Donate to a school in Africa and see exactly how your money is spent.

New blog post: Photo of the week: A view inside the classroom. http://bit.ly/9LW3l8

How we work

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 together.

  1. 1. Our partners link us to a community
  2. 2. We ask the community what they need
  3. 3. We share stories from the community
  4. 4. Time to get fundraising
  5. 5. Showing you the money in action

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.

Our partners explain this to the community, and explains how to register a community school 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 the community is encouraged to start making bricks 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 why we get involved.

Committed communities often set-up temporary classrooms to get a school of the ground. Notice the big holes in the roof. Not good when there's a five month rainy season.

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.

2. We ask the community what they need

We start by meeting the community and ask them to explain what they need. Typically this will include raw materials to construct classrooms, teachers’ houses, clean drinking water and eventually a sanitation block.

Before we agree to start fundraising for the raw materials the community must agree to contribute labour for free and build the school to government regulations.

3. We share stories from the community

Every time we visit our projects (once or twice a year) we are joined by a team of self-funded volunteer storytellers. A journalist, a photographer and a video camera op.

They spend their time interacting with the community and listening to their stories. We share these with you so you can see how your money will be spent.

4. Time to get fundraising

Meanwhile we cost up what the community needs, post it onto the website and ask for your help to raise the funds.

5. Showing you the 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 questions which we will ask to members of the community.

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.

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

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

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