The school was established approximately 4 years ago to provide the first opportunity for children in this area to continue their education beyond Primary. Uniquely, it teaches vocational skills (eg carpentry and sewing) alongside academic subjects. There is a commitment to maintaining affordable fees which are less than a third of the fees of town schools which the families in this area cannot afford. There is also the advantage that children do not need to board at this school - it is close to their homes. Kyeshero lies in a rural area with very simple villages (no electricity, small local stores) between Bwindi Forest to the south, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west and the small town of Butagota to the north. There are few sources of income other than agriculture (banana plantations, vegetables) and craft production. This area is largely overlooked by tourism as visitors are focused on the nearby gorilla tracking centres. There is a very high level of community involvement particularly from the church but also local residents and visiting Ugandans. As well as getting involved with practical work such as construction, most materials have been provided by local people.
There is no water supply within easy walking distance. Sources are mainly springs and streams. The school provides food at lunchtime so there is a need for water for the kitchen as well as drinking water for the students.
A piped spring-fed gravity water system has recently been installed in this area and it is possible to connect to this system. This involves laying pipes over several hundred meters and the various plumbing connections required at both ends. A tap will be installed in the school grounds along with a reservoir tank. Both skilled and unskilled labor are needed. The school community is committed to the project and agreed to provide unskilled labor, some materials and accommodation for the engineers/skilled labor. Once installed there will be sufficient water all year for drinking, cooking and hand washing at this school and the local community could also be allowed access to the water when flows are sufficient.
H2O for Life partners with experienced NGO organizations around the world that build and support clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education projects in schools. These NGO partners cover half the total cost of every project funded through H2O for Life.
When students raise money for a project, 90% of the funds go directly to the project, and 10% supports the work that makes the project possible. This includes choosing trusted partners, managing funds responsibly, checking on projects, and reporting back so students can see the impact of their work.
This helps ensure every project is done well, stays sustainable, and truly changes lives.
In rare situations, we reserve the right to reallocate funds to alternate project(s).
Questions? Ask us at 651-756-7577 or info@h2oforlifeschools.org.
