BuildOn is a charity devoted to improving the education of children worldwide. It brings together students to volunteer for their communities. It is an opportunity to for high school students internationally to help give people an education who cannot access it.

BuildOn was a very strong club for many years at SHS and was so successful that the program won awards such as “after-school club of the year” in 2010 and 2011. It raised more money than any other program in the tristate area for two years straight. However, buildOn suddenly closed its SHS chapter without warning. BuildOn Advisor Matt Gladstone said that buildOn’s Central Office Committee, who was in charge in 2012, decided that SHS students were not their “target demographic” and that Stamford was no longer a community in desperate need of an after-school program.

The coordinator, whose name Gladstone would not divulge, disagreed with the Central Office Committee’s decision and tried to make an impact on their decision. According to Gladstone, the coordinator was so disappointed in their final choice, she immediately left buildOn.

BuildOn withdrew from Stamford High School in 2014. Gladstone said that, “The person who founded buildOn lives in Stamford, in the Stamford High School district, and knows exactly what goes on here, and how good our program was. I really feel like they, in a way, abandoned us, a club that was very devoted to them.”

One activity buildOn does is it sends students on treks in developing countries, such as Nicaragua, Senegal or Haiti to help build schools. Gladstone said, “Many students were devastated, especially those who devoted their time so effortlessly.” He added that many students planned on going on this trip, until it was abruptly cancelled.

According to Gladstone, he never had a problem with buildOn removing their support from his perspective, but when they took the opportunity away from the students, he saw the disappointment that they felt.

Students Kiran Jagtiani and Amy Liebman are interested in restarting the program due to the positive message and mission of buildOn. Since Gladstone had been with the Stamford High’s buildOn for many years, he has a personal connection with the program. Gladstone strongly believes in the program and fought officials to bring it back.

If you are interested in joining buildOn, you can find and talk to Gladstone in room 614.