Our Promise to Malawi

Be the change you want to see in the world--Gandhi

How do we need to be to create the world we want?
I believe that we can create the world we want to live in just by being the change we want to see. Every word we speak, every smile we give, and every action we make can build that new world.

This past January, my husband, Scott, and I made a commitment in our personal and professional lives to engage with non-profit organizations that are making a difference in the world. This commitment, along with our desire to see all children around the world benefit from education, inspired us to build a school for one village in Malawi, Africa.

Why does the world need us?
More than one billion men, women and children around the world are illiterate and have no access to schools or education. They have the desire to learn; they just need the opportunity.

Educational opportunity directly impacts economic, social and health justice by:
-reducing poverty and increasing self-sufficiency
-increasing women's voices and their rights
-improving children's health and welfare

It's simple--educating children makes a world of difference.

What do we need to do to create the world we want?
As part of our promise, my husband and I have volunteered to raise funds and to travel to the village to break ground and sign the covenant with the village. We want to be there to see our promise come true and so that we can share our experience with you when we get back. 

In anticipation of our journey we created a short 5-minute podcast so that you can see, hear, and feel what our promise makes possible.


Thanks for watching. And thanks for caring so much!

What do we need to have to create the world we want?
Times are tough for us all right now. But maybe, just maybe we can find something--as little as $3--to help build this school. 


We're not alone in our support; we have a great organization, Building with Books, to help us. BwB is a nonprofit organization based in Stamford, CT and has earned Charity Navigator's highest 4-star rating four years in a row as an "exceptional charity."

Building with Books has built over 287 schools and over 111,000 children have attended those schools around the world. It's open school policy means that everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, ability or circumstance may attend the school. And it takes just $30,000 to build one school.

Join me and Scott in our promise to Malawi. Please donate as little as $3 to help build a school. It would mean so much.

How do you make a donation?
Fill in your Twitter username and password or sign up at twitter.com. Click "give and tweet." Then click pay to fund your tipjoy account ($5 minimum). Or tweet p $3 @promisetomalawi for (your message here) via @tipjoy using PayPal.

Or donate to our fund--Our Promise to Malawi--on Building with Books website: https://www.buildingwithbooks.org/WaystoGive/DonateNow.aspx

Why Twitter and Tipjoy?
I was inspired by an article I read in The Huffington Post on December 24 by John Borthwick and Kenneth Lerer about Laura Fitton and her incredible Twitter appeal for Charity Water. Her appeal is well on its way to raising $25,000 to build clean water wells in India. 

Thank you from the both of us for caring so much about our world and all its children.

Much love,

Nicole and Scott

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Barack Obama, Honorary Board Member of Building with Books

Check out the story and video of Barack Obama on BwB's website: http://www.buildingwithbooks.org/NewsEvents/CurrentNews/ObamaPage.aspx. He's a big supporter of BwB's work around the world and here at home.

And a very special thanks to those of you who have donated to our fund and joined our network of supporters on Twitter and my blog. We've raised almost $900 so far. Only $29,100 more to go!

Please tell your friends and family about what we're trying to make possible for children in Malawi. Education benefits us all!