Worplesdon Primary School is funding two children's schooling in Mukono

Alistair Parsons, the headteacher of Worplesdon Primary School, near Guildford, has told us that his school will be fund raising to pay the school fees of two children at Mukono Boarding School.

The school plans that each year group will fund one child in the future.

'In 2009 we were looking for an opportunity to make a partnership with a school in a different part of the world with a completely different culture and environment so our children could learn about and appreciate the differences and compare the cultures. 

Through the Guildford-Mukono link I made contact with Susan Wamala the Head of Mukono Boarding School. This was the start of an ever deepening relationship where the children have been motivated to help improve the facilities at the school, learn about the region and the lives of the children that live their and exchange letters and information. 

Every year through grants from the British Council we have been able to take part in reciprocal visits by staff from the two schools.'

Worplesdon Primary School

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Godalming nursery school to link with Crane Academy in Uganda

Some good news is that the Nursery and Preschool Major Minors in Godalming are to Link with the Crane Academy for Infants in Uganda which Bridget has started.




Bridget was at Lutengo school with Harriet and was the second female student supported by the Guildford Mukono Link through university. 

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Our footballs are wearing out

Hello everyone!

Namawojjolo and St Kizito schools have been running the Sports Programme.


Both schools have asked for balls and I expect Mbalala school will need some too.


The programme can only run if there are an adequate number of balls. If there are 12 teachers and each teacher needs 3/4 balls, we may need to find the money for up to 36 balls. 


As the first step I will ask how many balls are usable, then we can decide how many we need buy.  


I will ask Lawrence to send us some prices so we can make a decision on how many we can afford.

Tamsy Baker.
Chair of the Guildford Mukono Link.

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Two main concerns that affect children directly

Our committee in Mukono raised two main concerns that affect children directly. 

The first is that many children do not have lunch which affects their academic and physical development so we have developed the Lunch4All project. 

The other problem is that many children drop out of primary school as families can't afford the fees, books, lunches and uniform. 

We were initially given money by a Supporter to set up The Wendy Shephard Education Sponsorship Fund in memory of her mother and in this first year we are sponsoring ten children. 

We are now looking for new Sponsors so enable more children to benefit. The cost is £85 a year per child.

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"I therefore decided to establish a health unit"

From Harriet, who was sponsored through her social work university degree by one of our members:

I did not want to tell you until I have achieved what I really wanted in my life.

This is how I got it after spending three years on the street without the job of my dream. I got a loan from the bank with the help of guarantors. 

When I received this money I started a business, then operated it for two good years. During all this period I was keeping the profits which I eventually used to buy land in the Luweero district of Uganda in 2016.

On this land, which is five acres, I started planting maize and cabbage and also received money. Then this year I partitioned it into pieces, setting up gardens where people go to enjoy life, have fun, and so on, i.e. a recreational centre. It will basically be grass-hut houses with flowers and fruits like pineapples, pawpaws, oranges and mangoes.

This land is located in a village where people are really lacking health services - to the extent that for them to access such services they have to travel long distances. I therefore decided to establish a health unit. 

Right now I have bought bricks and sand until when I will slowly finish buying all the required materials for the building. I have no financial support from anywhere.

Am sorry for delaying my reply you. It's just that there is no electricity so I cannot access the internet.

Thanks. I love you all.
Harriet.

Child Sacrifice greatly reduced in the Mukono area

Tamsy Baker from Guildford has been supporting Sarah Nakintu for the last ten years. 

After her six-week leadership course in Canada, in January Sarah was offered the position of Lead Facilitator for World Vision's Child Sacrifice Programme starting in September. 

Two months later, World Vision said she had to be able to drive and have her own car. 

Child Sacrifice is rooted in the belief that blood sacrifice can bring fortune, wealth and happiness.

Children are either abducted from, or in some cases actually given to, witch doctors by relatives out of desperation for money.

Sarah's  programme reduced child sacrifice in the 40 communities in Mukono to almost non-existence. 

The Guardian

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Bridget's new school in Kampala has lots of children!

Bridget is one of the students sponsored by a member of the Guildford Mukono Link.

Several years after graduation she has now opened her own nursery school in the house of her sister in Kampala.

Bridget managed to build a roof, doors and windows for the school.

The school has grown and now has three or four classrooms.

Many schools in Uganda are private schools as the government has failed to keep up with the increasing population and the gap is filled by the private sector. 

Bridget has been extremely enterprising to get her school to grow as it has.

                       

The school now has 87 children, with two teachers. Bridget reports that the  children are really very happy: "We shall go for a tour in August and see animals and birds," she says.

Wendy Shephard Education Sponsorship Fund

One of the two happy recipients of Wendy Shephard's Fund in St Kizito's Primary School in Mukono, Uganda, is Cotrida Athieno, aged nine. She came fourth in her class of 64 children: 

Another is Peter Mubiru, also aged nine:

Their Headteacher, Lawrence Lugoloobi writes:

"We have started the new term, 

Attached to thise mail are the progress report cards for the two

pupils sponsored by Wendy, care of the Guildford Link.

The two pupils (Peter and Cotrida) are striving to ensure that they

achieve the intended objectives of coming to school, given the

challenges faced at their respective homes.

Their performance is promising and we have a lot of hope in them.

It has been a rainy season. Our gardens and trees are doing well."

Uganda at Breaking Point with Refugee Crisis

The United Nations has warned that Uganda is at a "breaking point" as almost 3,000 refugees pour into the country each day from South Sudan, fleeing violence and famine.

"Uganda cannot handle Africa's largest refugee crisis alone," Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told reporters in Kampala.

"The lack of international attention to the suffering of the South Sudanese people is failing some of the most vulnerable people in the world."

Uganda's Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, said the surge in refugees had placed "enormous strain" on public services and infrastructure, with food and clean water running short.

"We continue to welcome our neighbours in their time of need but we urgently need the international community to assist," Rugunda said.

Refugees receive small plots of land in host communities when they arrive to help support themselves.

A spokesman for UNHCR said that Uganda's approach to dealing with refugees had been among the most progressive on the continent, with the government and host community displaying outstanding generosity towards people fleeing war and conflict.

Full story.

South Sudan’s refugee crisis now world’s fastest growing, Uganda and region in critical need of help. (UNHCR)

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