Africa has a population of over 600 million. Fifty percent of the population is under 15 years of age. Half of those children do not have access to schools in their communities. Hence a large segment of the African population remains vulnerable to social, economic, environmental and public health problems that have hindered African development for centuries. The program is designed to provide basic building materials for schools in rural areas where no schools previously existed.
Parents provide the labor, and governments provide teachers and some monitoring.
Schools are built through a collaborative effort. Appropriate technology and local building materials and practices are used where possible to reduce cost and spread the program to as many communities as possible. In addition, communities are encouraged to use school facilities after-hours for women's basic education and community meetings. In its short existence over 120 schools have been constructed with scores more planned for the immediate future. Plans are in place to have over 200 schools complete by the year 2001.