It is not in the interests of Direct Development to tug on the heartstrings of its members and readers, it instead looks to provide a set of practical needs, and logical ends to meet these needs. However, the deeper into the African bush we go, the more difficult it is to meet these goals.
Busagazi Community School, in Najja subcounty of the Mokono District is a school of 360 students. Most classrooms are underneath the large trees here, and many teachers have volunteered their time to the students, going unpaid for over a year. Many of these teachers are members of the community that lack standardized qualifications. In order to reach this school, not only did we have to drive 2+ hours out of Entebbe, but we also had to hike through the African bush, in order to reach the site, passing wild vanilla beans, pineapples, and impenetrable vegetation.
The footpath was barely wide enough for the walk, and the greenery was as thick as fog. The hike away from the campus was just as cumbersome, with an unearthly view of Lake Victoria, through miles of foothills, tea plantations, and wetlands, the reward for all of our trouble.
First impressions of Bugazi are of shy children, who you can see in their eyes want to answer the questions I ask them, but are too modest to show a muzungo how they can speak English.
These children are actually “breaking a law” in Uganda that states students may not attend class during the Holiday period, but these students are very behind, and lack nearly every facility one can imagine. To increase the problems, these students must pass the same national exams that students in the wealthiest private school s of Kampala must pass. How can this be done?
I asked this question to Pastor Deo and Pastor Elly, my guides from the NGO Uganda N.O.W., that ensures the education of the most rural Ugandan students. The Pastors swallowed hard, and replied that it can be done, but it takes great effort. Much of the facilities for the school were provided by Pastors Deo and Elly from their own pockets, including the one existing bloc, and the staff quarters. But they emphasize there must be much much more if these students are to be able to pass national exams.
The most shocking factor of Busagazi is this: of the ten students, aged 14-16 that stood in front of me to welcome me to their school, nearly all were heads of household, some even caring for children younger than themselves. The reason? HIV.
HIV has devastated these remote villages, because of an extreme lack of infrastructure, education, and public health measures. The children looked onto Deo with awe, as he spoke to me in English and then to them in Luganda. He told me that this sort of experience inspired these students to mind their lessons, so that they may also interact with people from around the world.
Pastor Deo, one of the founders of Uganda N.O.W. Outreach has accomplished amazing things for a man who received his first pair of shoes at age 18. He has visited America, studied in Europe, founded three schools, works for the Ugandan branch of the American Company DataGrid, and is the pastor of an enormous congregation — a larger than life role model for these students. The aims of his NGO Uganda N.O.W. are to provide nutrition, opportunities in education, and water to the rural children.
Another amazing fact about these boys and girls at Busagazi is that many of them walk miles, some of them for 4-5 hours in order to reach their school and educate themselves. We accompanied some of these students through the bush for part of their walk home. Even though we accompanied them for only a fraction of this walk, it was one of great difficulty, high density of vegetation, and rapid shifts in elevation. A feat for any healthy adult, let alone for school age children.
Where can DDI assist Busagazi?
Uganda N.O.W. has asked us to come up with funds to certify teachers with the national government, a certification that would greatly enhance the student’s ability to compete in national exams. Also, as in the other schools, DDI has been invited back to teach and be a part of the learning environment here next summer, and in the first month of June this summer of 2009.
Other urgent needs include a bore hole for a well, facilities (since trees are the main facilities here), as well as school fees, which number at 1$ per day.
As we were leaving, hiking through the bush, I noticed a small girl drawing runoff water from a drain pipe that was flowing out due to recent heavy rains (that actually caused the van to get stuck, but this is a story in itself). This water was dirty and cloudy, but this girl was so young and small, and carrying a 40 pound jerry can through the bush, back to her distant village. I want to impart this final image as a way to realize the vast challenges that these children face, but also how resilient they are in the face of adversity.