Dear Partners in Mission,                                                                                 Fall 2006

Greetings from our new Sacred Heart School in Uganda. This update will be a little longer than usual for there is much to share with you. Spending good time in Uganda this past summer allowed me to experience first hand the progress made not only with building the new primary school plant but creating a wonderful Sacred Heart spirited school. Your hearts would warm in hearing the voices of laughter, song, class recitation and prayer that float from Kyamusansala Hill. Is it possible that from rocky ground would spring forth such nourishing soil where young girls would grow and blossom? Yes, because of the helping hands and hearts of our Sacred Heart family.

You have been great supporters of this new school, in spirit and in creative fundraising efforts.   Our primary children ask me how it is that children and adults who do not know them can make such sacrifices so that they are able to come to Sacred Heart Primary School. One grateful parent expressed her thoughts this way. “Both Parents and the pupils are aware that the school is a fruit of kind and charitable hearts who sacrifice for the education and moral nurturing of the girl child.  With grateful hearts we treasure our school and thank God for the support of the Sacred Heart Sisters and people of God from across the world who contribute to make existence of such schools a reality.  As beneficiaries, we recognize our responsibility to make every effort to contribute towards the sustainability and development of the school.”

The first classroom building block provides 28 rooms that are used for classrooms, offices, infirmary, storage, library, as well as living space for our 345 resident students. Our multipurpose 1st floor is our gathering space for school meals, school assemblies, Sunday Mass, as well as kitchen and food storage. The 2nd floor that is under construction at this moment will provide much needed overflow space for school activities. Happily the first set of staff housing units and a residence for the RSJC staff are completed and the teachers have moved out of the classrooms and into their own living quarters. At this point it is tight but manageable. In two years the school population will reach 500 with double grades from One to Seven. So plans are beginning for a dormitory block that will house these children who remain with us for ten months of the year.

Besides the daily challenges of life in Uganda we have another situation that came to a head this past summer. As some of you may know Uganda is rapidly becoming a water-stressed country.    As drought conditions deepen and dry seasons lengthen, rainwater becomes an even more precious commodity that needs careful harvesting. Along with the villagers in this area we are experiencing a serious water shortage.  Added to this was the unbelievable and continuous theft of electrical wiring throughout the district. Electricity was already a meager resource for us.

But now we could not even pump the water from our few rainwater tanks at the bottom of our big hill. The administration was very concerned for the health and well-being of the whole school population, but the children took it in stride. After class each day, with a small plastic tub or bucket in hand, they climbed down our steep hill. At the bottom water from the meager tank supply was portioned out carefully. Then up they came carefully balancing on their heads the containers with precious water. This is a natural part of their life in their home villages so they entered into this activity with smiles. I heard no complaints but saw a few tired little ones struggling to keep up with the others.

The school must act quickly to improve its capacity to gather and preserve this life-giving element. External monies will need to be secured. The success of the project will be measured by decline in diseases from contaminated water, less loss of rain water runoff, increased supply of harvested water to sustain the school community during the dry times, decreased soil erosion and building damage from uncontrolled water run off, reduced water expenses, and preserved swamp water supply for the nearby village.

So our building effort goes forward. Building a spirit filled school where each child is ‘open to learn, to love, to serve’ (SHPS school motto).  And, yes, building up our plant infrastructure. We are half way there. Our top funding priorities for the next two years are to expand our rain water gathering capacity, complete the staff housing infrastructure, construct a school dormitory for 500 full time resident children, and maintain the Tuition Assistance Program for 120 orphaned and vulnerable students. 

We invite you to continue your walk with us. You are part of a new movement of solidarity in which those of us who have more than we need to live safe, happy and productive lives are sharing with poor village schools around the world. You are making a difference in the lives of many children. How can you tell? By the smiles, laughter, and confidence of the newest Sacred Heart children standing on top of Kyamusansala Hill, Uganda. From their new vantage point they see a brighter future for themselves and their families. Your compassionate involvement has truly changed the scene for them. Songs of thanks fill our hearts. 

God bless you!

Irene Cullen, RSCJ
Uganda-Kenya Mission Support Coordinator
1653 Borana St, San Diego, CA 92111
858-268-3340
icullen@rscj.org