‘Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve.’ Those words are the first things you see as you walk into the Harriton lobby, so it should not come as a surprise that there are many clubs at Harriton that allow students to help those in need in the local and international communities. One of these clubs is buildOn, which focuses on local as well as global projects such as working with Philabundance, the Jewish Relief Agency, and animal shelters.

This club at Harriton is a chapter of the larger buildOn organization, which aims to ‘break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.’ The various chapters across the country all advocate for the poor, fundraise, and perform local service projects in their respective area. The large organization builds schools around the world, in Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Senegal, and has built 587 thus far, affecting a total of 84,165 children and adults who want to be educated. The schools also promote gender equality, as villages are required to send an equal number of boys and girls to each new school that is built.

One unique thing about buildOn that sets it apart from all the other service clubs at Harriton is its ability to provide hands-on international experiences to selected students. This year, two students, Eden Harris (Junior) and Fiona Maruca (Freshman) were picked to go on a trip to Nepal in early April to build a schoolhouse in a location to be determined. The Harriton Banner had the opportunity to interview Eden on her thoughts regarding this incredible opportunity, as well as her experience in buildOn over the years.

Eden first decided to join buildOn last year as a sophomore. “I thought it would be really fun, which it is, and it also gives me opportunities I never would have had otherwise, like going to Nepal and building a school,” she said. “But buildOn isn’t just about international experiences. It’s about looking at how we can help the people around us. There is a lot more to do in the Philadelphia area than one might think.”

Indeed, buildOn is busy year-round with various service projects, but Eden’s favorite aspect of all these projects remains the same: knowing that someone will benefit from all her hard work. “I think it is really cool that I’m making an impact on someone else’s life, even though I don’t know them and they don’t know me.” One of her favorite projects last year was working with Books Through Bars, an organization that aims to provide books and other educational materials to prisoners. The prisoners wrote buildOn members letters detailing what kind of books they wanted, and the members went out and filled their wishes. “I liked knowing that I made a difference in these people’s lives, even though we never even met each other,” she said of the experience.

Eden also had a lot to say about the link between poverty and a lack of education, one of the primary focuses of buildOn. “Poverty is a perpetuating cycle, and when you don’t have an education, you can’t break out of that cycle,” she commented. “Sometimes you just need help in order to break out of the cycle, and that’s where organizations like buildOn comes in.” Eden is very glad to be given the opportunity to go to Nepal, as she considers education to be the most valuable thing she has. She is thrilled to provide the same thing to others in need.

Besides being part of a big change in the lives of many children and adults living in Nepal, an aspect of the trip Eden is most excited about is being immersed in another culture that is not her own. “I don’t know how anything’s going to turn out,” she stated. When asked what she is the most nervous about on this trip, she just laughed. “To be honest, I’m just really nervous about getting so many vaccines!” she replied. “But I’m not nervous about going to Nepal itself.”

Overall, buildOn is a great club that allows people to give back to their communities, and presents unique opportunities for its members, such as international travel. It also fosters leadership skills and a sense of satisfaction. If you’re interested in learning more about buildOn and its mission or want to join the club, talk to Mr. Curyto (the club’s faculty sponsor) or one of buildOn’s many members.