The Slate Foundation Cordially invites you on an African Expedition to participate in the creation of The Living School Project!

The Living School Project was born out of our discovery that children in Africa walk an average of 5 to 10 miles for just one day’s supply of water for their families leaving little to no time during the day to attend school.

Our goal with this project is to build a low-cost, self-sustaining, eco-friendly school with a water source on site that is adaptable to any location and climate and can easily be transported, built, expanded and maintained by the local community.

However, the Living School Project is more than just a school with a water source on-site, it is a long-term commitment to educate underprivileged children with the goal of empowering them through education…from primary school, through graduation and into job placement.

The school is also intended to represent the heart of the community bringing green ingenuity and opportunity to a region of the world that is extremely poor and relies on poaching and trapping for sustenance and income.

From water sources on-site to merry-go-rounds that create and store energy, innovative green-building techniques will escalate the lives of these children and their families, allowing more time for education.

At the center of the Living School is a commitment to teaching environmental conservation and protection of wildlife. While giving children a firm foundation in the core areas of learning, as well as HIV/AIDS education, children also participate in the exterior learning gardens and the livestock pen classrooms learning:

crop rotation

plant species that require less water and have more nutritional value than potatoes, cassava or corn

how to raise cows, goats, chickens and rabbits as a source of income and food

how probiotics from milk can improve health

how to divert water from above and below grade water sources using Bioswales and boreholes

how to set up clean water purification and pump systems

how to use sustainable, local materials in the building and site

how to build an entire Living School on a new site

We have assembled an A-list team of people to ensure the project succeeds. A few of our team members include:

Dr. Holly Edwards, biological scientist and head of the endangered manatee program,

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Dr. Lisa A. Miller, Director of Annual Programs, Lynn University in Florida

Kenneth Wofford, Environmental Scientist

Laura Bottaro, Mammal Curator, Oklahoma City Zoo

Gina Longo, PR & Donations

Margaret Fitzsimons, IIDA, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, Sustainable Design Architect,

M-Fitzsimons, Inc.

Glenn Maginnis, Consultant

Kevin Wolfgram, Teacher, LA Unified School District

Shao Lin, Architect, Gensler Architectural

Irina Barboutis, Designer, Gensler Architectural

Julie Tran, IT, Gensler Architectural

Yolanda Sepulveda, Urban Planner, Fuze-Community Design

Carrie Mayhew, LEED, AICP, Urban Planner, Fuze-Community Design

Julia Malisos, LEED AP, Urban Planner, Fuze-Community Design

Kristine Sklar, Designer

Alex Hernandez, Designer

Frank Longo, Esq., Longo & Longo

Alexandra R. Lavinsky, Esq., Law Offices of Ronald A. Litz

A few reasons why we chose Tanzania are because Bill films wildlife there for the Tanzania Government and has a good relationship with them. They are extremely supportive and excited about this project. Dar es Salaam is a huge shipping port and can provide the support our project and staff needs. Our support from Land Rover is priceless and needs no further explanation, but…when trucks breakdown, and they do, we need to be able to repair them in the bush and on the spot. Land Rover provides us with parts and back up trucks based out of Dar es Salaam.

Our goal upon completion of the project is to have The Living School Project serve as a model that can easily be constructed and implemented anywhere in the world including the United States…a turn key, sustainable school!

We also received an in-kind grant from Google, and have received support from the US Green Building Council for guidance, marketing, and vendors. But our overall support and the people responsible for our success has come from people like you, our friends and family. From friends making us free copies and gathering crayons and new flip flops for the children to Santa Monica soccer moms giving us old shoes and shirts.... and, of course, the very kind people who remember to tell their friends!

Thanks again for all your support!

Madison & Bill Slate