ELONGATE announces a partnership with Pencils of Promise and has committed to funding the construction of a school in Kang San, Laos, an impoverished and underprivileged community in dire need of a new facility for students and educators. The Elongate team contributed $50,000 to fund the project.
New details about the partnership and the school were announced during a recent YouTube Live event. The school will have a total of four classrooms and three bathrooms. Safety and the quality of the education provided is the main priority of Pencils of Promise and Elongate with this project. They expect to break ground in September.
Currently, six different grade levels share the existing school. The structure of their current facility is dilapidated and built of wooden walls, a tin roof, and dirt floors. These conditions hinder the learning experience and pose a serious hazard to student safety and engagement. They aim to complete the new school in December of 2021.
The organization facilitating the project, Pencils of Promise (PoP), creates schools, programs, and global communities around the common goal of quality education for everyone. They build schools from the inside out, and their approach includes providing safe and healthy learning environments and well-trained teachers. According to PoP, they believe quality education is holistic in nature and goes beyond the classroom. They primarily partner with communities across Laos, Ghana, and Guatemala.
The programs are designed to break the barriers and stigmas that are beyond the physical infrastructure. Education is heavily influenced by home life, families, government support, and support for teachers. They recognize that quality education leads to higher income, improved health, and gender equality. PoP takes a multifaceted approach; they build physical infrastructure, support teachers, assist students in educational success, and support activities that address students’ needs.
You can find more information about Pencils of Promise at https://pencilsofpromise.org/. Read more about Elongate’s commitment to supporting quality education for everyone here.