Crowdfunding for an Elementary School in Uganda, Africa

The non-profit association “Schools for Uganda” from Dresden is collecting donations via crowdfunding for a school in Ibanda in western Uganda.

Half of the population in Uganda is younger than 15 years. The poor public school system makes it impossible for many children to receive a good education. To give poorer children a perspective for the future, the Dresden-based association “Schools for Uganda” is building a new elementary school together with its local partner organization.

Through a crowdfunding campaign that runs straight on the platform startnext.com, the financing is advanced because such a project can realize the association only with broad support. The property was already acquired by donations. Now the association needs help to build the first school building and sanitary units. If the project is fully financed, construction will begin as early as the fall of 2022. The partner organization in Uganda will be responsible for the construction and operation of the school.

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Donations are being collected through crowdfunding for the first construction phase of an elementary school in Ibanda/Uganda.

The school was planned with architects on site and the project scope was determined. In the first construction phase, a school building with a small administrative area and sanitary units for boys and girls will be built. The financial requirement for this first construction phase is about $63,000 (€55,000). The land has already been financed by donations and purchased by the local partner organization “Saint Andrews school project for the young”. Another $21,700 (€19,000) in donations for the project are available. “We need further own funds to be able to submit a project application to the North-South Bridges Foundation.” Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2022.

The joint project grew out of a long-standing friendship

There has been a friendship between Dr. Andrew Akampurira and some members of the association since 2010. This friendship was formed during an #Erasmus study. After a visit to Uganda in 2013, the great poverty and the encounters with the people did not let us go. Together with Andrew, the vision to found an elementary school in his hometown Ibanda was born.

Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. Almost half of the population is under 15 years old. Population growth is high, so there are more children in the country every day. Education is compulsory from grade 1 to grade 7, i.e. for elementary school. For the first 4 children in a family, school and one hot meal a day are free. The costs for teaching materials, stationery and school uniforms have to be paid by the families.

Thus, school attendance is possible for many children, but unfortunately not for all. Education in the state schools is also inadequate because …

the equipment is not up to date

poorly paid teachers skip lessons to pursue their second jobs

students do not attend school regularly because they have to help at home or travel long distances.

In rural areas, nearly two-thirds of students leave elementary school without a diploma and without skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic. This situation has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Private schools generally offer a better education but charge high school fees that far exceed the annual income of a normal Ugandan family. The high fees are largely due to a for-profit operation of the schools.

“Schools for Uganda” would like to support the Ibanda region by building an elementary school.

The goals are …

Affordable education through a cost-covering, but not profit-oriented school operation

Quality education by improving marginal conditions such as teacher salaries and sanitary units for the students

Enable barrier-free education by accepting students regardless of religion, ethnicity or gender

Develop students’ social skills through sports, art, local history, handicrafts and equivalent subjects

Enable long-term school operation through active support and acceptance by the local population

The partner organization in Uganda will be responsible for the construction and the cost-covering operation of the school after completion.

The project will run from February 5th, 2022 to March 5th, 2022.

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(Featured image by reteach92 via Pixabay)

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First published in GUTSEL ONLINE, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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