114 beachLIFE THE SONDER PROJECT THE LAST WORD
“ There are plenty of causes worth supporting ,” says Chad Zibelman , CEO of The Sonder Project . “ But research shows that if you want to make the greatest impact , touching the most lives , then your donation is best spent in the developing world .”
In 2020 , The Sonder Project expanded its operations to Malawi in southeastern Africa . The following year , Sonder introduced a Student Sponsorship Program where donors in the U . S . can sponsor a student at one of Sonder ’ s schools for as little as $ 225 per year or $ 19 per month . These Sonder students are identified by teachers and community leaders and interviewed by Sonder staff . Once selected , they receive all necessary school and exam fees , a uniform , and school supplies . Sonder staff then continue to offer support throughout the year .
“ We take a holistic approach ,” Zibelman says . “ Can a student really benefit from an education if they keep missing school because they are sick from the local water source ? Can they concentrate if they only have one meal a day ? The answer to these questions is no , and so we focus on all three — education , clean water , and food security .”
Among its accomplishments over the past seven years , Sonder has drilled 31 wells , providing access to clean drinking water for 49,910 people , and built 13 schools , allowing 3,629 students to attend class every day . The nonprofit has also developed a community farm .
As mentioned , 360 Blue pays all administration costs for The Sonder Project . This means that every donated dollar goes directly to the organization ’ s programs on the ground . Want to get involved ? Learn more at thesonderproject . org .