Help America Ferrera build a school in Mali!

Jon and America are going to visit remote areas in Mali in January to learn about Save the Children’s education programs and to help Save the Children raise money to build a school in Mali! During the trip, America will be updating her Facebook page with photos and videos.

Follow her at www.facebook.com/AmericaFerrera and help get this school built!

Photo Credits: Save the Children/Michael Bisceglie

Here is an excerpt of the note America wrote for about the trip. Read the rest of the posting at her Facebook page!

I'm so excited and incredibly lucky to be going to Mali with Save the Children in January - just a few short months!! For those of you who don't know, Mali is located in the northwestern part of Africa. Most of the inhabitants live in the southern region of the country, around the Niger and Senegal rivers. The northern border is the very hot, very inhospitable Sahara Desert. Mali's key industries are mining and agriculture. It is a very beautiful country.

Sadly, however, Mali is also one of the poorest countries in the world; nearly 3 out of 4 people live on less than $2 per day. On average, a child completes only 6 years of schooling. Most kids drop out in 5th grade. Nearly 800,000 school-age kids are out of school; 3 out of 5 are girls.

As a Save the Children Artist for Education, I'm going to Mali to get to know the children and families and to help spread the message that education is essential for all people. But, most importantly, I'm going to help build an actual school... and you can help too!

For the school to be built, we need to raise a minimum of $44,000. The school will be complete with 3 classrooms, a headmaster’s room and bathrooms for both boys and girls. Once we reach our goal and the school has been built, Save the Children will provide the skilled teachers and learning resources the children need to make the most of their education. If we raise less than $44,000 or exceed our goal and raise more than $44,000, the funds will be put to good use to support Save the Children’s education programs in Mali.

Give whatever you can, any amount brings us closer to the goal. Even if you can't give, please pass the message along to your friends and family! That helps, too.

When I arrive, I'll update my page with pictures and later I'll post videos from the trip.

Thanks again for your interest and for helping me with this important project. Every time a child learns, we all benefit. Please help to make a difference in the life of a child in Mali and you'll make a difference in your own life as well.

- America

So, as you can tell, it's an amazing and important cause. Education has such a profound effect on the development of a country's future. Just look at these stats on the effects of education from Save the Children's "State of the World's Mothers 2009" Report.

The Effects of Education:

• When girls go to school and stay in school longer, they have a better chance to grow up healthy, well-nourished, economically empowered and resourceful when it comes to the health and education of their own children.
• Educated girls tend to marry later, have fewer children, healthier pregnancies and safer deliveries.
• Educated mothers are better equipped to provide a positive early learning environment for their young children in the home and to support their children’s educational progress when they go to school.

What a profound and amazing effect we can have! Please visit the cause page and Join America Ferrera to Help Save the Children Build a School in Mali.