A trip to Masaka on Tuesday

We visited Rock of Joys sister school in Masaka - a three hour drive away over "challenging" roads!! Set up by a young man who had become a Christian through Pastor Stephens teaching (they met at the village well) They do not recieve direct support from The Kabanda Trust but had two cows one paid for by donations raised by Fliss my niece at her school in Gloucester 18 months ago and another from The Kabanda Trust. Sadly, just before our visit the two cows had died from a rare infection and everybody was devastated. Milk from the cow provided a much needed supplement to the childrens diet and the income from the extra helped pay some of the teachers salaries (no more than £30 per month each). They teach the children in the most basic of conditions. Ann and I wandered round what appeared a derilict building with few desks, no floors, no anything and then stood and cried together, no words could describe how it felt to be there and yet they teach 300 children!!! Despite the appalling lack of anything and the poor conditions they work in they get very good results with the children, the parents are supportive and the lovely teahers are so enthusiatic..... it was a privilge to be with them and to spend a wonderful afternoon together.

This area has been particularly devestated by the HIV/AIDs virus. It is thought that 1 in 4 people are effected and it has resulted in a large number of children being made orphans and suffering the effects themselves. Whilst this is a rural area the poverty is most telling here and the effects of the combination of these two scurges blatant to see. They particularly asked us for support in setting up a health project with them. The nearest clinic is 7-8 miles away - an impossible distance in their terms. We hope that the Trustees of TKT will agree to a proposal to support this school and its most desparately needy children.