Transferring Skills
Sustainable development is key to the work of the charity. One way we ensure this is to share skills which are then used and passed on in turn by the community.
Teacher Training
It is important to us that the school has a child centred approach to learning with hands on activities and problem solving skills promoted. This is not the norm in Uganda where education is still usually chalk and talk based.
To promote this ethos, trustees with a background in and passion for education, have visited the village on several occasions (at their own cost) to conduct teacher training. These sessions have been embraced by the teachers; they have really enjoyed putting the techniques into practice in the classroom and seeing the progression of the children.
Other teacher training sessions have focussed on developing resources for teaching spoken English, a vital skill for success in Ugandan Society.
First Aid Training
When Daniel’s Clinic was opened in 2019, two of our trustees, who have training in first aid in the UK, conducted a first aid course for selected villagers and teachers. Some of these became key holders of the clinic so that emergency aid is always available.
This is a fantastic service in an area where previously even a plaster was not available. Even some of the older children from the hostel took part in the training and they all enjoyed trying out the recovery position and counting chest compressions to the tune of ‘Nellie the Elephant!’
These trainees have subsequently cascaded their first aid knowledge throughout the community with the support of nurse Brenda. This initiative will certainly save lives in the future.
Health and Wellbeing
Health education and preventative medicine is something that is often neglected in developing countries. We are delighted that nurse Brenda is happy to conduct health education sessions both with the children at Bevan Community School and also with the wider community.
Also, inspired by the work being done in Rwanyana, some medical doctors from the government hospital in the nearby town of Kabale, have run occasional seminars on health and nutrition which are open to all the villagers. The sessions have been well received by the community and will have lasting benefits for their health and wellbeing.
Financial Management
We also support Spencer & Peninah, the Project management team in Rwanyana, in financial management. It is of the utmost importance to the charity that every penny donated is well spent and accounted for.
We recently had a donation that allowed us to purchase a laptop for the project. Here is charity treasurer, Martyn, showing spencer and Peninah how to produce reports for us.
They can now easily send reports, photographs, copies of invoices and cost estimates, enabling us to support how the charity’s funds are being spent in real-time. This close contact and support is one of the things that makes our charity special, enabling us to create long term sustainable development.