Organization Profile: Schools Without Borders

by Fabian Musefano, SCPA Intern for Apathy is Boring — April 15, 2008

School Without Borders is a youth-run not-for-profit organization that is committed to making education accessible for young people. SWB works in cooperation with other NGOs in Canada, Kenya, Brazil, Nepal, India, and Thailand on projects that emphasize creating youth learning experiences. These projects include creating positive spaces for youth to develop their skills, and the means to build durable community networks to encourage youth to share their cultures and experiences. SWB engages youth through arts based initiatives that help them connect with their identities. Through leadership programming, SWB provides the tools and hands-on experience youth need to become active and effective leaders. SWB also supports youth by providing accessible resources and mentorship that inspires young people to create their own programs and platforms for change.

Issues

Some of the issues School without Borders deals with are helping youth stay active, and creating opportunities to enable youth to help themselves. SWB also addresses the issue of lack of funding and mentorship for youth programs, as well as lack of access to training resources.

How to get involved

SWB hosts leadership seminars that are quite useful for young people. These seminars, which last for 5 to 6 weeks, can take place all over the world; past events have been held in Brazil and Kenya. You can also volunteer with SWB, but it’s important to keep in mind that these opportunities are located in foreign countries. If traveling and learning about other cultures is your passion, this is something worth considering. For more on the application process and other SWB information go to LINK www.schoolswithoutborders.com.

Interesting facts about SWB

SWB is highly involved in arts-based community initiatives, so they often incorporate films, music, and, graffiti in their campaigns. A case in point is the Remix Project and Concrete Hoops: The Rio Deal being carried out in Brazil.  SWB, in partnership with the Brazilian Institute for Innovations in Public Health, is starting a recording studio in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. This project will provide job opportunities for youth, in addition to engaging them in a fun and educational activity. Concrete Hoops, another collaborator, will run a basketball clinic in the slums in an effort to keep young people active. SWB also works with other organizations such as Heritage Canada and the National Film Board to give youth a chance to learn hands-on about the filmmaking process.

Source:http://www.schoolswithoutborders.com