Thanks to the BT’s network of chapters & supporters and, now, the community of Kisaluwoko, Uganda – construction has started on our 25th primary school! Follow its progress here!

name supported by site managed by location commitment signing website

BT Primary School of Kisaluwoko UNC-Chapel Hill TBD, BT Community Development Officer Lyantonde District, Uganda Nov 5, 2014 buildingtomorrow.org/kisaluwoko

Kisaluwoko is a small village located in a flat area of Uganda’s Lyantonde, approximately 32 km from the main road and very near to the equator. Kisaluwoko village itself is surrounded by 5 neighboring villages that will also be served by the future primary school: Kayera, Rwekongoro, Kanyanya, Kangara, and Kakyebebe.

Currently, the nearest primary school is 6km away, and with more than 400 primary-school-age children in the area, families have started an informal school where around 100 students are enrolled. Classes have been taking place under trees (pictured below) and beneath a temporary structure erected by parents. Despite the conditions and the fact that the “school’s” three teachers are unqualified, having only completed part of secondary school themselves, parents are paying 20,000UGX per student, per term.

On Wednesday, November 5, community partners, families and friends of future students gathered for a commitment signing ceremony where they pledged to provide 15,000 hours of self-labor and make regular financial contributions to ensure the school can sustain itself in the long-term. Three acres of land have been generously donated by a community member, Mr. Baguma Denis, and his family. And as part of Building Tomorrow’s Memorandum of Understanding with Uganda’s Ministry of Education, the local district government has committed text books, furniture and qualified teachers upon the school’s completion.

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

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