April's Blossoming Impact: Sabina Update

April 30, 2023 Fiona O'Leary Sloan

As April brings us right into the heart of the rainy season in Uganda, we are excited to share stories and updates from our flourishing community, celebrating the remarkable accomplishments and progress across all four Friends of Sabina (FOS) Pillars: Education, Community, Sustainability, and Infrastructure. In this month's newsletter, we're delighted to showcase highlights from Visitation Day, the ongoing empowerment work of Club GLOW, and the transformative effects of our new tutoring program. Additionally, we will introduce you to a dedicated new teacher, share updates on sustainability initiatives, and explore our students' spiritual journey. Join us as we guide you through the latest happenings at Sabina, demonstrating the inspiring impact made possible by you and the Friends of Sabina family.

Education

A Joyous Visitation Day at Sabina

Despite an initial delay due to rain, Visitation Day on March 26th was a resounding success, with a massive turnout of parents eager to experience the beautiful campus and witness their children's growth. Students showcased their talents through dance, drumming, and mime performances, delighting parents and demonstrating the positive impact Sabina Boarding and Primary School has on their education and well-being.

Visitation Day performance

Visitation Day, Sabina student with family

Club GLOW - Empowering Girls to Lead and Learn

Club GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) continues to positively transform the lives of young girls under the guidance of student leaders Allen Lucky Nakasozi and Monica Kokukiza. The members of Club GLOW are empowered to make good decisions and achieve their goals by sharing ideas and providing life skills. Thanks to the support of the club's leaders, the female staff, teachers, and volunteers, Club GLOW is creating a brighter future for girls at Sabina and in the community.

If you want to learn more about sponsoring students like the girls in Club GLOW visit our get involved page here.

My name is Allen Lucky Nakasozi, the chairperson of club GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). I am 14 years old, and I am in primary seven at Sabina Boarding Primary School. I am writing this with the secretary of the club, Monica Kokukiza. She is 15 years old, and she is also in primary seven. We are the leaders of this club and usually hold our meetings every week on Thursday for a full hour. In our club, girls express their minds by sharing their problems, and we solve them together. They tell us different stories; for example, they tell us about their goals and dreams such as what they want to be in the future. We tell them to study hard so that they can achieve their goals. We discuss different topics like teenage pregnancy, girls' confidence and how girls should behave in the community. Our first topic this year was teenage pregnancy among girls in our communities. This was brought up because a girl told us about her friend who had boyfriends and she became pregnant, and she doesn’t know the person responsible for it. When that girl told us about that story, we decided to talk about it in club GLOW. We researched about different ways how we can help girls in our club to not experience the same problem. Many girls learned a lot from what we spoke about and are now able to guide other girls in their villages. We would like to thank our patrons, Aunt Deborah, Aunt Gloria, Aunt Moreen, Aunt Megan, Aunt Martina, Aunt Ann and Aunt Maria. These powerful ladies join us every Thursday and share their wisdom as well as stories. We conclude by advising all girls to focus on what they want and make good decisions so that they can achieve their goals.

Allen Lucky Nakasozi

Monica and Allen Club GLOW leaders

Club GLOW meeting

Bridging the Gap: Sabina's Tutoring Program

On March 5th, the school launched a new tutoring program at Sabina Boarding Primary School, providing much-needed support to over a dozen P6 & P7 students. With on-ground volunteers Martina and Megan offering dedicated instruction in English and Math, these tutoring sessions have not only given students additional academic support but also fostered their confidence and self-belief. As we continue to expand our team of tutors, we remain committed to uplifting every child, ensuring no one falls behind on their educational journey.

Launch of the new tutoring program at Sabina

Tutoring program with FOS volunteer, Martina

How You Can Directly Empower the Future of Uganda

Meet Alex Kiiza, a dedicated P6 class teacher. Alex joined Sabina at the beginning of the 2023 academic year and has already positively impacted our students with his personal teaching approach. Alex is heavily involved in co-curricular activities such as debating and quiz, making learning a fun and engaging experience for our students.

By supporting a teacher like Alex, you ensure our faculty members receive fair wages and help students reach their full potential. Supporting a teacher's fair wages is like sponsoring an entire classroom of students, creating a positive ripple effect that leads to better academic results and improved student engagement. For $150 a month, you can sponsor an entire classroom of young learners. Click the button below to support a teacher like Alex today!

Alex Kiiza P6 teach and head of the English department at Sabina

Community

Sabina Students Celebrate Their Faith

We are excited to share that 22 students from Sabina Boarding Primary School were baptized and received their first holy communion on Sunday, the 2nd of April. The students were filled with joy as they participated in this important sacrament. Each student received a rosary, holy medal and candle as a symbol of their commitment to their faith. We are proud of our students and are grateful for our community's support in helping us provide a well-rounded education that includes spiritual growth.

Infrastructure

Urgent: W.A.S.H Program Needs Your Help!

Attention all supporters of the W.A.S.H Program at Sabina School: Our mission to provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to these bright students is in jeopardy! The project has come to a sudden standstill, and we urgently need your support to get back on track.

We've come so far together, but we still need to raise the remaining $55,000 to complete the project and positively impact the lives of these future leaders. The time to act is now - we cannot afford to wait any longer.

If you have any questions or prefer to discuss your contribution personally, please don't hesitate to contact our dedicated FOS directors, Maria or Ann. They are available to assist you and ensure your donation is utilized effectively.

Act now! Your immediate support can revive the W.A.S.H Program and secure a brighter future for the students at Sabina.

Sustainability

This term, Sabina has made strides in sustainability with our farm-to-table program. Our dedicated gardeners have prepared the fields to plant corn, which will be harvested and milled on-site during term two. This initiative provides fresh produce for our students and aims to develop our milling capabilities as a source of income, further supporting Sabina's long-term sustainability.

Uncle Dbembe checking newly planted corn

Corn mill working

A Word From Volunteer Megan Hehir

“The last two months have been nothing short of amazing, and every day has been a blessing. Every morning, I wake up and open my front door to the Sabina world and I’m instantly filled with serotonin. There are so many aspects that make this place so great and I so happy, yet I would be here all day telling you about them, which is why I want to focus on two of my highlights from the last three months.

My first highlight would be introducing and sharing Sabina with my mother, Maggs and my friend, Martina. It allowed them to see why I enjoy this place so much and for them to experience such joy from a place and its people. In particular, my mother met her sponsored girl, Allen which was just so special.

My second highlight of the last two months was definitely celebrating St. Patrick's Day with the children and teachers at Sabina. The day was cloudy and rainy, just like home! Martina and I presented a PowerPoint on everything about Ireland and St. Patrick. Educating them about my country and where I come from was very special and I also showed them the similarities between our countries and cultures. We did face painting with the kids and served Irish potatoes for supper, which they thoroughly enjoyed!”

- Megan Hehir

Students welcoming Megan from Ireland

Volunteers Megan & Maggs with Sabina staff and students

If you would like to learn more about sponsoring Sabina's teachers or supporting the W.A.S.H program, visit our sponsorship page.