Five Chickens hatch a school

In 2002, faced with poverty impact and increasing social pressure by the HIV/AIDS virus, more than ever, Rubanda community felt a big social stress with children being the most vulnerable.

Ms Agnes: As five chickens multiply, a schools is born

As the virus deepened its devastation on adults, many children became increasingly orphans, others were forced into child parenting because their parents were too weak to work or single. But the story became different for three kids/orphans who were adopted by a generous mother after their both parents died to the virus at Rubanda Health center leaving them a lone at the facility.

Their new family became of a size of twelve. And I remember asking their new mom of what economic plans she had put in place for their survival replying to me with amazing faith, " My son, God who has made it possible for us to reach where we are, will also make it possible for them", (the three kids).

I was deeply struck by her strong faith and sense of providence of God that many would call stupidity  in today's world.This God of hers, started working miracles. Because, a year later, a friend and sympathizer gave her an idea to initiate a small chicken scale project to generate some income to support her big sizable family.

To a generous heart, God makes many miracles. Few days after, another friend donated some money just a enough to buy five chicken layers, construct their shelter and feed them on chicken mash for a month.To your amazement in less than a year, the economic face of this family had changed. Many women started to seek entry to the project's expansion that left a group of women grow to a size of 14 and 35 women.

Things did not end with five chickens. One day, during one of their regular meetings, one of the women tabled a point of discussion, " For some time now we have been focusing on our needs as women, wouldn't be a good idea if we created a specific activity to improve the current harsh conditions of our children?"

The idea was welcomed, discussed and agreed to begin a private nursery school which eventually becomes the first ever nursery and private primary school in the whole sub county. In 2004 a pilot school project was initiated with 90 children with specific provision of food at breakfast unlike all public schools in the area where children run through all the day with empty stomachs in the classrooms. This alone was enough to win the hearts of children and parents.
 At the end of the year during an evaluation, excellent results were observed by excessive demand for parents to bring in their kids commenting that they no longer have problems with their kids waking up to our school. "They even wake us up early in the mornings to go to school because they do not want to find breakfast over", parents affirmatively narrated.

In 2005 the miracle of our new private school  was then officially  launched under the name, "Rubanda Solidarity", because its a fruit of solidarity. And today this very school serves 260 children of whom 180 are Boarders and 80 Day scholars from within and outside the community.
Initially, because of our heavy financial constraints and needs, the Rubanda Solidarity Nursery/Primary school administration then, opted to add a class each year until the whole primary circle was complete. And this completion is due next year 2012 when we shall have our first 22 candidates sitting for their first PLE (Primary Leaving Examination).

This being the miracle of five chickens, many more miracles can happen just with the little effort one affords with a generous heart to the poor. It will be left to God to add in some yeast. Do not worry about the size.

If you feel to join our solidarity, to know more about our miracle and how God is still continuing in his providence, just contact us through online sabscription.

You could be the next friend to Rubanda Solidarity.