Global Education and
Community Development

OUR WORK

a group of students in Haiti smile for the camera while doing school work

Education changes everything.

Through REACH, IAPW’s global, Rural Education and Community Development program, we bring schools and resources to rural communities in some of the most economically disadvantaged countries, harnessing the power of education to empower all children to have a voice in the world.


Breaking the Cycle

Education empowers children to reach their full potential and secure a brighter future. Yet, millions of children living in extreme poverty do not have access to education.

With 34 schools in 8 different countries, we’ve provided thousands of children with access to education, helping to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. Whether it’s been built so that children wouldn’t have to walk 10km to the nearest school or remodeling an existing school with updated facilities to provide a clean, safe, and nurturing learning environment, every school has made a difference in a community.

IAPW 2015 in Review | Happy Student

Beyond schools

Sitting in counsel with elders, educators and parents in the community, we identify remaining barriers to education for students  and work to implement supporting, wraparound services such as clean water, sustainable farming, school meal programs, solar power, adult literacy, technology support, and teacher training.


Featured Projects

Milca Msewa is 13 years old and in the 6th grade. Her favorite subject is English and she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. With a school in her community, she’s now much more likely to achieve her dream.


Our Global Impact

Breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy is critical to empowering the next generation of leaders. So far, we’ve built 34 schools in 8 different countries. Collectively, our schools serve more than 7,000 students and their families.

Guatemala

Global Reach

In 2019, our Youth Ambassadors traveled to build a school in support of a rural, indigenous community in the Quichė region of Guatemala. We also provided additional infrastructure and resources by installing a playground and sharing social emotional learning opportunities for the students. Guatemala is one of the most economically challenged countries in the Western Hemisphere. Only 74.5% of Guatemalans aged 15 and over are literate, the lowest literacy rate in Central America. 

50% of Guatemalans live below the poverty line
50% of Guatemalans have only a primary education
two Guatemalan students smile while working on school project
a group of students wearing bright clothing in Guatemala hold up signs and artwork they made above their heads

Thank you infinitely for the classrooms, the environment, the joy and the games. Children used to not go to school. This new school has improved the children’s study habits by 100%. The materials are excellent. The quality of education has improved. Thank you very much for caring about the future of our children. We love you!

Noé Tzarax Torres, Director of School

REACH Updates

Mbongozi Secondary School

Why is this secondary school so important? Currently, only nine percent of students who complete primary school in Malawi go…

a group of Mbongozi Students jumping in the air in celebration of their new school standing in front of one of the new buildings

Tablets for Students in Guatemala

When schools closed due to the pandemic, students in Guatemala would not re-enter the classroom for 2 years. Children in…

young students in Guatemala wave and hold up tablets that were donated to help their schooling

Youth Ambassadors in Guatemala

Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world. Education reduces poverty, empowers women and helps…

Support Global Education

Explore More Programs