Jordan Romero is at it again; this time with his mom, Leigh Anne Drake. The pair leave for Malawi, Africa in late June to build a school. “We’ll be digging trenches and making bricks by hand,” says Jordan; “resulting in a school where there wasn’t one before.” Leigh Anne and Jordan will be traveling with twenty-two other teens, ages 14 to 18, and adults, and will stay with Malawian families.
Malawi is among the poorest of African nations with the majority of its population residing in rural areas outside the capital city, Lilongwe. Education is a top priority for the Malawian government and they have signed an agreement with BuildOn, a U.S.-based program that empowers at-risk teens “to change their world and the world of others by building schools in some of the poorest countries on the planet.” Malawi promises to supply teachers and support for every facility built on its soil.
Leigh Anne, a long time educator, volunteers her time with Awakening Young Minds (AYM), a Los Angeles-based non-profit helping teens “find their passion and purpose.” AYM has partnered with BuildOn for this endeavor but Leigh Anne and Jordan must fund their travels by raising $7,000.00 before June 20, 2013. Make a donation and learn what $7,000 can do by clicking here.
Cathleen Calkins 