Walking on Wetter Ground

We last visited the Village of Koreng (eastern Uganda) in July, when we were participating in the completion of the construction of the church building that the community hopes to use for classroom space for a vocational school during weekdays.  We had shared with you about the drought and famine that the Ateso people were suffering during that time.  We returned to Koreng last week to follow-up on the vocational school project and to check on any changes at Kadacar Primary School (an elementary school with every need imaginable).

Several things were very different during this visit.  For one, the rainy season has started to bring some rain to the area, and some crops are again growing.  But also, the very person who first introduced us to Koreng, as his home village – Michael Okwakol – and who has accompanied us on every other visit to Koreng, was not able to join us due to prior engagements.  But it was okay, we have been in Koreng frequently enough to have established relationships with several people that have come to see us and love us as Michael’s family – this in itself is a great feeling for us.

During our first visit to Koreng in March, you may recall that we visited Kadacar Primary School.  Since then, extraordinary things have been happening, and we would like to thank all of you for your prayers.  Nothing has taught us more about the power of prayer than our experiences here in Uganda.

To expand a bit on Kadacar’s background, let us recap on our findings from May when we visited the government’s District Education Officer (DEO).  During that May visit, we learned that the district is currently working to establish 22 new primary (elementary) schools, and several secondary (middle and high school) and technical schools.  The district’s plan is to have a primary school in every parish within the district, and at least one secondary school within each sub county (all of which is only a good start, as many students would still have to walk great distances to attend school).  According to the DEO, the cost of building a primary school is US $350,000, which includes 8 classrooms, and associated furniture; 8 teachers’ houses, with corresponding latrines and kitchens; and a well.  The DEO explained that the 2009/2010 school budget for Bukedea District (where Koreng is located) is a meager, US $90,000. So, yes, if they had the same $90,000 budget every year, it would take their entire budget for 4 years to build just one school!!

The community is well aware of the government’s inability to offer much assistance in constructing school structures and staff housing, so in Koreng they began working on their own.  Kadacar Primary School was inaugurated at the beginning of 2009 as a community effort with 5 classes meeting under grass-thatched school houses and a cluster of mango trees.  The instruction has been provided across 5 grades by 5 teachers, 2 of which are unpaid, as the government cannot afford their salaries.  Many of the 400 students attending Kadacar are in school for the first time (other schools were not within walking distance for them); something that is evident in the presence of older students mixed in with younger ones in the lower levels.

Since learning of the needs at Kadacar, Embrace Uganda has been seeking a way to assist the school.  The first step came in June, when a team of volunteers from North Carolina spent a day at Kadacar P.S. playing games and sports with the students.  The volunteers also brought school bags containing school supplies for every student.  We returned to Kadacar last week to see that many of the students were still carrying their school bags, keeping them close by their sides.  Three out of the four classrooms still stand, as one of the classrooms had collapsed during a June storm.  A second classroom is on its way down and will probably collapse with this month’s rains.  Many students had stopped coming to school because of the inconsistency with which the volunteer teachers were showing up to teach.  The government has been unable to pay the salaries of two teachers; “maybe next year,” said the government officials.  The community was not able to afford a contribution to salaries because the drought put an incredible strain on every person’s livelihood.  We were glad to hear from the school administrator that attendance is back up as compared to recent months, when the drought conditions were so bad that few students were attending school.

We had returned to Kadacar last week to inform the principal that EU had raised the money to erect latrines for the school (they currently have one temporary latrine for all students, and it is about to collapse).  Much to our excitement, we learned that there is another non-governmental organization (NGO) that went to the district with the interest of building a school.  The government officials directed them to Kadacar.  And, guess what?  Very soon they will begin the construction of 4 classroom blocks and 10 latrine stalls on these very school grounds!!!  PRAISE THE LORD!  Again, those of you who have been praying for Kadacar and Koreng in general, THANK YOU!!! We could not have been more excited.  All this time we have been asking for your prayers, as we have prayed ourselves, for help to come to this area of Uganda.  Help has reached this place, and it means so much to us… we can’t imagine how much it must mean to the community.

Having learned of this great news, EU is turning back to the vocational school project at the church.  We will be returning to Koreng soon to participate in building two latrine stalls and two bathing stalls on the church grounds with the hope that the funds for the vocational school, and other projects in Koreng, will continue to flow in.  There will also be a bit of money available to pay for the two Kadacar P.S. teachers’ salaries for the remainder of this year.

Much else is still needed at Kadacar P.S., as well as the vocational school, but the rain has come, spirits have been lifted, and we will continue to pray and praise God for his blessings, now more fervently than ever!

Until next time . . . much love . . . AJ & Ana

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