SPONSOR A CHILD’s SCHOOL FEES for only £3.50 or $6 a month
Baby Class
The RUHANGA DEVELOPMENT NURSERY SCHOOL was built and opened in 2008 at the request of villagers in this rural area of SW Uganda, using money raised by volunteers and visitors staying at the nearby Uganda Lodge
Before opening the school, we explained to parents of potential students that although Mzungus (white people) had built the school they could not expect charity from us forever. Between us we agreed to keep the fees at a very low level, making no profit but just collecting enough money to cover the teachers salaries, teaching aids, pencils and books, a free uniform and very importantly a large mug of porridge for each child every morning for breakfast. See some of our children here
School Uniform
Numbers quickly rose and by the start of the new school year in 2009 there were over 40 students attending regularly. However as most families living in the surrounding hills are subsistence farmers there was little spare cash for the little ones school fees. We had been tending to run at a loss with Denis ( our MD ) and myself in the UK subsidising things by buying sacks of maize meal for the breakfasts, and sending out school uniforms, books and pencils sourced from car boot sales and charity shops in the UK.
While I was out in Ruhanga over Easter 2010, I met with a young Canadian volunteer Kayla Rocca and she was very concerned over the number of young children that were living up in the nearby villages and still not attending school. We did some research, asked some questions, and found that many families had 3 or 4 children between the ages of 3 and 7, some were caring for orphans as well as their own children, and others were single Mums whose husband has passed away and they themselves were not in good health. They were just struggling to grow enough beans and matoke (a green banana steamed and used as a vegetable) and provide the children with a small meal each day
Kayla's Kids
Kayla is a photographer and she took many emotive pictures of village children We decided to start a register and get a photographic record of both youngsters who were already attending school but struggling to have their guardians pay their school fees, and others who had never before had the opportunity to attend.
The results of this work is shown here on our website and you can see photos of all our children including those who are still hoping to find a kind person to sponsor them for just £3.50 a month.
You can begin to sponsor a child by sending us a cheque for £42 for the year or setting up a standing order today…..
Details of our bank account are found on the application form here
Alternatively email ann@annmccarthy.co.uk for more details and an applicaton form to be emailed to you. If you are able to sign the Gift Aid form your donation to go even further.
UPDATE July 10th 2010 - This week over 100 students attended our school every day, and now many of these are waiting urgently for sponsorship. Please will you consider giving less than the cost of a cheap bottle of wine or one packet of cigarettes a month to educate a child?
UPDATE December 2010. At the end of term we had 145 children attending our school – with 25 of them still needing sponsors. (How about using one as a Christmas Gift to a loved one here?) Then I also have another 30 already who have filled in enrollment forms to start school after Christmas. Please help.
UPDATE November 2011 Numbers have doubled over the past year and there are 250+ children registered at our school – many of who are now sponsored. However in January we are opening a Primary 3 Class plus we are expecting at least 50 new little ones to be following in their older brother and sisters footsteps and joining us.
Please consider Christmas Sponsorship as a Gift and we will send you details of your child as soon as we receive their enrollment forms. Thankyou
UPDATE January 2012 We have two new classrooms completed bringing total to 9 plus a block of super new toilets for the girls and boys toilets are upgraded. Grass has grown and almosts covers the huge now level playing fields. A new headmaster has joined us together with several new members of staff. I cant wait to be back out there again and meet all the new children who are starting