YESTERDAY. The H.E.L.P. School in the slum village of Masese, Uganda, began as an open air classroom in a barn. With one teacher and a group of children eager to go to school for the first time.
TODAY. With the help of some amazing volunteers and donors, the school has grown to over 500 students and a staff of almost 30. Students not only receive an education, but also 2 meals a day. With previous fundraising campaigns we have been able to secure the school grounds with a fence. And we have built a computer lab for not just the students, but for the community as well. We have provided business training and micro loans to dozens of parents and family members of our students resulting in many success stories. We have implemented a successful aquaponics system which is now providing fresh produce for our students and the community, and helping move the school towards self-sustainability. New latrines have been built, providing the children with the first working toilets many of them have ever seen (we have some great stories to share about that!)
TOMORROW. In order to continue providing education to the growing number of students, and to provide an environment more conducive to learning, we need to build a real classroom block. The current structures lack windows and electricity, making learning difficult, especially during the rain season when the classrooms often flood. Our team in Uganda has created a 3 phase plan to construct 3 classroom blocks that can be built individually as funds are obtained for additional phases. Each phase will require $100,000.00 making it our biggest project to date.
Our small organization, which is made entirely of volunteers, is committed to continuing to build up this community and creating something that is not only long lasting, but self sustaining and helping the refugees in this community rise out of the extreme poverty they are living in.
