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OUR SCHOOL
The Mission to Youth and Students serves young people spiritually, physically and mentally. They have identified the great need for a Secondary School and a Youth Vocational Training Center. The Secondary School will allow young people to have the opportunity to further their education at a time where there is a great shortage of secondary schools in the country. The Youth Vocational Training Center will be a place where idle young people can be trained in various skills such as carpentry, home science, sewing, accounting, cooking, computer skills, etc. that will enable youth to be self-supporting. Work began on the School and Vocational Training Center in 2004 on their beautiful 20 acre site near Arusha, Tanzania.
Feasibility Study
In 2003, the New Life Band commissioned an extensive feasibility study to address the various issues, realities and perspectives involved in building a secondary school (high school) and vocational training center on the site they have owned for many years near Arusha, Tanzania. This study primarily addresses the current great need for such facilities in the country and the specific requirements for staff, faculty, and ongoing financial support for such a school.
The feasibility study concludes that there is great need for such educational facilities in Tanzania, where a very large number (approximately 70%) of young people are not able to continue their education due to lack of facilities and ongoing opportunity. Thus, they are not educated and trained to take their place in adult society, lead productive lives, and play a leadership role in their political, religious or cultural heritage. The Feasibility Study also concluded that the school site was adequate, properly located, accessible, and properly planned to accommodate both initial needs and future opportunities.
Furthermore, the school could eventually be self supporting through typical fees charged by comparable schools in the area, supplemented by "scholarships" and construction donations from the vast and proven network of friends and supporters throughout the world (particularly in the UK and the USA).
School Site and Master Plan
The school site is a beautifully situated parcel of land located about 17 km south west of downtown Arusha. The original 17 acres was purchased in the early 1990's through a generous donation from a supporter in the UK. Subsequently, 2-1/2 acres was added through a memorial donation from a supporter in the USA. Currently another 2-1/2 acres is being purchased for an adjacent Hostel for guests and visitors to the school site, and this facility is already under construction.
The general plan for the school was developed by the well known Tanzanian engineer and architect, S.J. Rwandalla, who is a member of the New Life Band's African Board of Directors. This general plan was specifically developed to accommodate the initial phases of construction as well as long term future plans for an expanded school and a large "Youth Center Complex" for Youth Camps, Conferences and the Vocational Training Center. Ultimately, the entire facility could possibly accommodate as many as 1000 school students and faculty, and large youth gatherings of as many as 5,000 people.
Initially, however, the school will start with 6 classrooms (currently under construction) and the adjacent Hostel facility. In the near future, the New Life Band hopes to build additional class rooms, living facilities, and supporting buildings to accommodate 450 students.
Total costs for the 450 student phase of the plan are currently estimated at roughly $1,000,000 U.S. dollars. This is based on construction costs of approximately $170 US per square meter ($10 per square foot) for class rooms, assembly areas, cooking facilities, sleeping accommodations and administrative offices, library, computer lab, clinic, etc. However, it is estimated that actual costs could be reduced by as much as one half by using volunteer labor, careful design of the individual structures, and proper cost management of the project. It is important to note that construction of the school will proceed only as funds are received. There are currently no plans to borrow (finance) funding for the construction of any of the facilities.
The Feasibility Study concludes that a faculty of about 30 people could be developed and sustained for a competitive cost of approximately $38,000 US per year for the entire payroll. The New Life Band will have a professional administrative and other supporting staff as necessary.
Possible Future Expansion
The long term objective for planning of the school and Youth Center Complex is to design the facility so as to not preclude future expansion and housing to bring the total enrollment up to 1,000 students, including class rooms, dormitories and staff housing, sports fields, and other facilities.
Youth Center Complex
The overall plan for the 20 acre site includes concurrently building Youth Center facilities to include an assembly hall, cooking and sleeping facilities, etc. to be used for the New Life Band's very popular and well attended Youth Camps. Youth camps are currently held twice a year for one week at other schools during their vacation or holiday times, and generally involve a thousand or more participants. Using their own school facilities when they become available, the New Life Band would minimize cost and schedule conflicts for these camps. The Vocational training facilities will be built into the school and will use common buildings and facilities as appropriate.
In addition, it is envisioned that ultimately, the New Life Band's offices, recording studio and all stage storage, sound equipment storage and other support equipment would be moved to the school site and located in appropriate buildings and facilities.
Adjacent Hostel Facility
Construction has begun on a Hostel located on a 2-1/2 acre parcel of land adjacent to and immediately North of the existing 20 acre Secondary School and Youth Center Site. This Hostel is designed to house visiting groups, organizations, and individuals who may wish to visit Tanzania and help with construction, operations or financial support
Water Availability
For many years, the New Life Band has been trying to solve the problem with usable water at the School and Youth Center Complex site. At first, it was believed that water could be made available from an existing water line which runs across a portion of the site and supplies a large military camp about 40 km to the west. After repeated inquiries, it was decided by the government that such water could not be made available. The drilling of water well bore holes at the site has also been ineffective. Water for construction and initial operation of the school is being trucked to the site and stored in large portable storage tanks.
Recently, the government has released plans to provide clean piped water for the entire area around the school site, including some 7 villages in the area. It is expected that this water will be available in 2008, but the initial operation of the school will be planned for continued use of trucked water.
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