Mbalala Primary school is located just outside Mukono, 'nestled' between Chinese run factories and sugarcane plantations. This location means that child labour rates are high and school attendance isn't considered a priority. This is especially true when schools don't have the equipment, resources or teachers they need to impact the student's education.

Mbalala PS is currently self funded. Some of you may remember that a few years ago Global Handprints raised a large sum that was used to pay teacher's salaries in order to keep the school open until the end of the year.

At the moment, the school is desperately trying to become registered with the Ministry of Education.

Benefits of Being Registered With The Ministry of Education

Registered schools benefit from the following:

- Support from the Ministry of Education

- Permanent licensing meaning their costs are reduced. Currently the school operates on a temporary basis meaning they have to pay to renew their license annually

- Finance covering half of the teachers salaries

- Being able to open an official school bank account

- Being able to have insurance policies covering children and staff. Currently there's no liability insurance in place.

It's a good old catch 22 situation with the school needing to meet certain requirements before they can be registered and receive funding. And, you guessed it, these requirements require money.

What Mbalala Primary School Needs

In order to be approved for funding the school needs the following:

8 Doors £420 / USD550

12 Windows £380 / USD500

10 bags of cement £80 / USD100

2 Bags of sand £30 / USD40

20 Desks £420 / USD550

2 Tanks for water harvesting £400 / USD520

20 Gutters £145 / USD190

10 Fencing meshes £762 / USD1,000

165 Poles £415 / USD540

Miscellaneous building accessories £115 / USD150

Assorted text books £1,350 / USD1,750

Total = £4,500 / USD5,890

They have already received a local donation of 20 Chairs (£230 / USD300) and 10 Tables (£170 / USD220) meaning they are off to a great start!

How Can You Help?

So, to put it in perspective, for the price of a night out on the town, you could buy 20 gutters to help harvest rain water that will be used to water the school garden and grow vegetables.

Or, for the price of coffees for one month, you could donate 10 bags of cement to help make repairs on the school buildings.

If you donated the price of your next take away for 2 people, the school could get the bags of sand needed to finish off the repairs.

Donating the price of a weekend away could give these children desks to sit at while they are learning.

No matter what size donation you make, it will be put towards the overall aim of registering Mbalala Primary School with the Ministry of Education.

Is this the month you're willing to make a sacrifice?