Team Dayā’s 8th and 9th schools are complete. The 8th school in Aldea Santo Tomas Xalcatá, Guatemala and the 9th school in El Bambú, Nicaragua would not have been possible without team members including Maureen and Scott Cunningham, Brianna Rozzi, Lauren Rose and David Danziger as well as our over 1,500 supporters around the world.
On Monday, June 23, 2025, Team Dayā will groundbreak on its 10th school in the community of Lambwe in the Dowa district north of the capital of Lilongwe in the Central Region of Malawi.
Please consider a donation so we can continue Building Change.
Team Dayā #8: Aldea Santo Tomas Xalcatá, Guatemala
The school in Aldea Santo Tomas Xalcatá, Guatemala is complete and now serving 161 students. The men and women of Aldea Santo Tomas Xalcatá had proudly contributed 554 volunteer work days to the building of their new school. This project also broke gender stereotypes, as women actively participated in the construction process, proving their strength and capability in traditionally male-dominated tasks.
The community is about five hours to the north / northeast of Guatemala City and an hour east of Coban in the municipality of San Pedro Carcha, in the department of Alta Verapaz. Prior to the new school, the existing facility used two temporary, rustic classrooms to accommodate the 161 preschool and primary school students (87 boys and 74 girls). The facilities had dirt floors that were often muddy, and walls made from boards that allowed the elements inside.
“I really like the new school; it’s in good condition, and now I feel safer,” said Nigeria Coc, a 10 year old 3rd grader who used to walk 40 minutes to school each day, often facing dangerous, muddy paths, especially during the rainy season. “I know I’ll be able to concentrate much more in my classes because I have more space, and the school is clean.”
I want to be a teacher when I grow up because I’ve seen how important teachers are in the community,” said Coc.
See: Successful Groundbreaking for Team Dayā’s School in Aldea Santo Tomas Xacalta, Guatemala
Team Dayā #9: El Bambú, Nicaragua
The El Triunfo primary school in El Bambú, Nicaragua is now complete and serving 75 children. The community of El Bambú contributed the land and natural resources such as sand, water, and gravel to the project. By the end of the project, the men and women of El Bambú had proudly contributed 444 volunteer work days to the building of their new school.
Bambu #2 is approximately six hours northeast of the capital of Managua by vehicle. Located in the municipality of Bocay and department of Jinotega it is an agricultural community generating income from crops including beans and corn.
The community had been operating a school named El Triunfo (in English this translates to “The Triumph”) since 1998. Originally made from leaves and bamboo, the school was upgraded in 2005 to a small wooden building with a sheeting metal roof. In 2012, a partial renovation was made including an extra classroom for three total classrooms. There are 75 students enrolled at El Triunfo (37 girls, 38 boys) in grades kindergarten through 6th grade.
“Seeing the beautiful school we have today, I say with conviction it was worth it,” said Yader Alcides Rodríguez Hernández, a local resident and parent of students attending El Triunfo Primary. “It was worth the time, the effort, the sacrifice, coming to the meetings. This fills me with joy.”
Born in El Galope in 1977 and raised in poverty with six siblings, Rodríguez moved to El Bambú #2 in 2011, where he was finally able to finish sixth grade as an adult. “Receiving an education as an adult was a beautiful stage. It was a time I made the most of because, as an adult, you put more effort in. I regard it as my best time. A very fruitful time for me.”
When Team Dayā arrived it was a profound moment for the community. Watching Team Dayā members labor alongside them left a deep impression.
“It made us reflect on the great effort they made to raise the money to build the school, and even more so, they also came to work!,” said Rodríguez “That motivated us so much because they worked like they were mothers of the community. We remember them a lot, we do not forget them, and we carry them in our hearts and minds. They are our family. My wish is that Team Dayā is enjoying good health and that the blessings of the Lord are with them and their families. We are happy with the gift they brought us. It’s a pride and a blessing to have such a good school in our community.”
See: Successful Groundbreaking for Team Dayā’s School in Bambu #2, Nicaragua
Your Support
Please consider supporting Team Dayā. We cannot build these schools without your support. Example investment opportunities:
- $40,000 Fund an entire school
- $1,000 Paint for a school
- $500 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
- $250 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school
Three Ways You Can Help
- Make a Donation Online
- Example investment opportunities:
- $250 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school
- $500 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
- $1,000 Paint for a school
- $40,000 Fund an entire school
- Example investment opportunities:
- Spread the Word
- Share our mission with your friends, your company and your industry
- Invite us to speak about our mission to your network
- Follow us LinkedIn, X / Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
- Join the Team & Travel on a School Build
- If you have a combination of fundraising chops, an adventurous spirit and the belief each of us has the capacity to be Building Change, get in touch with us and have a conversation.
Team Dayā 2025 Plans
We are now actively recruiting members for our 2025 groundbreakings. These builds represent our second schools in Nicaragua and Malawi and our third school in Nepal.
Our Team Dayā 2025 school building dates:
Nicaragua, Central America [groundbreaking completed]
Sunday, February 9, 2025 – Saturday, February 15, 2025
Malawi, East Africa
Sunday, June 22, 2025 – Saturday, June 28, 2025
Nepal, South Asia
Sunday October 26th, 2025 – Sunday, November 2nd, 2025
If you are curious to learn more about joining a build, please reach out to our Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen. Not sure? Watch the documentary Building Change, the Team Dayā Story (8 minute run time), by Kathmandu based filmmaker Shyam Karki of Samson Film Productions.
Thanks again for your continued support,
All of us at Team Dayā
