WELCOME from FNT Co-Chairs
In 1993, Forging New Tomorrows, Inc. (FNT) was just a name and a dream to complement the work in Africa of Afrique Santé & Environnement, LLC (ASE), an Atlanta based consulting firm founded in 1992 specialized in Global Health and Environmental issues.
In 1993, at the request of the Ministry of Health of Rwanda, ASE developed a Post War Rehabilitation & Development Program (PWRDP). Afrique Santé & Environnement designed and monitored the program, which was implemented by an American non-governmental organization (NGO). Concurrently, the encouragement of authorities, many friends and international institutions in Rwanda became the impetus for creating FNT. In 1994, FNT was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of Georgia. However, the 1994 war and genocide in Rwanda put an end to FNT's contribution to the the Post War Rehabilitation & Development Program.
In September 1995, the US Department of Treasury granted FNT its tax-exempt status, and in October 1995, FNT was awarded its first competitive grant from the World Health Organization for research to be conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.
(L to R) Ambassador Andrew YOUNG,
DeKalb County CEO Vernon JONES, Prince Albert II of MONACO,
Dr. Marc Daniel GUTEKUNST
Between the Fall of 1995 and the Fall of 2004, FNT secured major program and project funding, as well as valuable support (in-kind-donations, value-in-kind, and donated time), making the dream of FNT a reality, operating not only in the United States, but also in 5 other nations including Rwanda.
Since 1995, FNT adopted three focus areas: Global Health, Education & Training, and Environment. Whenever possible, a Peace & Reconciliation component is introduced in each of the three FNT focus areas.
Since the Spring of 2001, FNT’s main focus has been the creation and establishing in partnership with the DeKalb County Government the Atlanta D eKalb International Training Center (ATLANTA DITC), inaugurated on May 6, 2002 by Ambassador Andrew YOUNG. Between May 2002 and August 2004, the DITC trained in 5 different disciplines, 46 athletes from 16 nations including the US, 4 athletes qualified for the 2004 Athens OLYMPIC Games, and Benefit UDO-UBONG from Nigeria took an Olympic Bronze Medal. The ATLANTA DITC is now The living legacy of the 1996 Atlanta OLYMPIC Games.
To all the FNT friends, we thank you for your continuous institutional, individual, and personal support of Forging New Tomorrows.
Peace & Blessings,
Ambassador Andrew YOUNG Dr. Marc Daniel GUTEKUNST
Co-Chairman Co-Chairman & CEO