“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This Chinese proverb accentuates the importance of what I consider to be the greatest tool a person can be given: education. I believe that education is paramount to having a successful socioeconomic environment. In my opinion, education is a basic need, and should be a pillar for the development of society. I would like to think that there are people of similar mind, Pencils of Promise being one example.
Pencils of Promise is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing education to underdeveloped nations through the power of a pencil. The founder, Adam Braun, “backpacked through more than 50 countries, handing out thousands of pens and pencils across six continents.” Thus, Pencils of Promise was born. Based on what I wrote above, I’m sure you can guess that I am a huge fan of what PoP is doing. Through various fundraisers, along with donations and other means of income, Pencils of Promise has built over 40 schools in Laos, Nicaragua, and Ghana.
The thing I find most compelling about Pencils of Promise is their modus operandi – PoP does not just go into villages and throw money at the problem and walk out after building a school. Instead, they actually scope out communities in need of a school, learn the culture, and ensure that the community provides 20% of the materials and/or funding, along with training for teachers. By doing so, volunteers ensure that the impact of their actions lasts much longer than just the duration of their visit. With such a unique model of charity, alongside the support of international superstars such as Justin Bieber and Sophia Bush, Pencils of Promise is making a change in the world, and this is just the beginning. If you are interested in learning more or supporting these guys, please visit their website at pencilsofpromise.org.