Building Futures is Study Group’s corporate fundraising initiative.
Building Futures exists to make education possible. For many children affected by crisis or poverty, the biggest barrier isn’t poor quality education, it’s having no access at all. Before learning can begin, children need help with the basics: covering school costs, accessing supplies and having a safe place to learn.
That’s where Building Futures comes in. We focus on helping children reach the classroom in the first place. Once education is accessible, we support projects that enhance it through teacher training, inclusive learning spaces and the resources children need to succeed.
donated
communities supported since 2004
major education projects
In collaboration with Plan International, our Building Futures initiative is committed to long-term, sustainable education projects in low- and middle-income countries. Supporting some of the world’s poorest children, the projects we support construct schools and improve access to quality education.
Meet some of the communities we’ve supported:
In Myanmar, years of conflict, instability, and crisis have forced millions of children out of school. Plan International Myanmar are working to change this, ensuring children who have been displaced by the ongoing conflict can access a quality and inclusive education. As part of a larger programme funded by Education Cannot Wait, Plan International Myanmar aim to reach 51,000 children with vital educational support.
Working across 30 townships in northern Myanmar, the project is improving access to safe, inclusive and high-quality learning for children. This includes supporting schools, building community learning spaces, training teachers and addressing barriers such as school costs, lack of materials and food insecurity.
So far, the project has achieved:
In a time of crisis, education becomes a lifeline. It brings safety, stability and hope, helping children build the skills and confidence to shape brighter futures. One powerful example of this impact is the introduction of community reading clubs.
In places where schools remain closed or disrupted, these clubs, run by trained educators in community spaces, offer children a chance to learn, socialise, and rediscover the joy of being children. They take part in reading, storytelling, drawing and games, and go home with storybooks and stationery to continue their learning.
“I really enjoy attending the reading club. I get to listen to stories, draw pictures, colour them, and even receive gifts. It makes me so happy.” — Young reading club member, Myanmar
Even in the face of crisis, education offers hope. Together, we’re helping children in Myanmar reclaim their right to learn.
Since 2013, 1.5 million people have fled the conflict in South Sudan. Ethiopia’s Gambella region is a temporary home to 319,000 Sudanese refugees. In some camps, up to 70% of children were missing out on school. The Safer Schools for Refugees project was a three year project that aimed to reach 30,900 children in 29 schools.
These children had already lost their homes, fled from danger and were also losing their education. We know that education and a safe place with regular structure to the day, can be a lifeline for children who have experienced dislocation and trauma. This project built classrooms to accommodate more students, invested in school management, trained teachers in how to effectively deal with children who have experienced trauma and helped children catch up on lost learning, learn about their rights and stay safe.
More than four million people, mostly women and children, escaped Ukraine and have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Study Group supported Plan International’s one-month fundraising drive, Ukraine Crisis: Children’s Appeal with a one-month fundraising appeal. The project focused on critical areas such as child protection, psychological support, education, and long-term integration.
At border points and transit centres in Poland, Moldova, and Romania, Plan International established child-friendly spaces and trained frontline staff to deliver psychological first aid, ensuring children traumatised by displacement and violence received immediate care and emotional support. This project also enabled Ukrainian children to continue learning by distributing educational tablets, providing temporary learning spaces, and assisting local schools to integrate refugee children effectively into host communities.
This project focused on improving the quality of, and access to, education for girls in rural Ghana, particularly those who were at risk of dropping out of school. The project provided support designed to help them make the transition from primary school to junior high school - a moment when many girls see their education end abruptly, often due to marriage or pregnancy.
The project improved teaching in 72 rural schools through live and interactive broadcast lessons during the Covid-19 pandemic. This directly benefited 10,900 children, 63% of whom were girls. After Covid-19 disruptions, 96% of children returned to school, aided by targeted support, including cash grants for 2,432 vulnerable students, of whom 98% reported it prevented their dropout.
The mother of 12-year-old student Isabelle explained the impact of the grant: “I am illiterate but I know the value education will bring to my children in the future. With these funds, I am relieved because I have a whole term to save up to pay the fees for the next school term.”
Through extensive training, the project boosted the confidence of 3,682 parents and equipped 216 teachers with skills in inclusive education, safeguarding, and classroom management. The broadcast equipment used during the pandemic was transferred to the Ghanaian government and training was provided for local educators to maintain and expand project activities to ensure the project could continue.
Annual flooding in Bangladesh causes schools to close for months at a time, interrupting the education of thousands of children. This project improved infrastructure, safety and access to learning at eight schools.
Building Futures' tenth project focused on rebuilding schools and restoring education for girls and boys in Nepal, following the major earthquakes of 2015. Study Group raised the £220,000 needed to construct and fit out the new school in Sindhupalchowk District, Nepal.
Civil war damaged Sri Lanka’s infrastructure and the Anuradhapura district desperately needed a new primary school to improve the education opportunities for 400 children.
Our project involved the construction of a new primary school in Anuradhapura in northern Sri Lanka. This directly helped over 400 children access a quality education.
We raised £53,000 to build 10 new classrooms at Van Han lower secondary school. We built a disaster-management system and ensured supplementary teaching was put in place for those with additional learning needs.
We raised £49,800 for three new classrooms, teacher training, books, furniture, and improved water, sanitation, and hygiene systems at Zounzounkanme School.
We started Building Futures in the wake of the 2004 Tsunami and funded two classrooms in Aceh, Indonesia.
Over the years, our dedicated staff around the world have raised money for Building Futures through bake sales, quiz nights, office Olympics and more. Their creativity and commitment continue to help make education possible for children affected by crisis.
If you’re a member of Study Group staff, and you want to get involved, you can make an even bigger difference by using your paid volunteer leave, donating through Give As You Earn, or taking part in fundraising activities.
If you’ve been inspired and want to support the work of Building Futures, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch at buildingfutures@studygroup.com to find out how you can get involved.
I feel very happy to study in the new school. The classrooms are bright and have fresh air. Now, I don't have to worry about being cold in winter.
Urmila, age 14
