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New alliance formed to improve educational opportunities in Uganda
June 12, 2008
Empower African Children, ProTech Services, and architect Betsy del Monte of the Beck Group announce the formation of the Empower African Children School Alliance. This group of public and private organizations has joined together to develop an innovative secondary school in Kampala that will serve Uganda's orphaned and vulnerable children.
"With its broad expertise and commitment, this Alliance will make a real difference in the lives of Uganda's children and the communities in which they live," said Alexis Hefley, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Empower African Children, the Dallas-based nonprofit organization and Ugandan NGO that will direct and manage this initiative. "We will be able to provide a globally competitive education and access to opportunities so that the next generation of Ugandans may fully participate in our ever-evolving world."
The Alliance is a result of the partners' experience with Spirit of Uganda, the critically acclaimed performing arts project produced by Empower African Children. Sponsored by Macy's and featuring 22 children ages 9-22, the troupe's national tour included performances in 24 cities and a special appearance at the United Nations headquarters.
"The energy, talent and artistry are amazing proof of what is possible when we invest in children," said Chris Ott, President of the Bay Area-based ProTech Services, which also helped underwrite the UN performance.
"Empower African Children's emphasis on holistic education is compelling and necessary," added Betsy del Monte, principal in the architecture group and director of sustainability for Dallas-based integrated architecture and construction company, Beck.
A 20+ acre campus will house a state-of-the art secondary school for 400 students with magnet programs in the performing arts, technology and healthcare. The environmentally green physical plant will also be a hub for community involvement, services and employment. It will house sound recording and performing arts studios, technology classrooms, and a health clinic. Empower African Children envisions the school as a scalable model that can be replicated throughout Africa.
Architect Betsy del Monte, an expert in sustainability and green building, will head the design team with noted Ugandan architect Jonathan Nsubuga, principal, J.E. Nsubuga & Associates. ProTech will contribute the sustainable water treatment and energy systems, engineered to promote environmental stewardship, pollution control and the conservation of natural resources. "The building which is designed and constructed for the venture can be part of the education process," del Monte explained.
The Alliance has set a January 2010 goal for opening the doors to the school. The project is presently in the project design and land acquisition phases as the Alliance seeks additional partners for the project in the USA and in Uganda. A strategic plan, budget and timeline are in development.
In Uganda, where half of the population is under the age of 14, only 15 percent of primary-aged children who attend public schools go on to attend secondary school, which requires fees most Ugandans are unable to pay. Access to education is further undermined by Africa's well-documented AIDS epidemic, persistent poverty and a decades-old civil war that have severely limited Uganda's capacity to meet the needs of its citizens.
Empower African Children, Dallas, TX, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children in Africa. www.EmpowerAfricanChildren.org
ProTech Services, San Francisco, CA, provides construction management, environmental and ecological design and water treatment solutions. www.ProTechGCS.com
Betsy del Monte, AIA LEED AP, Beck, Dallas, TX, The Beck Group provides integrated development, architecture and construction services. www.BeckGroup.com
