Kamurasi Primary School
Background:
Kamurasi Primary School is located on the outskirts of Masindi, one of the major urban centres in Western Uganda. It has around 800 pupils with 73 of these children suffering from mental of physical impairments.
Disabled children are one of the most vulnerable groups in Africa with 90% dying before the age of five. Those who do survive past childhood are often subjected to a life of extreme poverty with limited access to education, employment, health care and adequate housing. There is also a stigma attached to disability which induces feelings of embarrassment and resentment towards the child which can lead to abuse.
Disability is a major problem due to the severe poverty found in many Ugandan households. The income available simply does not allow for a balanced diet that can reduce the chances of physical and mental impairment. Moreover, the lack of access to medicine and inoculations can mean that disease and illness can leave their victims severely disabled.
The news is not all bad. Uganda as a country has recognised the plight of disabled people and is working hard to promote non-discrimination and provide sufferers with the skills to allow active participation in society. However, resources are severely limited and the government needs NGO’s such as FOAG to help them achieve their goals.
The Project:
The Kamurasi Primary School takes a dual approach, tackling both discrimination and learning difficulties. It offers specialist education such a brail and sign language, vocational training to provide life enhancing skills and a standard curriculum based education. Kamurasi advocates integrated teaching with disabled children learning alongside the able bodied compatriots. The spirit of co-operation that exists between the two groups is certainly a positive indicator for the future.
Education is paramount and FOAG has provided the funds for a dormitory so the school can expand the services it offers. Many disabled children are unable to make the journey to school thus denying them access to education. Up until now Kamurasi has only had the ability to house 12 children in less than adequate conditions, which has not even come close to meeting the demand. With the new dormitory this number has been increased to 48 with room for more if needed.
Kamurasi also runs an outreach programme which raises awareness regarding the issues surrounding disability to both parents and the wider community. Home based visits greatly increase the number of children that can be reached, teaches parents how to care for their children and can provide an outlet where curative action might be sourced.
The Future:
Kamurasi Primary School is providing a much needed service, however, there is a lot more that can and should be done. FOAG is currently looking at expanding the outreach service so that in house care and education can be provided to more children who are unable to attend school. Ultimately this would become a programme that could monitor and help the majority of disabled children in the region.
Progression is key to the sustainability of this project. Many of the children possess the mental capacity to progress past primary school and into secondary education. FOAG wants to start working with some of the secondary schools in the area to provide them with the facilities to enable further education for physically impaired students. Where secondary school is not an option FOAG is looking to improve the vocational training activities at Kamurasi so that pupils are able to hone skills that will enable them to engage in income generating activities reducing the burden the placed on their families.
FOAG would like to take this opportunity to thank the fourteen swimmers that courageously swam the English Channel in August 2006 raising £25,000 for the building of Kamurasi’s new dormitory. In addition it would also like to thank Sallie Wearing, Byona, Kamurasi’s former headmaster, and Harriet, the special needs teacher, for their tireless work in making this project a reality on the ground.
Project Co-ordinator: Alex Letts
Alex has worked in Africa for the past five years for both commercial and charitable organisations. He is currently working on a project designed to increase private sector involvement in Africa's economic development. Alex holds a degree in Sociology from Southampton University and a Masters in International Business and Finance.
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THE FOAG SHOP
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Beds for the New Dorm (£15 each).
Environmentally friendly stoven (£30)
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