buildOn Staff Give a Shout Out to their Mothers for Mother’s Day Part II

We love our mothers at buildOn. Considering Mother’s Day is right around the corner, we decided to pay tribute to all of the wonderful women in our lives by interviewing staff about their mothers – and we even had the opportunity to talk to their moms. What we learned is that the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree; staff said their mothers inspired and motivated them to do the type of service work we do at buildOn.

Aled Hollingworth, Program & Service Coordinator, Connecticut

One of the things my parents always recommended was to reach out and help others, and it’s something they continue to do, as well. We lived overseas and traveled a lot growing up. My dad worked for a nonprofit and my mom always encouraged us to go out and do those things, as well… My mom is loving, caring, passionate. She’s the best mom in the world!

Ann Griffith, Aled’s Mother

In school, from a very, very young age, sports was a big thing in his life. And we were told by several people, just as he started in 9^th grade, that he should be a coach or a teacher because, apparently, at that time he considered the best athlete in the school. And he would partner up with kids whose skills were not up to par with his. He would pick the kid who otherwise wouldn’t have been picked. That stands out to me.

There was a moment very recently when we spent Easter in DC… and he was engaging us in a conversation of what was going on in Mali. And my husband has been working for NGOs for ages, and he asked, “What are you doing in Mali?” He was speaking with such knowledge that my jaw dropped, and I guess one of the exciting and humbling things is what we passed down to our children a combination of what my husband and I do; because I’m a teacher; because he’s chosen to be in the field of education, and there are some development things going on there, too.

Glenda Hernandez, Program Manager, New York

My mom is from Puerto Rica. I think she’s always wanted me to do service; she was a missionary. She was always super involved and giving back. She came from extreme poverty and had nothing, but she’s always managed to overcome all of the struggles and put all of her four daughters in college. In her dire need, she always found a way to help others. And she’s raised all of her of her grandchildren.

Our family always gets together and takes her out to dinner. She bought a house in Puerto Rico and there are just a few finishing touches. We’re all chipping in to finalize the house, and we want to send her to Puerto Rico.

Luz Hernandez, Glenda’s Mother (interview translated from Spanish)

First, I taught my daughters good values. Second, were morals, and that we have to live to serve. We serve to live, and to give what we can in the same way that we need things in the hopes that we are able to share the blessings that people give us. I’m happy that she’s involved in service. It teaches me that I’m human, and that she’s helping other people who are less fortunate. I’m also pleased that she studied, she’s a good daughter, and she’s a good person. She has compassion in what she does… Usually the husbands cook for us on Mother’s Day. This year, we’ll have a picnic if it’s a nice day.

Brooke Ahles, Program & Trek Coordinator, Michigan

My mom, growing up, taught me to get involved in learning about other cultures, and people who came from different ethnic races and different races. She encouraged me to play with different dolls and meet new people. That’s where my inspiration came from, and why I became a social worker. She inspired me to be kind to others and help others.

She helped donate money to a student of mine that wanted to go to (buildOn’s Trek for Knowledge). It was a student who wasn’t selected, and I found another volunteer project and she volunteered to do that. Right now my mom is in the process of helping us with the end of the year celebration. She used to own a catering business for 13 years, and we’re going to be making all the food. It’s a luau-themed prom. She also took it upon herself and bought Hershey’s kisses and turned them into roses on sticks with cellophane, and made 200 of them to give to all of my students.

Laura McKinney, Program & Special Events Coordinator, California

My mom is someone everybody likes and gets along with. She was always PTA president and always involved with her community… She worked as staff gardener for a town north of San Francisco, and because she did that as a profession, she wanted to give back. She believes in sharing beautiful places with people, and she talks about that a lot.  I was telling her about how excited I was about this community garden, where there was this woman who spent 10 years getting the rights for these six abandoned lots in an impoverished area in San Francisco. It was something my mom was really involved with, and she tagged along and became friends with the woman who started it, and now she volunteers there. The way that my mom thinks about it is when you’re beautifying a place you’re uplifting them by giving them the respect of having a location.

Joahan Suarez, Youth Engagement Zone Program Coordinator, New York

My mom passed away in August 2007. She was 57 years old at the time and she pretty much raised me by herself.

She never knew service in the way you and I knew service – like serving at a soup kitchen. Instead, she pinpointed the people she knew she could help. She listened to people’s stories, always cooked extra meals. If she knew someone was hungry, she’d bring them food for the week. Literally, her service, giving back to the community, was how she got along with everybody. She never asked me to give back, but it was instilled inside of me to be selfless and give back. She believed that the way you thank someone is by being a good friend… Thanks for making service the cool thing to do.

Kimmy Kunkle, Program Coordinator, New York

Growing up, she definitely encouraged me to give to others. She always tells me she’s so proud of the work that I do, and that means so much to me because everybody wants their parents to be proud of them. And it makes her really happy, what we do. She keeps track of buildOn on Faceook. She’s very involved in what I do.

She never favored anyone. One of the things I appreciate about her is she didn’t treat us all the same; she treated us how she felt was necessary. She appreciates all of our individuality and let us become who we wanted to become. That encouraged me not to be afraid to be who I am, which is why I do what I do.

Karen Kunkle, Kimmy’s Mother

That girl is amazing! She’s always been service-minded and always been concerned about others. She would help take care of the kids a church and then into high school.  In college, she started working with a Reparations for Slavery campaign in Portland. Then she moved to New York when she was 19 so she could join City Year and work with disadvantaged kids. She got her suitcase and there she went. She inspires me every day.

Keisha Brooks, Program Coordinator, Michigan

My mother is the most wonderful educator, mother, and supporter! My mother taught me to do what I say and say what I mean.  I appreciate her so much and so grateful she’s my mother. I love you mom!

We also received an email from one Dr. John Velasquez, a member of buildOn’s chapter, Project Africa, at The University of the Incarnate Word.

Dr. John Velasquez, Project Africa, The University of the Incarnate Word

My mom was a social activist in the ’60s and ’70s.  With no education of her own, she promoted the education and health of the Mexican-American community of Abilene, Texas.  She was a role model to me.  She showed that if you truly care for another person you can really change the lives of people.  She helped Mexican immigrant families and others in the community to address school, medical, and legal problems. She stepped up for people  She also was a political activist with the League of United Latin American Citizens (a.k.a LULAC) and the Democratic Party.  With my Dad as her political partner, she participated in the democratic process, including: running for office, convention delegate, polling place officer, and was a voice at school board and city council meetings.  My work as a psychologist is a direct modeling of her passionate love of people and hope and belief in the community. She passed two years ago, but her memory and legacy continues.

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buildOn Staff Give a Shout Out to their Mothers for Mother’s Day

We love our mothers at buildOn. Considering Mother’s Day is right around the corner, we decided to pay tribute to all of the wonderful women in our lives by interviewing staff about their mothers – and we even had the opportunity to talk to their moms. What we learned is that the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree; staff said their mothers inspired and motivated them to do the type of service work we do at buildOn.

Tom Silverman, Global Chapter Manager

My mother has inspired me to serve others through her own actions.  Even though we didn’t volunteer at homeless shelters or food banks when I was growing up, my mom has always put others first.  Whether it is taking care of older relatives, hosting every single holiday at her home, or making endless sacrifices to strengthen those around her, my mother has demonstrated a spirit of service in everything she does.  She is Italian, so you can’t go to her house without her smothering you with food and attention. Her greatest service is making everyone around her feel loved, appreciated and supported. My mother’s spirit has influenced me greatly and has inspired me to live a life of service as well.

Catarina Schwab, Vice President of Development

My mom was a foreign language teacher for her whole career and was actually the buildOn Co-Advisor at New Canaan High School in CT for many years. She and my Dad are really involved with buildOn and introduced my sister and me to buildOn. What I got from her is a joy for life, her determination and – hopefully – her incredibly loving nature. She’s a very loving person; always nurturing, always selfless in her guidance to her daughters and students and inspired many people to aim higher, do better and be happier. Not to mention she is the most stylish and beautiful person I know.

Christina Norman, Catarina’s mother

I taught in New Canaan high school and I started a buildOn club there. We used to send one or two students per year a broad to Nicaragua and Nepal. We did a lot of community projects in the Bronx, and in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It was very nice for our children to work with children from different circumstances.  Geoffrey (Christina’s husband) and I grew up in Europe, and our parents were givers of some funds, but were never involved in service work.  And growing up in a socialistic country (Sweden), it was very much that the state took care of things. Our daughters, growing up in America and going to schools where volunteering was a priority… we were quick to learn from them. They are really the guiding light. We keep learning from them.

Clarisa Ramirez, Social Media Manager

My mom, Yolanda, is energetic, opinionated, stylish and a heck of a cook! My family and I grew up overseas, and living in so many different countries brought us closer as a unit. It forced us to be creative and to be resourceful, and my mother always is. She never limits herself in what she can do, whether it’s throwing a successful fundraising dinner party or teaching people how to compost or donating her time and energy to help my ailing grandfather and aunt living miles away in Texas. The greatest thing I learned from her is to think big. She has always believed my sister and I were destined for great things, and that’s probably why I ended up working with the super-energetic and optimistic people at buildOn. To my mother in Doha, Qatar: Happy Mother’s Day!

Quinton Snodgrass, Vice President, Midwest

Quinton is celebrating his first Mother’s Day with his wife Abigail and their eight-month old daughter, Olive. On celebrating the big day with his wife: We’re building a house! We might be picnicking on the newly sanded floors of the house that we’re trying to move into. I built Abigail a handmade work-bench for her art room, because she hasn’t had an art room in the last six or seven years.

On his mom: Spunky! She’s about 4’11” and is always taking on more work than any other two people could at the same time. She never says “no” to projects and she’s always busy. She’s done a lot of volunteer work for the community, has served on boards – and for Thanksgiving she invites not just family, but everybody from the neighborhood to come over.

She was always very supportive of the decisions that I’ve made. When I went to college, my very first internship was with a nonprofit organization, even though I went to business school. I went into nonprofits because I felt more committed to the mission that I did for the for-profit jobs that I’ve had, and she was very supportive in my decision to do that.

Tre Stroud, Quinton’s mother

I hate to sound like a mom, bur he was the best child a parent could want. He was as easygoing as he is today, and always fun to be around.

I’ve always been involved in not-for-profits and volunteered on boards, and I actually referred him to his first job working at an afterschool program, and his second job was in United Way at summer camps.  He got his start doing things like that. And I did a lot of things and he attended a lot of meetings and a lot of functions as a young man with me.

I wasn’t one of those ‘mommy play games.’ I was one of those mommies who was, ‘let’s do a project,’ or ‘you can read, figure it out.’ For Mother’s Day he got in the habit where he would always make me something. He never ceases to surprise me with some of the things that he’s made.  He once said, “Mom, you got to sew up my clothes.” And I told him to learn how to sew. “You know what? Figure it out. And he made me a stuffed pound puppy for mother’s day. That was one of the sweet things. He’s made me lamps and all kinds of things for the house. I said, “I am so impressed. Wow, good for you.”

He maintains a tremendous sense of humor in whatever he wants to do. His ability to connect with so many people pleases me and makes me very proud of him because he’s carried it on to his career. And I’ve vey glad he chose non-for-profit as a career.

Asha Vitatoe,  Program and Service Coordinator, California

I want to give a shout out to my mother Yvette Vitatoe and grandmother Juanita Wilson. They have always been extremely supportive of everything that I do, and my work with buildOn is no exception.  My mother has cooked and volunteered on a number of occasions.  This picture was taken at our most recent Regional Service Project, the Bucket Walk, and although it was my grandmother’s first buildOn event she promised it will not be her last.  She told (my co-worker) Chad, “She’d been building on for years. Now it’s just official and she has a T-shirt”.

Jamie Pelusi, Program and Trek Coordinator, California

I remember being a kid and going with my mom to the Veterans Hospital, where she volunteered in the gift shop.  I was so excited just to be spending time with her, but as the time passed that excitement transformed into something bigger.  She would let me push the vacuum (that’s right, push; it was one of those non-electric roller vacuums), and I remember feeling that feeling for the first time.  Doing something small and feeling big.  As I grew up, my mom took me to volunteer with her more and more. We went to soup kitchens, Special Olympics, elderly homes, etc.  I started volunteering on my own and really fell in love with serving with others.  That feeling of being in community with those around me started in those early days with my Mom in the gift shop and has grown into my life’s journey.  Although my path has led me far from home, she has always been my biggest supporter and really the light that guides my way.  That’s why I have BIG love for my Mom.

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buildOn remains committed to work in Mali

By, Brett McNaught – Vice President of International Programs

In the wake of the recent coup in Mali and the increased rebel advancements in Northern Mali buildOn is exercising extreme caution and doing all it can to support buildOn staff and communities in Mali during this extremely sad and turbulent time.

At this time buildOn continues to work in the Sikasso region of Mali and currently has 4 construction projects underway as well as the buildOn Community Education Program for 1,450 adults, 55% of the adults are women. We believe that our work in Mali is crucial to the communities we partner with. Since 1998 buildOn has been working in rural Mali and has completed 178 schools that serve up to 26,700 children per day.

The people of Mali have been an inspiration to hundreds of Americans that have visited Mali on behalf of buildOn over the years. Malians have contributed more than 450,000 volunteer work days building schools for their children that is more than 3,600,000 hours of service not including the land, sand, gravel and water they donated for every buildOn school.

It is those staggeringly inspiring metrics that commit buildOn to Mali with a strong bond that cannot be broken by political coups or rebellions. We remain committed to Mali and to building schools for years to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Mali and we hope for a quick and peaceful resolution to their problems. The regions where we have buildOn schools in Mali are Sikasso, Segou and Koulikoro and we can report that thus far there have been no reports of any violence or unrest in our communities. We continue to place the safety of our Mali team and communities ahead of anything else.

For background on the coup in Mali read: Mali coup highlights African country’s divisions

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buildOn temporarily suspends programs in Mali

In wake of the recent coup in Mali, West Africa, buildOn is temporarily suspending our school construction program in the country. We have confirmed that all buildOn staff are safe. We look forward to resuming construction as soon as it is safe to do so.

As reported in the New York Times, Mali is considered one of the most democratic countries in the region. Since 1998, buildOn has constructed 178 schools in the regions of Segou and Sikasso. More than 27,000 children are attending these schools every day. buildOn is scheduled to construct 18 schools in Mali during 2012.

Update: We have resumed construction on the schools that were started before the coup. New construction projects will remain suspended until further notice.

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buildOn breaks ground on first school built in partnership with Raising Malawi and Ministry of Education

One month ago today, in the village of Kankhumbwa, buildOn broke ground on the first school constructed in partnership with Raising Malawi and Malawi’s Ministry of Education.  The two-room school will provide access to education for more than 100 children in the Kasungu District of Malawi.

Malawi’s Ministry of Education had identified the school as number one on its list of neediest villages in Kasungu District.  The location for the school was chosen because of the state of the existing school infrastructure as well as the deep commitment to education from the community.

“The village of Kankhumbwa was in desperate need of a new school,” said Jim Ziolkowski, Founder & CEO of buildOn. “The luckiest children in the community are learning in a dilapidated structure with only a poorly thatched roof for protection, the least lucky have their classes outside with no shelter but the shade of a tree. If the weather is poor, the students aren’t able to have class at all. The Malawian government identified building this school as priority and we are honored to fill this need.”

For every buildOn school, the partnering community and buildOn sign a covenant stating each party’s contribution to the project.  The covenant states that buildOn provides the engineering, materials, skilled labor and project supervision for the school.  The community provides a gender-equal leadership team, voluntary unskilled labor, land for the school, local materials and a promise that girls and boys must be sent to school in equal numbers. The teachers for the school and the curriculum are provided by Malawi’s Ministry of Education.

The response to the school from the village of Kankhumbwa was overwhelming.  More than 400 community members lined up to sign the covenant; nearly half were women.

“The school will bring one heart and soul to the entire village,” said Felicia, a grandmother and community member of Kankhumbwa.  “All will be dedicated to education.  I was so happy the day we signed the covenant. I wished I was young again so I could attend that school, but I know any day I can die.  I want to die in peace knowing that my grandson and granddaughters will have education and a better future.”

buildOn was privileged to be joined at the covenant signing by Malawian Ministry of Education officials Wiseman Moyo, Desk Officer for the District Education Manager; Isaac Phiri, Coordinator for Primary Education; Olive Panyanja, District Labor Officer; and Patrick Zintambira, the Primary Education Advisor for the Zone where the school is being constructed.

To date, community members have contributed more than 850 volunteer work days on the site and construction is three days ahead of schedule.

Since 2001, buildOn has completed 54 primary schools in Malawi. buildOn will build ten schools in partnership with Raising Malawi through Summer 2013.

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Weekend Service Round-up for January 9th, 2011

Oakland – buildOn students prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to give to those in need on the streets of Berkeley!

San Francisco – Teens make a delicious meal for the families of sick children at Ronald McDonald House!

Chicago – Students from Payton High School tutor adult immigrants studying for their citizenship exam!

Philadelphia – buildOn students help sort 11,000 pounds of food at Philabundance!

New York City – Students of the Bronx’s Banana Kelly High School interact with senior citizens at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home. They bowl, as well as play chess, Trouble, and checkers!

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Realizing a Dream

By Brett McNaught, Vice President of International Programs

In December 2007, we put the finishing touches on our 233^rd school worldwide in a village by the name of Shishaya, in Nepal.  The other day I had the opportunty to return to Shishaya to visit the Community Education Program graduates who had just finished their  two year buildOn literacy, life skills and community development program.   We have done a lot of work since we finished the school in Shishaya, and in fact the previous day, I had been to the inauguration of our 73^rd school in Nepal and our 363^rd worldwide.

However, what I found in Shishaya was truly remarkable.  It was a testament to how many people in buildOn villages around the world are taking control of their lives and their struggle to dig themselves out of extreme poverty.  The schools we build and the Community Education Programs we provide are an essential part of a community’s ability to create lasting and positive social change, but it is the efforts of individuals that make the difference.

I went to Shishaya to visit a woman I have come to know well over the past 3 years.  Her name is Jyoeshena and she has been an inspiration to me since we first met in 2007.  I didn’t know what exactly she was doing with her life now but I knew it would be good.  Jyoeshena is originally from Bangladesh and is now 24 years old.  Like so many thousands of boys and girls growing up in extreme poverty she was not able to go to school and instead grew up in the slums of New Delhi, India, working in a restaurant washing dishes and cleaning in order to help her family survive.  It was there that she fell in love with Rup Chandra Chaudhary, a young man from the village of Shishaya who was also forced to go to New Delhi to look for work.  Because they came from different cultures and religions they were forced to elope and she has not spoken to her family since.  They married and moved to his village in  Nepal.  That was 7 years ago, and now Jyoeshena is quite comfortable in her new life in Shishaya.  She has taken on a local name “Rekia” and has become fluent in the local language, Tharu.   They have 1 son and 1 daughter.

Continue reading…

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