Jaami Primary School

Jaami is in the poor and underdeveloped district of Namayingo in south east Uganda.  In 2006 the school had no classrooms and the children either had their lessons under a tree for 7 hours a day or in a shack built with sticks and corrugated iron (see photos to the right).  Now the school has over 400 pupils.    

Completed projects have included:

The latrine block was a community project.  The locals dug the pit, laid the foundation and provided the bricks, we then completed the building.

The standard of education is much lower in this part of Uganda and the building of the 5 classrooms made a huge impact on the community at large.  During our visit in March 2009 Mr Frederick Bagoole, the then head teacher, commented that “your visit boosts the morale of the teachers, parents and pupils”.   He also expressed his gratitude for the new classrooms.   

In February 2010 we completed 2 extra classrooms thanks to a generous donation by the Barnsley family, who have dedicated the building to their daughter/sister Kate, who died in 1994, aged only 18.  These classrooms were much needed, as two classes were still taking place under temporary wooden structures.

Thanks to Frederick Walker who competed in the Great North Swim in September 2009, we have been able to attach a water tank to the new classrooms.  Water is desperately needed, as the area is very arid and exposed.  Again we are very grateful to him.

We constructed 4 teachers’ houses, thanks to funds donated by Robert Swan and The North South Travel Development Trust, in 2010.  The school now has 4 teachers living on site which is a great benefit from the teaching point of view.   Also, it helps guard against theft, which is a problem when there is no teacher present in the evenings.

We look forward to working further with this school, when funds become available.

 

Head Teacher: Mr Samuel Mwiima