A School Project - Harvesting Corn

Last Spring  Rock of Ages students and parents planted corn on our newly purchased land.  The idea is to farm the property until it is developed for the new school.  This past week the corn was  harvested and laid out to dry. The kernels will be cut from the cob and then hauled to a mill to be ground. The resulting meal will be used to  make a porridge called posho, a staple food in Uganda.  The posho will be prepared  and the fed to the children for lunch.

This very short video shows the students bringing the dries corn inside for the next part of the harvest.

Rock of Ages- A Tour

For those who have not yet had the opportunity to visit Rock of Ages, we thought we would give you a little tour of  this beloved school. In the next 30 seconds you will see where 250 students come each day for an education, spiritual support, and basic health needs. Thank you to everyone who has helped give these children a better life through education!

Electing Student Leaders for 2016 - 2017

Student Government provides the children at ROA with an opportunity for developing leadership skills. It also improves participation in school programs and activities by giving the students responsibilities and a voice in what goes on at the school. Here is a look into the process of Student Government elections and the winners for the 2016/17 school year.

Getting ready to vote!

  

What's your choice? Students lining up behind their chosen candidate.

Consoling a candidate.

Awaiting the results.

Student Government 2016-2017 Election Results

Prefect Role/Responsibilities	Office Holder
HEAD PREFECT He or She is the overall head of the student prefect body and the immediate, they all report to him or her then she forwards them to the respective teachers.	Namukose Fridah
HEAD BOY  One of the assistant to the Head prefect and he is the head of all the boys in the school. Senior Gentleman in the school	Kawanguzi Nuludin
ASSISTANT HEAD BOY  This is the Vice to the senior gentleman	Muwanguzi Colleen
HEAD GIRL One of the assistant to the Head prefect and she is the head of all the girls in the school. Senior Lady in the school.	Nakawoza Suham
ASSISTANT HEAD GIRL This is the vice to the senior lady	Mutegevu Patricia
HEAD MONITOR Ensures that all teachers are provided with pieces of chalk before every lesson.	Mutegevu Patricia
ASSISTANT HEAD MONITOR	Namirembe Deborah
HEALTH AND SANITATION He/She is the head of the health ministry in the student’s body, she inspects for shabby pupils every morning, un combed hair, un polished shoes and works in hand with the Compound prefect to ensure clean school premises..	Namulondo Aisha
ASSISTANT HEALTH AND SANITATION	Kitanda Hannah
COMPOUND AND ENVIRONMENT The prefect in charge of the general compound cleanliness and maintenance. This includes making sure the compound is in good condition and the rubbish is burnt at all times	Bugembe Twaha
ASSISTANT COMPOUND AND ENVIRONMENT	Agamire Evans
GAMES AND SPORTS This is the one who handles the games and sports activities	Kyambadde Marvin
ASSISTANT GAMES AND SPORTS This is the one who handles the games and sports activities	Namuddu Ruth Ssali
LANGUAGE AND EDUCATION He/She is the head of all the language usage and education mishaps in the school. He/She watches out for the absentees and encourages them to stay in school. He and the assistant are in charge of correct English usage and ensure that its spoke on the school premises.	Zayo Clare
ASSISTANT LANGUAGE AND EDUCATION	Kongo Mercy
WELFARE (FOOD AND WATER) He/She is in charge of managing the water usage at school such that it’s not wasted by the pupils and ensures that pupils behave properly during the serving of food at lunch time and break time.	Obote Morgan
ASSISTANT WELFARE (FOOD AND WATER)	Nakawooya Saidah
HEAD OF CLUBS	Muhoozi Jonathan
ASSISTANT HEAD OF CLUBS	Naluggo Rashida
HEAD OF ENTERTAINMENT He/She is the head in charge of all the entertainment activities at the school	Gidudu Ashiraf
ASSISTANT HEAD OF ENTERTAINMENT	Isiko Arafat
DISCIPLINARY He/She  is the student leader who is in charge of all the indecent cases that are recorded in the school; if she/he can’t manage it she contacts her boss who contacts the teachers in charge of the discipline in school	Damulira Mulishid
ASSISTANT DISCIPLINARY	Naigaga Shakirah
TIMEKEEPER	Lugwire Cyrus
ASSISTANT TIMEKEEPER	Wafula Albert
OFFICE GIRL This is the prefect elected  control the flow of students in office building if it concerns the pupil welfare. They ensure that the office is in good condition and neat. Chalk is in place every morning where it can be easily accessed and the library is in use as it’s together with the office.	Aibo Claudia
ASSISTANT OFFICE GIRL	Namuchwa Mirian Stephie

The Power Of Sponsorship

Guest Blog By: Tamera Hopkin of Pocatello, ID

I came in anticipation of the red Ugandan dirt, the warm Ugandan sun and the smiling faces of the beautiful Ugandan children. 

Upon de-boarding the plane, my heart sank. The red Ugandan dirt was covered with trash, the warm Ugandan sun was hot, humid, and overcast by the smoky haze of burning garbage.  The beautiful Ugandan children along the way to Mbiko were longing - but for what, I was not certain - surely food, clothing, shelter, love, perhaps all of the above and more. 

So many people in conditions that were more foreign to me than the country to which I had travelled. Nothing could prepare me for the transition that both my perceptions and my heart would take over the next week. 

As I walked through the gates of Rock of Ages School I was taken aback by how small the school quarters were. How could 250+ children possibly receive an education in these tiny classrooms with no lighting, no white boards, no nicely lined rows of desks upon which to place their books and papers? 

And then, as we entered into each classroom it began to happen, we interrupted their lessons and were greeted by standing students who welcomed us as visitors. They smiled and one by one introduced themselves with the warmest of welcomes I could imagine.  

When I spotted her, she grinned with a smile so infectious that my concerns of the tiny desk at which she sat with three of her classmates began to diminish. She giggled and thanked me for sponsoring her so that she could come to school. Her shyness was apparent yet she so openly displayed her gratitude for what I contribute to her. So little on my part means so much on her part - an education - yes, a meal a day of posho and beans - yes. But in this tiny classroom where she sits day to day in her required uniform including school shoes that are at least two sizes too small she gets so much more. Respect, love, friendship, life skills, guidance for healthy living and hope for a future that otherwise would be absent. 

We visit her home, a small, single room made of cement.  Here she lives with her mom, little sister, and brother. She sleeps upon a mat on the cement floor and we have brought her a mattress but now I wonder where it will be placed. We have brought her clothing and shoes and a doll. That infectious smile that makes my heart sing appears on her beautiful face once again and she bows on bended knee to thank me. 

Yes, we have given her "things", things that I cannot give to the other 249+ children at Rock of Ages School and for a brief moment I feel bad about that but then I realize that these "things" are not what makes the difference. The things will wear out, and over time will become a part of the red dust covered piles of trash surrounding the community. I am still happy to have been able to provide them and to feel her excitement, like my own children on the occasion of a birthday or Christmas morning, but the real gift I provide is her sponsorship to obtain an education. Without my monthly contribution she may never know the joys of reading, the knowledge of science, or the satisfaction of solving a mathematical equation. But most importantly she may never acknowledge the hope of a life better than she would know otherwise. 

Hands4Uganda exists to bring hope to these children through education, encouragement, and the love of Christ. Upon returning to the school the next day I see past the dimly lit classrooms. I no longer question the tight quarters in which the children sit elbow-to-elbow listening intently to their teacher. I now see the desire they have to learn, I hear the excitement in their voices when they have solved a difficult problem and I spot her again. I sit next to her and her beaming smile is all I need to know that she is happy today. She leans close and whispers, "Auntie, mommy says I can wear my new sandals tomorrow since it's a holiday".  We learn it's Ramadan the next day and this will be our last opportunity to spend time with the children. 

As we leave the school that day, I wrap my arms around her and tell her how much I love her, that I’m glad she’s in my life, that I’m honored to be her auntie. I hug her goodbye one last time and leave her behind to sweep, with a makeshift broom of straw, the red cement floor of her classroom - her assigned student chore for the day. 

And as we load the van and leave our friends from Mbiko behind, my heart is heavy but the red Ugandan dirt upon my feet is more beautiful than I ever imagined. The Ugandan sun upon my face provides a warmth that I may never feel again and I realize at that moment that the longing I see in the children's eyes is mostly for hope.  Hope for their future, for a life that can be different through education and the knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ. 

Though most sponsors may never get the opportunity to meet their child face to face, I encourage you to make a difference in the life of a child.  For only $30 per month you can give a child hope for a future they will not have otherwise.

I am happy to sponsor her, I have witnessed first hand the difference I can make through Hands4Uganda. And it brings me joy knowing that she now has the opportunity to look forward to a better future.

A New Printer- more exciting than you would imagine!

Betty and Kenneth excited about the new hardware!

Thanks to a very generous donation, from Sundance Consulting, we were able to purchase a new printer large enough to not only handle the rigors of our current 250 students but also our hopeful 500. For the printer, we also bought a regulator to ensure that the daily power surges wouldn’t promote rapid wear and tear. 

This may not seem like a big deal, every school in America generally has at least two of these highly efficient printers. However, at Rock of Ages, all student assignments and test were previously printed on the type of printer most Americans would simply have in their home. Once this printer was no longer functioning due to overuse, teachers had to write each assignment on the chalkboard, requiring students to copy them into their notebooks. For the younger students, the teachers were hand writing each assignment in every single notebook, and drawing pictures when necessary! 

Not only will the new printer save teachers time, but it will also allow students to more easily navigate assignments and exams. A huge THANK YOU to Sundance for this much needed piece of equipment! 

Learning

Guest Post From: Hannah Drake 

Hannah and the ROA Kids

I have been here only a few short days and have already learned so much. This land is absolutely beautiful. But what is even more beautiful are the people in it. We come here knowing that so many have so little, and yet so many have so much to give. It may not be money-oriented but what they give us is greater than anything materialistic. It’s love. It’s joy. It’s peace. And while many of them are hurting in ways that I can hardly fathom they still manage to take the time to look into my eyes, hold my hand, and make me feel loved. That is something I have never experienced anywhere else in the world.

Part of me felt as if I had been to Africa before because for so long I have dreamt of what it would be like to actually be in Uganda alongside my beautiful sister and watch as her purpose unfolded right before my eyes. I have packed the bags, raised the funds, watched as Rock of Ages grew into what it has become today, and overtime understood the many challenges in trying to make a difference when we seem to be a world away. I have held a special place in my heart for this project and these people for quite some time. And as I sit here now in this breathtaking country I can say that I had a slight grasp on what reality might be like over here. But now I am finally here. And my eyes have truly been opened.

One moment that will forever be close to my heart and as clear as day in my head was the first time I walked through the gate at Rock of Ages. I could hear the sound of little voices at play on the other side and as Bettye opened the doors to let us in tiny faces flooded the entrance and ran to our arms with the utmost excitement. Hugs, hand-holding, and smiles seemed to be in never ending supply as these children expressed their love and appreciation for us. In that moment I realized that I was finally here – no longer watching from afar and waving goodbye to teams as they travelled to experience what I was now experiencing.

Anything with as much beauty, passion, and love as this experience often comes with difficult times too. And of course we have witnessed a few of these. While love is not in short supply there are so many entities vital to life that are. Shoes, clean water, clothes, school supplies, mosquito nets, beds, food. We do our best to provide as many people as we can with the items that they need but the task of giving everyone something can be overwhelming as it is nearly impossible for us to do so. It is difficult to be okay with the fact that still, as we do everything we can to help, so many little ones are sleeping on the red dirt tonight with empty stomachs. I am learning how important it is to appreciate what we are able to do and the lives that we are able to change. At the same time we must never forgetting about the ones that we have not touched yet. They are the ones that keep us here. They fuel our passion to do as much as we can in order to assure that they are not left behind.

A few days ago we were finishing up letters from all of the students to take home to their sponsors. One young girl in Primary 4 broke into tears as we pulled her out of the classroom to take her photo. Bettye quickly comforted the girl and asked the reason for her tears. The young girl’s mother had abandoned her and her two younger brothers just the day before. Her pain seeped into all of our hearts and we became overwhelmed in that moment. I had felt as if I was on cloud nine for so long. We had been having so much fun, making so much progress, and helping so many students. But in this moment I realized that there are certain boundaries we cannot cross. There are certain situations in which there is nothing we can do. No amount of money or compassion can replace the love that a mother has for her own children.

Times like these can be so difficult to grasp. But let me tell you this. After Bettye spoke to the girl with a loving voice and a caring heart the girl whipped away her tears, stood up straight, and managed to smile ever so softy for her picture. The strength that young girl possesses is strength that I have seen demonstrated by so many young students at Rock of Ages.

I never imagined that I would learn so much from these beautiful little faces. There is still much to be done and many bags to be unpacked but right now I am so thankful as I look back on the few short days that I have had here. Amongst what many would describe as complete chaos there is so much strength, so much beauty, and so much to experience. We are so blessed to be a part of the many lives here.

Days for Girls

Guest post by: Ali Nash

What a special day at Rock of Ages! We were able to finish up all sponsorship letters and begin our Days for Girls project.

“Around the world, girls and women are without pads using rags, mattress stuffing, banana leaves, feathers, and cow dung to manage their menstruation.” –Days for Girls Inc.

This is a harsh reality that so many women have to face and as women ourselves we felt the need to help. Days for Girls provide high quality feminine hygiene kits that enable women to menstruate and go to school, work, or just live a more comfortable life style.

Our team was lucky enough to collect 100 kits to give to the girls at Rock of Ages. Walking into the room we weren’t sure what to expect. Not knowing what the students had been taught or if they even knew that puberty is right around the corner. It’s very common in countries such as Uganda to shy away from this topic. We were all pleasantly surprised to find out Rock of Ages had it covered. Not only have all of the girls had “the talk” but the ones who had already started their periods have been given a Days for Girls pack in the recent past. While we passed out the kits and extra pairs of underwear, students were able to freely ask questions and one girl was even able to stand up and talk about her experience while using the Days for Girls kit (and the report was great!).

We handed out 40 kits to all the girls and teachers. Our faces mirrored theirs in excitement and our hearts were filled with genuine happiness, as we knew these kits could be life changing for them. In Uganda alone the school drop-out rate for girls has gone from 36% to 8% since Days for Girls has started distributing their reusable feminine hygiene packets. Many powerful women are able to reach their full potential because of essentials such as these and we were so thrilled to be a part of such a toughing project.