Nyaka School was established specifically due to the plight of orphans in the village of Nyakagyezi in Uganda, East Africa. The idea was conceived after Twesigye Jackson Kaguri and his wife, Beronda visited Nyakagyezi village in April 2001. Although they knew that HIV/AIDS had claimed so many lives across Africa, they did not know the extent to which grandparents were suffering in raising these orphans. So after returning to United States where they live, they decided to start raising money for these children. At first Jackson and Beronda thought they would send school fees but the number of orphans was growing. The couple told some of their fellow church members, their close friends and family about the project and everyone was supportive of the idea.
In August 2001, 2 acres were bought where the school was to be built. Construction began in October 2001. The growing community of local and international supporters of Nyaka ultimately decided to begin the sch classes so that Nyaka could start helping children at the earliest educational stage. Therefore the school began with primary one and two. For those who are not familiar with the Ugandan education system, these are the equivalent of the first two years of elementary school. Hon. Minister, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, Minister of General Duties, Prime Minister’s Office, Uganda officially opened the school on Jan 2, 2003.
The mission of the school is to provide quality, free education and extracurricular activities, both formal and informal, to children who have been orphaned due to HIV/AIDS as a means to counteract pervasive hunger, poverty, and systemic deprivation. It is an ongoing project that will continue growing each year. At the end of 2008, the school will have seven classes, and then Nyaka AIDS Orphans School will be a full-fledged primary school. The school will provide vocational training for the children who will not continue to secondary school and organize scholarships for those will join secondary school.
Initiatives
Uganda’s AIDS epidemic has resulted in 1.7 million children who have lost one or both parents, out of a population of just over 20 million. Due to a lack of government-subsidized education, extended families and orphanages face an enormous financial barrier to educating Uganda’s children. Nyaka is helping to address this need by:
1. Running a tuition-free school in the community. Primary education (level 1-5 in 2006)
2. Basic health care and home visits to teach hygiene and Sanitation.
3. HIV/AIDS awareness is carried out by Nyaka anti AIDS club, a group of our students do awareness in the community through songs, plays and traditional dances. A video of these activities is available upon request.
4. Once a week a volunteer from the community comes to the school to teach our kids how to weave and make baskets and pots as part of our vocational training.
5. Nutrition, Food and Gardening. Nyaka gives free seeds in order to improve nutrition in the district. Seeds include cabbage, tomatoes, greens, cucumber and squash (amoozi). The orphans at Nyaka also have a sample garden where other fruits like papaya and watermelon are grown.
6. Social activities (Boys and Girls Sports). Physical education is big part of our education curriculum. Our boys and girls participate in inter school games soccer, track and netball.
7. Provision of clean water to the community. In 2005, we championed the first ever Gravity Clean water system in this village. Now, women who walked miles daily to get water have taps on their doorsteps.
8. Our children also get free Bible Studies by the local Pastor who visits them every Wednesday.
9. We have hired professional teachers who care and love these students.
10. Nyaka Grannies Project (see page on this site!)
