My son came home from school today and told me this story, it really touched me ...

A teacher called Mr Dickens (now deceased) started fund raising and raised £26,000 pounds (along with the higher education pupils, 17 year olds)to go over to Uganda to build an orphanage for abandoned 4 to 16 year olds who were homelessorsleeping so many to a room ..... they built a house, furnished it and built a garden/patio area too.

They were only there for 3 weeks this year, last year they put the foundations down. They were in discussion with the government over there and managed to get running water and plumbing into the house. The kids had to be taught how to use the toilet ..... before this they had to walk 3 miles for fresh water ......

They have named the house John Dickens house after the teacher who passed away and started it all ....

A baby was found in the outskirts of th village and one of the students took the baby to an orphanage so that he/she would be safe ....

One of these kids spent all day building, bricklaying, all done properly, then discovered the alleyway at te side of the house was blocked with rubble ... he worked through the night carrying bucket loads of the stuff away without anyones knowlege, so that in the morning it would be clear. He was exhausted and hot and carried on working the next day.

There was not much time left and the paving hadn't been done, th teachers who went said it would have to be left ... but they all got together and finished it .....

A local Ugandan man agreed to plaster 11 rooms and the floor ... all for only £100. It was the most he'd ever earned in his life.

Next year they are going back again to build more houses for the kids....

It is for my sons year only, he is already going to Beijing as none of them knew about the dates for Uganda .... he really wants to go and is going to start fundraising to try and get there. There are many factors, including the amount of spaces for the students who want to go, finance for the volunteers and what they could each bring in order to help, ie if they are strong enough to be away from home, skills, humour, compassion etc

He is already thinking of ways to fundraise even if he cant go ...... I am so proud ..... The whole assembly were emotional when they watched the video footage back, especially the students who bonded with the children .... some of the kids had to be prized away when it was time for them to leave.....

I think more schools should get involved in this kind of thing, they have made such a difference to many peoples lives ..... 4 of the children have been sent to university (Ugandan children) from the fnds raised too ....

here is a link to some of the pics and info:

http://www.chellaston.derby.sch.uk/Uganda/08/

Jin and son

[Lenny]

Truly wonderfull stuff,,,meaningfull long term messages being passed on..a new brick for a crumbling wall...may it continue..

Lenny

[cantstopcrying]

That is so wonderful!! You should be so proud that your son is excited to get involved!

I am so proud, but also excited that things are starting to be achieved ....

My son says the people who went have come back not only changed for the better, but aware of the problems so much more, this will lead onto even bigger and better things .... and the school plans to carry this on ....

Well done Chellaston School and all involved ..... I think they are amazing .....

jin