This past Friday, October 25, 2013 we traveled about 20 miles, from the Kasana-Luweero Diocese to the village of Kibengo, to celebrate with the Kibengo community the official Grand Opening of Nativity High School and the Blessing of the school. Although not fully completed, students began having classes in the new building at the start of the 2013 school year this past February. The students are currently in Term 3 and will complete their first school year in the new building on December 6.
The celebration began with Mass at the school for students, parents, and the community. Mass was celebrated by Bishop Paul Ssemogerere along with several priests of the Diocese. At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Paul blessed the school starting with the people, then the building -- both inside and outside. The school was presented with a framed Nativity picture to display at the school.
Following the Mass and Blessing, an auction was held to try and raise some funds for the school. The community enthusiastically participated and managed to raise 650,000 UGX (roughly $257.00) for the school. Auction items included: a framed photo of Pope Francis; a framed photo of Bishop Paul Ssemogerere; and food items such as cabbages, matooke, and papaya. The event ended with speeches from select individuals (including the two of us); entertainment; and the planting of trees to help beautify the school grounds and to help protect the school from high winds.
This was truly a day of celebration for the Kibengo students and community as they thanked God for the support of Nativity Broomfield donors, Bishop Paul Ssemogerere, and others in Kibengo community who made this day possible.
The next phase of construction will be a 4 classroom block. The uncompleted building they are using now is called the multipurpose block. It is two big rooms that can be used as a dining hall or place for group gatherings. In the future, we will put in a moveable partitioned wall similar to the one in Wiebel 1 and 2, at Nativity Church, so that the rooms can be used to separate the classes. Currently, it is difficult to have two classes going simultaneously in each open room -- you can imagine trying to have baptism class going in Wiebel 1 with RCIA in Wiebel 2 with no wall separating the two rooms! When the new school year starts in February 2014, yet another class will be added, and the need even greater for building another classroom block!
Yes, the school is open, but is in need of many things… Desks, text books, laboratory equipment, paper, caulk, and lunch, etc.! It is not so difficult to understand how this school operates when you use the model of our own Nativity School. What pays for everything? Tuition! These children do not have the option to go to public or private secondary school, Nativity High School is the only secondary school for over 10 miles. Most of the families cannot afford to pay the full tuition and must do without what we consider very basic needs in order to make even a partial payment. For many, they try and supplement school fees with bring in what food they may have -- sugar, toilet paper, etc. It’s a great effort, but leaves the teachers without salaries, the school without supplies needed to operate the school, and the children without food in their bellies! Imagine how our kids would complain if they had to go to school from 8:00 AM unit 5:00 PM with nothing to eat!
There is hope! You and your family can be the link between a student and the school by sponsoring a Nativity High School student. For more information on NHS and/or how to sponsor a student simply download a brochure available on the Nativity High School tab of this Blog.
Kris & Dean
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