The Empowerment Program and
Empowerment Evening

creating mutually beneficial relationships

The SCW Empowerment Program is a project designed to initiate and facilitate cooperation between schools in the developed and developing world. The program: i) allows students in Canada to be enriched through learning about community service, international development, and the work of SCW.CA in Honduras and Haiti, ii) gives schools in Canada an opportunity to develop a partnership with schools in Honduras and Haiti iii) Helps schools in Honduras find the material support that is needed to improve the quality of education received by their students.

SCW.CA calls this project the Empowerment Program because: a) the program empowers students in Canada by teaching them that the actions of ordinary people can have a major impact on the lives of individuals in the developing world, and b) the program empowers students in Honduras by giving them the type of education that is needed in order for them to escape from poverty.

Typically, a Canada Partner School will work with SCW.CA to select a school in Honduras or Haiti that is in need of renovation or replacement. SCW.CA will work with the Canada Partner School to help educate its student community about the particular needs of the chosen school in Honduras or Haiti and the value of helping that school. In collaboration with SCW.CA, the chosen school community in Honduras, and their own student community, the Canada Partner School will organize and execute a fundraising activity to help generate financial support for the renovation or replacement of the school in Honduras. SCW.CA will then use those funds for the construction tasks selected or sponsored by the Canada Partner School.

Because of our commitment to empowering students in both the developing and developed world, we allow students in Canada to choose what their donations will be used for. Money can be raised for something basic such as a few concrete blocks or something ambitious such as an entire school. After construction is complete SCW.CA will return to the Canada Partner School with an update on the progress that has been made and a full expense report. Students are always welcome to attend either our February or July trip to Honduras or Haiti to witness and participate in the construction of their Partner School in Honduras or Haiti.

Additionally, each year SCW.CA organizes the Empowerment Evening which is intended to be a public forum on community service. This speaking event provides SCW.CA supporters with an opportunity to congregate in order to learn about developments within our organization as well as broader themes within the spheres of community service and international development. The event tries to attract prominent community leaders and ultimately tries to provide attendees with information regarding ways they could get further involved in community development efforts. The Empowerment Evening also acts a revenue generator for SCW.CA.