We’d like you to meet Jai. He’s four years old, and he loves him some drawing. And writing. And coloring.
Jai is one of our first students. But he’s about to become one of many. You’ve been asking “How can I help?” It’s simple. Join the movement we’re about to create.

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“This night is really about a growing movement of young people coming together as volunteers to demonstrate that through passion and commitment you can make big things happen” said founder Adam Braun.
“We just won $25,000 on Facebook because each of you clicked a button. There isn’t a single other nonprofit that is more representative of this Facebook generation than Pencils of Promise. Tonight let’s have a good time, because tomorrow we get to start proving it by creating a campaign to win $1M in Round 2 and build 50-100 more …

Using social media, we were able to win $25,000 that will go toward building schools for future PoP students in Laos and Nicaragua. All thanks to you. And now we are eligible for $1MM starting January 15. Let’s go for it.

Our team in Laos recently visited Champet school, just off the Mekong river in Laos. Here’s a look at the school, the situation, what we want to do about it, and how you can help.

He looks down at the boiled chicken head in his hands. “Deal.”

One night after leaving the Seeds of Learning facilities recently, I found myself peering over the edge of an active volcanic crater in Nicaragua, sharing gasps of awe with fellow travelers from every corner of the globe. We next ventured through the dark to explore a large cave, normally a place where you would feel as far removed from all familiarities as possible.
As we approached I heard two American accents, which led to a casual conversation with two fellow travelers who told me they worked in advertising. The conversation went …

For the past week I have been spending time in Dario, Nicaragua formalizing our first partnership in Latin America with an incredible organization called Seeds of Learning. We share a common approach to community development, which is grounded in the belief that each village must be deeply entrenched participants in the construction of their school, library or community center.
These structures we build neither “belong” to Seeds of Learning nor Pencils of Promise. They belong to the community; we are merely facilitators towards this end. Sustainability lies in local ownership, not …