In August 2024, eleven AMSG Team Members traveled from the United States to Honduras to volunteer with One Thousand Schools, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and violence through access to education and youth empowerment.
Through AMSG’s Global Impact Program, the team joined local community members in constructing the organization’s 73rd school, an achievement that directly supports One Thousand Schools’ mission to provide safe, educational spaces for children in Honduras. Beyond their hands-on work, the experience offered AMSG Team Members a firsthand look at the challenges and successes of the organization’s mission, and the resilience of the communities it serves.
In conjunction with this impactful trip, AMSG is excited to announce the launch of its new company-wide Book Club, kicking off with Green Oranges, the recently published memoir by One Thousand Schools’ Founder and Executive Director, Shin Fujiyama. Green Oranges is a powerful reflection on Shin’s personal journey, from growing up in Japan and the U.S., to launching a nonprofit from his college dorm room with only $23. Through raw honesty and humility, Shin recounts the setbacks, doubts, and small wins that led to building an organization now employing nearly 100 Honduran staff and supporting hundreds of students in their pursuit of a bilingual education.
As AMSG continues to expand its global outreach and social impact, Green Oranges serves as an inspiring and timely read that aligns with our values of purpose-driven service and community engagement. AMSG Team Members look forward to engaging in our inaugural Book Club discussion and attending a special book talk with Shin Fujiyama in September, where he’ll share more about his story, the future of One Thousand Schools, and how ordinary people can help build change…brick by brick.
Written by Katie Mulder