The Problem

Located at Buteza trading center on the foothills of Mountain Elgon in Eastern Uganda, Umar Islamic Primary School was is an example of poor rural community schools. The structures were made of mud and wattle, with a dusty dirt floor that was a breeding place for jiggers. How we can expect teachers to teach and children to learn in a school like this?

I hope you agree with me that before we can talk about other aspects of quality education including teachers’ skills, textbooks, and other materials, children need a reasonable school building. I’m sorry to say this, but the structures they had before were not even fit for animals like cows, goats, and sheep.

We often hear that children are the future of the nation and that they are the leaders of tomorrow. This will not happen if they are not educated. In Uganda, the government has established very few schools. Most of the schools have been established by communities and religious organizations. 

In the rural areas where the majority of the people are so poor that they live on less than 2 USD a day, community schools are usually very poor. With such schools, children are caught in a vicious cycle of poverty. There is no way they can acquire the knowledge and skills required to participate in a 21st-century economy.

The Solution

The solution was to construct a reasonable permanent structure. Alhamdulillah, friends from Malaysia helped provide funds to start the construction of a six-classroom block. 
In a meeting with the community leaders, it was agreed that the sponsors would help buy materials and equipment and pay the skilled builders to construct the building. The community members agreed to provide unskilled workers to help the builders and contribute to any building materials that are available in the community.

We immediately demolished the old structures and started work on the new block comprising six classrooms.

To date, we have completed laying the foundation and erecting the building up to the roofing stage. What remains now is roofing, plastering the walls and finishing floor, and installing doors and windows.

How You Can Help

We are hereby seeking your contribution to help us complete this school and provide the children with suitable learning facilities.

Here are the items we need to complete the classrooms.
1. Roofing
Iron sheets                        150 X 15 USD = 2,250 USD

Timber and other roofing materials      = 2,000 USD

Labour                                                         = 1,000 USD

2. Plastering and Floor
Cement             200 bags X 10 USD                    2,000 USD
River sand             6 trucks X 100 USD                   600 USD
Lake sand             6 trucks X 100 USD                   600 USD
Coarse gravel            6 trucks X 100 USD              600 USD
Labour                                  1600 USD

3. Windows and Doors
Door frames 6 X 56 USD                                   336 USD
Doors                6 X 150 USD                             900 USD
Window frames and glass     3 X 6 X 150 USD         2700 USD
Labour                                                                  600 USD
GRAND TOTAL                                                  15,186 USD   

Conclusion

Imagine the rewards you will reap when you contribute to a school that imparts useful religious and worldly knowledge to children. Every time they do a good deed, you get a share, as long as the school lasts!  I can't think of a more profitable investment. 

The Prophet (SAW) said: “When the human being dies, his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him"

Mu’adh ibn Anas reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever imparts knowledge will have the reward of whoever acted upon it, without detracting from the reward of one who acted.”  Sunan Ibn Mājah