When I visited Nakivale HOPE Nursery and Primary School, Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda in 2008, the building that was the pride and joy of the school was the latrine. While far exceeding the quality of most of the classrooms at the time (one was the shade of a tree), it spoke of better things to come. It gave hope that people cared enough to make things permanent in a place where most people feel they are forgotten.
Pride and joy
Last month there was an earthquake at Nakivale and one of the casualties was our latrine. We got an email with photos of the damage shortly after it had happened. What was once a symbol of better things, now a pile of rubble. Unlike school buildings here which would be covered by insurance, we now have to raise the funds to rebuild a new latrine. The current estimate for rebuilding is around five thousand dollars.
The results of an earthquake
This school is in the middle of nowhere and is populated by refugee children from countries like DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia, as well as offering education to poverty stricken Ugandan children who live near the refugee settlement property. Life is tough out there, people come from diverse backgrounds and cultures but the school is offering not only education but an opportunity for parents to have community with those they would culturally not associate with. Our teachers at Nakivale endure quite unfavourable conditions, from living in cramped quarters and sharing mattresses to having one hundred pupils in their care.
Although it has a long way to go in terms of infrastructure and quality of teaching and learning, I love this school. I can see the difference that it has made already and looking into the future, the difference it will make to generations of children, families and communities.
Students from Nakivale HOPE Nursery and Primary School
There are many ongoing building projects within the school, as well as the ongoing costs of administration including teacher salaries. If you are interested in donating towards any building projects or sponsoring a class to help with running the school check out Australia HOPE International to make your tax deductible donation.
Or, like a group of people who were touched after the Congo Team visited their church, you could organise a fundraiser. Or get along to theirs, check out the details at The Big Bid.
Give a child something to hope for and help rebuild a toilet.
Blessings
bron
