How to Build a Million Dollar School with $250,000?

That was the question that faced us as we went to Samoa with the set of plans drawn up by Phil and Nigel and their teams. On the face of it these plans cost out at NZ$1.3 million, which is far more than BANZAid has or can reasonably contemplate raising for this project. We currently have NZ$250,000 in hand, and while we can reasonably anticipate raising a certain amount more through fundraising activities such as corporate sponsorship and support from the New Zealand Samoan community, the target of $1.3 million is beyond our reach.

In this situation we had to find the answers to three questions: Were the plans we had an accurate representation of the needs of the school? Was there any possibility that the Government of Samoa would have additional funds for the school, or that we could build a first stage with the funds that we have, leaving the balance of the project to the Samoan authorities? And finally, were there any alternatives?