The Arcadia Institute, Inc.

As part of the TAI focus on Africa, we are creating strategic alliances with, and providing support to, local small industries, particularly in mining. The industries provide education, training, and jobs, but they also tithe a percentage of profits to support essential services to the people in particular, education and medical services.

In 2005, based on a long time interest in implementing self sufficient development models on the African continent, The Arcadia Institute, Inc. (TAI) sponsored a needs assessment for Lunda Norte Province in Angola to determine what could be done to improve social and economic conditions there. The needs assessment concluded that education and training are critical to the success of any development projects in the area and must be addressed immediately.

Among the education and training needs are:

Facilitate construction of primary schools to increase basic literacy;
Initiate a trade training program to qualify students in vocations skills, particularly those related to mining and agriculture;
Support a secondary school and education program for the provinces;
Provide scholarship support for higher education and management training for aspiring leaders.

The Lucapa Project

As discovered through the needs assessment, the education system in Lunda Norte Province is struggling to provide even the most basic elementary education. The Primary School Project in Lucapa is an important first step in a more comprehensive model for sustainable development through improved education and training for the local population. Tangible early success in improving the primary school system will serve as a catalyst for additional development at the vocational and secondary levels which are key to long term development and sustainability through education and employment of the local population.

The Lucapa Project will serve to improve deserving lives and stimulate further local growth through education. It will also provide immediate domestic employment of local labor as well as economic opportunities for local suppliers of materials and equipment.

TAI, in conjunction with local officials, will facilitate project implementation and ensure that available resources are applied to the efficient planning, coordination and completion of the Lucapa Primary School. TAI also continues to work with local leaders and corporate sponsors to develop additional initiatives from the needs assessment that will be building upon the success of the Lucapa school.

We are seeking commitments from government and nongovernmental organizations together with corporate contributors to provide funds in the amount of $500,000 to undertake the immediate project. Corporate contributors will be offered the opportunity for name recognition in support of the project.

Upon acquisition of funds, TAI, in coordination with funding partnerships, will develop plans and procedures to survey the site; determine construction needs in the form of labor, materials, and equipment; coordinate provision of educational materials; contract for necessary services; and provide review, evaluation and oversight of the project, including financial management.