SCW's mission is to work in partnership with the private, public, and non-profit sectors at local, national, and international levels to create quality learning environments in developing countries.
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SCW adheres to an enabling philosophy, working with local communities to self-develop quality school facilities. SCW's goal is to help community members design and build schools, empowering them to use the experience to make further improvements to their communities and surrounding regions.
In 1996, Dr. William DeJong and his son, Todd DeJong, went to do service work in a rural Honduran village through the organization Heart to Honduras. While there, Bill recognized the dilapidated condition of the rural school buildings and the under-served population of students.
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Our U.S. Board of Directors brings a variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise that are valuable to the organization.
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In 1996, Dr. William (Bill) DeJong traveled with his 16-year-old son, Todd DeJong, on a mission trip organized by their church to Honduras. During their visit, Dr. DeJong observed the dilapidated condition of the school buildings and the significant needs of rural students. The following year, a team of 11 planners and architects from the Association for Learning Environments visited Honduras to assess the country’s educational infrastructure. Mr. Charles Newman, CEO of Newman Architecture, was among the original team members.
In 1998, Schools for the Children of the World (SCW) began construction on its first school project in Canchias.
In 2003, SCW was formally established as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in the United States, co-founded by Dr. William DeJong and Charles Newman. Since its founding, DeJong and Newman have generously provided administrative support, continuing to travel extensively in support of SCW’s mission — collaborating with national and local governments, securing donor support, and leading assessment and volunteer teams.
Between 2003 and 2004, SCW played a leading role in developing a nationwide facilities master plan for Honduras, commissioned by the Ministry of Education. This effort, led by Matthew DeJong and Amanda Holycross, involved assessing over 11,000 schools, establishing a national database and website, and setting design standards for future school construction across the country.
In 2004, SCW: Honduras was officially recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). A central focus of SCW: Honduras has been to develop self-sustaining operations led by in-country leadership. Alejandra Madrid, who first volunteered as an architecture student with SCW in 2000, later became Executive Director, serving until 2017. Upon her departure, Karina Umaña assumed the role and continues to lead SCW: Honduras today.
In 2006, SCW: Canada was formed as a registered nonprofit organization. Co-founded by Doug Allen and Ron McKnight, SCW: Canada operates entirely through the efforts of dedicated volunteers and an active board of directors, remaining steadfast in fulfilling the mission of Schools for the Children of the World.
In 2010, following the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, SCW expanded its work to Haiti. SCW responded quickly by collaborating with government agencies and initiating demonstration school projects near the epicenter of the disaster. While SCW’s primary focus has been in Honduras, the organization has also completed school projects in Nicaragua, Liberia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania.
In 2021, SCW began work in Tonga, located in the South Pacific. The hallmark of SCW’s work is its collaborative approach, partnering with local communities, governments, and ministries of education to create quality learning environments worldwide.