Thanks to the generosity of anonymous supporters of the University of Notre Dame and, now, the community of Kongota, Uganda – construction has started on our 21st primary school! Follow its progress here!

name supported by site managed by location groundbreaking website

BT Primary School of Kongota University of Notre Dame Burungu, BT Community Development Officer Rakai District, Uganda August 14, 2014 buildingtomorrow.org/kongota

Kongota marks BT’s first primary school in Rakai District and will serve at least six villages in the area, namely Nongo, Lwakalolo, Kongonta, Kasankara, Kyamankananga and Nakabazi.

Located approximately 25km off Masaka-Kyotera-Mutukula highway, branching off at Kyotera town, Kongota is one of the poorest communities in Rakai. Currently, the nearest government primary school is Kasankara Primary School, located 3km away. The only existing “school” in the area consists of two rooms in the nearby church where lessons are alternated to accommodate a growing number of students. Other classes are held outside under a tree. Despite it’s informal structure, 213 kids are currently enrolled and nine teachers are on-staff at this “school” (six of which are on the government’s payroll, with the additional three being funded by contributions from parents).

Needless to say, the community is eager to get started and break ground on a formal school for their students.

Four and a half acres of land have been generously donated to the community by the local Roman Catholic Church and, in line with Building Tomorrow’s cost-sharing model, the community has committed to volunteer 15,000 hours of labor and support the school’s development long-term.

Follow the school’s progress at buildingtomorrow.org/kongota.

To learn more about Building Tomorrow’s needs assessment process and community construction model, see “Building Tomorrow: from Access to Learning“