Educating Nations: How buildOn Advances Gender Equity

“If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a nation.” –African Proverb

The buildOn movement is full of women and girls who, despite being from diverse backgrounds, careers, and generations, are united in their dedication to empower one another. Together, they create opportunities, and uplift their communities as they uplift themselves.

Today, we’d like you to meet two inspiring people whose lives have been transformed through education: Delia Massiel Fuentes Villarreyna and Ymanie Betrand. 

Delia’s Story: Men and Women Working Side by Side

Delia lives in the remote Nicaraguan community of Esperanza Los Nogales, where the pursuit of education has long been fraught with challenges. For most of its history, there wasn’t even a school in the community, and children had to walk one to two hours to neighboring communities to attend classes. Then, sixteen years ago, Esperanza Los Nogales’ parents decided to change the situation and fundraised to build a humble shed where their children could learn. It was a leap in the right direction, and when enrollment started growing, they decided to build an additional classroom. Remarkably, they did this using wood donated by other parents and built it themselves, despite being farmers with minimal construction knowledge. This classroom is where Delia learned to read and write and advanced to the fifth grade.

The makeshift classroom, though a significant step forward, soon became a liability. The dirt floor, leaking roof, and cramped space made learning difficult and dangerous. Students and parents alike feared it would crumble upon the heads of the children after 16 years of Nicaraguan weather. Then, buildOn came to the community. Together with buildOn, Esperanza Los Nogales’ men, women, and children all pitched in to build a new school. At just 12 years old, Delia watched her mother volunteer on the worksite.

The school wouldn’t have been completed as quickly as it was without the women working alongside the men.

Delia Massiel Fuentes Villarreyna

Delia was overjoyed because the adults in her community embraced the project, making her dream of a new school come true. Today, there is no danger of the building collapsing, no more leaking roofs, no more dirt floors, and no more darkness. Instead, they have a safe, bright place to learn and unlock their full potential. Even at such a young age, Delia recognizes the power of community and the unity between men and women in the success of the project. “The school wouldn’t have been completed as quickly as it was without the women working alongside the men,” she says. Through education, she has taken control of her own life. Her future is bright!

Ymanie’s Story: Building a New Life Through Learning

Ymanie Bertrand is a fifty-year-old mother of four and a long-time resident of Cammy, Haiti. She never developed usable literacy skills because when she was a child, it was more important for her to participate in activities that generated income for her family. Since it meant taking time away from work, she never found it useful to go to school. However, as time progressed, she began to see the importance of literacy and the usefulness that education would have had on her life.

In March 2023, she had the opportunity to change the course of her life by enrolling in buildOn’s Adult Literacy Program. After she signed up, Ymanie turned out to be one of Cammy’s top adult learners. She, like many of her neighbors, was a dedicated student and learned to read and write. However, in addition to being a top learner, she stood out through the way she helped other participants grasp the material they were learning and encouraged them to continue in their studies.

Ymanie is now using her literacy skills to help her children with their studies. She is already thinking of ways she can use them to help grow her business!

The Power of Educating Women

Education is a powerful tool to improve the lives of women and girls. It provides them with hope, freedom, and the ability to resist oppression. Educated women enrich their communities and inspire others–and not just other women, but men and children as well. By educating women, we truly are educating whole nations.

Join us to transform the lives of women and girls worldwide through education. Make a tax-deductible donation today to support our work.