Background

Making the world of difference at an independent school in Melbourne – Schools4Schools Project 041

As part of our study of ‘water resources’ Year 6 students planned and organised a Mini-Fair on Thursday 24th June, to raise money for a school in Kamwenge, Uganda. Uganda is a fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers. Two understandings essential to this unit of work were:

  • There are ways to modify our lifestyle to protect and conserve water
  • There are many communities in the world where access to fresh water is limited by economic and social inequality

This was an authentic, real-life learning experience which students in Year 6 found highly engaging. They were actively involved in the planning and decision-making processes which are important skills for life-long learning. This was valuable as it helped students and staff maintain their awareness of events in the world.

Each house operated a stall which students visited between recess and lunch in their class groups. This in itself was an important process for developing leadership. House Captains played an important role with facilitating House meetings. The purpose of the meetings was to make decisions on the stalls that would operate and allocate responsibilities to organise the products for sale.

Stalls range from second-hand toys, lollies and cakes, coin toss, a handball competition, wet sponge throwing to a sausage sizzle. Cosy Toes was approached by a student in 6F to sell socks. They have kindly agreed to donate $5 from each pair to our fundraiser. The children saw the socks at Assembly on Monday. Knee High socks will retail at $15 and ankle length at $11. This is a significant saving from retail prices (usually $15-$21 retail). These will be delivered early next term to the students.

This action project has been valuable with enhancing an understanding of important global issues related to water and how students can make a difference. While the children had a lot of fun, central to this action project was a strong sense of purpose to guide and motivate the awareness of issues related to water. I am hoping that this can be ongoing and the children will see over the next couple of years how they have improved the lives of the children at this school in Uganda.

Philip Fox

24 June, 2004

Number of AIDS Orphans To Reach 25 Million by 2010

Kaiser- April 2004: The number of children throughout the world who have lost one or both parents to AIDS-related illness is expected to reach 25 million by 2010, according to a report released this year by the International AIDS Trust and the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, the AP/Detroit News reports (Rulon, AP/Detroit News, 4/8).

The report, titled “Preserving Our Future -- HIV/AIDS and the World's Children,” is the first in a series planned by IAT highlighting issues connected to the global AIDS pandemic (IAT/CAAF release, 4/7). The report says that more than 2.5 million of the estimated 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide are younger than 15 years old, and about 11.8 million HIV-positive people are between the ages of 15 and 24.

In addition, the number of orphans is expected to nearly double from the current 13.4 million to 25 million by 2010. Orphans “experience high levels of psychological distress, ... social isolation, stigma and discrimination” and are more at risk of “physical and sexual abuse, as well as child labour exploitation,” according to the report (AP/Detroit News, 4/8).

The report, which was released on Wednesday at a luncheon in Washington , D.C. , by Sens. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), will be distributed to members of Congress, business leaders and AIDS advocates. “Many see the global crisis of HIV as a problem that is out of control and unmanageable. The goal of these reports is to break the crisis down into specific issues that people can understand, as well as demonstrate that there are solutions,” IAT President and CEO Sandy Thurman said (IAT/CAAF release, 4/7).

DeWine said that the report “underscores the need for Congress to approve [funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief] to improve public health systems in developing countries,” according to the AP/News (AP/Detroit News, 4/8).


The Situation in Uganda

After decades of neglect much of the country has been at peace for almost twenty years. But the nation of just over 25 million people still feels the negative impact from other factors – among them; drought in much of the north of the country, the inability to capture and store clean water...and a number of life-threatening diseases including malaria and HIV/AIDS.

The situation changes little outside the busy capital, Kampala . Mosquitos carrying malaria are found in many parts of the country and HIV/AIDS has long been taking its toll at all levels of society…academics, farmers, their wives and children.

Working with an affiliate - KADA - Humanitus undertakes projects at the village level aimed at improving the lives and opportunities of school students throughout Uganda.

Currently, 77% of the overall population of Uganda are of school age. Of that 77%, three of ten are orphans, 39% of whom are HIV+ or have developed an AIDS-related illness.

As with all students, access to adequate supplies of clean water, sanitation and food are vital to ensure wellbeing and a feeling of worth among the more disadvantaged.

Furthermore it is important to ensure all children who wish to do so can access affordable education, supported by learning materials, an appropriate curriculum and sports facilities.

Recognising these needs, Humanitus works closely with non-government organisations in Uganda - such as KADA - to encourage students in Australian schools to offer peer support to students in Africa…and vice versa. It's known as the Schools4Schools project or S4S.

KADA raised funds to supply and install solar-power at Rwamwanja Secondary School in Kamwenge near the border with Congo , Tanzania and Rwanda , enabling students to continue their studies into the evening. We now want to go to the next phase which is supplying the school with water and sanitation.

Australian students can keep track of the projects in Uganda through online videos, digital photographs and the exchange of letters. Go: www.s4s.humanitus.net

Many Ugandan families cannot afford school fees for their children. In rural areas these fees can be as high as $200 a year, a prohibitive amount for families which may earn as little as $500 or less annually. Multiply $200 by the number of children of school age in a family and you will find that adequate education is well beyond the reach of many.

Without a proper education many children will have no choice but to remain under-educated, thereby exacerbating their dire situation and lessening any chance they may have of bettering their lives and opportunities. For children who are HIV-positive the situation is compounded further, as it is for children who have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related illness.

To give you an idea of how a few dollars can make all the difference, here are some prices in Australian dollars:

  • To build a school for 100 students can cost around $3,000.
  • Equip a school with solar power - $1,500 and upwards, depending on requirements..
  • Guttering, plumbing and a tank to provide a school with clean water - around $800.
  • Install a toilet block - around $900.
  • Provide a school with a blackboard - around $20.
  • Provide ten desks and chairs - around $300.
  • Provide a lunchtime meal for ten students for a year can cost around $300.

Humanitus office: Plot 27 Nakasero Road , Nakasero. Tel: (24/7) 256-78-440220

Rwamwanja Secondary School Project 04/05-04

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