Uganda

2025

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

As of 2025, the Kiyunga Education Foundation is hosting their own website, and is operating independent from Take Heart International. Please visit https://kiyungaeducationfoundation.com/ for more information.

2023

Kiyunga School. In February 2023, an team of five went to Uganda to visit Kiyunga Primary School. The photos below shows Susan Silva, wife of the in-country director, and team members Brooke Aston, Ashley Beck, Tyler Beck, Nate Jones, Mike Aston, two drivers, and Ambrose Silva, the in-country director. (None of the Take Heart contributions were used for the trip.) The team took photos of the school, students, teachers, and the area around the school. Notice the joy on the faces of the students! Also notice the words hanging in the room, which helps the students learn English. The students are dedicated, with over a 90% attendance rate. Enrollment has increased in recent years, and is up to over 300 students. From simple beginnings, there are now 2 new school buildings, complete with desks, blackboards, and dedicated teachers. We also provide scholarships for students who qualify to continue on in their education. 

To our donors: Thank you! You generous contributions are making a big difference in the lives of Ugandan children. And remember: 100% of donations are used to pay for building, materials, teacher salaries, and scholarships.

January 2022

There are a few important updates since our last post in June. First, we have almost completed installation of a new water tank, which collects clean water for the school and village. Rain water that collects in the rain gutters on the buildings funnels down into the tank. The water is thereafter filtered, providing clean water for drinking and hygiene.

Second, although the school had to shut down again in the latter part of 2021 due to COVID, the schools are set to re-open on January 10. There will be a lot of catching up to do, since few children have access to books at home.

June 2021

We are finally getting back to normal at Kiyunga Village Primary School. During a recent day at school, there were about 150 students in attendance, and the teachers thought that would soon be 200. We are so grateful! Here are some photos from a recent day in late April

January 2021

Just as in the United States, schools in Uganda have had to endure shutdowns due to the pandemic. The Kiyunga Village Primary School has been shut down for all students except for those who are actively studying for their upcoming National Exams. The government hopes to reopen schools for everyone else by March. As you can see from the photo below, some of the kids who are still attending wear masks, but not everyone. Take Heart is working to supply masks for everyone.

December 2019

These photos were taken in June 2019 by Tyler Beck.  He, his son, and several others visited Kiyunga School, where they built bookcases, played soccer, and made presentations about good health.  Beginning in January 2020, several students who passed national examinations for their elementary certificate will be given scholarships to attend boarding school to continue their education.

 

 

 

 

 

March 2019

Classrooms now have tables and chairs for younger pupils and desks for older pupils. The government has declared water from the new borehole safe for consumption. Solar panels have been installed so that pupils and teachers can now enter classrooms to study after dark. Fencing around the school and garden is complete. Current efforts at Kiyunga Village School focus on attracting better qualified teachers to assure that more students pass the national examinations each year. Representative from Take Heart International will visit the school in June to meet with the headmaster and teachers, to assess needs, and to take photos.

Dedication of Kiyunga Primary School

In September 2017 Geri Beck, THI’s partner in the Uganda project,  traveled to Africa for the dedication of Kiyunga Village Primary School.  Completion of the eight classrooms was celebrated with a ceremony attended by government representatives, pupils, and the entire village.  The school is by far the nicest facility in the community and has already brought hope and joy to the eight teachers, 250 pupils, and their parents.  Three major projects remain before the school becomes what we envision, a self-sufficient high-quality source of education for local children and their parents:

1.  Security – solar lighting and a fence must be built around the school.

2.  A borehole is needed to provide water close at hand.  Children now walk several kilometers for clean water.

3.   Our current priority  is to provide desks, as pupils currently sit on the floor.  Desks for 300 pupils and eight teachers are needed.  Three pupils share one desk, which resembles a small picnic table; each desk costs between $90 and $120.

If you would like to sponsor a desk or part of one, we would be happy!

For more pictures and details of the dedication, please visit http://kiyungavillageprimaryschool.blogspot.com.

History of the Kiyunga Uganda School Project

Robina Serwanga lives in Sacramento, California, but she was born in Kiyunga, a rural village in Uganda, Africa. The villagers are very poor and did not even have a school for their children. A few years ago Robina was introduced to Geri Beck and teacher friends Kathy Laret and Naomi Harper, who made the decision to help the villagers build a primary school. Robina’s family donated the land, and the villagers constructed the brick walls. Geri, Kathy, and Naomi raised money for the roof. The school is a simple structure with a dirt floor and without permanent doors or windows. Since 2009 the brick building has been used not only as a school but also as a church and meeting center.

Teachers were hired whose monthly salaries are paid by a few dedicated individual donors. Others, including Fair Oaks Rotary Club, have donated funds to build latrines and a kitchen and purchase school supplies and school uniforms.

In 2012 Geri Beck, Kathy Laret, and Naomi Harper visited the village of Kiyunga. They were greeted with cheers and songs from the students and a special ceremony from local government leaders. They introduced a program in which villagers perform community service. Villagers chose the motto “Village With a Vision” because they could see how their village would be improved through their efforts. The “Village With a Vision” organization has made clean water devices, dug garbage pits, and cemented the floor of the school.

Last year Robina visited her village and noted the changes that have occurred. The school and “Village With a Vision” have given Kiyunga residents hope. As of 2016 the school has 220 pupils taught by 8 teachers, some of whom are now being sponsored to take courses at a local university. They hope to become certified teachers.

Take Heart International became involved with Kiyunga School in 2014, and will assist in constructing a new school building with several classrooms, in addition to upgrading the current structure. Children are now meeting in the single-room brick building and in several makeshift classrooms which villagers have put together using available materials.   A new brick school building with several classrooms would help the school qualify for government recognition.

The new school building will cost about $25,000.  There are other ongoing needs as well: school uniforms ($10 each), sponsors for more teachers ($100/month), school supplies and books, desks for the new classrooms ($45 each).

100% of all donations go to the school.

Checks payable to Take Heart International can be sent to Shirley Griffin, 4913 Puma Way, Carmichael, CA, or Geri Beck, 8208 Hegseth Court, Fair Oaks, CA 95630. Donations are completely tax deductible.