Emma Scullion

Aggrey is looking forward to meeting some of you later in the week and will be answering all your questions online at 4pm this evening. If you have any burning questions for Aggrey then now is your chance - please leave your questions in the comments section below and come back from 4pm to learn more about Giriki and our work in Uganda.

Aggrey has just arrived in the UK from Uganda and has brought this wonderful drawing sent by the pupils of class P7 in the new school.

Job (left) and Rogers both sketched the drawing and other pupils in his class coloured it in for you.

Rogers returned to Giriki with his family 2 years ago. He is now enrolled in class 7 of the new school. Before the new school was open he was walking to a school in an area called Kapswama, which was 10 km into the mountains from Giriki – the walk would take him around two hours and the route was impassable during the rainy season.

Aggrey promised Alfred that we would deliver this letter of thanks for you too…

Emma Scullion

We are lucky enough to have Aggrey Kibbet , from ActionAid Uganda, visiting the UK in May.

Aggrey would love the opportunity to answer your questions and share messages from families in Giriki with you.

There are two opportunities to meet face to face with Aggrey in May as we are holding two meetings for supporters on the following evenings:

16 May at our office in Chard, Somerset
17 May at our office in London

If you want to come along please RSVP to Emma.Scullion@actionaid.org

If you can’t make it along to either of those days but have burning questions Aggrey will be online, on this web page, from 16.00 on 15 May.

Leave your questions for him in the comments section below, and he'll answer them as best he can.

Nobody understands the ways that your donations are being used in Giriki better than Aggrey, so it's a great opportunity to get answers to all those questions you might have about our work here.If you leave questions now, he'll reply on the day (don't forget to tick the box for email alerts if you want to know when he's responded), or you can bookmark this page and come back here on 15 May to join the live conversation.

Aggrey Kibbet, Programme Coordinator for Kapchorwa and Giriki, ActionAid Uganda

Opening the doors of the school to over 700 children was a historical event for us in Giriki.

The school is the first ever permanent structure in the area – but it represents more than class rooms, desks and chalk boards.
 
The Government is taking over the running of the school and representatives came to celebrate with the community on the opening day.

This is something phenomenal to the community who have never had representation or influence here – they have been ignored for nearly 30 years.



The school and your support, represents a transformation and, more importantly, the community have realised the potential that they have in themselves to change the future for their children. This is very special.
 
I hope you will join me in being proud and happy to be part of the development this school – it is a massive step towards a future that is brighter and full of opportunities for everyone in Giriki.
 
I hope this film will give you a sense of the occasion and help you picture the scale of the impact of the school on the community.

Emma Scullion

I was thrilled to be invited to sit in on Alfred’s first official lesson. There was a real sense of excitement but the children were incredibly well behaved.

The lesson started with Alfred welcoming them to their first class. Those that had been enrolled in the old school discussed the differences between their old school and the new school. 

The children of Alfred’s P4 class filing into their new classroom for their first official lesson. 

They talked about what they wanted in the future and each pupil agreed that they would only get there if they worked hard.

The children clap and whoop as Alfred enters the class carrying your messages (David and Esben in the front)

They listened intently to Alfred as he read out the messages I brought with me from the UK to welcome the children to their new school. They inspired lots of questions about the UK and the world as a whole.

Alfred reading out supporter messages from the UK.

I would like to think that everyone that contributed towards making this happen was there in the classroom in spirit.

I haven’t been able to write everything that was said down to share with you but we’ve captured lots of what has happened on film. I look forward to sharing these with you very soon.

Esben (left), David and class studying and comparing their messages.

There is a marked difference in the children’s outlook too, I noticed that already many of them have started talking about secondary school and even university  - something that was inconceivable before now.

I can’t wait to see how they progress in their studies.

Home time – Children taking their messages home to share with their family

All photos: ActionAid

Emma Scullion

A full report will follow soon but I wanted to share a few highlights from behind the scenes of the opening day with you.

There were lots of speakers and it was well attended by government officials and parents who have pledged to make the school a success and support their children so they can make the most of the opportunities a quality education can bring.

Putting the final touches to the paint work in the class room the morning of the opening! 

I promised that I would carry my thanks back to the UK to everyone that contributed towards the building of the school here in Giriki. 

Betty Chelimo preparing the front of the new school with ribbons and balloons. She is thrilled that her son Job is amongst the four children nominated to cut the ribbon along with the special guest of honour from the Government Department of Education.

The highlight for me was the performances from some of the children who sang a special song and the bravery of the four children (Rispar, David, Esben and Job) who were nominated to cut the ribbon with the Government official to open the school. 

Me with Rispar, David (to left) and Esben (to right) who are to cut the ribbon with our honourable guest from the Government Department of Education and the children in Alfred’s P4 class as they rehearse their special song for the ceremony. 

They represented their fellow pupils exceptionally well despite their nerves. Esben’s mother told me "They were so excited, the children really feel like the school is theirs".

Best friends David and Esben just before they cut the ribbon and showed the government minister around. 

Emma Scullion

It has been just over a year since I was last in Giriki. Each time I have returned the settlement has grown and changed – it is hardly recognisable now from when I met the first few hundred people who returned to the settlement in 2008.

As we arrived at the site of the new school I am immediately struck by the number of children around.

Chepatai Mary, one of the parents who volunteers to run the school feeding programme for the children at the new school. She comes everyday to make porridge for over 500 children

Alfred is there to greet us and explains that enrolment has gone from 35-40 (it was at its lowest last year when the drought took hold and children were really hungry) to over 600 with another 400 plus wanting to enrol in the new school.

Alfred explained “This last year has been very hard for families here in Giriki. We have been experiencing very hard drought then what little we could grow was destroyed by big floods."

David Cheptoiek enjoying his porridge – part of the ActionAid school feeding programme funded as part of the school building programme

“Hunger was worse than last year until ActionAid started the school feeding programme. The numbers of children enrolling has gone up so much–it has had such a big impression on parents who now prioritising schooling. "

"Can you see the difference in them? Look at their eyes, they are bright. Our pupils are able to study for longer, they don’t sleep in class – it is so very positive for children".

Cosmas Cherup, 8 years enjoying his porridge – Cosmas and his younger brother Mark have enrolled in school for the first time in their lives (photo: ActionAid)

Talking to the children I have meet before I can physically see the difference – they are showing fewer signs of malnutrition, they are lively, smiling and cheeky!

Alfred showed me into the class room where he will teach, "Look, this is what we dreamt of and now it is here" he laughed.

There is a palpable sense of excitement about the opening tomorrow – children have been turning up even before the school is officially opened to take lessons outside.   

Rispar Chemutai, 12 years – healthier and enjoying learning.

Groups of children are rehearsing their songs to sing at the opening and David, his best friend Esben and Rispar have been nominated to represent their fellow pupils by cutting the ribbon with our guest of honour from the Dept. of Education during the ceremony tomorrow.

One sleep until we open the school!