Update: Tragedy in Bududa
It is 3 days now since the tragedy in Bududa. In those three days, people who survived the landslide have been living in a stupor – wondering why they survived, and where to begin. The survivors know they are lucky. An REACH student survived only because she was still on her way home after a…
Disaster Strikes REACH Area: Emergency Response Needed
Yesterday we woke up to the news of a devastating landslide in Bunametsi village. Bunametsi is about 3 miles from the village of Bumwalukani where the REACH primary school is located. Both villages are located in the foothills of Mt. Elgon in eastern Uganda. After two days of continuous downpours, the hills of this area…
Emergency – Landslides in Bududa
Latest News Reports: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/873452/-/wj62c8/-/index.htmlhttps://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88319
Note from John Wanda
Following on the heels of the celebratory mood at the start of the new school year last month, March began with tragic news. Just when we were ready to send out the REACH newsletter, we got word that a major disaster had hit Bududa district in Uganda where REACH is based. On March 1, a huge landslide…
New And Returning Volunteers
Catherine Reising-Jones recently returned to Uganda for the fifth time accompanied by her husband, Jeff Jones, and brother-in- law, Peter Sims, to see that the 2010 school year starts off well. Catherine has played a major role in the secondary scholarship program and is well loved around the village. She has personally visited dozens of secondary…
Landslides near Bumwalukani Village
Last night, there were massive mudslides approximately three miles from the REACH primary school (located in the village of Bumwalukani). CNN is reporting that there are at least 100 dead and 245 people missing. The school building was not affected. We are currently talking to staff and volunteers in Uganda and will publish updates as soon…
Secondary Students Are Off
All secondary students have bid their farewells and left the village to return to their respective schools. Before the 2009 P7 students departed for their first year of secondary school there was a wonderful graduation ceremony. This ceremony congratulated the students on the impressive PLE performance, thanked their parents for their continued support, and praised…
Valentine’s Day Photo Fundraiser for REACH
We’re pleased to announce that Jessica Wallach of Portrait Playtime will be holding a Valentine’s Day Photo Fundraiser to benefit REACH on February 13, 2010 from 1-6 pm at the home of John and Joyce Wanda. This will be a fun-filled afternoon of photo sessions to mark Valentine’s Day. It’s also a great opportunity to work…
PLE Results In – REACH Students Excel
This morning, we received wonderful news. The 43 students who just graduated from REACH achieved a new milestone for our primary school. All the students scored in Division One or Division Two on the 2009 Uganda Primary Leaving Exam (PLE) and the majority of them (23 students!) scored in Division One. We are so very…
Student Stories: Georgina (P7)
In our continuing series, we bring you another composition from one of our students. Georgina, who will graduate this year, writes about her class’ school trip to the Ugandan capital of Kamapala. For most students, the field trips are their first chance to see a big city. It was on Wednesday, 16th September 2009 when…
Student Stories: Aaron (P7)
In our continuing series, we bring you stories from our students. Aaron writes a composition about his class, who will graduate REACH at the end of the year and take the Primary Leaving Exam, which will determine which secondary schools they can attend. In the past three years, 98% of students have tested into the…
World AIDS Day in Bumwalukani
On December 1, the REACH Beatrice Tierney Clinic in Bumwalukani in Bududa district in Uganda was the site of the official celebration of World AIDS Day. Senior government officials and community members gathered at the REACH school next door to celebrate the advances they have made in controlling AIDS and improving healthcare. They also celebrated…