CLICKRukiga Monitoring Visit
November 2023
On Thursday 9th November, 3 of the CLICKRukiga committee members and 2 volunteers arrived in Uganda (having crossed the border from Kigali, Rwanda) to start their much awaited monitoring visit. The purpose of the visit was to review progress with various projects, ensure money is being spent on the right things and identify additional needs within the projects and local community.
DAY 1
The next morning they had their first introduction to the “African massage” as their van had little suspension and no working seat belts and the road had many pot-holes. Despite this, their first glimpses of the area of the Rukiga district was amazing - beautiful green hills (it is the rainy season), many banana plants, women working in the fields, muddy paths and huts with children and adults walking along the roadside.
Once they arrived, they were warmly welcomed by the Church leaders and CLICKRukiga committee members at St James’ Buhangizi Church over breakfast.
The group then visited the three local schools, starting with Kamwezi Primary School.
In each classroom they were greeted by children who shyly sang a song or two. They saw the refurbished classroom and the girl's latrine that had been funded by CLICKRukiga who also pay school fees and provide lunches for the sponsored children who attend this and the high school. Whilst the children were happy and clearly intent on their studying, the rooms were bare except for some worn flip chart paper with diagrams on the mud walls. There were also no reading books, just the exercise books the children were using. The reception class had no toys or books whatsoever - what a contrast to the provision of multi-coloured educational and stimulating classrooms in British schools. Floors were just bare earth and there were some broken window panes. One of the classes still needs to be fully refurbished.
A short walk down the road was Kamwezi High School where they saw the newly rendered main hall, which had been paid for by CLICKRukiga . It was being used for exams the following week plus assemblies and lunches. They were then shown the building site for the new girl’s dormitory.
Workers were installing roofing timbers but they were told funds were limited and increased material costs meant they were running out. This was disappointing as CLICKRukiga had sent a donation towards costs but most was to be financed by family and other donations locally. The boarding girls currently sleep in 2 classrooms (computing and science) and a wooden shack was being used as a temporary classroom until the dormitory is completed.
They met the cooks in the kitchen and saw posho (maize meal), matoke (mashed green banana) and green beans being prepared for lunch. This is the same every day for all the children - can you imagine that being accepted by children here?! They were then treated to a welcome dance and song from the school choir outside. It was very energetic and so lovely to be welcomed in such a joyful way.
Finally, to end the morning activities, they had a very short visit to Kamwezi Braintrust Primary School which has been supported previously by the CLICKRukiga link with Breakspear School who helped with building classrooms. They were greeted by walking between two rows of singing children and then led into the school grounds by a dancing group. During the group photos with all the children, they were really excited to see us and unable to resist touching our bare arms and say hello!
After lunch, the group made their way to the Rukiga Youth in Development (RYID) project with director Hillary. Here they saw
the small library which had books provided by BookAid and found out the room is also used for teaching barbering. They met the long-serving computer trainer (Gordon Victor) and saw some young people using the computers in a rather cramped area.
In the sewing rooms, they saw manual sewing machines, knitting, weaving and heard about how Precious has been educating the young women about feminine hygiene. Having learnt that young women were missing weeks due to their periods, we previously sent money and pattern ideas for material to make reusable sanitary pads. They were able to distribute a pack to each young lady during the visit. We hope that this will become a self sustaining project. The committee were treated to a further song and energetic dance outside before the young people went home.
During this visit the team were shown the land CLICKRukiga helped purchase for extension of the RYID premises. The tour round the perimeter resulted in very heavy clogged muddy footwear due to the great soil quality and rain downpours!
The field is currently planted with various cash crops and has provided the opportunity for the young people to learn about agriculture.
DAY 2
The following morning they had their breakfast with the committee again which consisted of boiled eggs, slightly sweet bread, matoke (plantain which is less sugary than the banana type we have in the UK) and coffee or African tea which had different spices and lots of milk!
They continued the day by visiting 7 homes of the sponsored children. Promise, despite being 17 is in her first year of senior school (S1) - She wants to be a teacher. CLICKRukiga sponsor money over the last 10 years has provided a goat, water butt and sideboard in addition to food, her tuition fees and school necessities.
Angel, aged 13 wants to be a doctor. She was seen with her Mum and friend Patience aged 12 who wants to be a nurse and moved in with them a few years ago as her Mum had problems. They thanked CLICKRukiga for books, a metal roof and mattresses.
Edson aged 20 is in S3 His father was in the army but died in 2012 and he lives with his grandparents. Since 2014, sponsorship has enabled him to attend school. in addition to furniture for the home,and a solar panel from CLICKRukiga, he was pleased to have had the responsibility of looking after the goats given to the family. He enjoys school, particularly physics, and wants to be an engineer. Darlene , aged 13 with her siblings are also looked after by grandparents. She is doing well at school, just completed P7 exams. She wants to be a doctor.
Edinah aged 10 also showed us furniture and a solar panel enabling homework to be done.
Melisa, aged 14 has just completed P7 exams. Her frail grandmother sang as she came round to thank everyone, which was quite moving. CLICKRukiga had paid for her living room table, chairs, sideboard, gutter and window frames.
.Rachel, aged 18 is in S5 and wants to be a teacher. CLICKRukiga has helped over the last 10 yearswith medical expenses for her mother, along with 3 goats, furniture, a water butt and a solar panel. Without sponsorship she would not be attending school as her elder sister is in college so the priority for education next would have been her younger brother.
You can see the homes are mud huts with no rendering inside or out, doors often just material and flimsy window shutters
Basic furniture of a cupboard, chairs, cushions and mattresses when possible has been provided from the sponsorship money.
For some, solar power for electricity and water collection butts have made life for the whole family better.
Funding of the fees for school attendance, uniform and equipment plus basic food and hygiene products is the essential minimum included within sponsorship money. Hillary has to remain on top of what the main family need might be in addition to ensuring school and remedial lessons attendance maintained. His careful budgeting tailored to each child’s need is really helpful for us to know that all the money is spent well. Increased material costs make the extra items less available but we are grateful to those who have agreed to increase the sponsorship amount to help.
St James’ Buhangizi Church - the centre point for the community and our projects. Twice a week the children have remedial lessons at the Church to enhance their opportunity in school as many have had delayed start or progression for various reasons The remedial teachers Ana and Alex are very dedicated to the project. Ana was delighted with the Children's Bible she received thanks to Shirley. After their Saturday teaching, the group were welcomed again and introduced to more members of the Ugandan CLICKRukiga committee, the sponsored children and their parents/guardians.
They received prayers, followed by singing and dancing entertainment from the children. Each child was presented with a gift, thanks to Shirley’s dedication in ensuring this happened, with reusable sanitary product packs for each of the older girls from “Beta Charitable Trust”. Hillary said that every child would be very happy to have received a gift. He always ensures children receive letters and any gifts from sponsors but noted that delays in post office transfers Kampala can mean that items take up to 4 months for parcels to arrive after posting in UK!
