THE link between Launceston Community Primary School (Windmill) and Kyema Primary School, Masindi, Uganda continues to grow. Now fast approaching its eighth year the partnership seems as strong as ever.
Following last years successful visit of two more teachers from Kyema to Launceston two teachers from Launceston CP, visited Kyema in February 2009.
Headteacher Carol Green and her husband Phil, and Barbara Strasman, Year 1 teacher, and her husband Ian spent an enjoyable time working at the school and getting to know more members of the Kyema community.
This was the first visit to Kyema for Carol and Phil and this was an important step forward for both schools.
There have been six changes in staff since 2007 when Barbara and Ian last visited, yet the school is still so committed to continue the partnership under the leadership of head teacher, Tibaingana Julius.
"Everywhere you go around Kyema school you are met with an aura of happiness and you are always sure of a great
welcome!" said Barbara.
The two headteachers signed a revised partnership agreement to ensure that the schools will work together for the foreseeable future. The new link teacher at Kyema is Mbabazi Scovia who is keen to keep the link firm and strong.
One aim for both schools is to produce a Global Magazine (E Magazine) in which the work of the children of Launceston and Kyema can sit side by side,
sharing each other's
traditions and celebrating our very different cultures.
THREE THINGS
Three things needed to be done in order to achieve this:
l Basic training in ICT skills for all staff members;
l Training in the use of digital cameras for both staff and children;
l Enthusing the children to write stories and poems to supply articles for the magazine.
Afternoons were given over to ICT training for the very enthusiastic staff! This was not as easy as it sounds because of the intermittent electricity supply! However despite this, each teacher wrote a letter to their Launceston colleague, saved it to a memory stick, took the memory stick to the internet café in Masindi and sent the letter as an attachment to an email! (Life is not easy here!)
NO ELECTRIC
There is no electricity supply at Kyema Primary School and the nearest internet café is three kilometres from the village. A further community link needed to be established- the ICT training took place at Kyema Vocational Institute where there is a small computer suite
available for use (and only a step away from the
primary school).
Barbara Strasman said: "We were able to establish a written agreement signed between the head of this institute, Akunobere Jacob, Tibaingana Julius and us. so that Kyema Primary staff can use the facilities there for the two months following our visit and for free after May 2009.
"We are hoping that the staffs of both schools can keep in better contact to help strengthen the bond between the two schools."
Both staff and pupils were trained in the use of digital cameras and a great time was had by all! Phil ran a competition for the children and here are the winners proudly receiving their framed photographs to be displayed in their classrooms. Each winner also received a small gift.
Barbara and Carol spent time with the junior children of P4, P5, P6 and P7. The children provided them with some excellent writing on all sorts of subjects, which have been brought home to Launceston to be chosen as articles for the Global magazine.
Ian brought his talents to the fore and spent his mornings forming a musical group and sharing African rhythms, guitar chords and melodies, Runyoro songs and English songs, neatly brought together by a little dance. The group performed at their Farewell Ceremony. These were children who had not been picked for the school choir and wow, were they good!
During their visit it was discovered that the condition of some of the classrooms had deteriorated so much that they are now unsafe, unsecure and unusable.
"The only answer is to demolish and build a new classroom," said Tibaingana Julius. "If we had even one new classroom it would mean that the present P5 Class of 113 pupils could be split into two more manageable units."
HADRIAN'S WALL
In May/June 2009, Barbara and six members of her family are taking part in The Friends of Kyema Hadrian's Wall Challenge, a sponsored walk which aims to raise funds for a new classroom for Kyema Primary School. She is aiming to walk at least 50 miles.
Barbara added: If anyone would like to take part in the walk, sponsor forms and information packs can be obtained from Katie Griffiths on [email protected]">[email protected] Remember you can walk as much of the wall as you feel you can (its total length is 84 miles). Or if you feel you would like to like to give a donation, however small, to the cause it would be greatly appreciated. Please send a cheque made out to 'The Friends of Kyema,' to The Treasurer, Friends of Kyema, Market Rise, Tavistock Road, Launceston, Cornwall. PL15 9EZ. Thank you."
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