A COVENTRY teaching assistant has visited a grateful school in Uganda after her own ‘Good Shepherd’ students raised over £900 to help provide books and clean water.
Pupils at Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School in Courthouse Green stumped up £916 to fund drinking water and learning resources for their East African counterparts at the Bright Future Primary School in Kampala.
School teaching assistant Karen Vince marked the milestone by returning to Bright Future for the first time since 2017.
To raise the cash, classes took part in a sponsored relay carrying buckets of water around the school playground.
Many of the youngsters at Bright Future must walk long distances before school to collect water for their families.
Just 11 years ago, Bright Future had to cope without even the most basic essential of having running water.
Now, thanks to support over the years, it has fresh running water and flushing toilets, with staff and students at Goof Shepherd raising over £7,000 during that time.
Books, sports equipment and training to help students become sports leaders and for staff to enhance their lessons have also been donated.
Karen said: “I have had the privilege of visiting the school in 2013, 2015 and 2017 to work with their staff and children.
“It is an amazing school working in the hardest of circumstances, and it was fantastic to go back and see how it has grown.
“This year’s fundraising has been one of our most successful, and I am continually overwhelmed by the generosity of our families, especially in the present economic situation.
“I have seen first-hand the difference we have made and how much the children and staff at Bright Future appreciate our efforts and while we have helped to make a difference, there is still more work to do.”
Good Shepherd principal Andrew McConville added: “We are extremely proud of our work with Bright Future Primary School.
“This partnership has allowed our pupils to actively support others who may be without some things we take for granted and think about their needs, and I would like to thank them for this year’s magnificent fundraising effort.”
