buildOn (formerly known as Building with Books) initiates its programs in rural villages through a community based primary school construction project. The primary goal of this project is to mobilize the community around increased access to education for their children. The community plays an active role in the planning and implementation of the construction project by volunteering, providing leadership, and donating local materials and unskilled labor. A committee is formed of 6 men and 6 women to help drive the project through its completion and assist in maintaining and enhancing the schools effectiveness in the future. buildOn community-based methodology is designed to give beneficiaries a sense of ownership and pride in the project and reaffirm the community’s dedication to quality education.

Following the primary school construction project, buildOn engages the community in a second integral component, the Community Education Program (CEP). This program allows out-of-school participants to assess the internal strengths and weaknesses of their community and guides them through a series of CEPacity building projects over a 2-year period. The objective of the CEP is to assist communities in identifying their own history, local resources, and development needs while providing a platform for community mobilization to meet the primary needs that are inhibiting sustainable growth and development. Literacy training is a major component of every CEP program as it is key to allowing a community to develop. Given that each village faces its own complex situation the buildOn Community Education Program is designed to be flexible in implementation, and the facilitator-guided community-based forum addresses issues specific to the beneficiary community.

Throughout the relationship between buildOn and the partner community, buildOn will continue to work with the community to build primary school blocks and latrines as necessary.

Potential buildOn communities must meet the following criteria:

1. Need of educational facilities 
2. Demonstrate the desire to obtain and provide education. 
3. Demonstrated ability to unite and work together to a school 
4. Preparation of the required number of bricks for the project. 
5. Willingness to recruit boys and girls in equal numbers 
6. Authorization from the Government to have a school. 

From there villagers are required to produce 75,000 bricks, by hand, made from local materials that they have contributed.

Villagers, including men, women, and headmen are required to sign an covenant committing to be involved with the entire process of building a school. From construction of the schools to equal attendance of boys and girls, villagers must commit on every level to be involved with their schools.

Schools are built in three stages: Foundation, Structure, Roofing and Finishing.

After bricks are made and accounted for, the village must commit 10 men and 10 women each day to work 8 hours, 6 days a week, for the life of the project.

Each day buildOn field coordinators instruct each of the volunteers on the day’s goals and objectives.