How BT got started...
When George Srour, BT founder and executive director, first visited Uganda as a United Nations intern, he recognized that there was a real and effective way to help the millions of vulnerable children in Uganda and throughout the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. Inspired and emboldened, he returned to the College of William & Mary, ready to do his part to help the children he met overseas.
Consequently, in December of 2005, the College of William & Mary accomplished an extraordinary thing. Through their Christmas in Kampala campaign, students raised almost $45,000 to fund the construction of a new school in Kampala, Uganda. In May 2006, the students at William & Mary could see the results of their hard work with the completion of Meeting Point Learning Center.
With that, a movement was born. Srour was awarded a generous fellowship that allowed him to make building schools for the children in sub-Saharan Africa a full-time job. Building Tomorrow was created as a continuation of Christmas in Kampala as a way to empower the young people in the United States to make a difference in their global community and to provide millions of children with an opportunity to go to school and break the cycle of poverty.
IN THE USA
BT currently has chapters at 15 college campuses, and several more are establishing chapters. BT also has a partnership with Key Club International, a high school service organization consisting of 250,000 students. BT provides both college and high school students with resources, expertise and organizational support, giving students the chance to sponsor awareness and fund-raising activities at their respective campuses and schools. Working with students, BT helps to establish specific growth targets and chapter goals.
IN UGANDA
BT currently works in the Wakiso, Gita and Kiboga Districts, home to an estimated 500,000 children under the age of 18 who do not have access to an education. Working with the local government and Ministry of Education, BT helps to identify areas in need of new infrastructure to support the schooling of vulnerable children.
In these areas, BT acquires land and issues a challenge grant to the local community that covers $45,000 of construction costs for a new school. Local community members contribute by providing 25,000 hours of labor to construct the school.
In line with the government’s Universal
Primary Education initiative, the Ministry of Education covers
operating costs and teacher salaries. A memorandum of understanding
agreed to by BT and the local government addresses stakeholder
responsibility prior to the commencement of construction.
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
BT prides itself on the organization’s ability to direct 100 percent of all on-campus contributions toward in-country building projects. Funds to cover the administrative expenses of the organization are defrayed through private donations as well as foundation grants. All contributions to BT are tax-deductible. For more information on how to give to Building Tomorrow, click here.
