Update from Victoria
Intro from ETRA
After 2 years with schools shut the children were happy to get back to learning in January and to be together again with their friends
It has been a tough 2 years in so many ways for everyone- children and teachers alike.
Meanwhile the building of the new school block has gone ahead thanks to the generous help of our supporters
As can be seen from the photos the school is now up and running again and life carries on at Glenburnie Butega school- not just schooling but growing food and raising livestock, so children have a broad education.
However as can be seen from the message from Uganda there are still many needs and we continue to be grateful to all our supporters
Giving is now simpler for those with access to the internet as it is possible to give directly via the Just Giving page
Thank you once again
From The Trustees of ETRA UK on behalf of ETRA Uganda.
Email from Victoria
Greetings to you from everyone here in Uganda and especially from Glenburnie Butega School. We are grateful to God for your support and love for us here in Uganda. It is such an encouragement to know that God has continued to use you all to stand with the children in Uganda to make great impact in their life as they build a foundation for the future. Praise the Lord.
The school is back to normal. We have 32 children in Nursery and 102 in the other classes totaling up to 134 learners.
There are two brilliant ladies (teachers) handling nursery kids. Primary section has three hardworking ladies in the lower section and then four gentlemen handling P4-P7. All the teachers apart from Nursery make appearances in the different classes as well so the children have access to different teachers. And I am providing supervisory.
Health:
With the new normal, we are trying to follow the guidelines given by the government.
Despite the efforts, there are still regular coughs and flu as well as fevers and malaria; and this doesn’t discriminate as both children and the adults are affected!
Scholastic material:
The school continues to provide these – through your support – as many guardians fail to provide. The school uniform is also provided for by the school, again very few can afford to pay 23,000= (UGX) for them.
Meals:
These are provided to all. A cup of porridge at break time and a plate of posho and beans at lunch time.
School Fees:
Very few (as I write) can meet the fees and requirements. So, we have to toil to keep them going. This is where our appreciation is forwarded to you for the financial support; what you send is what we distribute to meet some of the requirements.
Salaries:
Teachers are all catered for. The demand is high these days; the salaries for the upper section are UGX 300,000, and UGX 250,000 for the lower section and nursery, plus meals. We continue to trust the Lord through it all.
Farm:
The garden is ready for planting. It has been a hot season, but the rains are slowly returning. We have been preparing the gardens and when the rains fully return, we shall them plant.
The animals are also good (cows, goats and pigs, we have few chickens as well).
Others:
We are trying to put up a shade to serve as a dining hall for the children. This is temporary as we look into the future for what would be needed.
First term holidays begin on 12th April and ends on 1st May. Second term begins then.
Primary leaving examinations will be done in November. There will be registrations for the candidates at UGX 70,000 each.
The Elderly:
Continue to pray for this ministry as we continue to encourage the elderly and stand with them in their situations. We have prayer meetings and sometimes we have a visiting priest and discipleship teams. We have health-related meetings with health workers to care for some of the health challenges they have.
Some of them are lonely as they have no grandchildren. It would be good to give them an outing as an encouragement for them. But we encourage people to visit them sometimes to encourage them. It is tougher especially after the Covid 19 pandemic since many people were encouraged to stay away from the elderly so that they can avoid transmitting the virus to the vulnerable! Because of vaccination, it has gone down now.
What can we raise money for?
Educational trips for learners. This has always been my desire to give them an experience to visit some sites for their educational enrichment.
Classroom block construction – we are extremely grateful for this.
We appreciate the love you have for us. You really mean a lot to us. We have had tough times, and most recently 2020 to 2021 which was difficult for all and yet you stood with us. We stay in prayers for you, for God’s protection, provision and continual support to your spiritual, emotional and physical needs.
Thank you again and many thanks for everything.
Please remember us to all we know.
Victoria and Stephen