The Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund

Namavundu Primary School is situated in a remote and particularly poor part of Bugiri District. In 2005 the school was little more than a grass thatched hut in which around 200 children had their lessons sat on the dusty floor, or under the shade of a nearby tree. The majority of the children suffered from Jiggers as a result of sitting on ground all day. Jiggers are small worms which enter the body from the earth through cuts to the skin or under toes nails, they make children feel ill for several weeks and require expensive drugs to treat. As a result of the poor conditions most parents were not sending their children to school.

In 2006 following a generous donation from the Jephcott Charitable Trust we were able to build 4 new classrooms, 4 teacher’s houses, a staff room, an office and store room, 8 latrines, a water tank, and provide over 100 desks. In 2008 thanks to a further donation from the Jephcott Trust we were able to build 3 further classrooms, 4 additional teacher’s houses, an additional water tank, and 30 desks. A further donation from Lowther Endowed Primary School, Penrith enabled us to give 100 textbooks to the school. Past Projects have included:

7 new classrooms
8 new teachers houses
an office and store room
a staff room
2 water tanks
a block of latrines with 8 stanzas and a urinal
130 desks
100 textbooks
basic sports equipment and musical instruments

This investment has transformed the school. For the first time all children have their lessons sitting at a desk in a classroom, and the school has been able to recruit and retain good quality teachers. Academic standards are rising and the school’s first P7 class will sit for Primary Leaving Exams in November 2009. The school’s enrollment has more than tripled as parents who previously refused to send their children to school are now doing so. Those children currently at the school are the first generation of children from Namavundu village who will have a basic education.

Mr Kyana Samual achieved an award for “Excellence in Education” in February 2009. He is the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund's project manager.

The school is currently lacking desks for the nursery class. The majority of the 60 children who attend nursery are sitting on the classroom floor. In June 2009 The Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund organised an enjoyable evening at the London Palladium to see Sister Act and thanks to a donation by Fellowes, www.cwfellowes.com, we are able to supply 20 desks, each for three children, and hopefully these will be complete by September 2009. We are most grateful to Fellowes for their donation.

Head Teacher: Mr Kyana Samuel

Number of Pupils in March 2009: 580




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	Namavundu Primary School Namavundu Primary School is situated in a remote and particularly poor part of Bugiri District. In 2005 the school was little more than a grass thatched hut in which around 200 children had their lessons sat on the dusty floor, or under the shade of a nearby tree. The majority of the children suffered from Jiggers as a result of sitting on ground all day. Jiggers are small worms which enter the body from the earth through cuts to the skin or under toes nails, they make children feel ill for several weeks and require expensive drugs to treat. As a result of the poor conditions most parents were not sending their children to school. In 2006 following a generous donation from the Jephcott Charitable Trust we were able to build 4 new classrooms, 4 teacher’s houses, a staff room, an office and store room, 8 latrines, a water tank, and provide over 100 desks. In 2008 thanks to a further donation from the Jephcott Trust we were able to build 3 further classrooms, 4 additional teacher’s houses, an additional water tank, and 30 desks. A further donation from Lowther Endowed Primary School, Penrith enabled us to give 100 textbooks to the school. Past Projects have included: 7 new classrooms 8 new teachers houses an office and store room a staff room 2 water tanks a block of latrines with 8 stanzas and a urinal 130 desks 100 textbooks basic sports equipment and musical instruments This investment has transformed the school. For the first time all children have their lessons sitting at a desk in a classroom, and the school has been able to recruit and retain good quality teachers. Academic standards are rising and the school’s first P7 class will sit for Primary Leaving Exams in November 2009. The school’s enrollment has more than tripled as parents who previously refused to send their children to school are now doing so. Those children currently at the school are the first generation of children from Namavundu village who will have a basic education. Mr Kyana Samual achieved an award for “Excellence in Education” in February 2009. He is the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund's project manager. The school is currently lacking desks for the nursery class. The majority of the 60 children who attend nursery are sitting on the classroom floor. In June 2009 The Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund organised an enjoyable evening at the London Palladium to see Sister Act and thanks to a donation by Fellowes, www.cwfellowes.com, we are able to supply 20 desks, each for three children, and hopefully these will be complete by September 2009. We are most grateful to Fellowes for their donation. Head Teacher: Mr Kyana Samuel Number of Pupils in March 2009: 580