WDF is in the process of meeting with major gift prospects and visiting other possible sponsoring organizations in the United States and Canada to discuss the Butare Girls High School and to identify potential sponsors.

Budget and funding implementation

While funds are being raised for the overall construction of the school, WDF seeks $230,000 to renovate existing space, equip the school, hire staff and prepare to open and meet its 2012 opening goal of enrolling 50 girls.

The cost of operating the school (not including the initial renovations) in existing space, which could serve up to 100 girls, is $162,000 for the first two school years and the first school year will be $67,000. This amount does not reflect any sponsorship support for individual students, which we will promote along the ―adopt a student‖ model. The school will be operationally sustainable by 2013 through funding from private fee students, sponsors for disadvantaged students, and applying for existing government, foundation and private support. Communication, marketing and business plans exist to achieve the scale, impact and sustainability of this community changing initiative.

The total budget for the five-year plan, including renovation, operation and new construction is $2,000,000. The funding is broken down as follows:

• $230,000 to renovate three existing classrooms and convert a guesthouse into a dormitory in time to accommodate the first 50 girls for the school year beginning in January 2012. The most disadvantaged girls will be recruited for this first class and sponsorships sought for their support.

  The following is a justification of the requested amount:

  Item	Amount
  *Capital Expenditures	$ 100,000
  School Equipment and Operating Expenses (leading to opening)	$ 50,545
  **Travel	$ 28,000
  ***Contracted Services	$ 18,000
  WDF Overhead – fundraising, accounting and administration	$ 16,300
  Marketing and related office expenses	$ 7,000
  Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E)	$ 5,000
  Technology tools	$ 5,000
  TOTAL PROJECTED REQUEST FOR 2011	$ 229,845

  *Building renovation for conversion to classrooms, dormitory, cafeteria and bathrooms. Vehicle for transporting students and secure parking space.
  **7 trips at $4,000 per trip – includes travel for Bishop Nathan and vision trip hosting.
  *** Consultants for mentoring, training, project work, educational experts and fundraising ($3,000 p/months x 6 months).

  Please see Appendix 2 for details of our projected 2011 – 2013 High School Operations Budget.

  Teacher and administrative salaries are expected to be partially supported through the Ministry of Education.

• $162,000 for ongoing school operations for the 2012-2013 school years.
• The remaining $1.608 million for new construction, expansion and ongoing operations.

TOTAL: $ 2 million over five years

Our funding goals will be met for through private donations, NGOs, foundations, corporations and international government grants. Additionally, 50 sponsors will “adopt” a student as soon as the school is ready and the first term begins. The school covers six years and sponsors will be asked to commit to at least three years and encouraged to support their student for the entire six-year period.
In addition, attracting a population of fee-paying students who are attracted to the academic success and values driven education it provides will help move the school toward self-sufficient operations without any additional grant or donor funding.

Sponsorship program implementation

Sponsorship is estimated to be $40 USD per month for each student, which is comparable to many ‗sponsor a child‘ programs in North America and Europe. The cost of tuition, lodging, uniforms, health services, and materials will be covered through this level of sponsorship. To put this in perspective, the U.S. spends $8,701 per year on its public high-school students (2007 figures). This amount would sponsor 5.5 Butare high school students and their boarding for one year or one student for her entire six year high school career. By reaching out and attracting sponsors and mentors for these female students, important links will be established that can motivate them to do their best in school and throughout their lives.

We are exploring is a ―Girls Helping Girls‖ sponsorship that would promote adoption of a student as a volunteer fund-raising project for girls‘ high schools in the U.S. They would be asked to take on a student or students as an ongoing, school-wide or class community service project. The Internet and social media will allow click and donate fund-raising as well as sharing photos and information between Rwandan girls and their U.S. sponsors.

Staff and Infrastructure Implementation

One of the principal consultants has recently completed his doctorate in organizational development and has many years of technology project experience as well as previous international project management. In the assessment phase, he will evaluate the human capital needs in the South Diocese and create a detailed plan to pull in the necessary resources.
A training and mentoring plan will support Bishop Nathan and his staff as the project works through each phase and his vision unfolds.

Volunteer Network Implementation

WDF will draw on the skills and knowledge of a wide variety of volunteers already in our network. Paid consultants with special skill-sets will lay the groundwork in the first year of the initiative and cross-train their replacements with skilled volunteers.

Through Dr. William Landherr, a relationship will be established with the University of Saint Thomas to provide a practicum for OD Doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students.

Discussions are underway to solidify a partnership to attract talented and educated volunteers from the University to volunteer and receive credit at Butare Girls High School.