Borehole drilled at Kahara

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Published on Monday, 11 March 2013 20:49

Incredible progress at Kahara Primary School

The Big Festive Fry in Dollingstown in December raised the money to drill the borehole at Kahara Primary School in western Uganda. I am delighted to report that: 

"A borehole was drilled at Kahara in February.  The borehole drilling company is yet to certify the quality of the water, a process that may take two weeks. Once the water quality is certified, the borehole will be cast in concrete and shall be operational at the end of March. The new water source is expected to meet the water demands of the school and neighbouring school community."

Your support has made this possible.

   Borehole being Drilled

Work continues on the school building as school numbers increase dramatically

The 2013 school term started in Uganda in February. In Kahara, in February alone, the school registered 220 girls and 190 boys (410). The school administration attribute this dramatic increase in enrolment to the new infrastructure in the school and the good performance of the P7 candidates last year.

The four classroom block is at roofing level with construction expected to  complete in April. After the roofing phase, the internal/external walls will be plastered, windows and doors fixed, and the new block painted.

With the increase in enrolment from 319 pupils in 2012 to 410 pupils in 2013, the new block comes at the right time to accommodate these numbers. The completion of the classroom block will scale down the pupil to classroom ratio from 106:1 in 2012 to 58:1 in 2013."

Classroom Block at Roofing Level

 25 children (13 girls and 12 boys) in Kahara sat for their national primary school leaving exams (PLE) at the end of 2012. All 25 children scored passes to enable them to transfer to secondary school. 

Pre-season gardening meetings were also held with the Kahara school garden caretakers. The meetings were held to plan for the opening of school gardens in March. Kahara will plant maize, beans and choice vegetables to complement the dietary needs of the children as parents learn basic organic farming practices from the school gardens. 

The school garden for the new planting season will be opened  as soon as the first rains come. The school is planning to garden an acre of maize, an acre for beans and ¼ of an acre of different varieties of vegetables. These will all be ready for harvesting in July.

Community hygiene and sanitation meetings will be held in early March. These meetings are aimed at promoting hygiene and water safety in the community and preventing the spread of water borne diseases like typhoid. Children and school community members will be taken through hand washing regimes and given helpful tips on how to keep their school and homesteads clean.

Kahara building update

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Published on Friday, 25 January 2013 17:57

Today we received the wonderful pictures below of the progress with the new building at Kahara Primary School, the second school that Charlene's Project is supporting. Jackie from Build-Africa, our partner writes:

"The next phase of construction is going to be putting up the walling structure of the block and this is expected to be completed in late February. The block will be completed in April 2013 if construction progress remains steady. The four classroom block will complete the seven classroom primary school cycle demand for Kahara. With this development, Kahara’s enrollment at 319 pupils (159 girls and 160 boys) is expected to rise by at least 30% in the first two school terms of the year."

You might recall previous pictures of the beginning of the school harvesting project with sowing on the land adjoining the school. Jackie reports on progress:

"Tarpaulins were to delivered to Kahara and these have been used in storing the maize and beans harvested from the school demonstration gardens. The gardens were harvested in mid-January and the school acquired 600kgs of maize and 90kgs of beans from the 2 acre garden. The food will be used to feed the children when the school term opens in February. In 2012, the school did not have a school feeding programme and a few children brought packed lunches."

The borehole is scheduled for February/March to fix the highly acute water problem at the school. The borehole drilled will be able to serve all the children in the school and the local community. Water User Committees have been trained by Build Africa as custodians to maintain the boreholes and promote hygiene in the school and community in order to prevent the spread of water borne disease.

We were delighted that Sarah and Jordan were able to visit Kahara School early in January and they brought clothes, sweets and other gifts for the children. The pictures below tell the story.

Already plans are well advanced for a visit to Kahara and Hidden Treasure in July.

Thanks to everyone who has helped make these developments at Kahara a reality. We will keep you posted.

2012 - A Review

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Published on Sunday, 30 December 2012 20:37

As I reflect on 2012 I am amazed at what has been achieved in Hidden Treasure Primary School and how our journey with Kahara Primary School has begun.

Charlene would be amazed at what has been achieved through the project she started in such a short period of time. The Hidden Treasure Primary School new build was officially opened in August 2011 and 2012 has seen consolidation and growth. The amazing work done there by the Director and teaching staff was evidenced during the visit in June 2012. Currently almost 300 children attend with 100 children sponsored and all children taught at a high level by conscientious teachers and all children receiving a meal in school daily.

During the June visit Kahara Primary School was chosen as the second school of Charlene's Project. Already the  ground has been broken for the building of a second classroom block to replace the mud and straw classroom structure previously used, the agricultural programme begun with money forwarded from this years Big Festive Fry for the sinking of a borehole to bring clean water to the school community early in 2013. It is expected that the 300 children will be in the new school block early in 2013.

The pictures below tell the story - but it would not have been possible without the incredible support of all those who walk this journey with us in Charlene's Project. Thank you to each one who is part of Charlene's ongoing legacy.

JUNE TRIP 2012

Packing up hockey sticks and kit for Uganda

Half a ton of hockey and sports equipment leaves for Uganda

  Basil, Dickie and Natalie leave for Uganda in June

Introducing Hockey to Hidden Treasure Primary School in June

HIDDEN TREASURE PRIMARY SCHOOL 2012

Work around the Hidden Treasure compound

New School gates going up

Water Harvesting Tanks installed

Generator in position

School connected to mains

Children being taught to use the computer for the first time

Hidden Treasure Children cleaning up their local community

Children receive letters and gifts from Northern Ireland

Children in their sports kits

Teachers receive their new uniforms at Christmas

Children get fitted for their new shoes for Christmas

Sponsor children in their new uniforms

Text Books received from Waringstown Primary School

KAHARA PRIMARY SCHOOL 2012

First impressions of the needs of the school

Some of the children of Kahara Primary School

Building has begun as the people of the community celebrate the ground breaking.

“Having a complete classroom shows that the school is ready for learning. This is what a competition ground looks like; we will have lawyers, doctors, teachers and all sorts of literate people in this community. It has never been the case before,” said Robert Mayamba, one of the parents.

Pupil Violet emphasized how important the new classrooms will be to her and her classmates:  “We used to have jiggers (fleas that very painfully burrow under the skin) in our old dusty classroom block. We shall no longer have jiggers.”

The community has every reason to be excited for the second classroom block to be built. Kahara Primary School has been comprised of mud and wattle classrooms for many years. Children have been suffering with jiggers as a result of dust and during the rainy season, the classrooms would leak and the be filled with mud. In these classrooms the children would sit on stones, sticks, or simply on the floor.  Through partnering with Build Africa and Charlene’s Project, the school will get the quality infrastructure it needs to truly flourish.

THE BIG FESTIVE FRY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AND MONIES RAISED IS BRINGING WATER TO KAHARA PRIMARY SCHOOL EARLY IN 2013 AND SUPPORTING OUR ONGOING WORK IN HIDDEN TREASURE AND KAHARA. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP THROUGHOUT 2012 AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE ONGOING WORK OF CHARLENE'S PROJECT IN UGANDA THROUGHOUT 2013.

Breaking Ground at Kahara - building started

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Published on Thursday, 13 December 2012 22:58

We have just received the communication below from Build-Africa - as promised the work has begun

A Very Happy Kahara Community at Ground Breaking

The Kahara community was very excited to take part in the ground breaking of its second classroom block on 26 November.  With pupils, teachers, parents and local council members in attendance, the day was a joyous occasion. 

The local council chairman said the community has been lacking a standard school for their community and that the partnership with Build Africa and Charlene’s Project is ‘like God’ being sent to their community.

Victoria addressing the gathering

Victoria Ikedi, the School Management Committee Chairperson, echoed the same sentiments.  “A star dropped in the community of Kahara to shine bright light to our community.  Build Africa and Charlene’s Project are a God-given present to the Kahara community;  it just came to us like a surprise and it is getting bigger and bigger.”

“Since the beginning of the world, no one from Kahara has gone far in life of professionalism. This new block will make children learn with ease,” said Bernard, Kahara’s Head Teacher.

Violet giving her speech

“Having a complete classroom shows that the school is ready for learning. This is what a competition ground looks like; we will have lawyers, doctors, teachers and all sorts of literate people in this community. It has never been the case before,” said Robert Mayamba, one of the parents.

Pupil Violet emphasized how important the new classrooms will be to her and her classmates:  “We used to have jiggers (fleas that very painfully burrow under the skin) in our old dusty classroom block. We shall no longer have jiggers.”

The community has every reason to be excited for the second classroom block to be built. Kahara Primary School has been comprised of mud and wattle classrooms for many years. Children have been suffering with jiggers as a result of dust and during the rainy season, the classrooms would leak and the be filled with mud. In these      classrooms the children would sit on stones, sticks, or simply on the floor.  Through partnering with Build Africa and Charlene’s Project, the school will get the quality infrastructure it needs to truly flourish. 

Happy pupils at ground breaking

Big Festive Fry - help bring water to Kahara

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Published on Sunday, 02 December 2012 15:19

The building has started at Kahara Primary School and monies raised through this fundraising event in Dollingstown will pay the costs to drill a borehole early in 2013 to bring clean water to the Kahara community. There are over 300 children at this school - some of the pictures below are of the children that we are helping through Charlene's Project as together we fulfill Charlene's vision of "creating better futures". 

Look forward to seeing you there - bring friends and family and let others know in your work, church and community. Last year was amazing. Let's make this year even better.

SATURDAY 15th DECEMBER 7.30AM - 12MD IN DOLLINGSTOWN CHURCH HALLS

Kahara Primary School Update - the second school

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Published on Tuesday, 20 November 2012 19:20

So so pleased to announce that construction at Kahara Primary School will begin next week

Also see below an encouraging update from Jackie of Build-Africa, our partner, on recent agricultural activity at Kahara.

Thanks to your support of Charlene’s Project, the pupils of Kahara Primary School (Charlene's Project - second school) have embarked on a new venture this year - to not only learn about farming techniques but to step out of the classroom and into the garden, putting those new skills into practice and reaping the benefits of a bountiful harvest.

The school has received seeds for beans, maize, eggplant, cabbage, carrot and sukuma wiki, a cabbage-like leafy green. So far the pupils have planted one acre of beans and one acre of maize, and the parents have taken it upon themselves to plant one additional acre of cassava. The school plans to plant the rest of the seeds in March 2013 in time for the next rainy season.   

“In the next four months we will be able to offer pupils lunch during the school day, which we have been unable to do until now,” said Bernard, Kahara’s Head Teacher.  “Build Africa has provided us with improved seeds which will hopefully lead to an increased harvest.” Besides seeds, Bernard is pleased to report that the school also acquired “ten hand hoes, a wheelbarrow, two watering cans and jerry cans, 220 plastic water drums, two spades and rakes, as well as a tape measure.”

Agriculture is the main source of income for families in Masindi District, Uganda, and the Head Teacher feels that this focus has truly motivated the school’s gardening programme.  “Parents, teachers and pupils will learn a lot from this project and be able to implement their new skills on their own family farms.”  

Kahara is one of 28 schools in Uganda where Charlene’s Project’s implementing partner, Build Africa, has trained motivated science teachers and gardeners, with the aim of having them lead the way as managers and trainers for these farms.  

Kahara has a motivated science teacher, Warom Emmanuel, who understands the true value of agriculture: it was thanks to his parents’ farm that they could afford to send him to school. “These children need to embrace agriculture because it is so valuable; I earned my education through it,” said Emmanuel.

“I am so glad we now have a school garden because we will be able to eat a midday meal,” said Asara, one of the pupils involved in the gardening.

 Remember the Big Festive Fry on Saturday 15th December - monies raised will put a bore hole to provide clean water to the Kahara community.

Will you help us make a difference in the lives of these children?

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Published on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 21:59

Will you help us make a difference in the lives of these children through the following fundraising events?

Charlene's Project continues to partner with Hidden Treasure Primary School and the surrounding Maya community just outside Kampala. It is amazing what Charlene's vision has accomplished in the lives of the children there and her legacy continues. We were thrilled to see and hear during our June visit all that is being done there and look forward to see how things develop further into the future.

Charlene's Project has also begun the journey with Kahara Primary School and the surrounding community in Masindi district near Lake Albert. Before Christmas the ground will be broken so that the mud and straw classroom can be replaced with fit for purpose classrooms in a similar way to that which has already happened at Hidden Treasure. Although the journey has started much more still has to be done. 

We appreciate so much those who are helping us through fundraising to make Charlene's dreams become reality. I am listing below some of the upcoming events and would appreciate you publicising these through family, friends, school, work and church. Together we can continue what Charlene started.

1. Can you get a 5-a-side hockey team to compete in the 5-a-side Hockey Fun Blitz?

2. Would you be able to pack some bags for us in Lurgan Tescos on 17th November?

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can help?

Check out  https://www.facebook.com/events/254720211317188/ for more information

3. Plan to attend the Big Festive Fry - a must as part of your Christmas diary

4. Can you sell Fireside Quiz Sheets for us at £1 per sheet  - a good family activity - even Santa is having a go - contact Janice and she will get some to you

5-a-side Hockey Fun Blitz - Will you be there?

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Published on Thursday, 18 October 2012 22:05

Summer Trip 2012

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Published on Friday, 27 July 2012 21:31

Just thought it might be good to post an update on our recent trip for those who don’t do Facebook and who maybe missed all the pictures we put up as we went along day by day during our June visit.

Basil, Natalie and I had a brilliant time and it was just great visiting Hidden Treasure again and seeing all our friends there and it was just amazing seeing the progress made in school from last year. All the team there are doing a brilliant job and seeing the children enjoying learning and growing together was very special. The fence will soon be completed around the school giving greater security to the children and the generator we sent out in the container last year is connected up and bringing electricity when necessary to some of the classrooms. Some of the computers we sent out are being used to help the children learn IT skills and we were just delighted through meetings and interaction to be able to progress so many practical things during the visit. Natalie worked with Becky from Hidden Treasure distributing many of the wee envelopes to the sponsor children from their sponsors – very happy children indeed. Meeting with and hearing from many of the parents was also very encouraging. While Basil and I were working through much of the practical stuff with the Director, Headmaster, Teachers and Management Committee, Natalie enjoyed introducing the children to hockey. You can see from some of the pictures below that the children took to the hockey and we have heard since from Hidden Treasure that they are all wanting to play hockey every break time. Can you see in the pictures the wee mango tree planted last year in school to remind the children of the fruitfulness in Charlene’s life.

I have covered the exciting progress with the “Second School” in the last posting. Build-Africa http://www.build-africa.org/ have been so helpful in working with us in our selection and we are delighted to be working with them on this next stage of the journey for Charlene’s Project.

Natalie had sent out almost half a ton of hockey sticks and hockey equipment from Ireland for her hockey coaching in schools and camps during our time in Uganda. It was just unbelievable seeing the primary and secondary school children playing hockey and to be able to give them sticks and kit for use in their schools. This would just not have been possible if it had not been for all individuals and clubs the length and breadth of Ireland who donated. Thanks everyone. I reckon there was over 800 children involved in the different hockey coaching work done during the two weeks. So many of the kids were playing in bare feet and they were playing on grass, clay and stones. Incredible to see many of them having the opportunity too to play on the artificial pitch at Lugogo in Kampala during the hockey camps.  Working with Joshua and his coaches from Youth Sport Uganda http://www.ysuganda.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-Sport-Uganda/124023707558 made all the schools work and hockey camps possible. Keep up the good work folks

Thank you so much to everyone who thought about us and prayed for us when we were away. What continues to be achieved through Charlene’s Project would not be possible without all your support.

Natalie “It was just amazing seeing the children many in bare feet playing hockey and loving it. Their attitude and enthusiasm was incredible. I will never ever forget their excitement and the fun we had together.”

Some pictures below and more available at http://sdrv.ms/OsfHdH

Let's start at the airport with the Olympic Torch: