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Akelius Foundation

empowering communities
through education

Build a school with Akelius Foundation
to expand access to education.

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collaborate with Akelius Foundation


Akelius Foundation invites charity organizations with experience and track record in education and school projects to collaborate in the construction of schools in underserved communities.

Akelius Foundation is committed to helping people in need by funding educational projects around the world.

Every year, Akelius Foundation donates on average EUR 30 million to support educational projects, including funding of schools.

about Akelius schools


The first school project started in 2022 in Mali, where Akelius Foundation and the organization MenoMali aim to build ten schools.

Today, in Mali, four schools are completed and operative, while three others are under construction.

The schools are open to all, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion and political beliefs.

The Akelius school projects are developed to fulfil the community’s need for educational spaces.
The schools are designed using local materials and adapting to the country’s culture and environment.

The projects are always the result of a close collaboration between Akelius Foundation and its partners.

about the opportunity


Key evaluation criteria for a project are

lack of educational opportunities and buildings in the proposed area or community

the school’s educational programs are open to individuals from all backgrounds, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, or political orientation

high-quality of construction, operations and long-term sustainability

optimal and low project administration and management costs

creating a school environment with human scale and connected with nature

Akelius Foundation and the implementing partner collaborate closely for the entire project development, from project planning to the school construction.
To reach this goal, implementing partners might include

  • organizations or social enterprises that manage schools or educational programs
  • construction companies experienced in educational or community buildings, especially in low-resource settings
  • local education authorities or community-based organizations in the target country

application process


From inquiry to approval, the process usually takes one to three months.

01

initial inquiry

Submit your organization's information and interest by email to contact.schools@akelius.org

Include your organization's full legal name and website, as well as a short half-page project description specifying

  • primary project scope
  • target beneficiaries
  • main objectives and expected outcomes
  • estimated budget
02

consultation call

If the organization and the project are in line with Foundation’s criteria, a short call is scheduled to discuss the project and clarify goals.

03

first proposal development

A project proposal, including detailed budget, is developed with dedicated support from Akelius Foundation’s team.
You can consult the guidelines available below.

guidelines
04

sketch design

The first sketch design for the school is prepared.
The project budget is adjusted accordingly.

05

final proposal

The final project proposal is submitted.

06

agreement

An agreement based on the final proposal is signed.

frequently asked questions


Akelius Foundation supports primarily the construction of new schools. 
Basic renovations or expansions of existing schools are usually not eligible.  

However, if the newly added facilities represent more than two-thirds of the total completed school in terms of the overall buildings and student capacity, 
the project can be of Akelius Foundation’s interest.

Akelius school projects support formal and informal schools for students from Grade 1 to Grade 12, 
including primary, secondary, and high schools. 

Formal preschools are generally not eligible.  

An exception may be considered if the preschool follows a play-based approach.

Akelius Foundation does not fund religious schools or religious education.

Eligible schools must provide education to all, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender and political orientation.

Akelius Foundation does not have any geographical focus, but implements projects where there is a need for schools.

The Foundation primarily funds the construction and equipping of the school.

Akelius Foundation usually does not fund the school’s operational costs.

  • integrating the public education system, allowing public funding of operating costs 
  • generating income through activities that benefit the local community  
  • securing sustainable support from local partners 

Yes, the design of Akelius buildings is simple and timeless.

Facades, common areas, and landscapes should not be formally or rigidly designed.
Curved, round, or elliptical elements are preferred, while orthogonal structures should be avoided. 

Akelius buildings follow the natural topography and landscape of the place, minimizing the impact on the site. 

Akelius Foundation partnerships


© one.news

Swedish Billionaire Roger Akelius Donates 100 Million Rupiah to Children in Gaza

2026-04-17 | one.news

Swedish billionaire Roger Akelius has made international headlines after announcing a major donation to help children in the conflict-affected Gaza Strip. Through his Akelius Foundation, the property mogul donated approximately 800 million Swedish kronor (approximately US$75–85 million, equivalent to over Rp1.2 trillion) to humanitarian programs focused on education and the basic needs of children in the region... continue reading or go to original source

© resumenlatinoamericano.org

Palestine. UNICEF partners with Sweden to build 400 schools in Gaza

2026-04-04 | resumenlatinoamericano.org

Middle East Summary, April 4, 2026

Swedish billionaire Roger Akelius has pledged to fund the construction of 400 schools in the Gaza Strip to replace those destroyed after years of war and Israeli bombing.

The initiative, channeled through his foundation and in cooperation with the Swedish government and UNICEF, seeks to restore educational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children who have been left without access to education due to the devastating impact on school infrastructure.

continue reading in English or go to original source

© UNICEF

Swedish Foundation Plans to Build Schools in Gaza Amid Education Crisis

2026-03-31 | educationpressreleases.com, todayineducation.com

(MENAFN) The Swedish Akelius Foundation announced plans to construct 400 schools in Gaza, where over 650,000 children have lacked access to education for the past two years following the destruction of 97% of the territory’s school facilities.

The initiative is aimed at restoring learning opportunities after widespread damage to educational infrastructure. On March 20, Swedish businessman Roger Akelius made a donation to support Gaza in partnership with the Swedish government through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

sourcePDFlink
educationpressreleaseshere here
todayineducationhere here
© Lejla Biogradlija

Swedish foundation to build 400 schools as over 650,000 Gaza children remain without education for 2 years

2026-03-31 | aa.com.tr

Swedish Akelius Foundation says it plans schools and 100,000 daily meals in Gaza while warning Israeli forces may restrict access or target staff and children.

The Swedish Akelius Foundation plans to build 400 schools in Gaza as more than 650,000 children have remained without access to education for two years after the destruction of 97% of school facilities in the territory.

The initiative aims to restore learning opportunities following widespread damage to education infrastructure across Gaza.

continue reading or go to original source

© EPA - EFE / Djeca u Gazi

Largest donation in country's history: Swedish businessman donates 800 million kronor to children in Gaza

2026-03-28 | radiosarajevo.ba

The Swedish government, together with the Akelius Foundation, donated 1.2 billion Swedish kronor (201 million KM) to help children in Gaza.

Of the total amount, 400 million crowns (67 million KM) comes from the government, while the Akelius Foundation, founded by real estate billionaire Roger Akelius , provided 800 million SEK (134 million KM).

continue reading or go to original source

© UNICEF

Akelius Foundation makes UNICEF's education programmes for children in Gaza possible

2026-03-27 | YouTube chanel UNICEF Sverige

Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF’s Special Representative in the State of Palestine is reporting back from Gaza and welcomes the extraordinary investment from UNICEF Sweden’s partner Akelius Foundation. Akelius Foundation is donating 800 million SEK to support children’s education in Gaza, the largest single donation to UNICEF Sweden ever. It is an important step toward resuming education in Gaza and giving children back their childhood and hope for the future. The donation is inspired by the Swedish government’s firm commitment to children in Gaza and its contribution of 400 million SEK to UNICEF.

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