Letter on Uganda Visit

I am from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and I have been working and living part time in Uganda for 12 years, in various capacities. I visited Kyamulinga School on 13 January 2009. This was Day Two of the construction of the new block of classrooms under the direction of Tadesse Hussein of One School At a Time. I have worked on Ugandan school projects in the past with other non-profits and we have discovered what does not work. I would like to familiarize you all with a project that is working and that is worthy of partnerships.

I met twice with Hussein earlier this month, and he explained to me the philosophy of One School at a Time. I was also able to see this philosophy at work in the village at the construction site of the school. One School does not believe in simply funding projects. They are interested in the total development of a school. They see this school development in four aspects:

• Governance: They work with the school in finance management and technical support, accounting, bookkeeping, school board. Their goal is to develop an accountable culture, and appropriate budgeting of time and money.

• Infrastructure: They work to link donor money with community resources and labor to build the infrastructure that the school needs at the pace that the community can manage. Kyamulinga is the pilot project in infrastructure for One School At A Time.

• Teacher Development: They teach them how to develop the whole child and focus on learning as a continuous process.

• Community participation: They are developing a long term strategic plan for Ky. School

Hussein works as the lone representative of One School. He lives in the village while working, staying in the home of the school owner, Joel Kattamba. They are using local labor and local resources. For example, they are making the bricks from the clay excavated from the hole for the water tank. Kyamulinga residents are providing food and labor. Hussein is very pleased with the community involvement.

I am very impressed with Hussein and One School. The American directors are out of sight, focused on the project but not on site. The face of One School is Ugandan. Hussein is effective. Because he is Ugandan, he lessens people’s anxieties. The general perception of NGOs and donors is that they come to take over. Hussein is mild, cooperative, friendly, and he works humbly along with the people. He told me about One School and Kyamulinga: “We are growing together.” They focus on capacity building and on developing the full spectrum of skills to run an effective school. They build on what the community knows and what they have.

I recommend a long-term partnership between UMES and One School.

Kathryn Barrett-Gaines, Ph.D.
Director of African and African American Studies
Associate Professor of History
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD 21853
Hazel Hall 3010