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The School

History:

In May 2007 we purchased a small private school in the village after the death of the owner.  There were about 75 children enrolled.  Today there are 210 students – 7 classes from kindergarten (P1) to sixth class (P7) with a maximum 35 children per class – including both day scholars and boarders.  The school was given a new name to reflect its sponsorship by some members of St Alban’s Church, Leura – it is called St Alban’s Primary School, Ibulanku, Uganda.

Many of the original students were orphans and fees were not possible so these were sponsored through the St Alban’s Leura congregation and members of the community.  The original school buildings were  dilapidated and insufficient for a growing primary school so plans were drawn up for two teaching blocks with 4 classrooms in each.  They were constructed in 2009 and 2012 with one block having a Headmaster’s office and small reception area in the centre and the other block has one room for girl boarders.  So in effect there are 7 classrooms for the seven primary years.  A house adjacent to the school was also purchased as a Headmaster residence but this has since been changed to accommodate boy boarders with a small separate room for the boys’ housemaster.

A borehole and pump has replaced the previous “rope and bucket” well, and a chain link fence has been erected round the school with gates that are locked when the school is closed.

In 2007, the younger children were learning to write in the dirt as exercise books were considered too expensive.  This was unsatisfactory so money was sent to buy slates for writing practice.  Of course this has now changed and all class teachers have access to a class blackboard with the students using pen, pencils and exercise books.

School times are 7.30 AM till 5 PM daily with P3 – P7 childres also attending on Saturday mornings.  Boarders and nearby day students have additional classes from 5.30 – 6.30 AM and 7 – 9 PM on weekdays.

The first primary 7 class sat the government Primary Leaving Exmination (PLE) in 2009 and the results were pleasing.  Two pupils achieved a Grade 2 pass and 9 achieved Grade 3.  There was one failure.  The 2011 results were even better with a girl achieving Grade 1 and she was then sponsored by the Leura committee into secondary school as a boarder; 12 pupils achieved Grade 2, 8 Grade 3 and again 1 failed;  2 of our sponsored children were among the Grade 2 achievers.  Grade 1 results are now being achieved each year with 1 in 2012, 4 in 2012, 1 in 2013, 3 in 2014, 2 in 2015, 3 in 2016, 2 in 2017.  All the Division (grade) 1 students have been sponsored into secondary school through support from the committee and some members of the local community who take on an individual student.

Headmaster Mukasa Fred who has both bachelor and masters qualifications was appointed in 2010 and his contribution has been significant in recruiting and nurturing quality teachers who have contributed to the improving academic performance of the school.  The primary school teaching structure in Uganda requires a class teacher having responsibility for the students but each of the four main subjects are taught by a specialist teacher.

Since 2011 the Blue Mountains Grammar School at Wentworth Falls has been donating funds from their annual 45 kilometre Charity Walk and this has enabled significant investment in physical resources for the school.  Some of what has been achieved include – separate toilet facilities for both boys, girls and staff; solar lighting in all classrooms; a lockable storage cupboard in each classroom; textbooks for all students in classes P3 through P7 for English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science; costumes for the music and drama curriculum; reading books for the English department; school registration; Education Department licence and examination centre official number; a new enclosed kitchen with clay cooking stoves and  adjacent storeroom; new beds for boarders; lightning rod for storm protection; sporting equipment; professional development and upgrading of qualifications for teachers; individual desks and chairs for P6 and P7 students; a library of dictionaries, atlases and reading books.

Through a donation in early 2016, the school introduced a “Reading, Writing and Comprehension” programme with a dedicated teacher, Dorine, who had upgraded her teaching certificate level specialising in this area.  Although English is the national language, our location in a very poor region means English language skills often cannot cope well with exam questions and early indications are that this programme is already having positive results.  The other teachers are seeing the benefit in their classes.  Amongst the good results in the PLE in 2016 there were 5 distinctions in Social Studies, 3 in English and one in Mathematics.   We are looking for this to improve with the programme continuing into 2017.

40 students are currently sponsored as day scholars  – i.e. the annual school fee of $AUD105 is donated in January and pays for uniform, scholastic materials, lunch daily and tuition for one child for the whole year.  In addition the Leura committee and some local supporters sponsor the PLE Grade 1 students into secondary school as boarders – currently 13 students with the most senior doing her ‘A’ level year (HSC equivalent).

The financial affairs of the school have been closely monitored and addressed during the last 4 years – prior to 2012, budgets were haphazard, teachers paid irregularly, school fees not pursued – it was difficult to plan from year to year.  There is now an annual budget approved by the mandatory School Management Committee, shared with the staff and balanced.  The annual financial accounts have been audited now for three years which is very important as much funding is from donations and this requires strong accountability and transparency.  A qualified young university graduate (studying for her Chartered Practicing Accountant qualification) was employed through the Health Centre in 2014 with some of her responsibilities being for the school as well as the health centre and this was an enormous help in both making the school financially accountable but also generating more understanding within the school of the need for prudent recording of receipts and payments – not something that was practiced earnestly in the early years.

One of our committee members who has been instrumental in “managing” the school has spent at least one month there each year since 2009 (sometimes twice a year) and will be making his last visit later in 2017.  It is hoped the school will from the beginning of term 1, 2018 be self sustaining and self managing with the donation from the BMGS charity walk being able to maintain the improvements in quality resources and facilities for this wonderful project.

If you would like and are able to help in making a difference for children in this poor region of Uganda, an annual sponsorship costs just $AUD110 for a day student at the primary school and $AUD750 for a secondary student as a boarder.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

As stated earlier, the ‘reading, writing and comprehension’ programme,  taught to all classes from P3 by Madam Auma Dorine, is having a positive effect on the academic standards of the school.  The Primary Leaving Exam (PLE) is a government exam which all students must sit at the end of their primary schooling.  The 2018 results published in January 2019 created a most welcome ‘headache’ for the committee – SIX division 1 and 22 division 2 out of the class of 28 students – by far the best ever result for the school.  We now had to find sponsors for six students as boarders at Iganga High School where we have decided to send all our top achievers since meeting the Head of this school on his brief visit to Sydney in 2017.

All six have been supported in 2019 individually outside of the committee.  To give these young people from such a poor area in a third world country the opportunity to be able to have a good secondary education is something that appeals to many in our society.  Since two members of our small (8) committee moved to a retirement village in Sydney in 2014 support from fellow retirees there has been forthcoming including the village Chapel congregation – both Protestant and Roman Catholic.

Being located in a very poor part of Uganda (many children describe their parents/guardians as peasants) the fee situation has been difficult over the years, impacting on the school’s ability to pay and retain quality teachers, upgrade facilities, pay for professional staff development, etc.  The school has been working on this issue diligently and at the end of term 3 this year there was no outstanding fee in two of the seven classes – this is truly a remarkable achievement.  This year has been significant for other reasons.

A donation from a Sydney northern beaches resident was the catalyst to build a new girls’ boarding dormitory which was completed during the year.  She and her husband then travelled to the school for Speech Day in October and officially opened the building and unveiled plaques recognising the contributions of the Lukabyo family, a retired lady who provided funding for 4 teacher room accommodations in 2017 and the Blue Mountains Grammar School (Wentworth Falls) for their annual donation allowing upgrade of facilities and additional resourcing for the school – which receives no government assistance.

The term 3 secondary school reports have just been distributed to sponsors – all the individually sponsored students are doing well and deserve support again in 2020 and we are hoping this will be the case – with fees set at $750 for the full year as a boarder it is so reasonable compared to our situation in Australia but still can be a struggle for pensioner/retirees.  We monitor all sponsored students progress and some were told early in 2019 that their support would be withdrawn if their efforts were less than division 1 or 2 at the end of year.  Two have since been advised this is the case with their performance.  Resources are limited and there are more requesting sponsorship both primary and secondary than we can physically provide.

Updated – John Sowden, 28 December, 2019 – for Ibulanku Aid Fund International

History of The Ibulanku Project – Early Days

The Ibulanku Project began in 1996, when the late James Lukabyo and his wife, Sheila, both parishioners of St Alban’s, Leura, returned from a visit to Ibulanku, the village in Uganda where James was born and brought up.

They had been asked for financial help for the sinking of a bore hole to provide clean water for the village. At that time the villagers (usually women and children) had to walk many kilometres to fetch water from a muddy well.

Funds for this were quickly raised, largely from a huge ‘Garage Sale’ in St Alban’s church hall, the bore hole was sunk, a hand pump was installed, and the villagers were delighted with their ‘sweet water’.

The village elders soon realised that a clean water supply made a medical facility possible, and in 1998, when the Lukabyos visited again, they were asked if they could raise funds for this. The people of St Alban’s Church rose to the challenge and the Ibulanku Community Health Centre Project was born.

Iblukanku History – The Health Centre

The first stage of the Health Centre was officially opened in September 2002. This was the  building which is now used for Administration and Outpatients. This, however, was only a small part of the grand plan, and large amounts of money were needed to expand the Centre. The main fund-raising activity is a Giant Book Fair during Easter week each year in St Alban’s Church Hall. Books for this are donated each year by people from all parts of the Sydney Metropolitan area as well as the Blue Mountains. The money raised from this has gone directly to the people of Ibulanku, who have done most of the building work themselves.

God has wonderfully blessed their efforts and the Health Centre now consists of an  outpatients block, a Maternity block and a large Multi-purpose block, which comprises wards, an operating theatre, a pathology laboratory and eye and ear clinics. There is also a separate 3-bedroomed house, which is designed to accommodate visiting doctors or other short term voluntary workers.

Generous donations of medical supplies, furniture and equipment of all kinds from Sydney and elsewhere have equipped the whole Centre. A container load was sent to fit out the main building ready for the opening in 2002. Later four more containers were sent, containing enough equipment to start operating the Maternity section and to furnish the large, Multi-purpose block.

For several years now Anglican Aid (previously ORAF) has funded a project for the prevention and treatment of malaria at Ibulanku. Information about causes, prevention and treatment have been given in the form of dramas presented in various locations. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets have also been distributed. This funding has now come to an end, but it is hoped that the program will continue.

The nutrition program which Anglican Aid has also sponsored, is for malnourished babies and young children; this program treats and feeds the children until they are fit to return home, and educates their mothers as well as providing them with vegetable seeds or seedlings to take home to grow.

There are follow-up visits to the homes afterwards to monitor the children’s progress and to check that the mothers are managing to put into practice what they have learnt. This program, too, must continue, as it has a vital role in the life of the community.

In December 2003 two young female medical graduates from Monash University in Melbourne, Anne Miller and Lauren Sanders, went to spend several weeks working at the Health Centre. They stayed in the purpose-built house and did significant outreach work in the surrounding area, as well as delivering babies, making friends with children and immunising them, treating all manner of outpatients and giving talks on various health matters. They were enthusiastically received and were themselves very impressed with the Centre. On their return to Australia they encouraged their friends to follow their example, and a group went at the end of 2004 and others have followed since then. The university later established a kind of bursary to assist final year students with their travel expenses if they wish to do an elective at Ibulanku.

On several occasions groups of medical graduates from the United States have gone to Ibulanku to do similar work, and an experienced American doctor went there in 2005. In 2007 American doctors performed over 100 cataract operations in the theatre as well as other eye surgery.

They also identified a dozen young women with fistula problems and arranged surgery for them at another hospital.

In 2008 there were expressions of interest from medical students in England, and one spent some time working at Ibulanku in the middle of the year. Nurses from Australia have also spent time there. One of them, Margaret Fleming from Darwin, has on several occasions spent a few months there with her husband, Fergal, who has been an immense help with practical physical work and matters of organisation and has also helped by submitting proposals for funding for various projects.

The utilisation of the Health Centre services has increased considerably, with many babies safely delivered, a large number of women attending both ante-natal and babycare classes, and an average of 25 children being brought for immunisation each week.

The average weekly out-patient attendance is about 90 and there are usually at least 5 or 6 in-patients at any one time. Regular weekly Outreach sessions are conducted in areas surrounding the Centre to treat a variety of ailments, immunise the children and conduct Health Education classes.

The Australian High Commission to East Africa (based in Nairobi, Kenya) has on several occasions provided funding for projects at Ibulanku. They have funded equipment for the pathology laboratory, contributed to the cost of a generator as a backup electricity supply, and a new borehole, pump and piping to provide a reticulated water supply to the whole Health Centre. Water from the borehole is pumped up to a high level tank and is then gravity-fed to all the buildings.

In June 2009 the Australian High Commissioner of the time, Ms Lisa Filipetto, visited Ibulanku to see the new water system and the other facilities funded by the High Commission. She planted a tree to mark the occasion.

Now a new program has begun, giving treatment and counselling to people with HIV/AIDS. The sessions take place in the separate 3 unit block in a room which is also used for other purposes at other times.

John and Elizabeth Sowden (from St Alban’s Leura) are regular visitors to Ibulanku. Elizabeth conducts sewing classes for women at the Health Centre using treadle sewing machines, and John teaches English to the higher classes at the school, as well as helping with general organisation.

A recent addition to the Health Centre is free accommodation for nurses. Two buildings have been constructed behind the Centre providing 8 rooms with bathroom and cooking facilities between each 2 rooms. This will make life safer for nurses who until now have had to walk through the village in complete darkness to reach their rented rooms.

Last year a fence was erected round the entire perimeter of the Health Centre, with gates which are closed and guarded at night. This has had a number of benefits, from the prevention of cattle wandering through the grounds to making sure that patients have paid or come to some arrangement before they can leave. Climbing plants have now been planted at the base of the fence, which should in time provide some privacy and also keep out traffic noise and dust.

In 2011 an annexe to the Health Centre was opened in Idudi, a trading centre on the main road to Kenya. This has proved extremely successful. Recently the property next door to it was acquired, and is being used as a business centre and stationery shop. There are plans to establish an internet cafe in a back room of this property.

Early in 2013 Doctor David Muwanguzi from the district headquarters in Iganga offered to perform operations in the theatre of the Health Centre if we could adjust the water supply and drainage and purchase the necessary instrument kits. This was done and a number of operations have now taken place, with patient fees divided between the doctor and the Centre. This has been a welcome addition to the income of the Centre.

Welcome to our new website

Date: 12/11/08
Photographer: Fergal Fleming

Welcome to the website for the Ibulanku Community Health Centre and St Alban’s School.

This website is newly established and under development.  Please check back soon to see how we’re going with updates on this vital ministry.

We’ve now placed the history of the Ibulanku project online. You can find it under the “History” menu.