Welcome to the ServeDirect Small Projects Fundraising Page for Wobulenzi Town Academy.

We have recently completed the main school buildings for Wobulenzi Town Academy in Uganda. The school moved in on 7th February with approximately 450 secondary students and has been a great success. The first two terms are now behind us and ServeDirect is currently fundraising to both help equip the school with much needed materials and to complete some of the unfinished buildings. Student numbers are likely to increase to just under 500 this current term.

Please see our website http://www.servedirect.org for more information about ServeDirect and for all the latest news, blogs, photos etc. showing progress on our projects - and for other ways to get involved.

The target for all the small projects identified below at the bottom of this text is £26,070. 100% of all monies received by the charity through this fundraising appeal will go direct to the projects on the ground in Uganda. Nothing is wasted. For more information on how we are able to achieve this, please contact jerry@servedirect.org or nick@servedirect.org

A big thank you to everyone who has already contributed towards these projects, especially to both the ServeDirect running team who ran the Great West run, to the climbing team who conquered Kilimanjaro and for all the kind donations given in lieu of gifts for the Chapman’s Silver Wedding Anniversary. Their fundraising efforts make up part of the offline donations total shown on this page. Donations are also increasingly being received from supporters within Uganda which is very encouraging – these are also reflected in the offline donations total.

Donating to ServeDirect online through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving. Once you donate, the money is sent directly to the charity and Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.

If you would prefer to send a cheque, please make any cheques out to ServeDirect and sent by post to our Treasurer (please ask for a receipt or Gift Aid form if required) as follows;

Mr S Hunter

ServeDirect

17 Eight Acres

Romsey

Hampshire SO51 5BP

So please donate now if you can and help us to complete these projects as quickly as possible. If you would like your donation to be used specifically for one of the projects identified, please add a comment to this effect along with your donation.

Many thanks,

On behalf of the ServeDirect team, both based in the UK and Uganda.

NB We will update the photos on this page as and when these projects have been completed.

Note: If you are interested, please click on the link www.justgiving.com/fundraising to go to the original ServeDirect fundraising page for the main building work at the new school site. 

Breakdown of small projects(in no particular order); 

Library furniture & books:

To equip the library with shelving, tables, benches and a reading/computer worktop complete with 12 stools.

To buy additional books relevant to the Ugandan syllabus to equip the library to a basic level.

Project cost £1000 – furniture completed June 2011; additional funds awaited for additional books.

Art materials:

Provision of sufficient Art materials to teach Fine Art to A level standard.

Project cost £250

Science Laboratory:

To make 6 large Lab tables (8 ft x 4 ft) with 48 matching stools £700

To make 2 lockable metal cabinets for chemical & apparatus storage £350

Technician desk and chair £100

Fitting of lockable shutters to all windows (exam requirement) £150

Chemicals and apparatus up to O Level standard £3000

Project cost £4300 – equipment completed June 2011; Chemical purchases for O level exams funded October 2011. Additional funds awaited for A level equipment.

Text books:

To purchase sufficient text books for sharing 1 book between 5 students for all 14 subjects (in the future we aim is to increase the text book numbers to allow 1 book between 3 students). ServeDirect has had many offers of second hand text books from European schools, however the Uganda curriculum is unique and text books therefore need to be sourced locally. The price of each text book is approximately 20,000 UGX, equivalent to approximately £5.50. 

This is by far the highest cost area identified but is essential to help the students attain higher academic standards. Because of the cost this project item will be funded last unless donations are specifically earmarked for text books.

Project cost £11,000 – approx 30% completed October 2011.

Borehole remediation:

Our current borehole could not supply the school with enough quantity of water during the dry season. We can open up the borehole and deepen it by approx 6 feet to give an estimated extra 3000 litres per day.

Project cost £350 – completed May 2011.

Sports Field construction:

There is currently an area in the middle of the site that needs some serious levelling work (6 men for 3 weeks) and then the construction of retaining walls to make this suitable for netball, volleyball and basketball. We can have the posts, nets etc made locally once the sports area is completed.

Project cost (includes posts etc) £1200 – 90% completed September 2011.

Dormitory enhancement:

To supply each of the 6 dormitories with shoe racks and to paint a designated shoe area on the floor to help prevent excess dirt and damage to the floor surfaces in the dorms.

Project cost £240 – completed May 2011.

Main Hall equipment:

The Main Hall is just being completed and will be used for the first time during the second term. The hall is large enough for 600 people and will be used for assemblies, exams, church meetings, drama, school meals etc.  

The hall needs painting, the floor sealed, electrics fitted and then some initial basic furniture.

Project cost £2000 – 50% completed September 2011.

Staff room furniture:

Supply of 2 desks, large table, 12 chairs and 12ft teacher’s shelving unit.

Project cost £300 – completed June 2011.

Guttering to all main buildings:

Supply & fitting of a mixture of plastic and metal guttering to the main buildings to not only capture the water, but also to prevent erosion of the site during the frequent storms in the rainy season.

Project cost £1700 – 40% completed September 2011.

Water tanks:

Supply of additional plastic tanks to the new hall, classroom block and administration block. 

Construction of a large underground water tank at the lower part of the site, including construction of channels to divert the water.

Project cost £1800 – plastic tanks completed; awaiting funds for underground tank.

Construction of septic tanks to washrooms:

The simple soakaways constructed for the students wash areas have already started to block up after just 1 term. Large septic tank systems need to be built to deal with the local soap residue.

Project cost £480 – completed June 2011.

Provision of sick bay:

Conversion of one of the store rooms to a sick bay. Price includes adding a window, plastering, painting, electrics, furniture and the supply of basic medical supplies. Note some furniture has already been provided, which is reflected in the project cost.

Project cost £600 – conversion and furniture completed June 2011; awaiting funds for additional medicines.

Basic landscaping:

Supply and planting of a hedge around the site perimeter, planting of grass areas, planting of some shade trees and fitting of a fence to staff housing areas.

Project cost £400 – completed September 2011.

Staff house latrines and washrooms:

Construction of simple pit latrines and washrooms to the 2 staff houses, including painting etc.

Project cost £700 – completed July 2011.

Note: Fundraising for new beds has been left out of this list as they have already been funded, ordered and delivered – thank you to everyone who helped with this small project.