Rubaga Friends
- a non-profit, tax-exempt charity
NAVIGATION MENU
www.rubagafriends.org
rubagafriends@gmail.com
Since January 2008, generous supporters have enabled Rubaga Friends to transfer almost $132,000 to the Rubaga Community School in Kampala, Uganda.
  So far, funding of the basic support program for children and staff at the Rubaga School amounts to $89,500. The stipulated duration of the program is 5 years. The Rubaga Friends Board has decided to continue the program after 2012. The general economic depression has curtailed donations to Rubaga Friends and support has therefore been scaled back. Hopefully, it will be possible to return to a higher level of support.
    
Basic Support Program
Target: US Dollars per year
Improvemed nourishment                  14,800
Improved healthcare                      1,200
Increased salaries, teachers and staff           5,000
Basic support program                         21,000

Meals were earlier dominated by starch food items
SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Visit the SIFE website
http://uasife.org/
Arrival of library books from Tucson
Other support activities
When possible, other activities than  the basic program have been funded. So far, the new KINDERGARTEN BUILDING is the most extensive special project. Generous donations from Family and Friends of Grammoo and the Dr. David Jakoby Memorial Fund made it possible to cover three-fourths of the building costs; more details about the kindergarten are available via the Navigation Menu.
Two other important projects were organized by The Pima Rotary Club: In 2009, TEXTBOOKS to all 7 primary school classes and in 2010, COMPUTERS to establish a regular full -class computer lab. The two projects very directly improve the teaching and learning  at the school.
Rubaga Friends has also supported acquisition of equipment to prevent and extinguish fires. It happened after a period with  an alarming number of fires at other schools in the region, sadly with many fatalities. New office computers, modem and more were also funded with donations received by Rubaga Friends.
In connection with visits to the Rubaga School members of Rubaga Friends have made many direct contributions. To mention a few: computers, miscellaneous IT equipment, camera, toys, personal hygiene articles, and money.




Partner school program
The PARTNER SCHOOL PROGRAM between the Rubaga  School and the Sam Hughes Elementary School* in Tucson (2008-2011) is an important part of the total Rubaga Friends activity. Exchange of letters, crafts and other materials, has engaged children and teachers at both schools. More details are available via the navigation menu.
SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise at the University 0f Arizona) has been a valuable partner in developing several activities in close cooperation with the Sam Hughes  School. Drives have been organized to collect and ship books, toys, etc.  to the Rubaga School.  
Rubaga Friends is very pleased that not only many individuals but also schools and other organizations in our community have supported activities for the Rubaga School.
There is also close contact with International Child Welfare Service (ICWS), a Danish charity organization, which has programs for disadvantaged children in Uganda and several other countries. Its annual economic support to the Rubaga School is of the same order as the annual transfer from Rubaga Friends in Tucson.        
* Another Tucson school will soon engage in the partner school program.
  
Earlier, lack of textbooks kept the blackboard and note
pads very busy
Ready to unpack textbooks from Pima Rotary Club
Visit the Pima Rotary website
   www.pimarotary.org

Visit the ICWS web-site
http://www.uganda.icws.dk/
Transfers to Other Projects since 2008
                                                      US Dollars
Textbooks*4,000
Fire prevention  1,000
Office computer, modem,etc.                             925
Kindergarten building     32,220
Computers for computer lab**             4,017
Other funds total, 2008-2011                     42,162
*    One-third of total provided by Rubaga Friends
**  One-half of total amount by Rubaga Friends
Basic support program
In 2010, transfers from Rubaga Friends covered 50% of all food costs, 49% of health care expenses, and 20% of all personnel costs at the school.
The content of the basic support program recognizes the importance of good nutrition and health for attendance and awareness in the class rooms and good use of the offered education.  Education is the key to a brighter future and for the children's  opportunities to become self-sufficient and productive adults.
In a January 2011 e-mail,  Rose Andersen, director of the school, reported that the students did really well in the 2010 annual Uganda Primary Leaving Examination (P.L.E.), improving grades compared with earlier. Since 2008, the school has made important achievements, including academic exellence, which Rose attributes to the basic support program.
The school has always been able to attract good and dedicated teachers and other staff who take a keen interest in supporting the school's general mission. The wage support enables an increase of teachers' earnings, which are very low and well below the level in public schools.