The number of organizations participating in the Common Good Exchange at the Fourth Estate Summit this summer is almost as daunting as the quality of their work. We’re hosting the first event to ever convene all of these companies for good under one (quite large) roof, and the excitement about that fact is ever-increasing.
Pencils of Promise is one of the fine groups coming. They are an organization that believes every child should have access to quality education. They create schools, programs, and global communities around the common goal of education for all.
We metaphorically sat down with Rachele Aidala, the Community Outreach Coordinator at PoP, to chat a bit about their efforts and the Common Good Exchange.
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When was the moment that Pencils of Promise went from being just an idea to being a full-on organization? What were the motivating factors?
When Adam (Braun, PoP founder and CEO) was a college student traveling around the world, he asked a boy begging on the streets of India what he wanted most in the world. His answer was a pencil, and as Adam handed him one from his backpack, he watched as a wave of possibility washed over him. As Adam backpacked through more than fifty countries, he handed out more pencils to children and learned from locals about the need for a nonprofit that built schools in their community, which became the inspiration for Pencils of Promise. PoP started by building schools, and now we’re also training teachers and education parents, students, and entire communities on the value of educating their children. It started with one child requesting a pencil, and that pencil still serves as a motivating tool for us everyday.
Both Invisible Children and Pencils of Promise speak to such a young audience. What is it about this generation that inspires the pursuit of purpose-driven lives?
This generation has grown up with the technology that’s allowed them to connect with people from all corners of the world. As a result, young people are often confronted with big injustices. They see students just like themselves without access to education and are moved to action.
Can you tell our supporters about what your campus groups do and one story of success from those efforts?
Our campus groups support PoP by inspiring their classmates to fundraise on our behalf. Andrew Gray, Oklahoma State University PoP Club President, has rallied his classmates to build a full school in Ghana. In February they hosted a Jazz Night that brought together over three hundred students and raised $4,200 dollars. They’re now over a quarter of the way to the $25,000 goal.
What is the future of Pencils of Promise and how does that fit with the ideology behind The Fourth Estate?
In 2012, we set a goal to break ground on our 100th school. We are now setting an even more audacious goal, to break ground on 100 schools in the year 2013. We can’t reach that goal without the support of young people committed to shaping the future.
What’s the biggest thing your organization is hoping to learn or take away from The Fourth Estate Summit?
We’re extremely excited to meet the group of passionate young people at The Fourth Estate Summit. We’re looking forward to hearing their unique perspectives on the state of global education and bringing that energy back to PoP HQ in NYC.
Can you give us a hint as to what you will be doing at the Common Good Exchange?
We have a big back-to-school campaign coming up this fall. Students can meet up with Pencils of Promise to find out how to get involved!
Think people should hear about this?