Africa Schoolhouse
To all who are supporting TypeCulture – our friends, our customers, our contributors and authors, and all the people who visit and benefit from our site:
When I learned of the Africa Schoolhouse Foundation, I knew that it was the right place for TypeCulture to make a more measurable contribution to the world in which we live. While I think that creating new typefaces and posting ideas and information on type and typography are positive contributions to our visual culture – and to the cultures of communication and understanding – I have often wondered how TypeCulture could have a more immediate and tangible impact.
Africa Schoolhouse’s pilot project is the development and construction of a school complex in the Tanzanian village of Ntulya which would provide primary schooling to 700 children who would otherwise never receive a basic education. This project is rather small when compared to the large relief and development projects sponsored by government initiatives, NGO’s, global corporations and Bono. But that is what drew me to it. It is contained, its success can be followed step by step, and I know the project founder personally – I trust her knowledge of the task and her dedication to the people of Ntulya. This is a project which we can actively follow as its objectives are gradually achieved.
What could be more appropriate for TypeCulture – half type foundry and half academic resource – than to contribute to making education possible for 700 kids? Therefore, TypeCulture will donate 5% of its 2010 earnings in licenses to the Africa Schoolhouse project in Ntulya. In the belief that education can solve many of the problems in our world, I am enthusiastic about this particular opportunity to help and make a difference.
We will keep you informed of the progress in Ntulya.
Greetings to all,
Mark
Africa Schoolhouse Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization – founded by Dr. Aimée Bessire and a dedicated group of friends – that is committed to building sustainable school communities for children in underserved areas of Africa. Their goal is to aid the progress of learning using modern technology and environmentally conscious methods while safeguarding the traditional teachings of cultural heritage.
Ntulya is located in the Sukuma region of northwestern Tanzania near Lake Victoria, four hours west of the Serengeti National Reserve. Nyumbani Shilinde, a well-known Sukuma practitioner, founded the village in 1968 as a healing center. Today, people from all over East Africa come to Ntulya to be healed by traditional practices and to study traditional medicine. Through generous donations and fundraising, Africa Schoolhouse will build a primary school with 15 classrooms, teacher housing, a kitchen, and a medical dispensary. The government of Tanzania has committed to providing teachers and administrators as soon as the building is completed. Africa Schoolhouse will maintain the quality level of education through closely monitored teacher training and curriculum development.
If you would like to learn more or make a donation directly to this great project, go to www.africaschoolhouse.org.