Uganda Trip 2017

In September 2017 a team with Kathy Laret, Geri Beck and her son, Tyler, and grandson, Preston traveled to Uganda to visit Kiyunga Village Primary School for a dedication ceremony. 

Traveling to the village area

Arriving in village we visited some of the student's homes

We were greeted by the  village children.

We were happy to be with the children.

We all enjoyed meeting the student's families.

The purpose of the visit was to dedicate the two new buildings with a total of eight classrooms.  They are amazing.
Pictured are the Head Master, Kabale Moses with Geri Beck, Robina Burton, Kathy Laret and Jimmy Okot.

Our new In-country Director, Jimmy Okot who supervised the construction of the buildings.

When we arrived the students greeted us in front of the old school structure.

Inside classroom.  Great room but, currently, we have no desks for students or teachers.  

The students playing at recess.

 The school day is from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. Often the children have to go without lunch.  A donor gave us funds for the purchase of maize which will provide porridge for the next month.

200 washable menstrual sanitary kits were donated by Days for Girls, and delivered to the young women.

The dedication ceremony was attended by government, and local leaders.

Preston Beck and new friend

The celebration was a very big event for the village community.  It was attended by approximately 350 people including the teachers pictured and other leaders, parents and students.  

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR ONGOING DONORS WHOSE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE PAID TEACHERS SALARIES AND UNIVERSITY TRAINING AND SPONSORED OTHER PROJECTS. 

 BECAUSE OF YOUR HELP, WE ARE PROVIDING AN EDUCATION FOR 250 STUDENTS AT

KIYUNGA VILLAGE PRIMARY SCHOOL

History of Kiyunga Village Primary School in Uganda Africa

Robina Serwanga Burton was born and raised in Kiyunga Uganda and now lives in Sacramento California. In 2008 Robina was introduced to Geri Beck and two of her teacher friends, Kathy Laret and Naomi Harper. When the women learned more about Kiyunga they discovered that the villagers were very poor and did not even have a school for their children. 



The small group of women decided to help the villagers build a primary school. Robina's family donated the land, and the villagers constructed the brick walls. 

A fundraiser was held in Fair Oaks, California to raise money for a tin roof. The school is a simple structure, with no doors or windows, and originally had a dirt floor. The brick structure was the first permanent structure in the Village. Since 2009 the brick building has been used not only as a school but has become a multi-purpose facility for the whole community's use.

Eight teachers and a principal were hired whose monthly salaries are paid for by a few dedicated individual donors. The eight teachers are being sponsored to attend a local university for teacher training. 

Teachers

Principal Mirembe, who is disabled with her two grandchildren that she is raising

Since children in Africa wear school uniforms, as soon as the school was completed the next task was to provide the children with school uniforms. Funds were donated to purchase fabric for the uniforms and then a local seamstress in Uganda made the uniforms.

The enrollment quickly reached over 200 students

The children were so eager to learn.

 The villagers added temporary classrooms to accommodate the secondary students.

The children love attending school and participating in music, drama, and field sports.

Homemade Musical Instruments

Barefoot Soccer

Field Sports

Donated Vests

In 2016 with the help of the Griffin family and Take Heart International, a new project was developed to build permanent classrooms in addition to the existing main structure.

New construction begins

Thank you for your generous donations.  

Sponsors are needed to help with teacher salaries and continuing education, text books, school supplies, and school uniforms.

100% of your tax deductible donations go directly for the school needs. 

To donate, send a check to: Take Heart International

Shirley Griffin

Take Heart International

4913 Puma Way

Carmichael, CA

95608 

take.heart.international@gmail.com