1. Donate to a Partner School
Schools for Schools has already implemented over $2 million at our 11 partner schools in northern Uganda. Of this, 78% has been spent on construction and renovation of teaching and learning facilities such as classrooms and laboratories. Fifteen percent has been invested in improving water supply and sanitation facilities; the final 7% covers the cost of supplying scholastic materials and the training of teachers.
2. Join the Biggest Book Drive Ever
Together with our partner, Better World Books, Invisible Children is starting a new chapter for northern Uganda. This year the book drive will focus on collecting high-quality, newer books of all kinds - from textbooks to novels - that can be used to support programs like Schools for Schools.
Follow these Steps to get started:
1. SELECT A BOOK DRIVE CAPTAIN
When you sign up for Schools for Schools, we’ll send you an invite for the book drive. Get that invite to your Captain ASAP so he or she can log on and get started.
2. PRINT BOOK DRIVE POSTERS
Spread word of your book drive far and wide by plastering your campus and community with book drive posters.
3. COLLECT BOOKS
Brainstorm creative ways to collect books from your community or your college campus. Talk to libraries, visit your campus bookstore, go door to door, set up a table at every football game. There’s plenty of books out there – it’s up to you to get ‘em!
4. PRESCREEN
This year the competition is going to be based on points, not the number of books you collect. When your captain logs in he or she can start prescreening books. Type in the ISBN number of each book to find out how many points it’s worth. Your points will update daily onto the Schools for Schools site so you can see how you’re doing in the competition. The three schools with the most points on January 29th will win a trip to Uganda.
5. SHIP YOUR BOOKS
As long as you prescreen, shipping will be on our dime, every time. We’ll hook your book drive captain up with UPS labels so you can ship books as you go.
3. Change for Change
There is over $15 billion in coins out there. Change for Change is a fundraiser that encourages you to go get it. Taking Invisible Children’s motto to heart, Change for Change is a bunch of littles adding up to make one big difference. Encourage your community to check under their couches and at the bottom of their backpacks, giving their change to create change in the world.
Here’s what you need to get started:
1. JARS.
2. LABELS.
3. THANK-YOUS/REMINDER NOTES.
First, collect or purchase glass jars, or really any decent container. People have used Sparkletts bottles and picnic baskets before. Don’t fear creativity. See if you can get them donated or have a sponsor buy them for you. Then print a gang load of change for change graphics, slap them on your jars and place them all over the place. In each class room, at the lunch line register, local stores and shops. A bunch of littles can really add up.
Download the Change for Change Graphic (pdf)
Next, assemble a team to disseminate the jars. Make sure the team 1) thanks each person for saving and 2) gives a flyer reminding them when you’ll be back to collect. Give these jars to anyone and everyone. Think big. . . and go where the change is. Our best guesses? At the end of the cafeteria check out line, by the cash registers at local businesses, football game concession stands, by the vending machines, busy lunch times, homerooms, etc. Pretty much wherever people are, or where people are paying for things. Have competitions or coin wars between sororities, fraternities, clubs, or different grades. The more people involved and informed, the more money you’ll raise for your partner school.
Finally, take the coins to a Coinstar machine or have a coin rolling party. The Coinstar machine will take a percentage of the money. In the past, some schools have gotten donors to give whatever the machine subtracts, making up for the 8% percent that was lost. Change for Change is that simple, and it’s one of Invisible Children’s most successful fundraisers. So go get your jar and start changing things.
4. Look Good, Do Good
Matt Taube of Aliso Niguel High School raised $28,353.26 for his Schools for Schools club by creating his own clothing line that he sold on campus. So take this stencil to town and up the ante for the Schools for Schools fundraising competition. Use the stencil on the following page to create your own merchandise and raise funds for the recovery effort.
1. GATHER YOUR MERCHANDISE OF CHOICE (I.E. SHIRTS, SCARVES, PURSES, BANDANAS).
2. PUNCH OUT THE PERFORATIONS ON THE STENCIL.
3. USE THE STENCIL AND SPRAY (OR CLOTH) PAINT TO ADORN YOUR APPAREL.
4. THEN SELL YOUR HOMEMADE DESIGNS ON CAMPUS AND AROUND TOWN. ACTIVISM IS THIS SEASON’S MUST-HAVE ACCESSORY.
5. Use Your Creativity
Every year, we are blown away at the amazing ideas people have come up with to help out the Schools for Schools program. Don't let our ideas limit you. Come up with something nobody has ever seen and make it work. Who knows, you may even end up winning a trip to Uganda. The best idea submitted to us by December 17th (via YouTube video - 5 minutes or less) gets to come with us to Uganda.
More information about going to Uganda
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