In less than one month's time, Miami University students became the first undergraduates to raise more than $35,000 to build a school for children in Nepal through donations and personal fundraising.
The school to be built with the money raised by Miami students will be the first built through an undergraduate initiative.
In October, the Center for Social Entrepreneurship (CSE) and Brett Smith, assistant professor and founder of the center, hosted John Wood, a former Microsoft executive, at the Farmer School of Business.
Inspired by a trip to Nepal, Wood left his position at Microsoft and founded the Room to Read organization. Room to Read works with rural communities in developing countries to build schools, libraries and other resources to facilitate the education of children, according to roomtoread.org.
In turn, Wood's presentation inspired Miami students to support the cause. Almost immediately following the presentation, a group of about 30 Miami students expressed interest in raising the money necessary to build a school with Room to Read.
"It was really rewarding to see the enthusiasm of students," Katie Mulligan, associate director of the CSE, said.
Sophomore Ben Fudge was one of the students who wished to make an impact through Room to Read. Fudge said he sees investing in children's education as a very sustainable investment that increases productivity and problem solving.
"It's a great way to give someone the opportunity to break through the poverty level," Fudge said.
The students set personal fundraising goals of $1,000 each. Their overall goal was to raise $35,000 by Dec. 1.
In a group effort, the students and a few faculty members raised the money in less than one month. The students are still actively fundraising and any additional funds raised will be put toward long-term scholarships for girls in developing countries.
These scholarships cover school fees, textbooks and other supplies and are renewed each year as the girl passes to the next grade level, according to roomtoread.org.
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Fudge said fundraising was challenging and largely done on an individual basis.
"You get those days where you don't want to do anything, but you just have to pick up the phone and call," Fudge said.
Mulligan, who has been working with the students throughout the process, described them as energized and passionate.
"It's extraordinary," Mulligan said. "The effort really comes from the students' hearts."
To date, Room to Read has built more than 1,000 schools and 10,000 libraries in nine different countries, according to roomtoread.org.
"I'm not sure if John (Wood) knew how this would work out," Fudge said. "I think he was pleasantly surprised."
Wood is currently traveling, but Jill Carlson, development fellow in the Student and Youth Engagement Department at Room to Read, was available for comment on his behalf. She said she was inspired at the sense of urgency with which Miami students fundraised. She commended the students and staff at Miami for the tremendous success.
"We knew there was a lot of momentum after John's speech, but Miami students have surpassed all expectations," Carlson said.
The Miami students now have a school reserved in Nepal for 2011. The students will receive progress updates of the application and construction process through the next year, Carlson said.
"It's so tremendously powerful when you envision a name and a face behind every one of those five million children," Carlson said.
Upon completion, the students plan to travel to Nepal for the school's opening, according to Mulligan.
Fudge said he expects the experience to be eye opening and rewarding.
Both Mulligan and Fudge expect to maintain a relationship with Room to Read in the future.
"I hope we continue to set high goals for ourselves, build more schools and make a big impact through Room to Read," Fudge said.
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