Let's Build.
With your support, PoP is partnering with the Built with Bitcoin Foundation to raise 100,000 USD in Bitcoin to construct one new school in Ghana’s Volta Region and one new school in Guatemala’s Quiche Department.
IMPACT TO DATE:
Your Impact
All children deserve a quality education, but not every child gets that chance. In the rural communities of Ghana and Guatemala, students do not always have access to safe learning environments. Classrooms are often shared by multiple grades, schools are sometimes constructed from wood or tin, or there is no existing school structure at all. These conditions hinder learning, posing a hazard to student safety and engagement.
With your help, we are able to build quality infrastructure that provides these students with learning environments that have adequate space and materials to foster learning. In these high-quality new classrooms, every child can reach their unique potential.
You're Making a Difference in Ghana
Why Ghana?
Ghana was, until very recently, one of the poorest countries in the world. Over the past few years, the nation has experienced unprecedented growth and development (IFAD report; African Development Bank). Although the lives of Ghanaians have improved greatly, the country still faces many challenges, especially in the education sector.
In Ghana, 6.5% of primary school age children are not enrolled in school and of those who are in school, 35% of those in rural areas will drop out before completing primary school (UNESCO, 2018). Additionally, over 21% of the Ghanaian population is illiterate and out of all the current primary school classrooms, the government estimates that almost a quarter need repairs (World Bank, 2018; USAID, 2009).
PoP works with 209 communities in Ghana to ensure that students overcome these and other barriers to accessing a quality education. Currently, PoP is impacting over 56,000 students in Ghana.
Volta region
One of Ghana’s sixteen regions, Volta has a population of over two million and is located in the South-East of the country on the border with the Republic of Togo. Its capital is the city of Ho and it is divided into eighteen administrative districts.
Volta Region is multi-ethnic and multilingual, with the Ewe people making up more than 65% of the population.
You're Making a Difference in Guatemala
Why Guatemala?
In Guatemala, where 59% of the population lives below the national poverty line, socioeconomic status is one of the biggest barriers to accessing quality education (World Bank 2014).
The average length of schooling for a Guatemalan child is only four years and 19% of the population is illiterate (USAID 2014; World Bank 2018). This is one of the highest illiteracy rates in the Western Hemisphere.
Pencils of Promise works with 255 communities in Guatemala to ensure students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing quality education. Currently, PoP is impacting over 47,000 students in Guatemala.
Quiché Department
With a population of 950,000, Quiché is one of the most heavily populated departments in Guatemala. It is named after the K’iche’ (Quiché) people, a Mayan ethnic group that makes up 65% of the department’s population.
The name “K’iche'” means “many trees”, indicative of the area’s environment, which is made up of mountain ranges, central highlands, and tropical lowlands.
Take Action
Our work has to be transformational, or nothing at all. We hold ourselves to higher standards because the teachers and students who participate in our programs deserve nothing less. Your contribution will provide access to quality education beyond the classroom – 100% of your online donation directly funds our holistic educational programming.
By giving, you can join Built with Bitcoin as a global ambassador for education, and together, we can create a brighter future for children across the globe.
