How it works

LearnAsOne funds schools in Africa. We partner with NGOs on the ground who have a proven track record of facilitating sustainable education projects. This is how we work with our partners, the communities who need schools and how your money makes it all possible.

1. Finding a community who need a school
2. You fundraise or donate
3. We buy the raw materials
4. The community builds the school
5. Showing you the money in action

1. Finding a community who need a school

What do you need to start a school? Someone with a basic education to be the teacher. And somewhere to teach. That’s about it.

Communities often set-up a temporary classroom to get a school of the ground. Notice the big holes in the roof. Not good when there is a five month rainy season.

Our partners visit many communities to find out what development support they would like. Some communities want HIV clubs, others want to start micro-fiance projects and some want a school.

If a community wants a school then our partner explains how they can start their own, and how to register it with the government. It’s then up to the community to prove how determined they are to have a successful school. If it’s still running after 12-24 months then members of the community are encouraged to start making bricks and volunteer their skills to construct a permanent school.

However, there are some raw materials – such as cement, roofing sheets and glass – that the community can’t afford. This is when we get involved.

2. You fundraise or donate

We visit the community and spend time listening to their needs and stories. We share this with you through photos, videos and blog posts and ask for your help to raise money to buy the raw materials the community needs.

You can fundraise however you wish. Jump out of a plane, run a marathon, organise a cake sale etc. You can make a donation to one of the schools or help us develop our fundraising campaigns by joining our fundraising community.

3. We buy the raw materials

Typically a community will need classrooms, teachers’ houses, a bore hole and possibly some extras like a drip irrigation system so they can grow crops to support a school feeding programme.

Once enough funds have been raised we buy the raw materials needed and our partner delivers them to the community. The community enters into an agreement that the building will be completed in six months. If it is not, we can take the raw materials and re-allocate them to another a community. We have never needed to do this and hope it always remains this way.

4. The community builds the school

Before we deliver the raw materials the community must put forward a certified builder and unskilled labourers. Their credentials are approved by a building expert from the local government and they have to agree to build the school to government specifications. At this point the raw materials are sourced locally, delivered to the community and building begins.

5. Showing you the money in action

Thanks to cheap technology you will always get to see your money in action.

At least once a year we will return to the community with a volunteer storytelling team so you can see how your money is being spent. You will also get the opportunity to ask members of the community questions.

We’ve supplied our partner with a Flip video camera and a digital camera so that raw updates can be provided to show you the progress between our trips.

Find our more

• Read about the schools
• See how a donation is spent
• Learn how you can get involved