What We Do
We build educational infrastructure (funding design, planning, materials & labor) for primary schools working with marginalized populations, or in developing areas.
We build schoolhouses, classrooms, libraries, lavatories, dining halls, computer labs, greenhouses, recreational centers, and more. By committing to the ‘built environment’ we can respond to the need for new construction and ensure that lasting change is ready for future students. It is our hope that construction projects in marginalized or developing areas can empower local communities to enrich their education for years to come.
We partner with schools seeking to expand their community engagement and to set up educational exchange visits in which their students have opportunities to meet with others, share about their culture and their experiences, and gain recognition for their hard work. We build these visits to be a supplementary benefit to both the students and the curriculum.
We also collaborate with local nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs) so that their active work can reach the students and provide structure to ongoing development. In this way, our foundation schools can benefit from local public health initiatives, community development, and environmental stewardship, with a single project anchor.
Our Projects
We contribute to schools and nonprofit organizations throughout the world. Each of our projects are based on local need that was determined after having listening sessions with local staff, professionals, and community members.
We collaborate with school and community leaders to develop projects that respond to the obstacles and challenges faced by local students. Where possible, we partner with local Community Based Organizations to ensure cultural relevance, and durable impact. We help to identify solutions and resources that can help the schools make the improvements they need so they can focus on the students and the curriculum.
Our Founding
Dani Pipano, President of our Board of Directors, has seen the promise and potential in the eyes of countless children. Early in his travel career, he noticed that many students lacked the necessary tools and resources to succeed both in the classroom and in life. During his initial days as a tour guide in Israel, he discovered the immense value of helping others. “The children I met, and continue to meet,” he said, “understand that education is crucial for success. Youngsters in developing countries yearn for the classroom, and their thirst for knowledge is unending.” He knew that if he were to make a lasting impact in these communities, he would have to establish a nonprofit.
We are so thankful for his enduring commitment to improving education throughout the world. In 2015, the Gate 1 Foundation was established as a tax-exempt nonprofit, federally recognized and incorporated in Pennsylvania USA. As a private foundation, we are fortunate to have the funding we receive from Gate 1 Travel. Many of our project partners love receiving groups of visitors from their communities and travelers from other countries as part of their community engagement plans. Hosting educational exchange visits have allowed students and communities to interact with others, and in many cases, the travelers and visitors bring much needed supplies and resources requested by the school.
