Warmest greetings to all our supporters. This is a quick update with an end of year report from Nakulabye by Moses Zimbe, Headmaster and photos taken by Lorna Shuttleworth, a member of the FAU Exec who has family in Kampala and visited the school last month.

Nakulabye is doing well and the site has matured in the 3 years they have been on this site.

Moses reports that of the 19 students sponsored by FAU in year 7 last year 18 passed the Primary Leaving Examination. The guardian of the one student who was ungraded hopes he will go to vocational training. Sadly, although a quarter of them, with luck, will finish in Senior 4, most will drop out of education because their guardians have no resources.

There were great celebrations (above left) at the end of year with much support from the community who see Nakulabye as ‘a beacon of hope for their future’, that only through education will the next generation be able to lift themselves out of life in the slum.

The needs continue and although the children are keen to learn, in many cases they share a text book one between six (above right).

The kitchen is still in need of upgrading and although this was also a point of discussion when Robert Mortimer visited last year it remains an outstanding issue.

The classrooms still have the poor furniture (right)which was brought from the old site and this month FAU are funding £1,000 for the purchase of 9 tables, 72 chairs and 3 woven plastic mats so that all three classes in the Nursery Section can be upgraded.

WHAT NEXT?

FAU remain committed to supporting Nakulabye JS, but how best might we do that with limited resources? We took the decision to reduce over time the number of 100 individual students sponsored. Should we appeal for funds to .....

1. Top up our current support with a contribution to teachers’ pay?
   
2. Offer a scholarship to support a child through secondary education or even university?
3. Buy more text books?
4. Replace more furniture?
5. Rebuild the kitchen?
6. Seek to identify another group of the poorest, youngest children to sponsor, but can we guarantee to support them through the next 10 years at NJS?

These are just a few ideas we are considering. What do you think?
Would your school or church or friends like to raise, say £500 towards books or new furniture?

Our March transfer (over £7,000), also includes support for ACET(U) generally, work at Kitgum and the Tumaini orphanage.

GIFT AID

As many of you will know the benefit of Gift Aid will reduce from 28% to 25% from 6th April. Any donations now to boost the FAU Fund for NJS would be much appreciated to take advantage of the higher level of GA. Donations payable to ACET should be sent to:

During this Lent when we recall again the events in the life of Jesus Christ, especially in His death and resurrection may we find a renewed spirit to serve those who have so little, but who have such hope for the future. Please continue to pray for David, Paul, Emmanuel, the rest of the ACET team, Moses, the staff and especially the children of Uganda.

May I wish you all a very blessed Easter.
Robert Mortimer, FAU Convenor