SHALOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING IN TESO

VISION FOR A MODEL LEARNING CENTRE FOR TESO, UGANDA

" Learning to Live and Living to Learn"

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for his life." SHALOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING

VISION FOR A MODEL LEARNING CENTRE FOR TESO, UGANDA

" Learning to Live and Living to Learn"

"Educate a girl and you educate the nation"

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for his life."

IS THERE REALLY A NEED FOR A NEW SCHOOL ?

Many new, independent schools are being built throughout Uganda, so why build another one? Is there really a need? How and why will this school be different?

Conventional school buildings in progress Class of 170 children

What are the problems generally in Uganda ? • Poor training and low standards of teaching • Little in-service training and development of teachers • Salaries are often not paid regularly • Teachers often work in more than one school & often do not turn up for all lessons • Lack of resources generally, especially for practical subjects • Learning by rote and from notes taken in class; little or no interactive or participative learning or personal research, or learning to "think outside the box" • Overcrowded classes - from 70 to 200 • Too many subjects and overloaded curriculum • Sleep deprivation due to compulsory prep (homework) until 10.00pm or 10.30pm and starting again as early as 3.00am in some schools (5.00am is the latest!). In most schools, they average only 4-5 hours of sleep every night, even at weekends. • Classes, tests, exams and compulsory prep even on Saturdays and Sundays • Holiday tuition - an extra two weeks of compulsory school attendance for most classes during holidays • Beating - although it has been banned by the government, nothing has changed. Children are beaten for the slightest misdemeanours, including failing tests, getting a Maths sum wrong, falling asleep in prep, wearing slightly worn shoes, making too much noise, forgetting a book in the dormitory. It is not unusual for a whole class or dormitory to be beaten - or even the whole school! • Bullying (by teachers and students) • Poor diet in schools - beans and posho (made out of maize flour) twice a day six and a half days a week, with no fresh vegetables or fruit • Little or no time for rest and relaxation • 80% of girls, especially in the rural areas where there is great poverty, drop out of school. One significant reason is because they have no sanitary pads to use during menstruation - they cannot afford to buy pads, which are imported. Another reason is that many become pregnant having been sexually abused. • Post Traumatic Stress and clinical depression is quite common but not recognised and treated - it seriously affects the children's physical health and academic achievements • Unaffordable fees for most families in Teso • Corruption at every level of Ugandan society: "Corruption keeps people in poverty"

School matron with her stick for beating Overcrowded dormitories

If and when children do well at school and get good results, it is usually in spite of the education they are getting, not because of it. These conditions, especially the serious lack of sleep, are affecting their physical and mental health and development as well as their academic achievements. And it obviously affects some more than others, depending on their personalities and physical needs. Most children want to change schools because they are not happy where they are. The sad thing is that it is the same in every school.

THE VISION for Shalom International School for Life-long Learning in Teso

The name of a school is very important and should state something about its vision and purpose.

Shalom is a Hebrew word used in the Bible. It cannot be translated into English by one word only as it has many aspects and levels of meaning. It is to do with peace and wholeness. Peace means so much more than the absence of conflict. It is to do with being whole in every aspect of life which is only achieved by being at one (ie: at peace, in unity) with oneself, with God, with the community, with the land and nature (creation). It is about integrity. It is to do with people and creation being restored in Christ to live and become what God intended when he created the world and people. Shalom is the meaning of salvation, God's plan for humanity. The school will become a source of shalom which will flow out into Teso.

International : It will not cater for children from other countries (as the international schools in Kampala do), but will be international in terms of standards, ethos and input. It will draw on the experience, best practices and resources from around the world. People in other countries who share the vision will be involved in a variety of ways, both from a distance and by visiting (both short-term and long-term volunteers), including teaching and training, and contributing resources and funds.

School - a place of learning and of discovery. The original Greek word from which the English word "school" is derived also means "leisure"! Leisure will be an important part of the life of the school. The school will not have any limiting adjectives, such as secondary or high or vocational as it will be broader than any of these.

Life-long Learning No-one should ever stop learning throughout life. Learning does not just take place in a formal environment. The school will be a centre for learning and leisure not just for the children boarding in the school, but for adults in the local community and throughout Teso, especially those who have missed the opportunity for a formal education.

In Teso : Priority will be given at all times to the poorest and most deserving children of Teso. If it really is a model school with international standards, it will attract children from wealthy families all over Uganda. Whilst this could mean prestige and a good income for the school, this must be resisted so that it is always kept available and accessible for the poorest, deserving children of Teso.

Teso is in north east Uganda Uganda THE AIMS

The school will provide a holistic education, one that is concerned with the healthy, balanced development of every child in every aspect of their lives, enabling them to grow into mature, responsible adults of complete integrity - it will not just be concerned with academic attainment. It will therefore be equally concerned with, and provide for: • physical health and development, including a good, varied diet • emotional health, including specialist support for those suffering from post traumatic stress • rest and relaxation (students will be expected to sleep for 9 hours a night and weekends will be free for optional activities) • spiritual and moral development • intellectual development and learning • development of many practical skills, including sustainable agriculture • life skills, leadership and peace building skills, including conflict resolution • life-long learning, enabling learning for adults of all ages from the local community and beyond • developing a "can do" attitude where every achievement is recognised and 'failure' is never punished

What will be important is that each child will be enabled to discover and grow into the whole, complete person God intended him or her to be - this is the meaning of shalom. They will be encouraged, helped and challenged to reach their full potential - emotionally, physically, spiritually and intellectually. They will be helped to discover and learn to use all the talents God has given them. They should become capable of serving and leading their families, communities, Teso and Uganda in ways that will bring blessing and peace and glory to God. Building up their confidence and self-esteem by giving them respect and affirmation will be vital. Appropriate forms of discipline, linked with encouragement and rewards, will be developed. Beating children or overworking them will not be allowed.

Just as the Chapel will physically be at the centre of the school site, so Christ will be at the centre of everything in the school.

THE TYPE AND SCOPE OF THE SCHOOL

• It will be a community school, providing on-going life-long education (in its broadest sense) for the local community and the whole of Teso (eg: workshops, seminars and classes for adults in the community after the school timetable has finished for the day and at weekends and holidays for others living further away) • It will be a boarding school so that children from anywhere in Teso can attend and a full range of activities and opportunities can be offered outside normal classes • It will be mixed, for both girls and boys, for various reasons, which include: − learning about relationships in a safe, controlled environment − each gender will benefit from the different characteristics of the other gender − it is a more normal and natural environment than single sex schools − opportunity to learn to value and respect the other gender − less pressure and desire to rush into unsatisfactory and exploratory relationships when Boys & girls learning together at home during the holidays if they have not been deprived of the company of the other gender whilst at school • It will provide an all-round education without putting pressure on the children through over-loading the curriculum • It will provide education from P5 through to S6, both academic and vocational, for the following reasons: − it is desirable to offer a holistic education to children as early as possible − however, it is not advisable to send children to boarding school before P5 − it is important to provide full secondary education all the way through to 'A' levels in S6 as it would not be satisfactory to pass them on to other traditional Ugandan schools after S4 • It will recognise that vocational / practical / trade skills are as important as academic studies and vital to the development of Teso. Having workshops as part of the school will also help to sustain the school in terms of providing employment and income as well as everything needed in the school, both when building it and for maintaining it • There will be a farm using sustainable methods which will provide training and supply the school with fresh milk, eggs, fruit and green vegetables daily • Class sizes will be kept to a maximum of about 45 children • It will encourage and use a variety of teaching and learning methods to suit all personality types, developing and enabling children to think and reason, use initiative, be independent, self-motivated and innovative and to be problem-solvers • The school will be used throughout the year (ie: during holidays as well), training trainers and providing in-service training, support and resources for teachers throughout Teso so that the benefits will be shared amongst all schools in Teso • It will facilitate workshops for parenting skills and strengthening of family relationships • It will have a Health Centre which will cater not only for the students but also for the local community • It will provide a secure 'village' setting, child care facilities, appropriate training and employment in the workshops for girls who have had to drop out of school due to sexual abuse and pregnancy, including a unit for making MakaPads (sanitary pads made of papyrus and recycled paper) Making MakaPads • In summary, it will be a resource for the whole of Teso

MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHOOL

The school will be an independent Christian school which will be managed by an independent Board. Although the key visionaries are clergy in the COU, the school will be non-denominational and will not be run or controlled in any way by either of the COU Dioceses in Teso or their Education Departments. The independent Board, made up only of people who fully understand and share the vision and have no self-interest, will oversee every stage of the development, as well as the running, of the school to ensure that the vision is developed and fulfilled with integrity. It is expected that community and cultural leaders, local and central government officers and Christian leaders of all the denominations in Teso will support and be involved in the school in a variety of ways whilst not taking control of it in any way. The Management Team will be exemplary in creating a culture of zero tolerance of corruption in any form.

SITE FOR THE SCHOOL

Since the school is for the benefit of the whole of Teso and not for just one of the Dioceses, the best location is therefore on the borders of Kumi and Soroti Dioceses so that the school will be more or less in the middle of Teso. It needs to be on a main road as this makes transport, as well as various other facilities, easier and cheaper. It should not be in a position that makes it appear to belong to one diocese more than the other. It should not be in a town because of the many problems caused in an urban situation. It should be easily accessible and in a prominent position so that everyone in Teso knows about it and it becomes a focal point in Teso, helping to unite Teso and bring benefits and blessings to everyone.

During a meeting in July 2009 with the Anglican Bishop of Kumi Diocese, the Rt Rev Thomas Irigei, the Bishop offered church land on which they are currently building a church in Kapir parish, next to the primary school which has already been built by the Church of Uganda (COU). The site is on the south west side of the main road, half way between Kumi and Soroti. It is a level site, with a variety of mature trees. Main electricity passes along one border, there is a borehole on the site and the lake is only about 500m away. The actual site is about 3 acres, but is surrounded by other land owned by the church which could also be used. The Bishop took us to visit the site immediately and Ben Blackledge, a trainee architect from the UK, spent several hours on the site, surveying and mapping it.

FIRST STEPS IN MAKING THE VISION A REALITY

• Firm spiritual foundations as well firm physical foundations are crucial from the very beginning to ensure that the vision is from God and the outworking is guided by him at every stage. The school will then bear much fruit in Teso and beyond. Prayer is therefore essential even before the beginning. A group of committed intercessors in Kumi Diocese has already started to meet regularly to seek God's will and guidance • Joint consultations with leaders from the whole of Teso - meetings have already taken place with Rt Rev Geresom Ilukor (retired Bishop, COU), Rt Rev Charles Obaikol (retired Bishop, COU), Rt Rev Thomas Irigei (Bishop of Kumi, COU), Rt Rev George Erwau (Bishop of Soroti, COU) and others in Teso • Drawing up draft plans; offering it as a competition at Makerere University • Surveying the plot of land already offered and discussing how the partly built church on the site can be incorporated • Securing more land around the site already offered • Estimating costs and starting to raise funds from within Teso and Uganda as well as from overseas

THE PLANS

Since this is going to be a radically different school, then the buildings need to be radically different, not just to make a statement that this school is different, but to meet the needs of a different sort of school and to enable the school to develop in exciting ways. They will be built using local materials and sustainable and alternative technology wherever possible.

In addition to planting scores of fruit trees, and vines on the perimeter fence, the grounds will be landscaped and planted with grass, flowers and bushes to create a beautiful environment.

Dr Stephen Mukiibi (Head of the School of Architecture in the Faculty of Technology at Makerere University, Kampala) was very enthusiastic about the Vision and suggested we should offer the challenge of designing it as a competition for the architecture students.

Dr Moses Musaasi, an inventor in the Faculty of Technology, Makerere, and the Team Leader of the Presidential Initiative to Support Appropriate Technologies (IPSAT), and his children (including an architect and engineers) are keen to be involved, advising on alternative/appropriate technologies in the building and running of the school. Not only will compressed earth bricks be used for all the buildings, but appropriate alternative technologies will be used and installed throughout. These will include:

• Rain water harvesting from every roof and plumbing for washing facilities • Re-cycling of grey water (washing water) for irrigation • Renewable power sources, eg: solar panels, bio-gas, wind power. (All the electrical wiring that is necessary should be installed as the buildings are built even if it is not possible to connect to electricity at the beginning.) • Eco-San toilets (producing compost) • Incinerators for sanitary pads (which avoids filling up latrines and provides hot water for bathing) • Clay/brick stoves in the kitchens (almost smokeless and use less fuel) • MakaPads unit for making sanitary pads from papyrus and recycled paper • Possibility of pumping water from the nearby lake • Composting of all biodegradable waste • Incineration of all other waste to provide hot water • Recycling and composting of all animal waste

One possible layout of the school buildings is based on hexagons. The ideas behind this plan are as follows: • We thought of the idea of hexagons because we think the way that traditional homesteads are built (circular huts placed around a circular compound) ideally offers a holistic way of life which builds community. Circles are the most perfect shape. And all huts open onto the central area of the compound which is where family life is focused. However, large circular buildings are more difficult to build and to furnish inside and don't fit together. So we moved on to the next best shape - hexagons. • Hexagons fit together perfectly. Bees build their hives in this way - every cell which they make to put honey into is a hexagon. All the cells fit together harmoniously, making the best use of the space and materials and adding strength to the structure. So hexagons seemed a perfect model for the school as they would encourage the building of a community as well as a good use of resources. The Chapel and the Hall should be at the centre of the whole compound, with all the units opening out towards the Chapel, the focus of the school. • The other advantage of hexagons, instead of traditional rectangular classrooms and Chapel etc, is that the desks and seats can be arranged in a sort of circle, facing towards the wall with the blackboard (or altar/communion table), but also facing inwards so that the children can see each other. This facilitates a different kind of atmosphere and way of teaching, learning and worshipping, and students can interact more as they learn. People in Uganda are increasingly recognising the advantage of this arrangement for seminars and workshops, so it is not completely unknown in Uganda.

The classes will be limited to about 40, resisting the temptation to "earn" more money by squeezing more children in. This fits with the dormitories being 5 joined hexagonal units which could take 4 bunk beds (ie: 8 children) in each, making a total of 40.

STAGES FOR BUILDING THE SCHOOL

The building of the school needs to be divided into phases. The right sequence and planning of the phases will be crucial. One possible programme of phases might be:-

Phase 1 • 2-4 staff houses - Director and key workers to move in as soon as possible to oversee • Work area for making compressed earth bricks • Latrines • Secure fencing round the whole site • Lay out the site • Planting of at least 70 fruit trees, bushes and vines as early as possible so that they mature soon • 2-4 workshops for carpentry/joinery, metal work, tailoring, electrical/alternative technologies, plumbing etc • 2 dormitory units • Kitchen / store units

Phase 2 • Chapel • 3 classrooms (for P5-P7) • 3 dormitory units • 4 staff units plus sick rooms • Guest accommodation for volunteers from overseas • Administration / library units • Units for chickens, pigs, goats, dairy cows • Landscaping of gardens with grass, flowers and bushes to create a bue

Phase 3 • 3 classrooms (for S1-S3) • 2 laboratories • 3 dormitory units • Hall • 4 staff units • Art and Craft units • Development of sports facilities

Phase 4 • More staff houses (for at least 20 staff) • 3 classrooms for S4-S6 • 2 more laboratories for 'A' level • 3-4 dormitory units • Second library • Probably a second Hall or extension • 1 more unit like the Art & Craft unit for more activities such as music, indoor games etc • Health Centre All the buildings need to be planned before anything is started so that enough land is acquired and enough space is left for all possible future developments, plus extra areas that are left open and landscaped for relaxation, sport, cultivation etc.

In addition to the actual buildings, the school needs to be equipped! This will also cost a lot and should be done within the workshops built in the first phase as far as possible. Besides making items needed for the construction (eg: roof timbers, doors and shutters, metal window and door frames, metal bars and gates etc), the workshops will also make the furniture (eg: wooden bunk beds, tables, chairs, desks etc) and furnishings (eg: bedding, mattress covers, pillows, curtains, uniforms etc). By producing everything on site, high standards and quality can be maintained, people will be employed and some young people trained from the beginning of the project.

Teso Educational Support Scheme (TESS) has already bought one machine for making compressed earth bricks. Not only do compressed bricks save trees, but they can be slightly cheaper than burnt bricks. Also, the walls do not need as much mortar, nor do they need plastering, which means using much less cement which saves a lot of money.

HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED

This Vision needs YOU. The Shalom International School of Life-long Learning can only become a reality and start to transform communities and education in Teso, as well as in Uganda and elsewhere in Africa and the developing world, if many people from all over the world catch the Vision with a sense of excitement, commitment and passion - and get involved , as individuals and as groups such as schools & churches.

The story of Jesus feeding the 5000 is an inspiration. If we focus on the enormity of the Vision, we shall be paralysed, as the disciples were when faced with feeding 5000 people in a wild place, far from any resources. But if we are willing to co-operate with God and entrust to him the little that we can offer, then he will perform the miracle and achieve the impossible. £70 has already been given - the first loaf and fish! Here is an opportunity for you to co-operate with God and be involved in a life-changing project.

The Lord says: "Be determined and confident… Have the Book of the Law (the Bible) always on your lips; meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully keep everything that is written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, then you will have success. Be strong and stand firm. Be fearless and undaunted, for I, the Lord your God, am with you." (From Joshua 1:6-9, NJB Bible)

We need people, schools, churches and other groups who are willing to:

• Pray • Spread the Vision throughout the world and co-ordinate responses • Share a wide range of expertise and experience, from teaching to designing, from counselling to agriculture, from creativity to building, finance to landscape gardening • Volunteer their time, energy and skills, whether professional or by supporting and working with others, both in Uganda and elsewhere, for anything from a few weeks to years; perhaps come and visit Teso • Commit to regular giving • Get involved in fundraising, resourcing and equipping the school

Please complete and return the form, or email one of the people listed overleaf. NAMES OF PROPOSERS

Rev Jeremiah Acelun , email: [email protected] , tel: 00 256 772 330601 Rev Sam Ediau , email: [email protected] , tel: 00 256 772 884441 Mrs Margaret Stevens , email: [email protected] tel: Uganda: 00 256 774 493376; UK: 00044 1509 217538

Rev Jeremiah Acelun is an ordained graduate who is currently Chaplain and Dean of Students at Kumi University as well as the Education Co-ordinator for Kumi Diocese (Church of Uganda).

Rev Sam Ediau is a graduate teacher (History and Divinity) who was a Deputy Head Teacher before he was ordained in the Church of Uganda. He is currently running the Teso Educational Support Scheme (TESS) in Teso, based in the Education offices of the Diocese of Soroti.

Mrs Margaret Stevens has been involved in Teso since 1990. In 2004, at the request of the church leaders of Teso, she set up a sponsorship programme (a UK registered charity called Teso Educational Support Scheme - TESS) for post-primary education. Margaret visits Teso twice a year. She says: "I now know the 250 sponsored children and the schools they attend well. The more I see of education in Uganda, the more discouraged and hopeless I feel about what the system is doing to children, despite the best efforts of teachers and schools. It is out of frustration and a desire to provide the best for the children of Teso that a vision for something better has grown in Teso, which I share and want to support. I would want to see a school which I would be happy for my own grandchildren to attend. At present, I don't know of any school in Uganda which I would be happy for them to attend. If none of the schools are good enough for my grandchildren, then they are not good enough for the children of Teso either, especially the poorest and most vulnerable children who have already suffered so much and have not even had enough of the basic essentials of life. We need to provide the very best that is possible for these children." ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Please return this response form to TESS c/o Margaret Stevens, 25 Ravensthorpe Drive, LOUGHBOROUGH, LE11 4PU, UK

Any donations can be made payable to TESS (UK registered charity no: 1131999, IR no: XT21264) If you send a donation, please state if you pay UK tax and wish the donation to be Gift Aided

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