A blog post by Peace Uwimana
We as Rubanda solidarity school, we are very grateful and excited for this wonderful World reader program in our school.
Between February 5-7, Rubanda solidarity pre and primary school had a training and launch for 61 e-readers in the school. The training and launch of the Program was attended by students, teachers and staff, community members, and honorable guests.
How did students receive the new program?
The students were very happy to hear that they were also going to use the E-readers though most of them look them to be Televisions because what they only see are Televisions when given a chance to go to rich homes. The students were like we are going to be like those Kampala children whom we see on Christmas. To some of the children who get chance to watch Television; they were like we shall also watch cartoons.
One of the students called Ayebare Precious said that one day she tried to write on chalk board but when she stood she could not even reach where two sentences can fit, so she got a chair and stood on it and then she tried to write but within a short time her arm was almost falling down to the ground. So she was saying with E-readers its only touching then she can do better no matter what the height may be.
Another student called Twinomujuni Michael also said that; these E-readers are very important for her because buying books was becoming expensive for some of their parents but now they are very lucky that they are going to be using E-readers as reading materials.
“Since I have known how to use E-reader, when I reach home I will tell my parents to buy for me a touch screen smart phone, my elder brother has one and I see no difference,” Ruhangariho Methodius said.
The head prefect of the school said, “We are happy to have received this. To us, it sounds as luck and a blessing because it will help us fit in this technological world which is developing day by day. To us, it has sounded as a dream come true because we never. One time wake up and thought that this will ever happen in our lives. We thank our Almighty God who opened these people’s minds to think of us and bring for us this knowledgeable technology because it will help us know what is taking place in the world. My fellow students help and we thank these people a thunderous hand clap (students appreciates these people by clapping their hands). May God richly bless you. For God and my country.
Children showing off their new Kindles
Students receiving training on the use of their new Kindles
w did teachers receive this new program?
The teachers welcomed the idea warmly and they said that, they are going to put more efforts in gaining the skill so as at least to reduce the quantity of chalk they consume that even makes them dirty and sick.
One of the teachers called Amos said that, “it has not been common to find a pre and primary school being considered up to this extent, if there could be a chance, it could only be in universities and may be in secondary schools, but we are now very happy! We are going to use them accordingly.”
Joan checking that every reader was charged
Teachers receiving training on the new Kindles
The managers
The managers started by thanking and welcoming everyone who was present and he highlighted the people about how the E-readers works, the benefits and the proposed people to use them. Among the things they talked about was encouraging both students and teachers to use these E-readers in a appropriate way, not to use dirty or wet hands, not sitting on them, they also advised female teachers not to be putting the E-readers in a bag that contains many things so as not to break them.
The leaders of the school showing off the new devices
Guest of honor
One of the guests of honor presenting a certificate after the training
Another training certificate is presented
Engineer Denis Sabiti thanking Yamba Abaana USA and WorldReader organization.
Some of the individuals who attended the launch were Mr. Denis Sabiti an engineer who works with Uganda National Roads Association (UNRA) he was very happy of the way the school is getting introduced to technology and for that matter, he also donated a computer of 1,500,000 Uganda shillings to the school, the LCV chairperson of Kabale district by the names of Mrs Mary Sebwajuba who was the guest of honor contributed 200,000 Uganda shillings to the school, there is another engineer who promised to work hand in hand with the government of Uganda and bring water in the school, the LC3 chairperson of Rubanda sub county also gave the school a sack of cement.
The number of students who were trained was 141 students (this was a combination of primary 4, 5, 6, and 7 both boys and girls). 14 teachers were also trained excluding me Peace Uwimana and Bonivanture Tukamushaba. Among teachers who were trained, we had 6 gentlemen and 8 ladies.
During the launch, there was a local presenter who was present by the names of Anthony Kushaba a journalist, he really made it because the next day after the launch, news would be over the radios, on most of radio stations in western part of Uganda.
There was to be a cultural performance at the launch but due fact that they were caught by time, the cultural performance was not performed because students who were to perform, had gone for lunch and others were still excited about the launch and were only in groups seeing what was happening.
From here we ended with a prayer led by Father Fortunate followed by lunch.