Please donate to my Team Dayā fundraising effort – all funds go directly to building schools. If you are curious about Building Change with Team Dayā, please contact our Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen. 

By Team Dayā member Riley Jacobson

While we did help our community by building a school with the locals, we got more out of the experience than our hosts. It was truly a life-changing experience that will be forever embedded in my heart.

We carried buckets of sand and water to the work site, dug a hole for the toilet, mixed cement, and laid the cement. By the time we left, the toilet was almost completely dug out and we had built the foundation of the school. There was never a dull moment during the week building the school. The community women taught us many songs to raise our spirits that motivated us to work harder.

When not working, we spent time with the children teaching them games like Connect Four, Jenga and Uno. The biggest hit was soccer, we played with the kids and they would play for hours and hours. 

Our living quarters were mats on a mud floor in a dark room. The community had no electricity or running water. Our shower consisted of a bucket of water and a cup, and our toilet was a hole in the ground. It was quite an experience and well worth it when we saw the passion to learn in the hearts of our community. 

Overall, this experience put into perspective how much of the world lives today. It was truly an enlightening journey that I hope has made a positive impact on Malawi. 

I am excited to continue supporting Team Daya and buildOn now that I am in charge of international projects for the Manhattan Beach Rotary Club at my high school. It’s not too late to donate.  

Please donate to my Team Dayā fundraising effort – all funds go directly to building schools. If you are curious about Building Change with Team Dayā, please contact our Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen.