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Nestled in the rural heartland of Masaka, Uganda, Good Shepherd School (GSS) is more than just a
place of learning—it's
a beacon of hope for countless children in the community. Over the years, we've joined hands
with
GSS, working
collaboratively to identify opportunities where sustainable technologies and practices can
enhance
the quality of
education for the school's young learners.
John Ssentamu a primary school teacher with 20 years’ experience in the field – is our current
point
of contact in
Uganda. John’s expertise comes from his roles as the Founding Head Teacher of the Good Shepherd
Primary School and the
Founding Chair of the Rural Teachers’ Association. Outside the classroom, John is the Founding
Director of Busubi
Empowered Communities (Lwengo District), in addition to being the Spokesperson of Kids Uganda
Chapter and also the
Founding President of the Uganda Quidditch Association.
One challenge GSS faced was the difficulty of retaining teachers due to low wages, and ensuring that students had access to the nutrition needed for effective learning. To address these interconnected issues, we embarked on a unique initiative: securing land for the school. Why land, you may ask? Because it allowed us to address multiple challenges simultaneously. The land serves as a practical classroom where children learn about agriculture and sustainable farming practices, instilling in them a passion for crop cultivation. Any surplus crops are sold, and the proceeds contribute to teachers' salaries, thereby enhancing teacher retention and the overall educational experience.
Good Shepherd School allocates around 100,000 UGX per month to cover electricity expenses, equivalent
to approximately
£21. Not an exorbitant amount at first glance, however, for a rural school heavily dependent on
parents' regular
contributions through school fees, this poses a challenge. Financial resources are diverted from
crucial areas, such as
teachers' salaries and the general optimization of the learning environment. The purposeful
reallocation of funds made
possible through Rays for Education, would ensure higher quality sustainable education.
In our commitment to sustainable solutions, we've partnered with Bakulu Power to establish a solar
power grid at GSS.
This initiative not only aligns with our mission of sustainability but also diverts financial
resources towards
maintaining school infrastructure and ensuring that our dedicated teachers are compensated fairly.
Bakulu specialise in analysing, designing and installing customised energy systems in Uganda.A
blueprint of the
customised energy system for Wigrow has already been drafted (readily available upon request), based
on Good Shepherd’s
current electricity use. A solar rooftop grid will be implemented to supply the necessary
electricity, of which any
surplus will be channeled back to the main power grid, where it will be readily available for the
wider local community.
