If you are keeping up with our posts on facebook, you will have already delighted in seeing pictures of school children taking their very first look at the new computers!

SI
Dunfermline submitted a project which was subsequently publish by International President Ann Garvie, to provide solar panels and solar cookers to Musasa Primary School, located in
the Rwenzori mountain range in rural Western Uganda.  This project, now at its most exciting stages of development, is funded through International President Ann Garvie’s 2013 – 2015, December 10th Appeal and
Soroptimist International Federation Club initiatives.

 

SI Dunfermline Programme Action Convenor, Tina Chapman, puts pen to paper, giving us an update on the progress of See Solar, Cook Solar at Musasa Primary School. The Soroptimist club has had a long standing relationship with a number of schools in Uganda.  

"Solar Musasa! Wow! It is actually happening. Our request for help from See Solar, Cook Solar can now be seen to be taking shape in the primary school at Musasa, Kasese in western Uganda.  Our first solar donation to the school was for ten solar powered individual lamps, which the schoolgirls could use to study in the evenings.  What we really wanted to do was provide solar panels for the school to be able have lighting to help the girls study during the dark evenings and ultimately get better grades. Other items on the list were a water filtration system and solar cooker and then laptops were also added to the project.

 

Photograph: School children taking their first look at the computers, part of the See Solar, Cook Solar project at Musasa Primary School.

We had submitted our project plan in December 2014 and following lots of communications about what was thought to be needed, and with the assistance of Teddy, the senior teacher at Musasa Primary School,  Jane Griffiths, the project manager , and us here back home in Dunfermline, the list of requirements was created. Then, it was over to Jane to gather all the quotes, organise site visits and liaise and agree with the school the most appropriate purchases to bring long term benefit to the children.

 

Photograph: The solar panels arrive

We now know that the solar panels are on the roof and ready to provide the power for the lights laptops computers. There are some lovely photos of the girls starting to become familiar with the computers!

 

Photograph: Solar panels being lifted up to the school roof

Photograph: Solar panels at Musasa Primary School

Photograph:  By solar light: children studying during the evening

Photograph: School children study at night

One of our members, Helen Lyth, has for many years regularly visited this area with her husband. She is our ‘eyes on the ground’ and will be ensuring progress and assessing the effectiveness of the equipment which has been provided. We’re looking forward to lots of photographs and some stories from the girls!

Photograph: Children working at school on a computer

The solar oven is due to arrive shortly after being ordered from the States. The large sized oven that was ordered will allow both the production of meals for the school pupils and also allow for other food stuffs to be prepared and sold on. To supplement the school girls’ diet, Helen has been directed to purchase a number of laying hens which will provide additional protein. Increased protein means better concentration and study. We hope to see the photos of the chooks happy in their new home.

After some debate the school will have a sustainable rainwater capture
system which will provide safe, clean drinking and washing water for the
children, and it is hoped this will be up and running within the month.
The school is at the foot of the hills, and the system chosen fits with
the local weather and terrain demands. Previously water had to be
carried 5km from the river in jerry cans.  

 

Photograph: Painting the stands for the hand washing stations and BSF safe water container stands.

 

Photograph: WASH and BSF training taking place at Musasa Primary School

As the system begins to take shape with water butts to collect the rain water, piping, purpose built tanks; the community is showing a keen interest in being involved; twelve locals have been trained and seven other local workers hired to help with the build of the system. Sixty people have been taken through the WASH training (water, sanitation and hygiene)

so this part of the project is moving forward very well!

 

Photograph: The new water system promises clean, safe drinking water for Musasa Primary School 

Before Helen left to go to Uganda she took delivery of a huge number of reusable sanitary pads, pillow slip dresses, school bags, shorts for the boys (pink is the new blue and blue is the new pink!), blankets and a variety of other knitted items. She let us into a secret about packing for her holidays – take lots of things for leaving at the other end and only use 1 small suitcase for yourself and other half! Just as well it is not cold in Rwenzori just now.
SI Dunfermline club members are so pleased to see that their project has been developed so well and we look forward to more news.  Look out for another little prattle from Fife in the near future.

If you are wondering how the ‘educate, enable and empower’ mantra fits in Soroptimism this is the project to check out!"