May 2022 Visit to Ugandan Schools
In May 2022, after a long pause in Classrooms for Africa visits to Uganda due to the Covid19 Pandemic, a team of Canadians was able to travel to Uganda and visit many of the schools we have worked with in the past and some schools new on our books.
Kory Sorensen, our Executive Director and Heather Sorensen, Project Manager, together with Pat Sutton, now retired from directly working with Classrooms for Africa were excited to finally set foot in Uganda. In spite on the lockdowns, many classroom building projects were completed. Thanks to the faithful donors the work continued.
In January 2022, Ugandan schools finally opened again, and in spite of some challenges, enrolment in most schools increased to the point that they are now full and bursting at the seams. Thankfully most of the faithful teachers returned and gaps left by a few who found other employment during the crisis, were quickly filled by new teachers.
Some schools visited in Eastern Uganda included Okweta Primary School, Cornerstone High School, Vineyard Christian School, Bright Lilies Primary School and Faith Nursery and Primary School.
Schools visited in Western Uganda included New Covenant Community School, Jesus Cares Primary, Good Shepherd Primary and Rwentutu Christian schools.
Three new projects the team saw were Happy Kids Learning Centre in Kampala and The New King’s School and St. Paul’s Vocational Secondary School both in Kasese District.
During the trip to Uganda, a day was set aside for many school directors from Western Uganda to come together in Kasese to discuss the long-term provision of supplementary teacher training and enrichment courses. It was encouraging to have discourse between education leaders from many churches and denominations. Thirty-five schools were represented and discussion included the courses offered by Classrooms for Africa trainers headed by Claudia Petersen of Canada, Peter Ochula of Uganda and ACSI Uganda trainers.
A highlight of the team’s time in Uganda was the dedication of the five acres of land which has been purchased from some of the Ray Sutton Memorial Fund. This land will be the home of the Ray Sutton Teacher Training Centre. The land is now registered, fenced and ready for development. The land has a 365-degree view and overlooks a beautiful crater lake. The outlooks include the Queen Elizabeth Park, Rwenzori Mountain foothills, Lake George and the town of Kasese, extending to the town of Fort Portal.
With family, friends and local community leaders and educators present, the occasion was a very moving one. Plans are to start site preparation and for some of the buildings to be ready for the next school year.
