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PROJECT OVERVIEW
Epic Change’s first project is to rebuild and expand Shepherds Junior, a small pre- and primary school located in Arusha, Tanzania. Mama Lucy Kamptoni, a savvy and passionate local woman, founded the school in 2003 on land she rented land next door to her home using the income from her poultry business. Since then, the school has grown from 6 students to 170+ children, ages 2-13.
The school is entirely English medium, but includes courses in Swahili, the country’s primary language, and has clubs that celebrate the vibrant culture and history of Tanzania. The primary goal of the school is to ensure that all children in the Kimandolu area are provided access to a high quality education at an affordable price. (Current tuition equates to less than 30% of the cost of private schools of similar quality within the area.) The school charges nominal tuition to most students, and uses its income to subsidize the costs of orphans and lower income children who attend the school.
In July of 2007, Mama Lucy was informed that the site which she was renting for the school was sold to a hotel developer who would begin construction of a new hotel in early 2008. Epic Change is working with Mama Lucy to rebuild and expand Shepherds Junior in a new location. Expansion plans for the school include a computer lab, library, cafeteria, playground, classrooms to accommodate grades 1 through 7, and the installation of solar panels for power. It’s estimated that the new school will cost $250,000 to build, and will take 3-5 years for construction and loan payback.
To date, Epic Change has made its first loan to the school in the amount of
$30,000 in December 2007. Using the funds from that loan, since December, an acre of land has been purchased, and the construction of two classrooms is nearly complete. Students are expected to start classes at the new site on March 3, 2008.
Nearly $500 has been paid back through funds the students raised in a local performance. As our initial payback projects, we have started on the creation of a greeting card line that includes pictures of the children as well as a post card line that includes photos by the children. We expect to bring these products to market this year. |
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