Project Based Learning Education Nonprofit
Established in 2014 in Phuket, Thailand, Make Our Day now provides project based learning opportunities and student sponsorships to students around the world.
Services
What We Do
Classes – We provide affordable, hands on education in cooking, gardening, yoga, STEAM, and more.
Camps – Make Our Day hosts several camps a year around the world, each with a different project based learning theme.
Student Sponsorships – We depend on our donors to provide direct financial aid to students to either stay in school, attend vocational training, and plan for higher education.
Classes, Camps, and Sponsorships
A Look at 2023 Activities
300+
hours of after school, weekend, and summer break programs
5
summer camps
3
in 3 countries
30+
students received direct financial aid for their education
What is Project Based Learning?
It’s typical in education for teachers to teach a unit and then assign a graded project for students to show what they’ve learned. In project based learning, students start on the project right away and learn by doing it. Make Our Day uses this teaching method because:
- Students can join classes and camps without having any background knowledge of the subject. Whether that’s English, coding, cooking, gardening, or yoga, they can just show up and jump right in.
- It’s inclusive for a range of language abilities. Many classes share most of their information through speaking, listening, reading or writing….this is not helpful for students who can’t read, write or understand you. Project Based Learning relies on showing students how to do something. Students then have a chance to show what they’ve learned without being graded on their language proficiency.
- Allows for mixing age groups. Most Make Our Day classes combine students 6 – 16 in the same project.
- Promotes student leadership.
- Is…just…more…FUN!!!!
Keep up with BIG Announcements
We’ve got A LOT going on!
This Blog page doesn’t get updated too often as a lot of the stories shared with our donors are private. If you are looking for events, opportunities to get involved or want to directly sponsor a student email Katie at info@makeourday.org or visit the DONATE page of our website.
- The Garden Classroom is Open for the Season!GO PLAY OUTSIDE! The Make Our Day Garden Classroom is open for our third consecutive year of project based learning cooking and gardening classes in Aurora, MO. Mastering skills like cooking and growing food instills a sense of accomplishment inContinue reading “The Garden Classroom is Open for the Season!”
- Have a Big Life MunchkinsHave a Big Year Life Munchkins I wrote this for one person. She knows who she is. But in the spirit of sharing in 2024, I’ll put it out there to all the teenage girls, or anyone really, who wantsContinue reading “Have a Big Life Munchkins”
- Big Green and Sober OctoberBig Green by way of Kimball Musk! A lot of people don’t know that Elon Musk has a brother, but I have long been team Kimball. He has a garden classroom nonprofit called Big Green. I’ve been waiting for themContinue reading “Big Green and Sober October”
Be the change
you wish to see in the world. At Make Our Day, we believe that as long as people can change, the world can change. Nothing can change a child’s life like access to quality, holistic education. Make a one time, monthly, or yearly donation to bring more project based learning opportunities to children around the world.
Already donated but
Want to do more?
Volunteer (In Person or Remotely) – While we love to have volunteer teachers, there is plenty of work that needs done that doesn’t involve interacting with students. If you have a skill and you’re willing to volunteer your time or services, we need help with grantwriting, photography, videography, online course design, app design, graphic design, community outreach, accounting, fundraising, general administrative work and more.
Help Us Build (In person)- Make Our Day is expanding and so are our partners! Our Missouri location and Phuket location are both in the process of building new classroom buildings. Manual labor is needed as is help sourcing inexpensive materials, furnishing classrooms, and expanding outdoor spaces. Schedule a work day and volunteer as a family or group.
Hire Teacher Katie – Make Our Day was founded by Kathryn Dillman in 2014. She designs, writes, and facilitates all of the project based learning classes, camps, and teacher trainings for Make Our Day. She has 10 years of experience teaching in English as a Second Language classrooms, a Masters in Educational Studies, and experience in curriculum design, teacher training, public speaking, and life skills training for adults and teens.
Make Our Day 501c3 