Improve Education for 400 Children on Idjwi Island

Earlier this month a huge class of 500 children started the new school year at the Buhumba primary school on Idjwi Island.  There are 258 girls and 242 boys between 1st and 6th grades.  

It has been an eventful few months on Idjwi Island.  The isolated nature of the island, and some basic precautions, have provided a degree of protection during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The community and kids, however, continue to struggle with neglected tropical diseases such as malaria, trachoma, and schistosomiasis, as well as common conditions such as malnutrition.  Once again, we have coordinated a visit from our global health pediatrician and local medical team.  In the middle of September they spent several days at the school providing medical examinations and treatment for hundreds of children.  This was a very important visit because the cost and scarcity of key medicines on the mainland have complicated these efforts.

The robust enrollment at the school presents a different set of challenges.  Although we are thrilled with the impressive school building and administrative offices that we have constructed, we are conducting a needs assessment and analysis of options to continue to expand the school complex, and expect to have some plans in the near future.

As always, we greatly appreciate the continued support from the GlobalGiving community!