Kirk Young introduced Jackie Van Lankveld – Rotary Club of St. Catherine’s, who was here on Zoom to share with us an update on the International Project – Rotary Global Grant to Build School for Orphaned Children in Uganda.
Uganda School for Orphaned Children – Jackie thanked our Rotary Club for inviting her to speak and on this project that the Rotary Club of Jamestown helped fund.
Jackie thanked the Rotary Club of Jamestown for sponsoring this project without even meeting her! She appreciated our trust and support.
The International Project – Rotary Global Grant to Build School for Orphaned Children in Uganda took place in the Entebbe area of Uganda. This was a partnership between clubs in 7090 and the Rotary Club of Nkumba, Uganda and and environmental NGO (non-governmental organization).
Initial Project
- Existing school was inadequate
- No windows
- No doors
- Roof was leaking
- And, a host of other issues
The Road to Global Grant
- Club to club fundraising began in 2015
- 2016 – a 4 acre lot was purchased by the NGO
- January 2017 – became aware of simple schools build that was available
- March 2017 – trip to Africa – Jackie and others presented the idea at a Rotary Club of Nkumba board meeting
- Application commenced in May 2017
- Application completed in 2018
- Application accepted and funded in November 2018
- Initial funds for training received in February 2019
- Training commenced March 2019
- Groundbreaking/Building commenced July 2019
- 80% complete on January 1, 2020
- Final work ceased in March 2020 and the school shut down in March 2020 due to COVID
- Orphaned children were placed in various homes due to the school being closed
- Teachers were offered sewing classes to earn some extra $$ while the first COVID wave passed
- March 27, 2020 – final money received
- Work resumed in August 2020
- The School for Orphaned Children in Uganda opened on January 11, 2022! Finally!
There were 14 Partners in Rotaty District 7090 that made this project possible. Among them, St Catherine’s Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Jamestown, Ancaster AM Club and many others. The Rotary Club of Jamestown generously donated $2000.
School in Uganda is free, but you must have a uniform and have school supplies. The group subsidizes the children so they can attend school. At one point, ackie brought two suitcases of black shoes so the kids receive new shoes for school. She ran out of shoes because the need was so great but purchased another 20 pairs at a local market so all the school children could receive new shoes.
The Rotary Club of Nkumba meets Tuesdays, 7-8pm for drinks and dessert! Average age is 35. The Rotary Club of Nkumba was chartered in early 2000s. The club was commended by Rotary International for the projects they completed in such a short time as a club.
The Uganda landscape and countryside is beautiful and amazing but yet there is such a great amount of poverty in Uganda. Houses with no electricity or running water. Kids are orphaned because their parents died of AIDS or other mass diseases. People walk for miles and miles to get clean water. And the traffic was horrendous in Uganda. No speed limits, regulations, etc. Very eye opening experience for Jackie.
Next Steps
- Build the remaining 4 outbuildings.
- Quote from contractor is $24,000 USD to pour 4 concrete pads and erect one building
- Rotary Club of Nkumba will continue partnership with St Catherine’s
- So far, Jackie and others have raised $16,000 CDN.
- They are looking for Rotary partners to help close the gap once again
- The goal is to have this be a Rotary School – people can drive by and see the Power of Rotary!
Jackie thanked the Rotary Club of Jamestown for sponsoring this project without even meeting her! She appreciated our trust and support.
The International Project – Rotary Global Grant to Build School for Orphaned Children in Uganda took place in the Entebbe area of Uganda. This was a partnership between clubs in 7090 and the Rotary Club of Nkumba, Uganda and and environmental NGO (non-governmental organization).
Initial Project
- Existing school was inadequate
- No windows
- No doors
- Roof was leaking
- And, a host of other issues
The Road to Global Grant
- Club to club fundraising began in 2015
- 2016 – a 4 acre lot was purchased by the NGO
- January 2017 – became aware of simple schools build that was available
- March 2017 – trip to Africa – Jackie and others presented the idea at a Rotary Club of Nkumba board meeting
- Application commenced in May 2017
- Application completed in 2018
- Application accepted and funded in November 2018
- Initial funds for training received in February 2019
- Training commenced March 2019
- Groundbreaking/Building commenced July 2019
- 80% complete on January 1, 2020
- Final work ceased in March 2020 and the school shut down in March 2020 due to COVID
- Orphaned children were placed in various homes due to the school being closed
- Teachers were offered sewing classes to earn some extra $$ while the first COVID wave passed
- March 27, 2020 – final money received
- Work resumed in August 2020
- The School for Orphaned Children in Uganda opened on January 11, 2022! Finally!
There were 14 Partners in Rotaty District 7090 that made this project possible. Among them, St Catherine’s Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Jamestown, Ancaster AM Club and many others. The Rotary Club of Jamestown generously donated $2000.
School in Uganda is free, but you must have a uniform and have school supplies. The group subsidizes the children so they can attend school. At one point, ackie brought two suitcases of black shoes so the kids receive new shoes for school. She ran out of shoes because the need was so great but purchased another 20 pairs at a local market so all the school children could receive new shoes.
The Rotary Club of Nkumba meets Tuesdays, 7-8pm for drinks and dessert! Average age is 35. The Rotary Club of Nkumba was chartered in early 2000s. The club was commended by Rotary International for the projects they completed in such a short time as a club.
The Uganda landscape and countryside is beautiful and amazing but yet there is such a great amount of poverty in Uganda. Houses with no electricity or running water. Kids are orphaned because their parents died of AIDS or other mass diseases. People walk for miles and miles to get clean water. And the traffic was horrendous in Uganda. No speed limits, regulations, etc. Very eye opening experience for Jackie.
Next Steps
- Build the remaining 4 outbuildings.
- Quote from contractor is $24,000 USD to pour 4 concrete pads and erect one building
- Rotary Club of Nkumba will continue partnership with St Catherine’s
- So far, Jackie and others have raised $16,000 CDN.
- They are looking for Rotary partners to help close the gap once again
- The goal is to have this be a Rotary School – people can drive by and see the Power of Rotary!