WHAT NEXT for 2012?…..We are further improving Wobulenzi Town Academy by completing some smaller projects to firmly establish the school’s position within the community for the long term.
Can YOU HELP US to get all this done? We are here on the ground in Uganda to make it happen, but we are asking you to join us by helping to provide the finance. 100% of all donations will get used - no deductions.
UP to NOW…..The new school site opened in 2011. We need to complete these projects to ensure that the school keeps moving forwards. The new academic year started on 30th January. This past year was a huge success; we anticipate that over 500 will benefit this year.
WTA provides excellent-value, affordable secondary education to most students, as well as subsidised or free places to the most disadvantaged children. Its reputation has rapidly improved since partnership with ServeDirect and this was confirmed recently with much improved ‘O’ level results.
The fundraising target on this page matches the combined total for the improvements of WTA, detailed below.
Do keep looking here to see updated figures and pictures, as each project is tackled. We have started some projects already, as we needed to complete them before the start of the new academic year. However, retrospective funding is still required for these. The target amount may change if we take on new projects during the year.
For more information about ServeDirect and/or WTA, please visit the main charity website www.servedirect.org.
Remember that 100% of all money raised here hits the target – we do not deduct any overheads or costs; and therefore we can guarantee that your money goes a long long way.
The larger projects that we are involved in, such as the building of a Health Centre and Primary Resource Centre have their own separate fundraising pages.
Thanks for reading down this far. Please donate generously and read on for specific details of each small project. We can honestly say that we feel extremely privileged to be playing a part in the life of this school. You can also be involved by helping us take it further.
Do add a comment on the website if you would like your money to go towards a specific project area that interests you.
If you would prefer to send a cheque, please make a cheque out to ServeDirect and send it to our treasurer (please ask for a receipt of Gift Aid form if required):
Mr Simon Hunter
17 Eight Acres
Romsey SO51 5BP
Finally, if you would like to fundraise yourself for one of the specific projects listed – please go for it and we will show your money raised in the relevant section…For any more details please email jerry@servedirect.org
2012 small projects details:
Equipping Projects:
Additional beds.
- involves replacing the last of the older style unstable metal beds at the school with 6 larger hardwood beds.
Cost £240 Completed Feb 2012
Mosquito nets
Why? Malaria is rife throughout Uganda and many of the children suffer with it. The dormitories have window nets but it is more effective for each bed to have a net.
- involves buying 350 nets that the school will supplement if they get damaged or wear out. About £2.30 per net
Cost £800 Completed May 2012 - Big thanks to Jon & Penny Athawes!
Computers
Why? The Uganda government has suddenly announced, without warning, that all ‘A’ level students must study either maths or computer science (as a subsidiary subject – like AS level). Almost impossible for many rural schools, especially those who have no electricity!
Fortunately we had prepared an area for computers and WTA already has a teacher, who can teach computers at this level. We will provide 6 computers - available locally at prices similar to the UK
Cost £2500 Completed May 2012 - big thanks to ABL Components ltd
Text books and library materials.
This vital project continues from last year. Text books are very expensive in Ugandan terms but are essential for good learning. This funding will provide just 1 textbook to share between 5 students in each subject! Remember that the students study through to 9.30pm every day – books are lapped up.
Unfortunately the school cannot accept UK donated textbooks as they need to be Uganda curriculum specific.
- A smaller amount (£500) has been added for additional general library reference books.
Cost £4500. Half completed September 2012 - thank you Mark & Elisa, Geraldine & Sue.
Provision of science laboratory equipment.
Why? Science is seriously underfunded in Uganda as the apparatus and chemicals are all expensive. Nationwide, 75% of Ugandan students fail these subjects. WTA is starting to gain a good reputation in this area and additional funding will pay for 'A' Level specific materials.
Cost £1400
Building type projects
Outside classroom & administration block painting.
Some outside areas were not painted initially to save costs. However we have found that painting the outside improves the plaster life as well as improving the look of the school. External dormitory painting was funded separately and they look fantastic!
Cost £650 Completed Feb 2012
Addition of 2 stores to main hall.
Secure dry storage is desperately needed for both the valuable school PA equipment and precious sports equipment. At present these are all piled up in the Headmasters office. This project adds an extension to the rear of the hall creating 2 walk in storage areas that are dry and rodent free! The cost shown also includes the associated painting, electrical work and mesh ceilings.
Cost £1100 Completed Feb 2012
Library ceiling.
We have had problems with rodents in the library using some books as bedding....so this project involves adding a ceiling and mesh to the windows to keep these rodents out!
Cost £300 Completed Feb 2012
Staff house division.
Currently we have 2 staff houses on site. Additional staff accommodation is desperately needed to increase the number of adults on site. Building a couple of walls will divide the 2 current houses to make 4. Simple but effective.
Cost £450 Completed Feb 2012
Generator & housing.
Why? Power cuts are a frequent occurrence at Wobulenzi. We have been offered a suitable 6 kW generator at 75% discount for the school thanks to a generous local supplier. This money buys the generator and pays for the building of a suitable housing outside to keep it secure.
Cost £600 Completed May 2012 - big thanks to Nick & Petra
Additional landscaping.
The team that visited in November 2011 changed the face of the school with the addition of some simple landscaping. This project extends the planted areas and allows for planting some extra trees throughout the site.
Cost £250. Part completed September 2012.
Finishing of the sports areas.
The central sports area has a simple murram (hard plain soil) finish which is both dusty and unforgiving on sports equipment (ie footballs & netballs keep bursting). This project involves grassing the whole area and a provision of a ball catching chain link fence at the far end of the pitch.
Cost £750
Main hall & kitchen water catchment.
Works involve the fitting of new guttering to these buildings and connection to a 5000 litre water tank. The price is relatively low as the tank used is a second hand tank.
Cost £700 Completed March 2012
Incinerator modification.
The incinerator successfully burns all plastic and paper waste. However, it needs modification as the supplied metal chimney has melted due to the intense heat. The metal chimney is to be replaced with firebricks.
Cost £200 Completed Jan 2012
Replacement of light fittings.
This tackles an annoyance. We have fitted the school with some excellent fluorescent light fittings that would do an excellent job if only the electricity supply to the school was at the required voltage. Annoyingly, the required voltage is supplied during the day but at night the voltage drops so the lights do not work. This project adds a number of more voltage tolerant fittings to all important school areas to ensure that there is at least some light at night for the students to do their studying!
Cost £360 Completed March 2012
Underground water storage tank, drainage channels and pump.
Why? Water is a major issue at the school both in the dry and wet seasons. In the dry season there is not enough and the boreholes start to dry up so additional storage would be helpful. In the wet season the water falls out of the sky at such a rate that it creates canyons of erosion.
This project tackles the channelling of water in the site during the wet season and the provision of a suitable underground storage tank ready for use in the next dry season. Any budding engineers out there fancy taking on the funding, design and building of this, maybe as a small team focus?
Cost £3000. Part completed August 2012.
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