Mukono gets $1m school for orphans
Apr 15, 2007
SONGS of praise are heard a kilometre away. Vision for Africa is jubilating in Kayunga village. They are inaugurating Vision for Africa Vocational Training and Technical School in Mukono.
By Joel Ogwang
SONGS of praise are heard a kilometre away. Vision for Africa is jubilating in Kayunga village. They are inaugurating Vision for Africa Vocational Training and Technical School in Mukono.
The $1m (about sh1.9b) state-of-the-art facility was started by Maria Prean, the organisation’s founder and director. The church-founded institute is located on the Mukono-Kayunga highway.
Seventy O’ and A’ Level school drop-outs have enrolled here. Adjacent to it is Vision for Africa Kindergarten and Primary school with 280 pupils. “I’m grateful to Maria for her endeavours.
For this great charity work; you will be remembered even 100 years after your death,†said Luke Orombi, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the chief guest. “She has a big heart, and all Christians should emulate her. Unfortunately, our country is riddled with corruption,†Orombi said.
The rampant corruption, especially in state agencies, he said, has denied many people access to better public services. “Public funds end up in the pockets of a few people,†noted Orombi. Construction of the facility started in 2004. “Uganda has many orphans and needy children. Most of them are bright, but can’t afford school fees,†Prean said.
“We want to give them a chance to study.†Born in 1939 in Australia, Prean served as a priest for 20 years with the Life in Christ Jesus Ministry. “I got a vision from God that I would not have my own baby, but that I would help thousands who would call me their mummy,†she said.
After living in Australia and America, Prean got married in 1988. However, six years into their marriage, her husband died of cancer. “We had a happy marriage. We were staying in Nateete, Kampala,†she said. Maria started Vision for Africa, a non-governmental organisation, in 2001.
Through her house-to-house preaching, she was nicknamed “Joyce Meyer of Australia.†With her charity idea, she raised funds and in 2004, launched Kikondo Primary School.
Over 500 orphans and needy children study at the sh190m school. She also started Fort Portal Primary School, valued at sh80m. “We also support 180 children in primary and secondary schools in Kenya,†she said. Each child has a sponsor, Prean said. Patrick Kasumba, 20, a student at the technical school, is all praises for the project. “I sat my Senior Four in 2005, but I was not able to continue with my studies because no one could sponsor me.â€
“I wanted to be an accountant, however, I am happy to be here studying carpentry and joinery,†he noted. The first intake was in March last year. Girls reported in May. Courses offered are carpentry and joinery, brick-laying and concrete practice, tailoring and cutting, pottery and ceramics as well as book-keeping and handicraft.
“The students choose what they want to study,†said Nabboth Nyandere, the principal. “We also teach religious education.†They are all two-year certificate courses examined by the Uganda National Examination’s Board. “Those who pass highly return for advanced certificates.
Peter Onyia, Prean’s assistant says the support from nearby communities has boosted the project. “Sometimes when there is shortage of water, they bring it,†he said.
The local people offered the 165 acres on which the multimillion facility stands. Maria says they plan to enrol at least 5,000 Ugandans in technical, vocational studies and primary school. Plans are underway to build a hospital, but they are still of funds.
They will start with a dispensary and then upgrade to a hospital. People in Europe and America contribute generously to the project. Maria says being a church-founded organisation, corruption and embezzlement are not tolerated.
Prean plans to build similar facilities in war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. “We will retain students who excel in their exams, to become teachers,†Maria says. “Because of the biting poverty,†she says attitude and behavioural change are pertinent in creating a wealthy start.
“We need to raise a generation that knows we are not beggars. In Christ, we are all rich. With self-belief, hard work and dedication, we can fight poverty,†Prean says.
She says this can happen if people are open to each other, work hard with faith and demystify corruption and violence.
She says people should not look at only satisfying their appetites. “I don’t earn a salary. I also prefer to be called mummy by all the 5,000 children,†she says.
SONGS of praise are heard a kilometre away. Vision for Africa is jubilating in Kayunga village. They are inaugurating Vision for Africa Vocational Training and Technical School in Mukono.
The $1m (about sh1.9b) state-of-the-art facility was started by Maria Prean, the organisation’s founder and director. The church-founded institute is located on the Mukono-Kayunga highway.
Seventy O’ and A’ Level school drop-outs have enrolled here. Adjacent to it is Vision for Africa Kindergarten and Primary school with 280 pupils. “I’m grateful to Maria for her endeavours.
For this great charity work; you will be remembered even 100 years after your death,†said Luke Orombi, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the chief guest. “She has a big heart, and all Christians should emulate her. Unfortunately, our country is riddled with corruption,†Orombi said.
The rampant corruption, especially in state agencies, he said, has denied many people access to better public services. “Public funds end up in the pockets of a few people,†noted Orombi. Construction of the facility started in 2004. “Uganda has many orphans and needy children. Most of them are bright, but can’t afford school fees,†Prean said.
“We want to give them a chance to study.†Born in 1939 in Australia, Prean served as a priest for 20 years with the Life in Christ Jesus Ministry. “I got a vision from God that I would not have my own baby, but that I would help thousands who would call me their mummy,†she said.
After living in Australia and America, Prean got married in 1988. However, six years into their marriage, her husband died of cancer. “We had a happy marriage. We were staying in Nateete, Kampala,†she said. Maria started Vision for Africa, a non-governmental organisation, in 2001.
Through her house-to-house preaching, she was nicknamed “Joyce Meyer of Australia.†With her charity idea, she raised funds and in 2004, launched Kikondo Primary School.
Over 500 orphans and needy children study at the sh190m school. She also started Fort Portal Primary School, valued at sh80m. “We also support 180 children in primary and secondary schools in Kenya,†she said. Each child has a sponsor, Prean said. Patrick Kasumba, 20, a student at the technical school, is all praises for the project. “I sat my Senior Four in 2005, but I was not able to continue with my studies because no one could sponsor me.â€
“I wanted to be an accountant, however, I am happy to be here studying carpentry and joinery,†he noted. The first intake was in March last year. Girls reported in May. Courses offered are carpentry and joinery, brick-laying and concrete practice, tailoring and cutting, pottery and ceramics as well as book-keeping and handicraft.
“The students choose what they want to study,†said Nabboth Nyandere, the principal. “We also teach religious education.†They are all two-year certificate courses examined by the Uganda National Examination’s Board. “Those who pass highly return for advanced certificates.
Peter Onyia, Prean’s assistant says the support from nearby communities has boosted the project. “Sometimes when there is shortage of water, they bring it,†he said.
The local people offered the 165 acres on which the multimillion facility stands. Maria says they plan to enrol at least 5,000 Ugandans in technical, vocational studies and primary school. Plans are underway to build a hospital, but they are still of funds.
They will start with a dispensary and then upgrade to a hospital. People in Europe and America contribute generously to the project. Maria says being a church-founded organisation, corruption and embezzlement are not tolerated.
Prean plans to build similar facilities in war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. “We will retain students who excel in their exams, to become teachers,†Maria says. “Because of the biting poverty,†she says attitude and behavioural change are pertinent in creating a wealthy start.
“We need to raise a generation that knows we are not beggars. In Christ, we are all rich. With self-belief, hard work and dedication, we can fight poverty,†Prean says.
She says this can happen if people are open to each other, work hard with faith and demystify corruption and violence.
She says people should not look at only satisfying their appetites. “I don’t earn a salary. I also prefer to be called mummy by all the 5,000 children,†she says.