The Data Is In: Education Changes Everything
What happens when communities gain access to schools, literacy programs, and opportunities to improve their livelihoods?
A new study from Senegal provides a clear answer.
Researchers examined buildOn’s work across 30 communities and found significant gains in education, literacy, household income, and gender equity. The findings offer powerful evidence of what becomes possible when communities invest in education and work together to create opportunity.
🎓 Primary school graduation rates increased by 47% for girls and 37% for boys.
💰 Household incomes rose by 54%.
📚 Adult literacy participants reported dramatic improvements in reading, writing, and numeracy skills.
The data is clear: education works.
Today, buildOn is working to fund the next generation of schools, Adult Literacy Programs, and Enroll initiatives. Your support can help ensure thousands more children, parents, and grandparents gain access to the opportunities education creates.
A tax-deductible donation of only $186 sends one child through primary school.
What the Senegal Study Revealed
- Education outcomes improved dramatically after school construction
- Adult Literacy Programs strengthened skills, confidence, and opportunity
- Communities reported stronger gender collaboration and leadership
Measuring Impact Across Communities
The study, funded by DataPhilanthropy, QQ Research and Altai Consulting, examined buildOn’s work across 30 communities in Senegal where School Construction, Adult Literacy Programs, Enroll, and Income Generating Activities were all in place.
Researchers collected data from more than 2,000 participants through surveys, interviews, and program records to better understand the long-term impact of buildOn’s model.
The findings reinforce what community members have experienced firsthand for years: when educational opportunities expand, the benefits extend far beyond the classroom.
More Students Are Graduating
Education outcomes improved significantly in communities with buildOn schools.
The number of girls graduating from primary school increased by 47%, while the number of boys graduating increased by 37%.
Researchers also found substantial increases in primary school enrollment following school construction.
These numbers represent more than educational milestones. Every child who stays in school gains access to opportunities that can shape the course of their future.
School construction remains at the heart of buildOn’s model because access matters. A safe, permanent classroom creates a foundation for learning, growth, and possibility.
Why Is Literacy Important?
The study also documented the impact of buildOn’s Adult Literacy Programs.
For many adult participants, these classes provide a first opportunity to develop reading, writing, and numeracy skills that can be applied immediately in daily life.
More than 92% of participants reported improvements in reading important documents. Nearly 95% reported greater confidence working with numbers. More than 88% said they could independently complete forms and paperwork.
Adult Literacy Programs create opportunities that extend across generations.
When parents gain literacy skills, they are better equipped to support their children’s education. When adults gain confidence and knowledge, they become stronger advocates for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Education and Economic Opportunity Go Hand in Hand
The study found significant economic benefits as well.
Families participating in buildOn-supported Income Generating Activities saw average monthly household income increase from $84 to $129, representing a 54% increase. When most families live on less than $2 per day, that increase is life-changing.
The vast majority of participants also reported improved access to food, livestock, healthcare, and other essential resources.
These findings reinforce an important reality: education and economic opportunity are deeply connected.
When families have more resources, children are more likely to stay in school. When adults gain literacy and business skills, communities become more resilient. When opportunity grows, education becomes more accessible for everyone.
Stronger Communities, Stronger Futures
Researchers also found encouraging evidence of increased cross-gender collaboration and shared leadership within communities.
Women and men overwhelmingly (82% of women and 94% of men) reported that buildOn’s programs helped strengthen cooperation across genders and encouraged greater participation in community decision-making.
This reflects our commitment to gender equity and proves one of buildOn’s core beliefs: lasting change happens when entire communities are involved.
Schools are not simply built for communities. They are built with communities.
Adult Literacy Programs are not delivered to participants. They are shaped by local needs and priorities.
The result is a model that strengthens not only educational outcomes but also the relationships and leadership structures that help communities thrive.
Why These Findings Matter
For decades, buildOn has partnered with communities around the world to expand access to education.
This study provides independent evidence that the model works.
- School Construction increases access to learning.
- Adult Literacy Programs strengthen families and communities.
- Enroll helps children who have fallen behind find their way back to the classroom.
Together, these programs create opportunities that extend across generations.
The findings from Senegal offer a glimpse of what is possible when communities have access to the resources they need to invest in their own future.
What’s on the Line
Today, millions of children around the world still lack access to quality education. Millions of adults never had the opportunity to learn to read and write.
As buildOn works to fund the next 100 schools and continue expanding educational opportunity, every donation helps make this work possible.
The Senegal study shows what can happen when communities gain access to education:
More children graduate. More adults gain literacy skills. More families improve their economic well-being and build brighter futures.
A tax-deductible donation of just $67 helps one adult
learn to read, write, and do basic arithmetic.