Innocent informed everyone at the meeting the idea for the tree planting, that they were replacing trees that had had to be cut down for building work over my years in Uganda, land what trees we were planting. They are desperate for shade at the school so were particularly pleased with those that would start to give some in a year or two. Then the tree planting started and took some time as we had bought 23 trees! Some to give the much needed shade, some fruit trees and lastly softwood and hardwood trees as an investment. I was really pleased at how easy this all was when you have the right help.

Exchanging gifts – After my address I gave a gift to Ibra, each of the teachers and Agnes the cook. I gave out ‘posh’ pens to the male teachers and what looked like pens to Ibra and his deputy. I had actually given them pointers and it took them a while to figure them out!
To the ladies I gave fancy shawls which they got so excited about. These had been either donated or bought from the charity shops. I also gave mosquito nets to the two chairmen.

In return Ibra gave school calendars to Innocent and I as well as Poynton Rotary and Marton School, with appropriate photos. We all got a certificate too, as well as ‘Friends from UK’, you!

Next post – Children bring me farewell gifts!🤗

The ‘official’ part of the ceremony happened as Ibra, his teachers, the chairmen of the two sections of Nawantumbi village met with Innocent, Judith and myself inside the classroom.
Eight children entered and brought two desks and some of the new books with them. They performed a poem they had written. It was thanking us for the gifts such as classrooms, desks to sit on and books. It was very good. The video is worth watching but is 1.42 minutes long so might not come through for a while!

The two Local Chairmen from the two halves of the village spoke thanking us for the love we have shown their village as there were no other schools within or for several kilometres. They said they were the envy of many especially as the school had performed so well in the National Leavers Exams, the first time the school had put children forward for it and they all passed! There were no 1st Grades, but two 2nds, three 3rd grades, three 4th grades and no one failed. More good news was that out of the eight candidates six had gained a place in secondary school! The parents of the other two just couldn’t afford the fees.

Tap to open photos

They were very grateful to you all for developing the school but mentioned the lack of water at or near the school, in fact two of the boys at that moment went past the entrance pushing a bike loaded with four heavy jerrycans heading towards the kitchen! Peter followed them with my phone!

Ibrahim spoke about the increase in numbers, now 185, and that classrooms have had to be partitioned to make two. I must admit that some children are a bit cramped! But he too was very pleased at how the children are performing and much of that is down to the physical help we’ve given them and of course to the good teaching staff. He described the conditions the school had been in when I saw it in 2020, how the children and staff had to use the sugarcane field when I they wanted a ‘short-call’! Later when it was my turn to speak I demonstrated how I had to bend down to get in their classroom where the grass roof was collapsing and it was dark, dingy and dangerous!

I was really pleased that Ibra thanked Innocent and Judith. He said Innocent knows what I like to eat and it wasn’t posho and beans, their school dinner!
There are several short videos of the speeches so if anyone would like to listen to them, particularly Ibra’s, I’ll send them to you separately.

Young Gerry completely ignored the business, occupying the desk sponsored by Jaxon, all by herself! She’s such a character!

Continued in next post!

9th March – I’m writing this post as usual, two days after the event, sat under the shadiest tree in the compound at the start of my four days with the family and no work! All the time ladies are passing on their way back from the fields carrying hoes and big loads on their heads followed by children some very young doing their bit! Even on a Saturday there’s no break from the backbreaking work to survive.

Thursday, mid morning and the sun was already hot! I wasn’t scheduled to return to Good Luck PS again though I always had a feeling I would! You can’t leave Uganda that easily! Innocent received a message that they wanted to say their farewell and, I was pleased they had invited Judith too. And little Gerry came as well🤗!
Actually I’d already sorted out my part in the occasion with all the new books, the teaching charts and various other gifts to give them including all the trees though for obvious reasons Innocent had informed Ibra about this particular gift. I’d also sorted my big metal trunks of education bits that I was gifting the school. Even though many had been chewed by a couple of rats 🐀 over the years!
All was quiet when we arrived, but then each class burst out of their rooms in great excitement to stand outside the only classroom that provided a slither of shade. They were thinking of my comfort again. I noticed a line of holes where the shade giving trees were to be planted. The boys carried all my ‘luggage’ into the classroom and the ceremony began.
The Ugandan 🇺🇬 National Anthem was followed by the head girl leading the Lord’s Prayer. Ibra the head teacher then addressed the children. By my turn I was really feeling the heat so was short but hopefully sweet! Little Gerry stood beside me for moral support!🤗

Tap on photos for full size.

As I write children keep appearing, thinking I need entertainment! At this moment I have two bows and arrows aiming at me through the hedge! They make all their own toys!

As I have done in many I schools over the years and in both countries, including several schools in Poynton, and Marton School in Macclesfield who are presently doing great work for Uganda, I finished with the Jambo Song. Looking back at the video Peter took I was definitely flagging! Unfortunately he cut it just short of the fun verse at the end which I assure you was hilarious, having all the children and adults clapping, stamping, jumping and ‘swinging on a tree’! 🤣
I showed the school some of the educational charts and books which got applause but the biggest cheer came when Ibrahim opened the parcel containing their national flag! One of the male teachers started dancing round with it!
We also announced your achievement of providing 3000 mosquito nets to this part of Uganda, though the following day another 100 were given out!

More of farewell in next post!

5th March – After ‘breakfast’ my second lesson was with P3 & P4. The life cycle of the butterfly.🦋 Like Kilimanjaro, life ‘cycles’ are on the primary curriculum.
I used one of the new charts I’d had made for the school, though they don’t know yet about them or the extra books I bought in Kampala soon after I arrived three weeks ago. (Where has the time gone?!)
Again the children were very attentive and responsive though I did wonder if when I was acting out the various points of the cycle my left wing must have looked broken! (As many of you know I have a torn rotator cuff and can’t lift my arm.)
As usual the children thoroughly enjoyed the ‘work’ that followed and the story I read them. I rarely see a teacher in Uganda read a book to children. I hope having the new books will encourage this.
I left them to complete their work while I went onto the last classes of the day, three nursery classes (UK pre-school & reception). My favourite! 🤗

Fun day concluded in next blog!

During the lesson I had been called out by Ibrahim as the mother of the two children whose school fees had been paid by a Vicki a supporter, wanted to thank me, actually you, for your kindness with two delicious looking pineapples!