High quality education for children in Uganda

Progress

Poor children, especially orphaned children, are looked down upon, denied basic necessities and ostracized for reasons that they have little or no control over. Access to education, healthcare and vocational training is an avenue for these children to have productive futures. Although more than 4,000 children have been orphaned in Nyakagyezi and surrounding villages as a result of HIV/AIDS, Nyaka remains the only tuition free school in the Kanungu district of more than 200,000 people. In a country where tuition-free education is extremely rare, Nyaka is making education a reality for 118 orphans who would otherwise not have excess to education. Furthermore, Nyaka provides nutrition and healthcare interventions, as well as vocational training for these vulnerable children. Below is the progress we have made in just three years.

Some example of activities:

* In 2004 Nyaka Anti-AIDS choir was able to take their message to places only within walking distance. In 2005, they have reached 36 schools, 12 churches, 3 mosques and more than 12 public gatherings ranging from women’s day, Independence Day, Labor Day and other District celebrations due to funds for transportation. During these gatherings, they distribute educational brochures in simple English and Rukiga, a local language spoken in the area.

* Beginning this year, we developed a teachers’ training manual which will be used in an annual workshop with Nyaka teachers. Kanugu District Education office requested me to include other teachers in the area in our annual workshops, the first of which was presented in October 2005. Our teachers also attend training at the District and will soon be joining other organizations dealing with orphans and early childhood development in training sessions.

More activities are detailed in the report below. The best is yet to come.

• ProgressReport12_23_05.doc (DOC)

I just got back from Nyaka so greetings from Nyaka kids, staff, volunteers and all Ugandans I met. The children are as resilient as ever, enthusiastic and full of hope. There are 118 students. Two extra girls joined Nyaka because they could not stay home alone while their siblings come to Nyaka Monday to Friday.There are five teachers, a nurse and two support staff (store keeper and night watchman).

Kids get their lunch at school (see picture with blue cups), their uniforms are new and yes because of Steven Lewis Foundation grant, they wear black shoes and socks as part of their uniform. They are the best-dressed kids in the area and that has boasted their efforts in class work.

Nyaka Ant Aids Club also has a new uniform, new costumes and their message has reached more than 30 schools, 12 churches of all denominations and many public gathering including the independence celebrations where they sang on Oct 9th, 2005 in our presence.

Nurse Gloria continues to serve all kids and while in Uganda I contacted the nearest hospital, which will be sending their community outreach personnel to Nyaka once a week to handle cases Gloria cannot handle.

I held a halfway workshop with teachers (teacher’s manual available) where I addressed issues ranging from accountability, Nyaka vision, mission and Beliefs and School rules and regulations.

Finally we now have clean running water in Nyaka community thanks to you who made that possible. I visited all 8 taps and I have a final report that I will send out soon.

• Vol_4_No_2.pdf (PDF)
  

Addressing the problem of AIDS orphans is a daunting task, but the Nyaka School has taken on that challenge and is proving what a difference a small amount of money can make on so many lives. In the Southwestern Ugandan village of Nyakagyezi, the Nyaka School provides free, high-quality primary education, social activities and basic healthcare to orphans whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS. Nyaka brings the community together to provide these children with a family atmosphere that will impart self-confidence and values that will significantly increase their chances of reaching adulthood as healthy, functional members of society.

In government-mandated exams, our students consistently test above the district average. Our health interventions have improved the daily existence of many of the students, allowing many to attend school on a regular basis for the first time in their lives. Our community gardens have provided food for more than 200 families in the area, including student foster families.

We have increased the number of orphans we serve by at least 25% each year, yet hundreds more are turned away due to limited resources. Expanded, recurring financial support will allow Nyaka to serve a greater proportion of the large number of AIDS orphans in Nyaka and surrounding areas.

Words from one of the 116 students "When my dad got so sick, my mom sold all the cows, goats and chicken to get medicine but the situation was not getting better. Then my uncle suggested that we sell all the land, which we did, we live in a hut with my two sisters. When it rains we stand in the corner and wait for the morning to go to our school Nyaka. Without Nyaka I would be working for food everyday."

I came away from my visit to Nyaka with a whole new sense of the strength and warmth of Africa. What you are all doing for these children is wonderful beyond description. You and the teachers have succeeded in such a special way---the children are indeed SO happy. And how they sing and dance! They are so amazing. And so are the teachers. It made me cry just to see those wonderful children.

To that I can also add: It is very heartening to see Africans making all this happen through their own ingenuity and dedication. Nyaka is a great model for how the African diaspora can mobilize support and work with their partner villages in Africa to make a difference in the lives of so many people in need.