BUILDERS BEYOND BORDERS

 
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CONTRIBUTORS   • Past Trips Upcoming Trips The Spirit of B3

BUILDERS BEYOND BORDERS (B3) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that sends high school students to global destinations (primarily emerging countries nations) to build community facilities. Past projects include the construction of medical clinics, school, daycare centers, youth facilities, and homes.

A unique aspect of the program is that parents are not permitted to pay for their children to participate in the experience. Instead, funding is provided by monies raised by the students. Each B3 student must raise money by:
  • participating in fundraising events,
  • building awareness and educating others about the needs in developing nations,
  • asking friends and families for financial donations for their project, and
  • performing an array of community service projects locally.
The money raised by these efforts goes into individual student accounts. These funds cover the project expenses -- transportation, food, lodging and a portion of the building materials.

Each B3 student is responsible for raising $2,500 (in 2009); however, the actual full cost on a per student basis is approximately $2,800 to $3,000. Tax-deductible donations to BUILDERS BEYOND BORDERS supplement the cost differential for each student’s trip and project costs.

Students who participate in the B3 program are hugely committed. They begin to establish a pattern of lifelong humanitarian service, learn to work as part of a team, develop leadership skills, and gain exposure to global issues and problems facing emerging countries.

The host community supports the building project by arranging for project details such as housing and meals and transportation. Local residents work alongside the students to foster relationships between the two cultures. B3 students experience their surroundings by participating in activities unique to the local community. B3 trips are not teenage spring break tours; they are a hard-working, humbling, character building, and learning experiences.

Founded in 1993, BUILDERS BEYOND BORDERS has grown tremendously in recent years. For example, in 2001, 80 students from Westport, CT participated in the program; six years later the program quadrupled to over 350 students from numerous towns in the northeast US. Due to the growth, continued interest, and potential for the program to expand, the B3 organization finds itself with the need to seek corporate and foundation monies. The needs are outlined below:
  • Establish scholarships for economically disadvantaged students. The current methods which students earn money for their trips/projects have proved impractical for economically disadvantaged students. Th e sum of $40,000 annually would enable twelve (12) such youth to participate in the program.
  • Undertake more aggressive projects both in terms of the scope of the projects and in employing members of emerging countries communities to assist on project work. For example, in 2005, $95,000 of supplemental funding would have allowed for the construction of additional facilities sorely needed at our project worksite in Brazil.
  • Continue a leadership training component for high school seniors to complete prior to the project commences in order to develop leadership and teaching skills so they can take charge of the groups when abroad. The annual cost of this program is approximately $25,000.
  • Support administrative and organizational overhead. Each additional B3 student team enables 35 more students to participate in the program and facilitates additional building opportunities. As the B3 organization grows, however, volunteers alone cannot manage the program. Overhead costs associated with additional trips include administrative personnel, advisor (trip chaperones) costs, and technology, which amounts to $60,000 per project.
Outlined above is a brief synopsis of funding requirements. Foundations interested in youth development, community service, international development, social entrepreneurship, leadership development, and service learning may be a good match for funding B3. Companies that have an interest in the mission, objectives, and locations of international project work may be interested in branding opportunities or general support for the B3 organization.

B3 welcomes the opportunity to provide details and to explore the creation of a mutually beneficial relationship with potential donors. Please visit http://www.buildersbeyondborders.org or contact us directly for more information. Materials available upon request include:
  1. Project list from past years, including accomplishments and impact on local international communities.
  2. List of fundraising events for students to earn funds for their accounts.
  3. List of local community service projects performed by B3 students.
  4. List of extra donations to worksite communities, e.g., books, sporting equipment, medicines, wheelchairs.
  5. Project opportunities for the future.
  6. List of staff members and members of the Board of Directors.


   
 
8 Willard Road • Norwalk, CT 06851 USA
Tel: (203) 847-5220 • Fax: (203) 847-5112
Email: info@buildersbeyondborders.org