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Frequently Asked Questions

PROJECTS

Why exactly school infrastructure?

In our experience, education is the one tool that can have the greatest impact on children’s lives. It awakens untapped potential, strengthens individual talents, and has a positive effect on students’ self-confidence and self-esteem. And even more than that: Education is directly related to a fulfilling, self-determined future since it has the power to break and reverse cycles of intergenerational poverty. If all adults completed secondary education, globally the number of poor people could be reduced by more than half.

We believe that schools are more than just a place for learning but offer a safe and welcoming environment where children can enjoy proper meals, have access to clean water, or carefree interaction with their peers.

Unfortunately millions of children have no access to education due to a lack of school buildings. That’s why providing educational infrastructure is so crucial as the cornerstone for creating a place of knowledge and growth for generations to come. We support this need project by project.

In which countries are you running projects?

The need for an improved school infrastructure is strong in many countries around the world. Our mission is that our projects reach highly disadvantaged children in the global south. Therefore, we do not have a specific geographic focus. You can have a look at our project world map to see where we have been involved so far.

How do you choose a project?

EFK has a specific set of criteria and standards for each project. You can find these on the pitch deck.

What happens with the school after opening?

When selecting projects, we aim to build public schools. This means that the school is handed over to the government after construction. In this way, sustainability is ensured, as the local government pays for general education and teachers’ salaries. Of course, we monitor the progress of the school in the years to come.

How will I receive updates about the construction process?

With each project, we want to make sure that you receive regular updates. These updates will be sent to you via email in the form of reports, photos, and videos. Also, every update and footage will be accessible via dropbox.

Can I visit the school?

Yes, it is possible to visit the school. Such visits are often very special experiences. We work closely with our local implementing partners to facilitate travels to the school. However, it is crucial to be sensitive and respectful towards the local culture.

SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPACT

How do you monitor the project?

We aim to monitor the projects for up to 5 years. That way, we can see how the children’s lives develop after they finish school.

What happens with the children after school?

To find out what the children do after having completed their education, we try to keep in touch with the school principals and some of the students’ families.

DONATIONS AND TRANSPARENCY

What is the average amount needed to build one school?

There is no specific cost per school, as it is also strongly dependent on location, size, and project type. The average amount paid per school ranges between 35.000 euros and 50.000 euros.

What is the average amount needed to support a reforestation project?

The minimum amount per reforestation project is 20.000 euros. If you have less money available, there is always the option to donate to our general fund, which supports smaller, complimenting measures that complete the holistic approach.

Can I contribute any amount of money?

Yes. You can directly donate to a campaign or to the unrestricted fund. Once enough money has been collected, we use it for high-impact projects. Examples include projects in countries like Yemen, which are in very difficult situations.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes. In Germany, your donation is tax-deductible. This usually applies to the entirety of the EU. In addition, our organization is also registered in the US and the UK.

When and how do I receive a donation receipt?

For any donation above 200 euros, we will send you a donation receipt in german or english. For that, we need your address and full name.

In which currency can I donate?

As of now, we accept donations in euros and dollars.

How do you make sure that the money is used purposefully?

All of our administrative costs are covered by the founders of EFK. This allows 100% of the donations to reach the projects. All information can be found in our annual reports.

Can I see Groundbreakers financial statements?

Yes. You can download our annual reports online which provide you access to see a fully transparent account.

Can I donate bitcoins?

Yes, that’s possible.

CORPORATE DONORS

What support can I expect from Groundbreaker?

We support you with project selection, fundraising & PR, project management, and project monitoring. More information can be found on our website under “get involved”.

How can I involve my employees?

There are many possible ways to involve your employees in a project. Examples include frequent communication support and updates through pictures and videos. Or, you could have coffee talks with all employees. And if you want to involve them even more, there is a possibility to visit the school.

How can I involve my business partners?

There are several ways to involve your business partners. Examples include fundraising, visiting the school together, and that way sharing this great experience together.

Can I contribute non-financially?

We are working with some organizations for in-kind donations like tricots and books. Importing these products is very expensive and difficult in a lot of countries. Therefore we do not accept any non-financial contributions. In order to support the local economy, we prefer to buy gifts for the children at the opening ceremony such as notebooks and pencils.

PRIVATE DONORS

What support can I expect from Groundbreaker?

Check the “get involved” page on our website.

How can I involve my children?

Educate yourself about the culture and peculiarities of the country and region you support and tell your children about how schools and education in another country look like. Showing them photos and videos is a great way of making the project more tangible.

How can I involve family and friends?

The same applies to your family and friends. Showing them photos and videos of the project is a great way of making it more tangible. This is also a great starting point to get curious, do your own research, and learn more about the respective region of the world.

Can I contribute non-financially?

Of course! Feel free to use your own Social Media platforms for spreading the message, engage potential donors of your personal environment, and tell them about our work. You can also support the opening ceremony by contributing products or gadgets if needed. Reach out to us for specific advice!

Groundbreaker

Where can I find open positions?

For current open positions check “get involved” on our website.

How can you provide Foundation as a Service for free?

All of our administrative costs are covered by the founders of EFK. This allows for all donations to directly go into the project.

What is your mission?

We are providing our donors with full support as well as individual and customized projects so that their efforts can make a true difference. High-quality education should be accessible to all children because it is a sustainable tool that helps not just for a day, but for a lifetime, and can be passed on to generations. It is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty and untapped potential. Together, we can advocate for equal opportunities for children in the Global South.

How can I collaborate as a non-profit organisation?

It is possible for you as an NGO to work together with us. However, we do have a checklist with specific selection criteria. This checklist can be found on our website under “get involved”.