HUGS is a no overhead charity which has developed a range of programmes to bring education and skills development to the very youngest and to mature students in Uganda and Rwanda. We believe that it is only through education that so many of Africa and the World's problems can be solved.
"Education is the great engine of personal development"
- Nelson MandelaAbout Us
Helping
Uganda Schools started in 1995 with the aim of helping to pay for the
education of 15 children who lived in a very rural area of Uganda.
The ideas grew and local support and enthusiasm of villagers and parents got us thinking that maybe we could help to fund the purchase of land and the building of a primary school so than many more could be educated.
This was successful and St Zoes opened in 2001. In 2007 we were asked if we could fund a secondary school and this opened in 2010.
And
also in 2007 we were asked if we could help fund a school for children
with learning disabilities. This causse was enthusiastically supported
by our donors and Good Shepherd School opened in 2009.
We raise money from personal donations and from events and make sure that all donor money goes to the schools and the children and others who we are helping.
If you would like to see details of the Charity including details of the trust deed, trustees, and accounts please look at the UK charity commission web site which holds up to date information.
Recent Events
The 2013 Golf Event was held in June and 72 players took part. It was a warm sunny day and raised over £4000 for HUGS
See all the photos (thanks to Richard Feinmann) at http://www.flickr.com/photos/helpingugandaschools
The Great BUPA Manchester 10K run. Russel Jones and walker entered this lovely Caterpillar team.
Chris Bishops Great Big Party held at Chorlton Tennis Club.
The proceeds of this event plus a very generous donation from Slater Heelis Law Firm provided the money to build classrooms 4 and 5 at Rukira Rwanda.
Trustee Denise Ead with help from Uganda children, Stockport College and Alex Tracey and Dominique Byron all got together to write and publish the book "Christmas in Uganda" now available on Kindle.
Channel M - Interview
Our Projects
Pre school and Orphanage at Lira
Even now, many years after the war lord Joseph Kony is believed to have left Uganda the damage he did to communities is still there. Sr. Demmy runs a wonderful orphanage in Lira which gives up to 50 children the best practical start in life and in learning.
Primary
St Zoe's is the first project which we helped to start in 2000. St Zoes Primary has achieved some really great results which are normally in the top 6 for achievements out of about 450 schools in the region.
Secondary
We helped to start the Secondary School in response to a request from the familes and village leaders. It opened in 2010.
We are now competing the second major building for this school.
Good Shepherd Special School
Children
with learning disabilities often get no education at all or if they do
then it can be very stressful for them. The pictures show the school, a
tug of war and the school fish farm.
Disability does not mean Inability and Good Shepherd now has 6 classes and 120 day school pupils. There is a high teacher ratio and thanks to some good friends an outreach programme was started in 2012.
Vocational School
Wood work, knitting and garment making are key skills for children to learn.
Although are small vocational programmes at Good Shepherd and at Rukira the big project is to establish one for secondary and hopefully for adults at St Zoes in the future.
Rwanda
Rwanda had some dreadful recent history and so much infrastructure was destroyed as were the lives of several hundred thousand people. Our friends the Banyatereza Sisters are working to create a really excellent primary school about an hour from Kigali.
This school is aimed at integrating all tribal groups and different faith groups and hopes to be important part of the healing after the genocide of 1995
HUGS helped to start this new school in 2011 and a very generous Dutch charity paid for the first classrooms. HUGS is funding 2 more in 2012 and the aim is to have 12 over the next 2 years.
What we do
How many have been helped
Over the years since 1995 we estimate that up to 2000 children have benefitted from the HUGS programmes.Programme
OrphansWhere it is located
We support the Lira Babies Home in the North of Uganda where up to 50 abandoned or orphaned children are given a safe and loving home . They are place with relatives or other families when they reach the age of about 4.What is costs
It costs £14000 per year to run the Lira babies Home and this works out at about £3 per child per week. Donors may wish to tell us to direct their contributions to this cause specifically.Programme
Primary EducationSt Zoes grew from a child sponsorship idea and local parents and villagers played a major part in building the school.
Where it is located
St Zoes Day and Boarding Primary School opened in 2001 and teaches 370 pupils with two thirds of them boarders. It has been achieving some of the very highest results of all the schools in the regionThe school is in the south of Uganda.
What is costs
It costs about £3 per week during term time for a day pupil to attend St Zoes. They are provided with school meals and help with uniform costs. This covers all teaching and meals and other costs.Programme
Secondary EducationThe Primary and Secondary Schools employ over 50 staff and have created income for nearly 600 people. This includes teaching and non teaching staff (50) and many other who work on the large farm or whose livelihood comes in part from having a role in the school or its supply chain.
Where it is located
St Zoes Secondary School started in 2008 in response to requests from the village and tribal leaders. With only one very poor secondary school in the area we found that nearly 600 children were competing for 100 places in secondary school.St Zoes now has 140 children attending. It is in the south of Uganda.
What is costs
School costs are about £120 per year for day pupils and a further £240 per year if they are boarding.Programme
Vocational EducationPhase one is for secondary school aged children
Where it is located
St Zoes Vocational School will add a range of practical skills to the curriculum of the secondary school. Skills will include building, wood work, garment making, tropical agriculture and sport.What is costs
Budgets for this project which should start in the autumn are now being developed.Programme
Children with Learning disabilitiesGood Shepherd gives a lot of attention to practical and vocational skills including woodwork, garment making and basket making.
Where it is located
Children with disabilities such as learning problems rarely get any educational help in Uganda. Parents see now reason to try. If the children to get to a primary school which often has 100 children in a class they get bullied and ignored.Good Shepherd School for children with learning disabilities has been funded by HUGS and now teaches 120 children. An outreach programme supported by friends now brings opportunities to children who could not normally get to Good Shepherd.
What is costs
The school opened in 2009 and as its reputation has grown more and ore parents are finding ways to help pay the costs. But we need to subsidise and support the running costs each year although the main building programmes have now been completedProgramme
Further EducationA scholarship scheme will open opportunities for many to go on to relevant further education.
Where it is located
"G" is a nun who qualified as a nurse. She is now studying at the new Medical School at Gulu in Northern Uganda and HUGS is funding this degree."M" is a young man living in Rwanda who starts at University in September 2012 to study business and finance.
"D" is a student lawyer living in Fort Portal for whom we were able to assist with University fees.
What is costs
Univerity fees range from about £500 to £1200 per year. On top of this the cost of books, accomodation and meals adds a further £500 to £700 per year depending in the course being taken.A year at Medical School cost about £200 per year all included.
Programme
Land Buildings and AgricultureWhat it includes
Over the years since 1995 we have given a great deal of attention to providing the land and buildings to allow St Zoes and Good Shepherd and now St Theresa's to develop. St Zoes has over 100 acres of land to allow the children to be fed. There are cows, goats, pigs, a fish farm, and crops such as maize, cassava, potatoes, beans, hens etc.What is costs
Feeding the children is an important part of school life and many children would get very little at home. Running farms of over 100 acres and finding water can be real challenges particularly at St Zoes which is in a dry belt of Uganda.Donate Money
Send a cheque to Helping Uganda Schools at the address below.
Gift Cards: We can let you have Gift Cards which let you purchase weeks of education. It costs about £3 per week to educate a child our schools. This is one of the cards. Clcik here to see another.
Complete a standing order. These are a great help and let us plan ahead. Download the form below.
Corporate: Perhaps your company might like to join Pennies from Heaven and ask your payroll department to see if employees would be happy to give the odd pennies from their net pay cheque to HUGS?
Online Giving:
Address:
HUGS Trustees 6 The Ceal, Compstall, Stockport Greater Manchester SK6 5LQ
Registered
Charity Nos.
1098176, Charity Unique Code
QAQ87ZG
Trustees:
Peter W Mount CBE, Denise E
Ead, Dr Joanna, T Bircher, Robert Blundell, Christopher Bishop, Charlotte Brinsley, Matt Houghton.