Kireka School, Kampala, Uganda

 

Kireka School was started in 1984 to care for children with special needs who had been abandoned or orphaned by the HIV/Aids pandemic in Africa.  Over the years some new facilities have been put in place – new dormitories & classrooms.  In 1996 the school got running water.  However, they still have no kitchen to prepare food or no dining area where children can eat the very basic meals that are provided.  All the children in the school have either physical or intellectual disabilities.

In March 2005 our Principal, Mr. Flynn, visited the school and presented the headmaster with €1,000 which the boys in Scoil Lorcáin had raised.

When he came back, Mr. Flynn told us a lot about the special children in Kireka School.  He showed us lots of photographs which he had taken.

Kireka School now has 82 pupils, a headmaster, 12 teachers, 12 care assistants, a cook and a caretaker.  The pupils are very well cared for and loved but the facilities in the school are very basic.  Children sleep in bunk beds piled 3 high with no sheets or pillows.  They have no medicines if they get sick.  If a child has a toothache, they cannot bring him/her to a dentist because they have no money to hire a taxi.  As well as Maths and English, the children do needlework, weaving and have a small poultry farm.

Despite this, all the pupils are very happy even though most of them will have to stay in the school for a very long time because they have no families to look after them. 

The pupils in Scoil Lorcáin will continue to fundraise for Kireka School.  We hope that the money we raise will help to build a new kitchen and dining room for these special children.

In January 2005, Scoil Lorcáin twinned with Kireka School.  The Nigerian Ambassador came to our school as well as the Mayor of Waterford and other special guests.