Uplands High School Library & Nami Boarding School 7-1-09
Today we built a library at Uplands High School for 500 students. This is the smallest school we’ve seen and it is a secondary school. Ugandan men had already built the bookshelves so they were ready when we got there and we finished that library in no time. We also had maps and globes for it so it just looks great! Like our libraries back home! I took a couple of pictures of some my 3rd grade class’ favorite books and they were The Dragon of Lonely Island, by Rebecca Rupp and Junebug, by Alice Mead. I came across these books as I was alphabetizing them and smiled thinking how students here will be reading the same books we read in our class. Pretty cool!
After finishing the library, we came home and walked to Namirembe Primary to visit the boarding school students. The boarding houses are right behind the school so students basically live at school. They board when their families live too far from the school. I ran in to Desire, a P4 student I’ve mentioned before, and she showed me around her room. She sleeps in the middle bunk of a 3-bed bunk bed (which I’ve never seen before) and I counted at least 12 bunk beds in her room. There wasn’t more than 1 foot between the beds so, you’ re talking about close quarters. The house mother stays next door and is in charge of these boarding students and students visit their families on holidays. It sounds like there is not a vacation period here. I could be wrong about that but when I’ve asked, it sounds like they’re not sure what I’m talking about. College students have summer vacation but these students go all year, I’m pretty sure.
Desire also introduced me to her brother, who is named Robert and is in P6 at the same school. Boys and girls were running all around playing while we were there (it was around 5:00pm) and others were washing their uniforms, cleaning up, or following us around. We left and came back here for dinner and now I’m freezing out here while writing this! It rained the past 2 days and it is now seriously cold for a Texan like me! It’s definitely in the 60s!
Tomorrow we visit Namaguno Primary and make home visits and then we’re back to Uplands High School for an opening ceremony. That night we’ll have dinner with Jane and Noah, Headmistress of Namirembe and Headmaster of Uplands High, respectively. Friday we return to Mbale after we build our final library at the orphanage/school in Mukono (where I’ll be the final week of my trip).
PS I got a call from Sierra and Gabriel on Skype this week and it was awesome to see & talk to them both! Thanks to everyone for keeping in touch!
Comment from christelle thomas
Time November 17, 2009 at 10:42 pm
hi! We currently independently sponsor a girl in namirembe infants primary school who is in p7 and about to start high school in Uplands high school. Would love any information you have on the school. I would really appreciate someone who has visited the school to e-mail me personally. cheers!