A comprehensive roadmap for building a world-class boarding school network that transforms education through geographic arbitrage
Create a world-class boarding school in low-cost-of-living countries (starting with Uganda) that serves American students at $15k/year—funded by ESAs, vouchers, and charter dollars—while cross-subsidizing local students. Geographic arbitrage enables Phillips-Exeter-quality education at a fraction of US costs.
Why: Transform outcomes for students from under-resourced communities by removing them from high-violence, low-opportunity environments and placing them in academically rigorous, culturally enriching settings alongside high-achieving peers.
Timeline Philosophy: This is a marathon requiring continuous stakeholder buy-in, data collection, and adaptation. Each phase builds proof-of-concept for the next. Missing windows (like July 2026) sets the vision back 1-2 years.
Est. Cost: $25,000-50,000
Risk: Buddo declines partnership
→ Pivot to other schools: Alliance (Kenya), St. Mary's Kitende, or Prospera Honduras route
Risk: Can't secure institutional credibility
→ Partner with established exchange org in Boston for first cohort
Risk: Trump immigration restrictions worsen
→ Focus on Ugandan diaspora kids (US citizens) only for Phase 1
Est. Cost: $3,500 per student (airfare, insurance, program fee to Buddo, chaperone costs)
Est. Cost: $150,000-300,000/year
Est. Cost: $1.5-3M/year operating budget
Est. Cost: $10-20M capital + $5-8M/year operating
Est. Cost: $30-50M/year operating
Est. Cost: $100M+ total investment