Student builds schools in Africa

Jared Lowy Jared Lowy, a senior at Agoura High School, decided to do something different during his recent summer vacation. He went to Malawi, Africa, with a group of 27 teens and adults to help build two schools as part of the Malawi School Project 2008.

Jared traveled with the teen group from his church, the Center for Spiritual Living in Westlake Village. The project was led by the Rev. Keith Cox, director of youth seminars. Cox returned to Africa for the second year on behalf of the project, which has helped build five schools in the rural areas of Malawi.

The project works through the nonprofit organization Building With Books, which has built more than 270 schools in developing countries over the past 16 years.

Before the trip, Jared and other members of the teen group worked throughout the year to raise funds to help with the costs of building the schools. The group also collected clothes and school supplies to send to Malawi to help prepare the villagers for school. The teens solicited donations and corporate sponsorships to help with the costs of shipping the supplies.

Jared, who said he believes that education is the path through which any obstacle can be overcome, wanted to take part in the project as soon as he heard about it. After discussing it with his parents, he told Cox he wanted to join the project's 2008 team.

Jared raised all of his travel funds and money for room and board.

Jared has played piano for 12 years and saxophone for seven. He's also active in the music and theater programs at Agoura High School. He will soon earn a black belt in martial arts.

He has lived in Agoura Hills since he was 3. Jared attended Willow Elementary School and Lindero Canyon Middle School, and will graduate from Agoura High next spring.

Jared said he plans to study medical technology in college.

"I am fascinated by the medical arts and sciences, and, with technology changing at the speed of thought in the discipline, the specific field I eventually go into may not exist yet," Jared said.