of person I was. I was afraid of being ridiculed.

Through Building with Books, I have gained important life skills and lessons. I learned how to work with other people and stop hiding the real me. I began to be able to move away from the negative peer pressure that caused me to lie about who I was. I started to realize that every time I volunteer I make an impact.

For example, a group of Building with Books kids and I volunteer every Wednesday at Brighton Gardens, a home for senior citizens. We play games with them, laugh and have an awesome time. Most importantly, we bring our warmth, positive energy, and enthusiasm into the resident’s hearts. The smiles on their faces make me proud.

When I look back at the freshman Michelle, I can see how I have matured. Building with Books has made a difference in my life and I am making a difference in the lives of others. I am more independent now and I do not to let anyone stand in my way of becoming whoever I want to be.

My friends aren’t going to help me get into college; I am going to fulfill my dreams! What I learned from this experience is that I don’t have to put a mask over my face, to hide who I really am. I am very grateful for Building with Books and all those who work there and support it.

Jonathan Orc
International Studies Academy High School, San Francisco, CA
orginally published in "YO! Youth Outlook and Kidz with the Biz," Jul 19, 2007

Earlier this year, I got a chance to go to the country of Mali in Western Africa and help build a schoolhouse. It was one of the most memorable experiences in my life. I guess you could say it was a real turning point.

	Jonathan Orc (left) with a new friend in Mali, Africa.

I was able to go to Mali through a non-profit organization called Building with Books. They build schoolhouses in developing counties like Mali, Nicaragua and Nepal. They also help the community in the Bay Area and work to empower young people.

I joined Building with Books three years ago because I had nothing to do with my life and I was getting bored. Before that, I was quiet and always had a lot of doubts about myself – only alcohol and drugs made me feel better. I didn’t have any friends that I could talk to about how I felt. My relationship with my family was not good because they didn’t trust me. They had caught me sneaking out to go party too many times.

When the day came for me to leave for Africa, I wasn’t really excited to go there. I was upset that I would miss my spring break and worried that I’d miss my friends. At first, I thought this trip was going to suck and that I wouldn’t make friends. I figured when I was there I would just work hard and try to forget all the bad things I’d done in the past.

The night before I left, I just packed all my things, cleaned my room and walked around my neighborhood – thinking about the things that I was going to miss.

I thought Africa would be a very bad place: very hot, very poor, full of sickness and dirt – just like what you see on TV. Because the only way to see what’s going on around the world is the media – they’re like the eyes of the world. So, I didn’t know what really was out there, all I knew were the bad things that they show on TV.

There were like 15 of us, including students and teachers, who traveled from San Francisco to Africa. We flew through France and then to Africa. When I arrived in Mali, I was shocked at how hot it was. It was hotter than what I expected. Inside the plane it was very cool, then right when I stepped outside I was shocked. Right away I thought: This is nothing like the U.S.

We barely saw any cars on the roads. Most people walk or ride motorcycles. The roads are really dusty and the whole country smells different. Not bad, just different. Most of the people were wearing old or dirty clothes. We took a jeep to the village of Don Kelena, which was really isolated. It was away from any hospitals or markets. At first, I felt like: What the hell am I doing here?

But even though Africa’s really poor, the thing that is better than the United States is the people. When we arrived in Don Kelena, all the people out there accepted us like we were one of them. They offered us their homes and their support for helping them. I felt accepted as soon as I stepped off the jeep.

We arrived at night but they had been waiting for us all day long. They were wearing Western clothes, but really crappy shirts and pants – the kind that even a homeless person wouldn’t wear. It was weird, but I didn’t feel different from them. I felt that I belonged there, like they were just saving a spot for me in their village the whole time. I never really thought that they would spread their arms and accept us as family and not just guests.

On my first night, I was reading a translation book of their language – called Bambara – while they were setting up their huts for us. I was looking for the words to say “thank you” and a whole bunch of people from the village started reading the book with me: the old people, the kids, the teenagers. I taught them how to speak English and they taught me how to speak their language.

I had never felt so good about myself before. I was so proud of myself. I never really thought that I could teach other people and learn from them at the same time. It was priceless. And the very next day, everybody started following me around and was giving me more respect and starting to accept me more as one of them. We shared knowledge and it was fun.

I met a lot of cool people out there like a rapper, a doctor, a fortune-teller, and guys who have three wives. There were kids who always gave me mangoes and followed me around to help me with everything, even if I didn’t need their help.

Building a school house out there was really hard, because it was all manual. You have to do it yourself because they don’t have any machines. You have to mix the cement, make bricks, dig 10 feet down and flatten the ground and carry bricks. Even though I was the one who had the most experience on construction work of the group, even I looked like a beginner at this work. But even though we were not as good as the people in the village, they still let us do it because they wanted us to experience how hard the work is, and how fun it is at the same time.

I didn’t miss anything from the U.S. at all while I was there, not even my family – probably because I was having so much fun out there. I think it was a new beginning for me because I felt different after I came home.

Leaving there was a really hard thing to do. I had only been there for a week, but I felt like I was there forever. I have never felt so welcomed, so accepted and so proud of what I’ve done. It made me realize that any place can be beautiful, even though the people there don’t have much money, big houses or nice clothes. We don’t need those things. We don’t need to value materials.

What we need to realize is that there’s more out there. You just have to open your eyes and going in there and experiencing what’s out there opened my eyes and what we all need is each other.

When I came back here, I came back with a smile. I was proud of myself. I wish I could’ve stayed there longer, because out there you don’t have to call your friends on the phone or go to the movies to have fun. You just go outside and you can easily find something fun to do.

All the things that I used to think about – like clothes, shoes, cell phones and iPods – changed. All the things I used to think were cool didn’t look that cool to me anymore. All of a sudden, I valued experiences more than material things. I talked more, I have fun more often and I feel happier.

Before I used to see Africa as a crappy place but now I see it at as a paradise because here you don’t see stars in the sky at night, you don’t see the moon shine on you, you don’t see the clouds make weird shapes and you don’t see real smiles from people. Africa is a beautiful and extraordinary place that changed my life.

Link to story of alumna Emma Dekidjiev

Elizabeth Del Carmen
BwB alumna and current BwB staff member, New York City

As a young Latina women growing up in New York City, I have always felt that in order for me to reach certain goals I set up for myself I had to work a bit harder. In my early teens, I got myself into trouble and figured out that I needed to keep myself off the streets. But I really had nothing to do after school.

In 2000, I joined the BwB after-school program at my school in the Bronx, John F. Kennedy High School. My life changed drastically when I went on a BwB Trek for Knowledge to Mali, West Africa, and helped build a school in the village of Bougala.

	Elizabeth Del Carmen, BwB Alum and now Staff Member in New York City, helped build a school in Mali on her Trek for Knowledge.

During my stay there I was able to get an in-depth understanding of why education was limited in developing countries and how it negatively affected thousands of Malians in numerous ways.

I also realized that I had taken my education for granted for many years and needed to get out of the vicious cycle many low-income youth face when they do not finish school or are not involved in any after-school programs.

After returning from Mali, I volunteered with BwB after school at Van Cortlandt Park, Manhattanville Nursing Center and at JFK's "Enchanted Garden.” I also did after-school tutoring for younger kids at the Riverdale Community Center.

I graduated from JFK in 2001 and went to college at the State University of New York at Albany. I graduated Cum Laude and received my B.A. and M.A. degrees in Sociology within five years. I am grateful that I was able to change my perspective about how I viewed education through the BwB after-school program and the Trek for Knowledge.

I am proud to say that I am currently working for Building with Books as a Program and Lead Coordinator. I am able to pass on to current members not only the value of local and global education but also the understanding that they too can change their life dramatically if they only take the time to recognize that they need to change certain areas of their lives.

Every day, I see myself in the students I work with. It's amazing to see that many of them feel so passionate about issues that I am beginning to learn about. I see myself in the kids before they go on Trek and when they return.

Before my first Trek, I really didn't care about many things but after I came back, that is when I began volunteering and giving back to the community.

BwB members

"Being involved in BwB gave me a different view of the world. I have become more aware of what is going on not only in my own community, but in the world around us. Being able to provide education to people who don't have access to it, and being able to help people out through fundraising or service has helped me to understand the global issues that are out there."
- Karina Mesa, Senior, Oakland Tech, California

"I LOVE BWB! It is helping so many people and I think that is great! I am African and I know that this help is so important, especially Trek. It is a great opportunity and a huge need. I joined because I like to help people and the community. It is a very exciting and good program – I LOVE BWB!"
– Linda Kugblenu, Junior, FDA, New York

"The Lead program completely changed my life. I used to be self centered and not care about others but through Lead I learned that you can't just treat people any way you want and get away with it. I learned that there are consequences and that people like me need to step forward and become leaders."
- Karrington Kelsey, Sophomore, Osborn High, Michigan

"BwB gives me a chance to learn about new people and what’s important in life, and it gives us opportunities that we don't have, and it is a fun way to get involved and make a difference with others."
- Raquel Rodriguez, Sophomore, Bunnell High, Connecticut

"I really like doing Global Ed because it is really really fun and gives you so much good information. There is so much stuff to know but in a regular class like Math you don’t learn about the world, but at BwB you learn that the US is not the only country. I also think the service learning and Global Ed field trips are really great. It is so fun to help the world, you just take a little time out of your life and can help so much!"
– Olivia Guzman, Sophomore, Noble Street, Illinois

"BwB keeps me looking forward. I'm always looking forward to the next project, looking forward to something new each Saturday because I know it will be something new I haven't tried before and it will be something good, something good for the community."
- Jeremy Afriyie, Junior, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

"BwB is a cool and fun program. I would never have guessed that I would be doing the things I do at Building with Books. I like packaging food at the soup kitchen because I am trying something new and helping someone!"
- Jesus Sandoval, Freshman, Leadership High, California

"BwB is amazing, I personally love it a lot. Last year when I went to Mali it really changed my life. I always knew I was interested in international things, but never knew why. That trip made me really feel like I was gaining international knowledge and now I really know why I want to pursue international affairs for my career."
– Wadhah Al Shugga, Marble Hill, New York

"I love BwB. I have tried every other program at my school and I never liked them because there was always a hidden agenda. BwB is the only program I have found that is 100% about helping other people. It is something I am really passionate about and it is a true cause."
- Yasemin Mirza, Sophomore, Crestwood High, Michigan

"I like that we are giving back to the community since the community has done so much for us. It is cool that we are helping the city and it is fun overall"
– Antonio Smith, MLK, Pennsylvania

"I've been in BwB since last year and I want to continue in it until I graduate because it is fun getting together with people you've never even seen at your school before - you are basically bringing the whole school together behind learning about different countries and cultures!"
– Kelly Appiah, Lehman High, New York

"BwB teaches us how to be responsible. We get to go on a lot of service learning projects, and it is cool because we get to meet new people from other schools and even our own school all the time!"
– Nancy Velasco, Global Visions, Illinois

BwB School Advisors:

"Our BwB Program Coordinator has really gone above and beyond. She comes to meetings when it is her day off and has really been able to see that what the students need is to develop their leadership skills and that is what she focuses on with them now so that they can run their own programs. Developing leadership skills is so important for these students and that is what BwB is doing." - Laura Jones, English Teacher, Oakland High School, California

"Having this program at our school is great. It is an extremely important opportunity to give students insight into the world beyond their normal every day activities so they can see what else is out there in the world and that there are real problems and issues out there and they can be a part of the answer"
- Aswad Issa, Osborn High, Michigan

"I knew I wanted to be involved in BwB from the minute I heard you say 'we empower youth.' I have worked at this school for 7 years and have been waiting for something like this – the students need the opportunity for empowerment and have done a great job of taking ownership. The leadership team meets every week and really runs the meetings. All the kids do service and almost all meet the 8 hrs/month goal, and we are a new school! The kids and their dedication is what motivates me – I was sick as a dog today but came to school because it was BwB day! The students have really understood that even though they may think they don’t have a lot, there are people out there who have less – the students have come up with a quote that "you have to give regardless of what you think you’re going to get back, because what you get back isn’t in terms of money but something greater."
– Christina Lufrano, Global Visions Academy, Illinois