Rubaga Friends

 - a non-profit, tax-exempt charity
         NAVIGATION MENU
www.rubagafriends.org
rubagafriends@gmail.com
Based in Tucson, Arizona
Phone 520-327-7922
African children in huge numbers have lost their parents to illnesses and wars. 
 Insufficient nutrition and health care, and uncertainty about education and where to live add to their traumas. Their future is imperiled and they need all the support they can get.
RUBAGA COMMUNITY SCHOOL  AND 
RUBAGA FRIENDS 
Rubaga Friends is a non-profit tax-exempt support organization, is based in Tucson,  Arizona.  A five-year program, started in 2008, assists about 300 needy children, the majority orphans, at the Rubaga Community School in Kampala, Uganda. The school receives no government support. Since its start about 20 years ago, it has been a haven for many children without family and with uncovered basic needs.          
AFRICAN CHILDREN

Updated March 29, 2013
Rubaga Community School

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News Letter no. 12                                                January 2013
RUBAGA FRIENDS


rubagafriends@gmail.com
www.rubagafriends.org
520-327-7922

Rubaga Friends wishes A Happy 2013 to all supporters!
The Rubaga School continues to grow as do the financial challenges. Enrollment of disadvantaged children is on the rise. The newly established Secondary Section for students with 7 years of primary education causes many new expenses. Inflation also is the reason for many woes and, unfortunately, the school still receives no economic support from the Ugandan Government. Financial Statements from the school show that during 2008-2011, 70% of the school’s total income was provided by 2 supporters: Rubaga Friends 
(37%) and the Danish International Child Welfare Service (33%). The rest came from local donors and tuition fees from the few families who can afford to pay. The economic recession in the US has added to the difficulties; Rubaga Friends has not been able to keep up the level of donation proceeds. Hopefully an economic upturn will now reverse the trend and broaden the scope of assisting the children in Rubaga. They need all the support we can provide.
We hope we can count on continuation of your generous support.
Please, also help by spreading the word about the RF work to attract new supporters

New Secondary Section
In 2011, the first steps were taken to establish a 4-year post-primary school for the children aged 14-15 who have completed their primary education. At the start of the 2013 school year, 38 students attend the first 3 class levels. By 2014, all four secondary classes will be in operation. In addition, vocational classes for home economics, carpentry, secretary skills and tailoring will be added to the Secondary Section. 
     There is all good reason to congratulate the school on this important innovation, which will provide the young people with useful skills and better job opportunities. Until now, the school has managed the added activity with existing resources. However, a full-grown Secondary Section presupposes investments in new building facilities. More teachers and staff will be needed and a sizeable increase of operation expenses will follow.
Number of children at the school end of 2012
By the end of 2012, 311 children were in the care of the Rubaga School, about 100 more than in January 2008, when Rubaga Friends started its program. The new kindergarten building has eased the pressure on the main school where education of older children takes place. The dormitory capacity is far from sufficient for the 111 orphaned boarding students; many children must sleep on the floor. New enrollments are on the rise and the new Secondary Section adds to the number of students. Lack of space and educators is becoming acute. 200 children live with family or foster parents who can pay nothing or very little for the education, food and healthcare provided by the school. 
          Children at the Rubaga School - Nov. 2012 
            Pre-primary school                       98
            Primary school                           182
            Post-primary school                     31
            Total number of children              311

$144,162 from Tucson since the beginnings January 2008 *
During 2008-12, Rubaga Friends and Pima Rotary and SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise at the University of Arizona) contributed over $144,000 to the basic program and various special projects. 
   
   


   

   

   






   
* In 2009, Rotary District 5500 and Pima Rotary contributed $2,680 to textbooks to primary classes 1-7. In 2011, the same supporters donated $2,017 to purchase of laptops for the computer lab. In 2010 and 2011, Friends and Family of Grammoo and others provided $32,220 for the kindergarten. In 2012, SIFE raised $1,500 to buy new class furniture. SIFE also donated $1,250 for other programs.
* In 2009, Rotary District 5500 and Pima Rotary contributed $2,680 to textbooks to primary classes 1-7. In 2011, the same supporters donated $2,017 to purchase of laptops for the computer lab. In 2010 and 2011, Friends and Family of Grammoo and others provided $32,220 for the kindergarten. In 2012, SIFE raised $1,500 to buy new class furniture. SIFE also donated $1,750 for other programs. $5,000 transferred on January 8, 2013 for food, healthcare and addition to wages addition is not included in the above figures.