Hope for Youth - Uganda
Hope for Youth is a registered NGO (Non Governmental Organization) in Uganda. that provides support services to the underprivileged children and youth of Nama Sub-county in Mukono District and to their guardians, the majority of whom are Grandmothers. They currently run a Primary School (Nursery to P8) for children who cannot afford to attend the local government-aided schools.
Over the years, CanAssist has had a close relationship with the Hope for Youth School. Canadian supporters have helped construct a well, rainwater catchment system, new classrooms and new latrines. Supporters have visited the school on many occasions and always receive a warm welcome.
Teachers are paid a meagre salary and often have to come from other villages. When they stay in the community they have to find accommodation. This is a common problem in East African schools. Hope for Youth wanted to construct a building to serve as housing for teachers. This would help them to both attract and retain qualified teachers for the school. The community gathered locally made bricks for this structure and CanAssist supporters across Canada donated the approximate $10,000 required to initiate this project.
We are delighted to report that the teachers' accommodation building is nearing completion in September 2015.
Peter Nsbuga explains the need for teachers' accommodation.
"Basically the salaries for elementary teachers in government aided schools vary between US$.120 –US$180 a month. In most cases they can spend several months without being paid, yet majority come from distant regions that they do not have land where they can grow their food for daily consumption. Though they are given lunch at school, dinner is always not catered for and their families. This makes them to buy everything they have to use at home right from food, which makes their expenditures very expensive compared to their sole income (salary). Houses for rent being privately owned, their costs are always not in proportion to what they are paid. So most schools try to get humble houses (normally two rooms) for their teachers so that they can settle. Even if they delay to pay them, no landlord would knock on their doors to demand for rent fees. In the case of Hope 4 Youth, US$120, though very little in normal terms, is far too expensive for us to raise it each for over 8 paid teachers of ours. We always pay them the equivalent of US$60, without housing as we continue to initiate income generating projects to cater for their improvement in future. Some teachers have always liked us because we normally pay on time despite being little. We have also been relying more on volunteer teachers who mostly are youth, but they also have challenges as I described them in our proposal and are always not reliable. With the provision of housing to some teachers, many good and reliable teachers will be attracted to stay with us." |
Jiggers
Sand fleas that burrow into feet causing painful egg cysts to develop on the soles were a problem for the students at Hope For Youth School. Read how CanAssist supporters were able to help solve this problem here.
If you would like to help Hope for Youth School through CanAssist, designate your gift to Hope for Youth - either with a check to CanAssist African Relief Trust, P.O. Box 1385, Kingston, Ontario. K7L5C6 or by donating online using a credit card through the secure Canada Helps link below.
