Uganda: Mama Kevina Comprehensive Secondary School Project

Mama Kevina Q4 2015: School Kitchen Improved

April 07, 2016

Naku Charles Lwanga

Project Goals:

  • Provide funding for education for underprivileged children at World Children’s Fund Mama Kevina School.
  • Support operational costs for World Children’s Fund Mama Kevina School
  • Support the school administration in payment of staff salaries and the daily running of school programs.
  • Supply of school text books, laboratory and chemistry equipment for science practices
  • Supply of computers to equip students and staff with computer skills and knowledge
  • Fund the students’ extra-curricular activities to allow them to participate in sports, regional games and inter-school competitions to enhance the performance of the students and the school in the region, as well as music, dance, and drama competitions, all geared toward enhancing talent development of the students.
  • Support the school to feed the students of World Children’s Fund Mama Kevina School a balanced diet that enhances the health and growth of the children. 
  • Provide food supplies for the students of World Children’s Fund Mama Kevina Comprehensive Secondary School and support the local youths in the surrounding slums.
  • Support the school with medicines and medical supplies so that the school nurse can treat the children within school premises.
  • Support the school’s gardening project so that the school can produce its own food as a way of reducing food costs.
  • Support of the Nurse’s Office for students’ medical needs to continue decreasing cases of malaria among school staff and students
  • Support school with costs for candidates sitting for Uganda National Examinations.
  • Fund housing and other facilities at the school such as dormitories, classrooms and administration offices

Project Objectives:
 
Support World Children’s Fund Mama Kevina School with the following:

  • Food supply for the students and staffs
  • Support of the school garden work: food crops to supplement food supplies and trees for fire wood
  • Anti-malarial medication and mosquito net supplies for the students and staff
  • Support of the school clinic with medicines and medical supplies
  • Payment of staff salaries
  • Support computer purchases to teach IT skills
  • Purchase of text books and other school teaching supplies and instructional materials
  • Purchase of office equipment supplies like photocopier, printer, and office furniture
  • Facilitate participation in educational activities at district level, community outreach and inter-house competitions with music, dance, drama, regional games and sports held in partnership with the Tororo District.
  • Support infrastructure development of the school.
  • Support children that need specialized medical treatment
  • Support of two sick children with surgery costs and taking them to Kampala for medical examination and treatment

Summary of RMF/WCF-sponsored activities carried out during the reporting period under each project objective:

  • Throughout the reporting period the students were provided with a balanced diet
  • Staff salaries and wages for the support staff members were paid fully and timely
  • The school purchased food for the students and teachers during this reporting period.
  • Teaching and learning was conducted throughout this reporting period without interruption; the necessary teaching aids were purchased timely.
  • All requirements for national examinations for the candidates who completed their ordinary level were purchased and examinations were conducted without interruption. Results are expected by the end of February 2016.
  • Students were taken for study tours; this is a strategy of enhancing learning and relieving stress.
  • The school conducted a graceful send-off ceremony for Onyango Sliver – one of the oldest security officers who had reached retirement age. He had faithfully served the school from the period the school was founded to date, and throughout his tenure of service, the school has not lost any valued property.
  • Continued greening and beautification of the school compound so that it gives an ambience that is conducive for learning and relaxing.
  • The school constructed a kitchen extension to create more space for kitchen related activities.
  • Two students (Dorothy and George) who were taken for specialized treatment in Kampala were reviewed. George Ogoli who was had surgery has fully recovered, but Dorothy is still having challenges with her wounds. As soon as one sore has healed a new one develops just adjacent to the fresh scar. She is still on medication under the supervision of the school doctor. She will have another major review in February 2016, and the doctor will decide whether the leg should be amputated.
  • Conducted some renovation on the school buildings, namely: the old boys’ and girls’ lavatory and repainting of the boys’ beds.
  • The school was able to pay its utility bills mostly electricity and purchase of firewood.

Results and/or accomplishments achieved during this reporting period:

  • Teaching and learning was conducted smoothly and without any interruptions during the reporting period. All examinations for candidates and non candidates were conducted as planned.
  • The candidates who completed their ordinary level sat for the national examinations and results are expected in February 2016.
  • The students were well fed and they are in good health.
  • Staff salaries, wages and suppliers were promptly paid and the school is free from debts.
  • Carried out some renovation in the school: the old boys’ hostel was renovated, beds repainted, improvements were also made on the girls’ lavatory.
  • The students were taken for study tours.
  • Extensions for the kitchen were made to support kitchen related activities; and the boys’ sickbay was extended and improved.
  • George Ogoli, one of the students whose specialized treatment we supported, is now healed
  • Maintained and improved the school compound
  • All utility bills incurred within the reporting period were paid.

Background

Mama Kevina Comprehensive Secondary School was opened in 2006 with international financial support, and with the goal of providing both secondary education and vocational training. The student population is mostly from Northern Uganda where many children have been affected by ongoing wars, floods and HIV/AIDS. Many of the students’ parents were killed by rebels or AIDS which left many of the children as orphans; some boys had been forced to be child soldiers. Enrolled at the school are students ranging in age from 11 to 24, who attend secondary grades 1 to secondary 4.

Objectives

Support World Children’s Fund Mama Kevina School with the following:

• Food supply for the students and staffs
• Support of the school garden work: planting of the maize, and now they are weeding
• Anti-malarial medication and mosquito net supplies for the students and staff
• Support the school clinic with other medications
• Payment of staff salaries
• Support computer purchases to teach IT skills
• Purchase of text books and other school teaching supplies
• Purchase of office equipment supplies like photocopier, printer, and office furniture
• Facilitate participating in community outreach and inter-house competitions with music, dance, drama, regional games and sports held in partnership with the Tororo District
• Support of infrastructure/constructions projects on campus