Context…
In 2008 Dreambuilders Church in Smithton Tasmania held its first Missions Conference and introduced the congregation to Faith Promise giving as a way of funding our missions programs, locally, nationally and internationally. In 2011 we partnered with Deliverance Church in Uganda to start a primary school in the village of Wasswa. Wasswa is near the town of Lugazi with a population of 400 people, is surrounded by sugar cane plantations and has very limited resources. Families living there survive on subsistence farming or laboring in the sugar cane.
Joy Centre for Education Wasswa commenced in 2012 with 25 students and 3 staff, providing education and 2 meals a day at little or no cost to families. Dreambuilders Church Smithton funds 100% of staff wages, and the feeding programme, with an annual budget of $80,000 AUD. They have built 8 classrooms, a kitchen, toilets and playground, as well as install water tanks, a water bore and solar lighting. The school generates a small income that is used for building and property maintenance.
Currently there are 350 students from baby class through to primary 7 attending Joy School, and 18 staff employed, including teachers, cooks, a bursar and security guard.
The Australian Manager first visited the school in 2014 and have been visiting every year since (except during COVID 2020 to 2022) We continue to be amazed at how the school is growing and thriving, despite challenging circumstances.
The school was officially registered with Ugandan Ministry of Education in 2023 and over the past few years has been going through the process of purchasing the land on which it is situated. We are waiting for the final step of the Certificate of Title to be registered. The school is managed by a board made up of pastors, business professionals and educators.
They do not have a lot of ground but are making an effort to grow maize to supplement the meals they provide and also gain a small income.
Vision of Project…
Provide quality education that will decrease poverty & improve job opportunities thus improving the lives of students and families.
Aims…
- To attract more enrolments.
- Students to complete P7.
- Students to perform well academically.
- To provide better access to secondary education.
- To Improved life skills.
- To become supplement income with crops.
You can help…
If you wish to help with the ongoing costs associated in providing affordable quality education and meals to decrease proverty and improve job opportunities to improve the lives of these precious students and families, please click on “Donate to this Project” on the right sidebar. Thank you!
All gifts are tax deductible and will benefit this project in their entirety except for bank fees.
