Banunule School Support Group
Annual Report 2016
Set Free!
This is the meaning of the word’ Banunule’ in the Luganda language. It is a particularly appropriate word for the name of a school which serves to free children from the bonds that hold them back from the opportunity of a better future, on account of poverty and background.
The Banunule School Support Group (BSSG) was launched ten years ago in 2006 with the aim of providing funds for Banunule Primary School for Orphans in Uganda. The BSSG is a UK registered charity, and all its members are volunteers. The school educates approximately 180 of Uganda’s poorest children who would otherwise have no access to education since orphans cannot afford the fees, school materials and uniforms to attend school.
Over the years the BSSG has lost key members due to career moves, leaving a small team who are unable to fund-raise to the extent of previous years. This is one of the reasons why Banunule has implemented a 5-year merger plan with Terra Nova, another school. The two schools perfectly complement each other and share many of the same principles. The added bonus is that Terra Nova also has a nursery which will act as a feeder school to the primary school. 2016 marked the beginning of the merger and I am delighted to say that all is going very well.
Since my departure as head teacher from Banunule in 2006, many of the pupils who were there at the time have either continued to secondary school or gone on to vocational college to learn a trade. Most of those pupils who went to vocational college gained employment in the community many years ago and are now supporting themselves. Others continued to secondary school and subsequently university, and are now beginning professional careers.
Zula William David
At the beginning of the year, there was a re-shuffle of staff members as the two schools came together, and inevitably some Banunule staff members lost their jobs.
Before the academic year began, six staff members representing Terra Nova and Banunule Primary School attended a one-week training course in a new child protection and child safety programme called the ‘Stoplight Approach’. The programme’s central aim is to help institutions discover ways to optimize learning, decrease behaviour issues and create a safe school environment. Banunule was chosen to become a pilot school for the programme. The goal is to equip the students with the tools required to identify safe feelings, safe people, and safe places. A national team has already begun working to take Stoplight to other local schools to create safety for children by helping teachers, parents, and students understand brain science, resilience, and the safety required for healthy development. Five members of the Banunule staff have joined the national team.
It is hoped that the Stoplight Approach will help keep the children at Banunule free from harm. As orphans, some children have endured violence and abuse that can barely be fathomed. On account of this, many of the youngsters have doubts about reaching Primary 7 and taking the Primary Leaver’s Exam, but despite the abuse, they speak with great dignity and pride. The school rejoiced in the students’ spirit and determination as they encouraged them toward PLE success at the end of the year.
The students’ enthusiasm for rugby has continued to grow and the results have been incredible! Two teams represented Banunule at a prestigious rugby tournament in September. Once again the senior team won 1st place, and the junior team came 2nd. Long time Banunule employee and rugby enthusiast, James Mugabe, was there to coach and lead the teams to victory. On account of these successes the two teams were delighted to join the Makerere University Tag Rugby Tournament in October.
Banunule staff members
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Banunule is more than a school. It is like home to many children and the teachers stand in as parents at times. At the beginning of the second term one of the girls in Primary 5 was abruptly withdrawn from school in order to cover up an unexpected pregnancy. It was learned that this student had been sent to stay with a family outside the city, but she wasn’t getting enough food. The student was brought back from the city, and the head teacher’s family housed her for six weeks while teachers took turns in monitoring her health. The student is now back at school having given birth to a healthy baby girl.
Banunule receives no government help, but relies on the generosity of donors and fund-raisers. Over the years the school has helped countless children to look forward to a better life. Education is the key to the future for these children, and we thank the teachers for the marvellous work they do to help them not only in school, but often outside it too. The BSSG thanks all our donors and fundraisers for their outstanding support during the past year which enables the school to continue to survive and offer hope to orphans.
In the words of Alisha Seruyange, head teacher of Banunule and Terra Nova. ‘What a wonderful beginning this year has been for the partnership between Banunule Primary School and Terra Nova! We look forward to continue learning and growing together in 2017. We reach into the new year with hope, to continuing for excellence, practicing kindness, and inspiring with integrity.’
The trustees and members of the BSSG continue to be excited about the future of the school with Terra Nova. However, we will need to maintain a good level of funding until the merger is completed. It has been estimated that if the BSSG can maintain its current level of annual income from all sources, the target of funding the school through to completion of the merger can be achieved, so please continue to give generously. Banunule still needs your help.
On behalf of the BSSG and the children and staff of Banunule, thank you.
Maura Jeffrey (Banunule School Support Group) January 2017
Should you wish to support Banunule School, please donate to:
UK: Lloyds Bank, Sort code: 30-90-21 Account no. 03509755 (Banunule School Support Group)
The BSSG is a registered UK charity, number 1121540 www.thebssg.org.uk