Photo: Joakim Hovrevik
Great Hope Schools in Jinja, Uganda
Start: 2018
Case story: We believe that basic education is one of the most important stepping stones on a path towards a sustainable life on this planet. Unfortunately education is not a given for all everywhere. Free quality education is however Goal No 4 in United Nation's Agenda 2030 – the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
We have only 10 more years to go in order to reach that goal and we can't just sit on our butts expecting that someone else will fix it for us. Meaning us the humans on planet Earth.
Stop talking, start chalking
Kids all over the place are growing up with slim chances to enter a classroom with a chalk board up front. That is why it makes a lot of global sense to put time and money into developing more school opportunities worldwide. In new formats and with a new perspective on learning. Giving them an opportunity to find out what they want and like, nursing their own strengths at the time when they are ready.
So, what can we do? I do? You do? We can roll up our sleeves and help out where help is welcomed. Like in Jinja in Uganda. Eddy and Eva Balina is a young couple dedicated to make a change for the better in their community. With their four empty hands they started an idea about a school in 2016. In 2018 they opened up classrooms for some 100 kids in different ages coming from disadvantaged families in challenged areas around their corner.
Fortunate kids and teachers having a hopeful day to look forward to in the morning. Because knowledge is power. Power to grow and power to plan for a better life. There are few global win-wins around being stronger than making education available for more kids. Photo: Joakim Hovrevik
A sign of positive change for kids. School is not only about math and grammar – maybe spreading hope and building up self-esteem is the most important assignment for all schools around the world. New ways of learning life skills are in the making at Great Hope Elementary...
Taking new steps, making it happen...
In 2019 their school was packed full with eager students. Other kids were standing outside looking over the fences and into the windows wanting to be part of the vibe, the hope, the happiness and the education. It was not that the left out kid's families couldn't sign up because of any fees or other bureaucratic hinders. The school fee is very low and/or supported for children in disadvantaged families in the area, but all classes were already packed full.
Eddy and Eva is making good things happening in Jinja. Their first son Maxwell , (sleeping on Eva's arm) is still too young for school, but he will soo be ready.
So, now the need for more school seats are top of mind in the Balina family and team. Funds have been settled for a new land area and that property is now waiting for next step to come true – the development of necessary infra structure and buildings. We are now helping out and preparing a crowd funding campaign, hoping for it to be launched it in the beginning of 2021.
Here's a short note from Eddy:
We would love to see you as a part of this project and you are of course invited. We hope for any moral support...and possibly also financial contributions. We will keep on posting on how things move forward. Sign up below if you want first hand info on the progress. Thank you.