St Mary’s College Kisubi Community Project

To Gayaza High School (GHS) girls and St. Mary’s College, Kisubi (SMACK) boys, 29^th April, 2019, will always be remembered as the birth of Global Scribes-Uganda collaboration. Global Scribes, (GS) (https://www.globalscribes.org) is a a non-profit Organization that fosters culturally-enriching relationships within an environment that is free from politics, religion, causes and socio-demographic segregation. It’s For Youth, By Youth–working together to break through barriers and build lasting international friendships where the future of global foundations may form. Together, they are also working to make the world we live in a better place for all.

GS offers the Students an opportunity to collaborate as they attempt to understand and subsequently find the solutions that affect their community. In this partnership GHS and SMACK will look at promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal’s (UN SDG’s) also known as Global Goals. In particular the project will focus on SDG #1 (No hunger), SDG #2 (Zero Poverty), SDG #4 (Education for all), SDG #5(Gender equality) and SDG #16(Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

PHOTO: Visitors arrive at St. Francis Vocational Secondary School

The inaugural project took place at St. Francis Vocational Secondary School, Nagalama, a school whose majority are orphans and former street children. The Scribers were welcomed by St. Francis students who expressed joy in hosting the two schools. The project will aim at empowering global youth with self-efficacy and resilience to thrive in an interconnected world, while also inspiring them to become conscious leaders of a more united future for humanity and planet stewardship according to GS manual.

           PHOTO: Ms. Hope Meda giving her remarks to the participants 

The visit started with welcome remarks from the Headteacher Mr. Fred Kafumbe who thanked GHS and SMACK for the love. He took the visitors through the history of the school which was started by a Sister with an aim of helping the needy in the community and across the country. He called for more cooperation among the schools to keep giving hope to the students of St. Francis who are mostly vulnerable. Ms. Hope Meda, the coordinator of Global Scribes – Uganda chapter gave an overview of GS.  She took the participants through the history of GS and mission of the founder, Ms. Cynthia English whose wish is to leave an empowered youth that can Create, Connect and Collaborate through the use of technology.  The Youth we deal with are a Tech savvy generation that can collaboratively solve world problems if given an opportunity.  The session proceeded with presentations from the host school and the visiting schools which laid a foundation for interaction among the students.

             PHOTO: Students Sharing items and giving Inspirational talk

The students were then clustered in groups where GHS girls and SMACK boys talked to the host school girls and boys respectively. The talks mainly centred on motivation to the host students with an  aim of encouraging them to keep in school against all odds. This session ended with donations of items  that included  Scholastic materials, sanitary towels, Soap, Tissue paper, etc that the visiting students collected from their friends at school.

PHOTO: Closing remarks from Ms.Hope Meda  the Coordinator  Uganda Chapter

Overall it was a good experience and an eye opener to GHS and SMACK students who in most cases don’t understand the challenges communities face.