Geoff Morgan is seen in Yapala, Northern Ghana, where he helped build a three-classroom block that will accommodate 150 students.
The donor: Geoff Morgan
The Gift: Founding Building Walls of Wisdom
The Reason: To build schools in Africa, Asia and South America
After graduating from Queen's University with a teaching degree in 2000, Geoff Morgan headed overseas to launch his career. He spent the next 14 years teaching in Europe, South America and the Middle East before returning to his home in Newmarket, Ont., north of Toronto.
"I really got a sense of how lucky we are to have been born in Canada," Mr. Morgan said. "I just developed a tremendous sense of responsibility."
In 2009, Mr. Morgan approached some friends and relatives about raising money to build one school a year in a developing country. The response was overwhelming and Mr. Morgan soon launched Building Walls of Wisdom and built the first school in Kenya in 2009. Since then, Building Walls has built 14 schools in five countries, working with local officials to ensure each is staffed with teachers.
Each school costs between $10,000 to $35,000 to build, which all comes from donations. The project was initially to run for 10 years, but Mr. Morgan, 39, now wants to keep building.
"It is amazing that, in these countries, some children's biggest dream is to sit at a desk and go to school," he said. "And it is amazing for us to fulfill that dream."
Paul Waldie