RISE builds primary schools in rural Angola to educate children, empower communities, and contribute to the rebuilding of the country. Our focus is to provide access to education by building schools, a critical foundation and starting point, where learning takes place. RISE builds quality structures, centrally located within the community, with bathrooms and access to clean water, creating inclusive and equitable places of protection and safety. Since 2003, RISE has built 192 schools, providing 993 classrooms, which give over 138,000 children access to education each year. One child, one classroom, one school at a time.

Every child has the right to education, and RISE works to give children in Angola the chance to go to school in areas where accessibility is limited or non-existent. We target vulnerable and marginalized children who have been impacted by years of war and its aftermath, those living in poverty that face multiple barriers to education, and deserve the basics that all children deserve. We envision a day when there is access to education for every child in Angola.

Source: Nonprofit submitted responses

Goal One: Continue to build primary schools, a critical starting point, to give children access to education where there is none.

Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.

Goal Two: Fundraising is our greatest challenge. We will continue to pursue funding relationships and opportunities, including individual donors, grants, and a variety of partnerships, in the US and Angola.

Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.

Goal Three: RISE measures results, quantifying our work and impact. We plan to continue to build and expand our Monitoring and Evaluation component.

Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.).

Describe an investment in leadership

RISE is a small organization, with two full time employees and one part-time Admin Assistant. Over the years, the Executive Director in particular, has participated in various Nonprofit Management and Leadership courses, through Executive Education Programs and Leadership Summits, including the World Literacy Summit and Northwestern's Kellogg Executive Education. Over the last 12-18 months, much has been available on Zoom rather than in-person classes and conferences, which has broadened access. These have included sessions from the MacArthur Foundation, GlobalGiving, Guidestar, Education Above All, American Philanthropic, Foundant Technologies, and the WISE Summit. As a Board, we have focused discussions on articles about Board Development and Fundraising.

This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:

• Strategic Partnerships

• Networks of Collective Impact Efforts

• Thought Leadership

• Raising Awareness

What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?

RISE participated in the Education Above All Webinar Series 2021: 10 years >10 million: Educating the hardest to reach - What does it take? We joined Educate A Child, Aide et Action, and the Graca Machel Trust, to focus on how creative partnerships have played a significant part in making access to quality primary education a reality for millions of children. We are part of GlobalGiving, which connects nonprofits, donors, and companies around the world, and joined the global movement, SaveOurFuture (saveourfuture.world). RISE continues to engage in strategic partnerships with BP Angola, ExxonMobil, and Educate A Child to give more children in Angola the chance to go to school. We raise awareness and money through spring and year-end appeals, eNewsletters, Annual Reports, social media, and events, including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon as a Charity Partner since 2009. We work to tell the story, and engage and mobilize people to help give children access to education.

Angola’s economic crisis deepened as a result of the pandemic, and many struggled to survive, without jobs, healthcare, clean water, and food. COVID-19 impacted the world, and continues to take a huge toll on the education of children globally and in Angola. The closure of schools in March 2020 affected 8.7 million learners, and without electricity, internet, or computers, there were no remote options. Primary schools reopened in February 2021. Excited to return, students and teachers adhered to pandemic guidelines, wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands, though most rural and semi-urban schools have no running water, adding to the complexity. Buckets, soap, and water were brought in and hand-washing stations were set up. RISE delegates decision-making and authority to RISE Angola, our implementing partner. The last year again highlighted the wisdom of reliance on local leadership and insight. Our team masterfully managed and navigated the complexities of construction in the pandemic. RISE building teams live and work at the sites, and quarantined there, so school construction was able to continue. There were added challenges with delivery of materials and transport. Seven RISE-built schools were dedicated in 2021. Our Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team was in place, collected data, and sent it to our M&E Manager in the US. All in-person events were canceled, including participation in the Chicago Marathon. We shifted to a virtual benefit in November 2020. Our core donors remained committed, and we were grateful to receive two PPP grants. Many were mobilized with a broad interest in helping others, though much focus was naturally drawn to local involvement. Travel to Angola scheduled for March and April 2020 was not possible, and has yet to resume. Angola is a challenging place to work, and the ability to adapt and change is always a part of the process. However, the pandemic added new and unforeseen levels of complexity… but the work goes on!