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Supporting: The Humanist Academy, Isaac Newton High and Mustard Seed Schools

2010 FUNDRAISING APPEAL
An invitation to support liberal-secular secondary education in Uganda

The move to phase in Universal Primary Education in Uganda since the year 2000 has created a huge follow-up demand for secondary schooling that is beyond the capacity of government to satisfy. It has been left to private, often religious, foundations to fill the gap.

The Uganda Humanist Schools Trust (UK) was established as a charity in November 2008 to raise funds to support the efforts of Ugandan Humanists, who have founded three schools which offer an alternative liberal-secular education. The schools are the Isaac Newton High School, the Humanist Academy and the Mustard Seed School. The formation of the schools was inspired by an International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) Conference held in Kampala in 2004, and IHEU has raised funds for land and a number of buildings. The schools welcome all children irrespective of their family beliefs and reject all forms of indoctrination. They teach mainstream religious and secular world views, while encouraging rational science-based enquiry.

With a clear educational vision, the schools have started with great optimism but very few resources. Thanks to the energy and ingenuity of the founders and support from friends abroad, the schools are growing. They are educating 350 children who would have otherwise have had no access to secondary schooling and the students in them are showing real signs of progress. However, if the schools are to achieve the standards required they will need a steady flow of additional resources, at least during their early years.

New books arriving at the Isaac Newton High School
and practical work using new science equipment at the Humanist Academy

How UHST donors have helped already

Uganda Humanist Schools Trust started fundraising for the schools in January 2009 and awarded its first grants in April. We raised a total of £35,000 in our first year, but there is a long way to reach our intermediate target of £100,000.

Our priority has been to help in areas that have a direct impact on improving the educational experience and welfare of students in each school. During 2009 funds raised from our supporters has been spent on: scholarships to enable 52 orphans and other needy children to attend the schools; textbooks to help the schools to develop a reading culture, to support classwork and independent learning; improvements to the access road at the Humanist Academy so that teachers, students and supplies can more easily reach the school, science equipment so that teachers and students can conduct experiments and learn from observation; a storeroom at the Isaac Newton school so that books and other resources can be stored securely; a petrol-generator to provide power for computers and audio-visual equipment and a data projector to allow films and computer software to be shown on a large screen.

New secure storeroom for books and petrol generator to power computers

The grants we have given are already making a difference. Due to the generosity of sponsors we have been able to guarantee over 30 scholarships for children from very poor homes to complete 4 years of secondary schooling up to O-level.

There is a growing sense of confidence and purpose among both teachers and students. In recent visits to the schools we have seen students working with textbooks in class, conducting experiments in science and learning basic computer skills. In the International Friendship Week, which the schools hosted in November 2009, students displayed impressive discussion and debating skills. Over the past year there has been a huge improvement in their confidence in English - listening comprehension, general vocabulary and speaking in small and large groups.

Students conducting a formal debate on the impact of Oil on Uganda

During 2009 we concentrated support on the newest school, the Humanist Academy, which needed urgent help to fund its staffing and other costs. In the early life of a new secondary school staffing costs are disproportionately high as teachers have to be found for eight or more secondary subjects, even when there are only one or two classes to be taught. The funds we provided allowed the school to pay travel allowances to teachers employed on a casual basis and, in a few cases, to pay for accommodation local to the school.

These have made a valuable addition to: funds the schools have raised themselves from children who can afford to pay school fees; support in the form of scholarships from readers of the New Humanist to the Mustard Seed School and the North East Humanists to the Isaac Newton High School; and building grants to the Isaac Newton High School for a science lab and a grant to the Humanist Academy for a teachers' staff room channelled through the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU).

Targets for fund raising during 2010

Discussion with the schools has identified the following priorities for 2010:
scholarships to enable poor children to attend the schools and boost school income; water and sanitation especially on-site provision of drinking water and additional toilets; books and learning resources especially for classes approaching O-level studies; work to finish and improve existing buildings including painting and providing storage for materials; help to improved teachers' pay and conditions of work in order to secure staff retention; solar panels to provide low cost electricity for lighting and electrical equipment; provision of a boarding house to provide safe housing and study conditions for girls; providing computers and a laser printer for teaching and creating teaching materials; help to establish school-based enterprises e.g. bee keeping, room to hire out for local community functions. There are also many other things the schools need.

Would you be willing to help?

All three schools have made a good start. They have recruited committed teachers but can only afford to employ them on a casual basis.

We invite help from individuals and groups with the following:

1. Cash donations enable the schools to provide necessary books and learning resources, as well as to make provision for art, music and sports. All three schools desperately need money for infrastructure improvements such as water supply, electricity, kitchens, toilet and washing facilities.

2. Targeted fundraising for specific large items in excess of £1000. This might appeal to groups wishing to organise fundraising events. We will discuss with the schools and donors the most appropriate targets for such efforts.

3. Scholarships for the schooling of needy children. £120 meets the costs for one year of school fees and helps to raise the standards for all children.

If you are willing to help the Humanist schools to provide much needed schooling to children in Uganda, please send a cheque made out to:

"Uganda Humanist Schools Trust (UK)":
Address: 31 Greenmeadows Road, Madeley, CREWE, CW3 9EY, UK.

Please say whether your money is for (a) a cash donation or (b) scholarships
If you belong to a group and are interested in identifying a large item for targeted fundraising then please discuss this with Steve Hurd Tel. 01782 750338.

Email: info@ugandahumanistschoolstrust.org

Web: www.ugandahumanistschoolstrust.org

Copies of this fundraising leaflet with a form for completion of your information are in the following Word and PDF files:

Word File

PDF File

You can make regular donations using the following Standing Order Form.