The 'Roscrea Room' in Uganda

In 2000, in response to the growing need for primary education in Uganda, Coloma Primary School was started by the Daughters of Mary and Joseph Congregation. This week, Roscrea's Sister Mona Maher talks of how she and her sister Eileen were asked to spearhead the beginnings of the school.

 

 

 

 

IT was a great joy and a great challenge to be part of the creation of a far-seeing institution, which would change the lives of many in Uganda and ultimately bring about a transformation in society.

Being a boarding school, it had many demands and challenges; for example, we expected about 40 children on the first day but, to our great surprise, 58 turned up. We had only purchased 40 beds, so for the first week the children had to sleep on mats and mattresses on the floor.

 

We were short of desks, chairs and tables but, with goodwill and a bit of fun, the school began and has yearly continued to grow and develop. In fact, our first classroom was financed by the people of Roscrea and is known as the 'Roscrea Room'.

 

From the outset the school priority was to give an educational opportunity to orphans and children from vulnerable homes. Now with approximately 300 children, over one third are receiving support either fully or partially, depending on their circumstances.

 

Much of this sponsorship is thanks to the people of Roscrea, Birr and the surrounding areas, who have very generously assisted us and the children in Coloma Primary School.

 

Apart from the ordinary subjects, the children get practical training in agriculture (80% of the population work in agriculture), hand craft, mat and basket making, pottery, knitting, sewing and crochet. By the time the children leave the school, and if they have no means of going further, many could begin their own small home industries in these areas.

 

Sport is very big in the culture. At the beginning there was a sports field but with many big termite mounds. These can be as big as 2m x 2m x 3m. We struck an agreement with the local village that the young men could use the field every weekend if they dug out the mounds and flattened the field.

 

Schooldays are long. Class begins at 8.30am and continues until 4pm with a morning break of half an hour and lunch for one hour. After school there are extracurricular activities and two hours' evening study.

 

The plan for the school is to have about 600 children but, as yet, financially this is not possible as extra children means extra dormitories, classrooms, dining rooms, staff houses, etc, and as the school is still developing, so it will take time.

 

Next week I will share the great role of Roscrea in this whole school venture.