About us

About EFF:

Monika Thadhani and Christopher Groesbeck Architects and University Professors have recently established a non -profit organization, “Education for Future (EFF)”, with a focus on promoting education globally, building schools and creating sustainable education programs in third world countries. Their initial effort will be in Africa where over 40 million children in the sub-Saharan region wake up every day without a school to attend. Education is essential for a balanced global society. It empowers individuals, communities and nations to develop the intellectual and pragmatic foundation to grow culturally, politically and economically. Their non-profit organization is currently working on creating a new school prototype and developing a sustainable education program in Africa. Their first project will be built in rural area in Uganda, next to Masaka town. It will provide an educational facility for approximately 360 children who are currently without access to school. More than 70% of secondary school-aged children in this area do not attend school, additionally one third of these children do not even attend primary school. Quality education and access to school facilities still remain a distant dream for many children.

People

Monika Thadhani

Founder & CEO

Monika Thadhani, AIA, NCARB, Architect, Designer and Urban Planner, Adjunct Professor at College of Architecture, IIT Chicago, Founder of Education For Future

She has been working in Architecture and Academia for the past 16 years in US, Poland, Italy, China, Brazil, and Africa. She has worked on many award winning large scale projects in US and aboard. She has been teaching and lecturing during the Venice Architecture Biennale organized by IUAV, University of Venice and was recently selected for BD+C (Building Design and Construction) 40 under 40 award as “Influential Individual” for her achievement in architectural practice and academia. She has worked on diverse projects, including the North Park University Johnson Center, The Beijing New Materials Research and Development Center and the new headquarters for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Her passion is to connect her professional expertise in architecture and planning, working with the disadvantaged and stressed areas of the world.

Mara Overbey

Aloysius Kasoma

Head of Advertising

Local Partner

Mara Overbey is an interior designer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Interior Design from Purdue University. She has over 14 years of experience with experience in corporate, commercial, residential, educational and public facilities. Utilizing her educational background with degrees in both design and fine arts she gives back to the community through her work for numerous charities raising money for education, mentoring children in the fine arts and designing environments that address the issues of children with special needs. She has worked professional on prestigious projects such as the Wrigley Field Expansion and Renovation, the New Google Headquarters in Chicago and the Johnson center for North Park University.

Fr. Aloysius Kasoma was born near the town of Masaka town in Uganda. He was raised in a family of 12 children and lived in a vulnerable world of poverty with minimum resources for everyday life. He had the good fortune to be able to go to school, walking 3 miles barefoot each day. He has understood the importance of education from his early life. His goal was to attain advanced level University education to be to be in the position to make positive change and impact. He graduated of the Pontifical Urban University in Rome where he received a Bachelor Degrees in Philosophy and Theology. He also obtained a Master Degree in Development Studies from Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi in Uganda. For the last 25 years he has been working in the Education Department.

Christopher Groesbeck

CoFounder

Christopher Groesbeck, AIA, NCARB, Architect, Designer, Planner, Adjunct Professor at College of Architecture, IIT, Chicago, cofounder of Education for Future, Principal at VOA Associates Inc has been working in Architecture for the past 33 years, leading offices in Chicago and Beijing. office. His experience includes large scale multi-use projects, city and community planning. His work has gained recognition internationally through many publications and awards. In Chicago his work includes the Arie Crown Theater Renovation, the Wabash Building for Roosevelt University and the Lex Tower at Cermak and Michigan and the expansion of the McCormick Place. His professional and academic collaboration with Monika Thadhani AIA has focused on developing the framework for the communities of the future through the rethinking of infrastructure, the enhancement of natural systems, the development of appropriate density and the reinvigoration of the role of the institution for the cultural, social and economic well being of the metropolis.

Jolanta Bem

Education Coordinator

Jolanta Bem is an Elementary School teacher and ESL teacher currently living and teaching in Poland. She was born in Poland, came to US where she worked with primary school children and studies Psychology. She graduated from Northeastern University in Chicago with a degree in Psychology. She moved to Poland shortly after to continue her Graduate Program at University of Jagiellonian in Krakow to achieve her Master Degree in Education. Jolanta will be involved with the development of school programs for the Children in concert with the development of the facilities. She will help inform how the facilities can be designed to allow creative and inspiring programs with minimal resources .

Suresh Thadhani

Project Consultant

Suresh Thadhani is an Engineer and Scientist currently working for NASA and before this with Motorola where he has worked in the United States, the Middle East and Asia. He has his MBA degree from Northwestern University in Evanston as well as another Master degree in Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He is also a Commander in the Naval Reserve where his focus is on launching communication satellites which parallels his work with NASA. As part of the Naval Reserve he was stationed in Afghanistan for 18 months where he was the director of facilities and new construction. He has deep expertise in construction in third world countries as well as his professional experience with global telecommunications.

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CONTACT US

Tel. 773.934.9758

838 Sheridan Rd.

Evanston, Il. 60202