Haileybury Youth Trust

Lower School Eat Cakes for HYT!

2012-02-10T10:14:00.005+03:00

Members of the Lower School enthusiastically baked, bought and ate cakes this week, as part of their fund-raising campaign for HYT. Having had a hugely successful sponsored walk in November, which raised in excess of £5000 for a new classroom in Namaganda Primary School, it is hoped the cake sale will raise sufficient funds for HYT's Ugandan team to supply the classroom with new furniture. Most children currently sit on the earth floor for their lessons. 'It is terrific to see the excitement created by both the walk and cake sale, togetherwith the desire to support HYT and young Ugandans,' said Laura Pugsley, Head of Lower School.

HYT announces partnership with Bujagali Trust

2012-02-01T15:39:00.005+03:00

HYT begins work this week assisting another Jinja-based charity, the Bujagali Trust, in a major project in the impoverished village of Mutai, in Kamuli District.

HYT will help the Bujagali Trust transform Mutai Secondary School with a programme of renovation and building, that will include a new examination hall, classroom and HYT-designed kitchen, complete with fuel-efficient stoves.

Philip Yiga, HYT’s Senior Trainer, will be the site’s project manager, while as many as 20 of HYT’s locally-trained builders and masons will undertake the construction work.

‘This project will enable more young Ugandans to use the skills HYT has given them, while benefiting another poor school community,’ says HYT’s Coordinator, Russell Matcham.

‘It will also generate income for these HYT-trained men and extend our experience and exposure in a number of important areas.’

Drawings for planned project

Naminya's Kitchen Put to Use by Ryan and Rebecca

2012-01-20T12:04:00.007+03:00

Yesterday saw our second visit to the newly built kitchen at Naminya Primary School. This was the first opportunity to test the efficiency of our new energy saving stoves. After collecting and trying to chop the firewood, the stove was lit and cooking began. In order to test the stove we timed how long it took to boil a jerry can of water. It took 20 minutes to boil, where before it took at least an hour.

Two Naminya children enjoying their lunch outside the kitchen.

We rounded off the morning with the Naminya cooks preparing a lunch of sweet potato with silver fish sauce. Although there are some minor adjustments to be made, the new kitchen was a success; no trees were burnt during the construction process; there will be lower carbon emissions; the cost of production was heavily reduced; and the kitchen is a lot safer for the children.

Thank you to Batten House for funding the project, we look forward to the opening ceremony on the 3rd of February.

First Day with HYT

2012-01-16T14:15:00.004+03:00

Hi, we are Ryan and Rebecca the latest HYT volunteers from Haileybury School. Today we experienced our first “working” day of the six months we are out in Uganda. After some office administration work in the morning, we started our afternoon with a visit to Naminya where HYT has recently built a new kitchen for the primary school. Seeing the contrast between the previous kitchen ( a small sheltered area on the grass) with the new brick kitchen equipped with HYT’s own energy saving stoves, quickly demonstrated to us how much the work HYT does can help communities in Uganda.

The previous kitchen at Naminya Primary School

The newly built HYT kitchen block at Naminya

We look forward to returning next Thursday to test the new stove as we hope it will be the first of many to come; saving one third of the firewood needed for a normal oven and costing much less to produce.

Next, we went to see HELP International School in Masese Village where HYT has recently finished construction on a two water tanks, a classroom block and a kitchen. Having seen the work that has been achieved there and meeting some of the children who benefit from it, we can’t wait to go to Namaganda Village ( one of HYT’s current sites) next week and get stuck in.

Uganda Revisited

2011-11-15T16:12:00.007+03:00

Vanessa Farnfield is a hard working, fundraising Trustee of HYT. Some months ago, she invited me to join her on her 4^th visit to Uganda on HYT business. This I was delighted to do, not least because I had, some 20+ years ago, come here as part of a small research team assessing the financial consequences of the Amin era on the country’s health services –that had been the jewel in Africa’s crown! President Museveni had recently come to power and the IMF were offering investment in the decimated facilities. A chance to revisit was irresistible!

Arriving in Kampala, our first afternoon was spent with two delightful past students from Lord’s Mead School, Angela and Sylvia, a trainee accountant and nurse respectively. Sylvia offered a tour of the capital’s main teaching hospital, Mulago. This I immediately recognized from my previous visit recalling being challenged by a seriously armed guard as I tried to take a photo in the entrance hall! How times have changed for the better, the hospital is bright, busy, well equipped with modern beds, well stocked pharmacy and high tech diagnostics commensurate with its teaching status.

Vanessa (Trustee), Wendy (Author) and Matt (Recent Volunteer) visiting the site of HYT's first 'One Village at a Time' project.

As we travelled from Kampala to Jinja a few days later, we were able to meet up with another ex-pupil, Elizabeth, at the children’s nursery, Active Angel, where she now works. The clue was in the name; 3 classes of happy Ugandan children as adorable as only 4-6 year olds can be in their uniforms of baggy green shorts and bright yellow T-shirts!! They were full of fun and energy, but from their work books and the teacher’s lesson plans, they were making real progress with reading and writing English.

Once in Jinja, we met up with Sam (HYT General Manager) and the others at the HYT house/office and were straight out on the job with him: brick presses needed moving between sites. You have to experience the roads here to appreciate why the 4x4 pick up is essential; roads are dirt tracks, deeply rutted by the rain. As we bumped along we passed small hamlets of mud huts with straw roofs, corrugated shacks and occasional brick single storey homes, none with running water and rarely with electricity.

School was out by the time we arrived, but many pupils were playing outside, football with a ragged ball or chattering, eyeing us curiously. It was muddy, the children poorly dressed, some in uniform but happy and healthy with infectious grins and dazzlingly white teeth. The Headmaster showed us proudly round the 5 bare classrooms equipped with only benches and blackboards. He showed us their work books piled up in his office for marking and the standard seemed high and the writing neat, but there were few textbooks. One of the blackboards was full of relevant learning about the causes of diseases, headed by of course, mosquitoes! Free schooling is now available to all under 12s although may still have to travel 10’s of kilometers to reach one. A midday meal is prepared albeit cooked on an open fire partly screened by 3 wooden panels. No wonder burns were such a problem for patients at Mulago Hospital. HYT are moving the water storage tank closer to this cooking area.

This year's graduates proudly presenting their first piece of ISSB work without HYT's supervision.

The ISSB press was loaded and we set off through miles and miles of sugar cane plantation to the next HYT project site. Sugar is one of Uganda’s main exports, mainly to Kenya and seems well organized with camps for workers and families. But we were told it’s hard and sooty work as the canes are burnt to help cutting.

As we drove past more and more scattered villages, there was an evening bustle of cooking the evening meal outside and trading of modest provisions, tomatoes, cabbage, apples. Water is carried by hand and head from the well and washing is in communal areas complete with pit latrines. A basic, simple and tough life by anyone’s standards but with curious trappings of Western life, particularly the need to own a mobile phone!

The second school was a senior school and so was much bigger with 3 long, low buildings plus separate space for the teachers. The work done here by HYT was impressive and included a brick kitchen with metal roof, energy saving stoves and a chimney plus 2 large water storage tanks to collect rainwater running off the roof.

The nearby Nursery building had also been completely built by HYT, an L-shaped building smartly rendered and painted yellow. The female Head walked over to talk to us followed by another gaggle of giggling, shy tots barely dressed in rags but full of life and fun…. Heartbreaking!

Local children at the 2nd 'One Village at a Time' site

HYT’s work on this site is now complete, the press ready for collection, and true testimony to HYT’s aim of making a real difference, One Village at a Time.

The third school that day was to check the progress of the new trainee masons who were building new pit latrines for a nearby government secondary school. We met Philip the construction training supervisor. Vanessa’s following blog will tell you later more about his success and how he values his job with HYT, not least of all because he is now paid regularly (not so for many workers, including public sector). Trainee masons live on the job, fed and given shelter by the local villagers as an affordable contribution for the work done by HYT. (‘free-aid’ is almost always damaging here and HYT always works WITH and never FOR its beneficiaries.) There are now more than 30 trained masons and they are paid a daily rate while working on projects.

An ISSB bench built by local secondary school students in free time provides a nice place to sit under a mango tree in front of the new HYT nursery block in Kizigo.

as HYT should be rightly proud of its success not only in delivering vital projects in remote locations but in creating sustainable employment for skilled people. The heads of schools were all full of praise and thanks for the work done and the consequent improvement in facilities. Education is the only hope for the children of Uganda, as testified by the young people we met from Lord’s Mead School and elsewhere, and HYT is making a demonstrable and very practical contribution.

Very best of luck to all concerned and thank you for letting me have this brief glimpse of your work.

Wendy Hull, Oct 2011

End of Volunteering Thoughts

2011-11-01T15:33:00.014+03:00

My name is Matt Ellis and I have been in Uganda for 6 weeks, helping HYT with their work and learning about how charities operate in Uganda. For me it has been very interesting to see firsthand how the HYT projects have benefited the schools and villages they encompass. The latest project is Namaganda Primary School which is the third village in the one village a time program. This school is in a particularly bad way as you can see form the pictures below;

Building currently used as a kitchen to feed over over 350 primary school children.

This shows the kitchen on the left and the office plus classrooms on the right.

So after discussion with the school and community, HYT agreed to first renovate the main classroom block, (see progress below). In addition, HYT are planning to build a new classroom block with office and store for the school to replace the unsafe structures. The current structures were condemned to be demolished in 2002 but poverty in this remote part of Uganda has meant that children are still forced to study in the unsafe, dark and cramped building.

Before renovation.

After the first week of restoration work.

As you can see after only one week there has been a huge difference, and more importantly this week the students have their exams and for the first time on a concrete floor rather than dirt. This will mean that for the first time, the students will have sturdy, level desks on which to take their final primary school exams.

Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks at the CITIES exhibition

2011-10-20T12:33:00.007+03:00

We are delighted to let you know that HYT's unique technology, the Interlocking Stabilised Soil Block, is currently featured in an exhibition for the National Design Museum of New York, a subsidiary of the world-famous Smithsonian Institution. The exhibition, 'Designs for the other 90%', includes designs for sustainable construction in the developing world and is on show at the United Nations building in New York until January.

CLICK HERE for higher quality video and more information

2011-09-29T12:44:00.002+03:00

Former trainee, now ISSB mason, Musa has learned a new trade over the past 10 months and graduated from our training course with flying colours. He is now capable of designing and building structures with the environmentally friendly technology he was trained in.

HYT have left 2 ISSB presses in the area and Musa says “I hope to find some money and use ISSB to continue to develop our place here. I would like to start in my own home”.

Elizabeth is the cook at Kizigo Secondary school. She “loves the new school kitchen and store” as it has given her a cleaner and more pleasant working environment.

A senior girl commented that “we are pleased with our new kitchen; now our food is ready for us to eat when we break from lessons.”

Juma is 7 years old and goes to Marinatha Primary School in Kizigo Village. He is still learning to speak English but loves his new classroom because it is cooler, larger and less dusty than the temporary structure he worked in before HYT built the new nursery block .

'One Village at a Time' Project 2 - Complete

2011-09-20T14:49:00.007+03:00

Working conditions for the 6 to 9 year-olds at Marinatha Primary School before HYT arrived.

The outside of the old nursery sturcture

Children emerging from their new HYT nursery block at break time. Despite the colour of her clothing on the day, the deputy head mistress (right central) is not to be confused as one of the students!

Kids working with their new pencils (donated by HYT volunteers) in one of 3 new classrooms.

An example of the improvement in working conditions for these pupils when compared with the photograph at the top, taken just 6 months earlier.

2011-09-20T09:54:00.010+03:00

Kids from Marinatha Primary School, Kizigo collecting water from the new Trevelyan rain water harvest tank.

Secondary school students no longer have to walk a kilometer to fetch water for drinking, cooking and washing thanks to the Edmonstone rain water harvest tank.

This shack was used to cook lunch for up to 400 people per day.

The new ISSB kitchen complete with energy saving stoves. This was the first construction practice for the 2011 trainees. A great achievement! The kitchen is also fitted with energy saving stoves that should help reduce the use of firewood by 30 - 40%

Girls from Kizigo S.S.S enjoying lunch from the new Haileybury Lower School Kitchen.

Graduation Ceremony in Kizigo by Matt Ellis

2011-09-12T11:21:00.008+03:00

Hi i'm Matt, HYT's latest volunteer for 6 weeks in Jinja Uganda. I landed on Friday and was immediately whisked off to a graduation ceremony by Sam the Country Manager. As well as to mark the graduation of HYT's trainees, this ceremony was for the village to say thank you for the work HYT had done over the last year; it was a real eye opener for me as the reality of a Uganda village hit me. The people were very happy and grateful to see us and had planned an extensive program of speeches, planting memorial trees and great local food. We also needed to give out certificates to young Ugandans that had completed the ISSB training program with HYT. These certificates should help them to get a job or into university in the future.

Graduates from the HYT trianing program next to a HYT water tank

Phil (HYT building teacher) passing gifts from the village to Sam

Young Ugandans sitting on a HYT bench with a shade

Me planting a tree as a traditional remembrance of HYTs work

HYT goes international with the Rotary Foundation

2011-08-31T19:05:00.009+03:00

HYT is to work in partnership with the Rotary Club of Marlow and its sister clubs in La Celle St Cloud (Paris), Binche (Belgium), Venice Mestre (Italy) and Jinja, Uganda, on a programme of training and construction, which will bring clean water and sanitation to three villages in rural Uganda. We are delighted to be working with the Rotarians in these clubs and look forward to a fruitful and enduring partnership.

Children in Jinja district carrying water from the River Nile. Drinking the water often leads to serious illness and collecting it can cost the children valuable studying time. The collaboration of Rotary groups and HYT will help to address problems like this.

Return to the Pearl.

2011-07-18T12:52:00.003+03:00

Ben Daniels was the first Haileybury student to come to Uganda to volunteer with HYT. Here he recounts his return, now in an official capacity as a trustee, and highlights where HYT is now compared to 4 years ago.

Arriving in January 2007 the Haileybury Youth Trust was tentatively dipping its metaphorically timid, new and ambitious toe in the water of a new sustainable, environmentally conscientious construction technology. With projects mainly based at Lords Meade Vocational College, we were a small charity, with big ideas. We finished a double classroom block and 2 water tanks, and began to do small bits and pieces in and around the Jinja area.

As the 6 months progressed it became clear that the potential of ISSB (Interlocking Stabilised Soil Blocks) far outstretched what we could do with our minimal resources. Although by saying this I do not mean that what we were capable of doing, and indeed were doing was not impressive, extremely worthwhile and needed. It was the fact that our resources were being pushed to the max, and we thought our potential was not being realised – we needed to adapt and our experience of the first 2 years meant that we were perfectly capable of doing so.

Over the next two years, therefore, we began to change. Keeping our ethos of giving Ugandans a hand up not a hand out, creating a sense of worth and ownership in what we do, we decided to concentrate our work in one place, almost like we started at Lords Meade, but on a more detailed and wholesome account.

Helen Goddard joined the ranks of HYT as Country Manager in 2008, and began the process, in consultation with the re-imaged board of Trustees and under the direction of the Director Russell Matcham back in the UK, to reform HYT. In a few months One Village at a Time was our new focus and a new plan of action was formed. Thus began the fundraising, which continues with vigour today.

So how is One Village at a Time different?

By working with the chosen village, HYT are able to build and support the local community in a way that is inclusive and worthwhile. We help in a way that enables the beneficiaries to continue to support themselves and others for the future. Be it by reducing school running costs (by building efficient kitchens, for example) thereby reducing running costs and enabling a better education and attendance rate, or by reducing the amount of time the youth spend collecting water thereby enabling them to spend longer at school and improve their future potential.

We aim to create a sustainable difference, one that will survive and is applicable to the place we are in. For example, in 3Rs Secondary School in Kasokaso, we provided a counselling room. By creating a secure space, away from the masses, students and teachers are able to help support their peers and protégés through support, encouragement and confidential advice. The support is thriving: they have a very willing and extensive peer support network that has spread to a much wider level through a national peer support scheme. They have also reduced the amount they spend on firewood by over half after we introduced environmental stoves, which have had multiple benefits. 1) They have reduced their cooking costs, 2) Many more children can eat at school, therefore attendance has increased, 3) The environmental savings are huge, 4) The cooks are now much happier and healthier due to the reduction in smoke inhalation and cooking time.

There are hurdles, however, and we would be uneasy if there weren’t any! Translating our western concept of community and village inclusivity onto a Ugandan environment is a very abstract concept. We might sometimes assume that creating a public building or water tank would be hugely beneficial, but sometimes could be more divisive that inclusive. The rural nature of the places we work means that there is generally no central area of the village – the most central you might get is a market place, but these are very transient. They generally occupy the spaces outside people’s small shops or the side of the nearest main road. Unless it is in a larger village there is no ‘marketplace’. Building a water tank or store, for example, where the market may lie is much more beneficial if there were a set trading area. So we must adapt. In the future we are looking at creating a dedicated trading area that can aid everyone.

By introducing public benches, for example, made out of ISSB and leaving 2 sides un-plastered, the local community come to see the materials more and more. By educating the schools that we have stayed at, their students and most importantly training the local young builders to build with ISSB, we are able to begin to create an atmosphere that is very accepting to ISSB. When people begin to learn the benefits of ISSB – cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and more aesthetically pleasing (among others), interest spreads.

In a way that some people find strange, we don’t just build things for free. By just going to a village or school and providing a hand out charity creates dependence, and dependence is the most reductive and limiting thing we could create. If there is no ownership then the future will hold problems. Rather than a hand out, we aim to give a hand up. Whether it is a bag of cement, accommodation, food for workers, the taps for a tank, the school and village are encouraged to involve themselves. This ownership lays a foundation for the future – if a water tank needs cleaning, a tap replacing, a step replacing or a gutter fixing, the community comes together – it’s theirs, and benefits everyone long into the future.

In the same vain, educating the local students through setting up an ISSB club, and using local labour is key to what we do. In Kasokaso the trainees (who are all under 24), as you can read on our blog, are now beginning private work on the back of their training with HYT. They are believers in ISSB, and hopefully their work will now go from strength to strength. They will be able to earn a healthy living, provide for their children to get a good education and at the same time preserve Uganda’s beautiful and rich landscape.

The change is slow, but there is change. Every week people come to the HYT office to ask about HYT, ISSB and how they can be involved. It is true though, that being small still is sometimes a frustration, but from what I could see from my short return is that this is actually one of the strengths of HYT. We have a very personal and attentive approach – and staying in the villages for 6 months plus is a key part of this. With the excellent work of our full time staff– Sam, Philip and Fred our size is no hindrance to the work we take on. Of course, if we could do more that would be fantastic, but this is not a downside to HYT. What we do is considered, careful, worthwhile, sustainable and beneficial. Every brick means that another child can attend school, eat a hot meal for lunch or drink clean water. By including the community in any way we can, Ugandans can help themselves to help their environment, their youth and their future. HYT is a sustainable and changing charity, and is helping Uganda and Ugandans prepare for the years ahead in the best way possible.

HYT 24km run from Kizigo Village to Jinja

2011-07-01T10:53:00.007+03:00

On the 18th of June the HYT team ran or cycled the 24km dusty road from Kizigo Village to the HYT office in Jinja. The aim of the event was to raise money for HYT's second 'One Village at a Time'. The day was hugely successful with around 27 people taking part; 22 people ran and 5 cycled. Participants did not only include all the HYT staff (Sam, Philip, Fred, Alex and James) and the trainees from Kizigo but also the Director and Cook of Kizigo Secondary, a number of pupils and various friends of HYT. A police escort saw us through the whole event. Although not a competitive event, all made extremely good times with the cyclists completing it in roughly one hour and a half and the first of the runners in one hour and 50 minutes. One runner even

ran the whole way in wellies!

On reaching Jinja, after cooling down and freshening up, we all enjoyed a fantastic brunch of sausages, bacon and eggs. The HYT trainees then had the pleasure£2 of going into town for a couple of hours ( a rare treat as most will only get to go to Jinja once or twice a year at most) before being driven back to home in the village.

HYT is proud to say that we have reached our target of £2000 and surpassed it, raising £2221 so far. The JustGiving page is still open and any further donations would be greatly appreciated.

Please donate at www.justgiving.com/teams/hyt24kmrun-cycle

Where are they now?

2011-06-15T13:17:00.008+03:00

Happy children in their new kitchen at Masese Primary School

Over the past five years HYT has helped many people in poorer communities. Whilst doing so we have also trained tens of young individuals in the art of ISSB block making construction. One of the biggest problems Uganda faces in its development is unemployment. For this reason, HYT strives to ensure many of its graduates find work once their training is complete. Some of the graduates may find work in schools and community projects, others in private employment while the majority taken on by other development organisations.

John III (team leader) and James (Ugandan gap year) head a team of last year’s graduates from 3R’s Kasokoso. They have so far built a 30,000 litre water tank at a private boarding school and are currently in the process of building a two storey office block in Bukaya. This is one of HYT’s greatest success stories as these previously unemployed individuals now have a prosperous future ahead of them.

The 30,000 litre water tank at Cranes College, Lugazi

Alex and Sowedi, some of the earliest HYT trainees, have been working for the past six months for another NGO both training their team in ISSB masonry and building a community centre including hall, office and store. This project is nearing completion and it is extremely encouraging to see skills in ISSB knowledge being passed on.

Alex and Sowedi leading work in Wankole on the village hall.

Mike and Yeko’s career with HYT dates back a number of years. They are currently providing training and expertise in the use of ISSB for HELP International in Masese, Jinja. Here they have used the technology in new and exciting ways including a sheltered but ventilated kitchen and dining area. They have also adapted an existing warehouse structure to create a six room classroom block.

Cooks in the new covered but open kitchen dining area in Masese. The danger of smoke inhalation is almost completely non existent and the children will be able to enjoy a meal in a hygienic area out of the sun.

HYT will continue to support all of their graduates once their training is complete. We thank and congratulate those individuals who have shown the initiative and drive to create a great example for those in years to come.

New Nursery in Maranatha Movement

2011-05-30T15:08:00.004+03:00

James helping dig the nursery foundation.

The construction of the nursery at Maranatha Primary School, Kizigo, is well underway. The foundation was dug last week and the hardcores put in place ready for the concrete to be laid this week. Not only that but brick making is close to completion with about 6,000 bricks already made. One energy saving stove was installed in the kitchen at Maranatha last week. This stove is predominantly going to be used to boil the water required to make porridge and posho.

Maranatha students enjoying some posho and beans for lunch.

The kitchen at Kizigo Secondary School has had its first week of full usage during a busy first week of term. The cook is enjoying how easy and efficient the stoves are to operate compared to the wood fires previously used for cooking. This week the two 20,000 litre water tanks at the school are to be painted by James, Alex, Richard, Annette, Sam and Phoebe. Sam and Phoebe are 2 gap year students, staying at the Busoga Trust Guest house with James and Alex, who will be helping out in the village this week.

Mama Macho hard at work in the new kitchen.

On the 18th of June, HYT is planning a 24km run/cycle from the HQ in Jinja to Kizigo. The aim of this event will be to fund raise for the next 'One Village at a Time'. the event will be undertaken not only by James and Alex but also all the trainees of Kizigo village and friends. Any support, however great of small, would be greatly appreciated and will go towards completing our ambitious target of £2,000. For more information please visit http://www.justgiving.com/teams/hyt24kmrun-cycle/ .

Haileybury teachers to endure physical challenge in aid of HYT

2011-05-24T16:12:00.008+03:00

Three countries, over 10,000ft of climbing and 500 miles cycling in just 72 hours - that is the challenge that two teachers at Haileybury, along with four friends, are about to undertake in the name of charity.

Biology teacher Richard Williams and Economics teacher John Whitworth will attempt the Three Peaks Challenge for two charities, including HYT next month.

Starting on Wednesday, 1 June, they will attempt to climb the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales by foot, then cycle between each peak, all within 72 hours.

John has already undertaken half Ironmans while Richard has done some of the hardest marathons in the world, so both men are used to physical endurance.

“Having done many different physical challenges, I dreamt up various new ones that would push us beyond the usual charity endeavours,” explains Richard.

The team’s fundraising target is £10,000. “This is quite a steep target but one which we think is realistic given the huge task involved and the physical pain we're going to go through – it’s worth £10 of anybody's money!”

If anyone would like to sponsor the team, please go to http://threepeakscycle.weebly.com/ for further information.

'Gappies'

2011-05-15T14:50:00.013+03:00

Many of our supporters are well aware of our gap year scheme in which two recent Haileybury leavers volunteer to go to Uganda for 6 months each year. Perhaps lesser-known are their Ugandan counterparts. In each village we work in, we take on two young and enthusiastic school leavers to work closely with our team, the trainees and our UK gap-students.

Our trainee team bonding over some volley ball in Kizzigo. 2011 gap year student Richard can be seen in the pink top, volley ball 'pro' Fredo (Snr. Trainer) in front and the newly completed Haileybury Lower School funded kitchen beyond.

James and Winfred (Winni to her friends) of Kasokoso were the first young Ugandans to take part in our gap year scheme. They set the bar high in terms of their hard work, enthusiasm and unrelenting cheerfulness. Winni developed her strong creative skills and was able to overcome local gender-based stereotypes by making blocks alongside the boys and men. James has used his new ISSB skills to keep himself employed to date. He has even been able to earn enough money to support himself at university in September. Both formed great friendships with Tom Hicks and Marianne Kennedy, last years UK Gappies.

Richard Segobi

Richard is 18 years old. He lives with his 4 sisters, 2 brothers and parents in the next village to Kizigo. Ever the joker he often helps to keep the team in high spirits when work is tough. He left Kizigo Secondary School in 2010 and says he wanted join HYT because he "was interested in the new technology and wanted to use it to help his friends and family once training was complete."

Richard using his newly acquired plastering skills.

"My duties together with Annette are to make the English gap students feel happy and welcome" says Richard. "Together we run the ISSB club when we are not helping the trainees with building work".

"Working with HYT has taught me many new skills and helped me to make some English friends."

In the evening Richard walks nearly 5 miles to his home and likes to help his father look after the cows. Whenever their is time he loves to play volley ball with the team and even enjoys kick-boxing! We hope he will continue to be a strong player in the HYT family.

Ndibalekera Annette

Annette is 20 years old and a very caring and positive young lady. Unlike Richard, Annette lives in Kizigo itself and as such has an easy walk to the schools in which the trainees are working. Annette comes from a large family of 3 brothers and 5 sisters, one of which is in Senior 6 at Kizigo S.S. Annette wanted to join HYT because she wanted to broaden her horizons for future employment in order to keep her options open.

Alex, Annette, James and Richard working hard in Kizigo

"HYT has taught me about the importance of looking after our environment. I have also learned a lot about Europe although I have not yet been there."

During her free time Annette loves to read and cook. She is also an intellectual person and hopes to use the money she earns through ISSB to help her go to university next year.

Annette with Philip (Senior Trainer) learning how to teach others in masonry skills.

Lunch Time!

2011-05-03T08:34:00.016+03:00

The beautiful new kitchen on it's first day of use

Thursday 21st April marked the official opening of HYT's work in Kizzigo Secondary School (part of the second village in our One Village at a Time scheme).

A guided tour of the site lead by senior-trainer Philip showed community members the brand new kitchen complete with food store, hygienic serving hatch, ample ventilation and three energy saving stoves. Much appreciation was shown for the students and associates of Haileybury Lower School who kindly worked hard and gave generously to raise the funds with which to build it. It is now intended that the savings in firewood maybe off-set against the sharply rising food prices in Uganda. This will mean that more students are able to afford a hot, punctual and hygienically produced meal during the day.

HYT's senior training supervisor Philip Yiga estimates that fire wood consumption should be reduced by at least 30% but would hope for even better results!

Next, community members were shown the two 20,000litre water tanks designed to dramatically reduce the learning time lost by students in the collection of water from the local well. The local trainees were also able to demonstrate the new and valuable skills they had learned in using ISSB technology.

All enjoyed a special Ugandan lunch of rice, posho, beans, cabbage and goat-stew cooked (for the first time) in the new kitchen.

The cook using the new equipment for the first time.

Some quotes from the day...

"I am very grateful for our new place of work", "the facilities now are better than of any school I know and the smoke no longer disturbs us as we work!" - KSS Cook.

"This is a great step in the right direction," the chair of the PTA remarked. "We are truly grateful for your work and this new technology which has helped our schools and will help us to preserve the trees in our environment."

The serving hatch in the new kitchen replaces a system where previously bowls were laid out on the floor. Two of the 3 energy saving stoves can be seen with their chimneys behind. The kitchen has been designed with ample ventilation with mind for the users' health.

The unveiling

"I hope that we can collect water from the new tanks at my school so that we will no longer be required to fetch water from that well"- Senior 3 girl.

"We are certain that the academic performance of the school will also positively change now that less time is wasted in water collection." - Anthony, Director of KSS.

Kizzigo Kitchen completed!

2011-03-28T16:40:00.010+03:00

The newly constructed 20,000 litre water tank before it had been roofed and plastered.

The kitchen has now been completed at Kizzigo, with now only the finishing touches left to do. These include the shelves being built in the store room and the installement of the 3 energy saving stoves which is due to all take place next week. One of the 20,000 Litre water tanks has also been erected and roofed and now just needs to be left for the concrete to set. This means that in about 3 weeks time both the kitchen and the water tank should be fully functioning.

Last week the trainees also started brick making for the new classroom block. This classroom block is being built to replace Kizzigo's current nursery which is a very basic wooden shed. The classroom block is going to require around 5,000 bricks and so we hope that the bricks should all be made in the next 3 weeks. In addition the trainees built the concrete slab for the second 20,000 litre water tank.

The trainees hard at work constructing the new concrete slab.

Two weeks ago also saw the start of the construction of a 10,000 Litre water tank at Valley View. Fred is the project manager for the task and so he should gain some invaluable experience as it is only his second solo operation. In that same week, James, Richard and Annette-with the help of chris (one of the trainees)-built their second ISSB bench. They also held the first ISSB club session and the club will be pulling their first bricks next week.

Some of the Kizzigo staff sitting on the newly built ISSB bench.

2011-03-15T13:25:00.015+03:00

The Ugandan and English gap year team will soon be training local school students in ISSB construction in the newly established ISSB club. They recently constructed this bench with the help of some trainees, under the guidance of Philip (HYT's Training Supervisor).

Work at Kizzigo is progressing well with the first of the 20,000 water tanks well underway and the foundation started for the second. The kitchen is nearing completion. 3 energy saving stoves have been purchased which will reduce the amount of fire wood consumption dramatically.

Training in bench construction before the launch of Kizzigo Student's ISSB club.

During the monitoring and evaluation at Kasokaso, James and Alex talked to the cook who reported that with the energy saving stoves the school uses 50 percent less firewood than traditional cooking methods. As such, despite the fact that food prices have risen, the school has offset this against the saving in firewood and as such not increased the cost of meals. This means that almost all pupils can eat lunch (and even breakfast and dinner) everyday. Additionally, meals are now ready on time which prevents disruption to studies.

The new kitchen nearing completion

Last week, James and Alex, along with a couple of the trainees (Musa, Sammy and Eric) built a large curved ISSB bench at the entrance to Kizzigo Secondary School. James, Alex, Richard and Annette (the 2 Ugandan gap students) also built the concrete slabs for 2 of the benches which will be built by the ISSB club at the school before building more benches out in the community. The ISSB club is starting this week (first session today) and will take place every Tuesday and Thursday, run by James and Alex.

Mr Fred's Chapati's

2011-03-01T11:36:00.019+03:00

Alex and James have had a busy last month. When not working with HYT James and Alex have been dividing their time between a number of projects. With James volunteering mainly at Lords Meades (where he is teaching Physics and Maths) and ASCO (an orphanage for street boys), and Alex volunteering at ASCO, Sonrise (babies orphanage) and helping Sam with some administration in the HYT office. They are now both settled into the Ugandan lifestyle, using bodabodas (motorbike taxis) everyday, haggling in the market, and regularly eating the staple food, posho and beans.

Fred's chapati's (dinner in the village)

Last week Alex and James went again to Kizzigo for a couple of days and were impressed by the progress made to the kitchen. It has now been roofed, walls and floors cemented and plastered and the veranda completed. While in Kizzigo they again enjoyed Fred's amazing chapati's with Fred cooking the biggest chipatti ever seen for a hungry James.

Cementing the walls of the kitchen.

Alex and James also travelled to Kasokaso (3R's) where they carried out monitoring and evaluation of the school, to see what impact HYT's work has had. They asked questions of both staff and pupils to see how HYT's work has affected the pupils' concentration levels, exam results, extra curricular activites and also to see the impact of the new buildings such as the library and counsellors room. While in Kasokaso they stayed with James and Winnie (last year's ugandan gap year students) who showed fantastic hospitality.

Washing hands before lunch at Kizzigo

A Week in Kizzigo

2011-02-15T13:53:00.010+03:00

Last week Alex and James got their first taste of village life, spending a week in Kizzigo. During this experience they got to see first hand the impressive progress that is being made at the school. HYT's Ugandan trainees not only built the ring beam to the kitchen, but they also completed the concrete slab to one of the two 20,000 litre water tanks, which are to be built. On Friday the trainees took an exam on ISSB technology under the guidance of Philip and Fred which we are pleased to say they all passed.

The newly completed ring beam in its wooden cast.

Alex and James were able to pull their first bricks. These bricks are going to be used to build a new ISSB curved bench in Kizzigo, which they have already built the concrete base for. They shall be completing this with the help of Richard and Annette, their Ugandan counterparts, throughout the coming weeks.

Alex and James by 20,000 litre water tank.

The members of the Kizzigo ISSB club were chosen last week. All of the members are current students of Kizzigo and they will be learning how to use the technology, with Alex and James's help, in the near future. There was a good mix of students who were selected with five boys and five girls in the newly formed group. The club was so popular that some students had to be put on the waiting list. If the club is a success, we hope to expand its membership.

The newly completed roof of the kitchen at Kizzigo,

sponsored by Lower School.

Blog by Alex and James

Happy New Year

2011-01-28T15:36:00.011+03:00

The HYT trainees at Kizzigo have been working hard on the new kitchen sponsored by Haileybury's Lower School. It is now taking shape nicely. The mood of the team is very postive with everyone pulling together and working hard. They have also made the bricks for the new watertank which will be constructed shortly .

The kitchen at Kizzigo. Trainees making good progress.

Alex and James, our new volunteers (OHs), arrived in Jinja at the start of last week. Since arrival they have already seen some of the great work done by HYT. This includes: Kitchen at Kizzigo, Kasokaso (3Rs), watertank at Lakesite Masese and classroom blocks at Masese primary school. They were given a warm welcome at Kizzigo where they will be staying and helping in the village next week.

Last week, The HYT team visited The Cranes College site in Nangunga village for the first time. They were very impressed at the standard of the ISSB watertank and greatly encouraged that this is being built by HYT graduates, hired by Cranes College for their newly acquired skills. Discussion with the director of Cranes College indicated that there are likely to be be further opportunities for our 3R's graduates. This is a great demonstration of the success of the One Village at a Time scheme so far. Since our visit the trainees have been asked to undertake another job in nearby Lugazi by the same Ugandan organisation.

Blog by Alex and James

Catching On

2010-12-22T09:47:00.003+03:00

We are pleased to report that a group of the trainees from Kasokoso (the first to benefit from our One Village at a Time scheme) have recently undertaken their first independent job. They will build a 20,000litre rain water harvest tank at a nearby school and plans are in place for them to go on to build a double classroom block at the same site.

This is particularly positive as it demonstrates the ISSB technology being used to benefit the community and new employment opportunities for our graduates.

Jay Lane, our most recent volunteer rolling tyres with kids in Kyabira village, Bujagali.

"...and there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time!"

2010-12-19T09:49:00.007+03:00

As we approach Christmas week there is no let up in the hot weather or the pace of HYT's development and training work. Come Saturday however, the HYT Uganda team will have a much deserved break and a chance to spend some time relaxing with their families.

One of the cooks at Kizzigo Seconday School sorting beans to be eaten with posho by the students that can afford it each lunch time. Posho is made from maize flour mixed with water and cooked. It is the staple food in Uganda and the typical generosity of Ugandan people means we are often offered a posho and beans meal when at our training sites.

The foundations of the new kitchen at Kizzigo. The new building will make work more pleasant and manageable for people like the lady above. It will also be far more hygienic and feature energy saving stoves which vastly reduce the cost of firewood and hopefully make the cost of lunch more accessible for poorer children.

Juggling

2010-11-30T20:18:00.008+03:00

HYT are currently operating three sites – two funded by other NGOs and the third as part of our 1v@T scheme. There is a positive atmosphere as we fire on all cylinders.

Philip and Fred (our senior) trainers continue provide the technical expertise on all of our sites but it is great that two of our current jobs are being supervised by some of our own ISSB graduates. This serves as a nice demonstration of how a single seed of knowledge can be planted and then go on to continue spreading. It is of course hoped that some of the trainees being trained by our graduates will in turn go on to train others in the not too distant future.

Interest in ISSB is up as well. In the Uganda office we are getting frequent (weekly) approaches from people investigating our work with the sustainable technology and its potential usage in both charitable and private work - a good thing too as Uganda's forests continue to disappear!

Time for a New Village...

2010-11-08T12:40:00.013+03:00

We have just started our second week in Kizzigo area where we will train 8 local young men in ISSB block making and construction whilst providing much needed community building features in the area.

Senior 2 and 3 students in Kizzigo's oldest classroom.

Primary school children in the neighbouring school. HYT plan to build a double classroom block in place of this. This will provide them with a cleaner and cooler learning environment.

The kitchen at Kizzigo Secondary School. The ladies here cook for over 250 students on an open fire. HYT will provide energy saving stoves in the new kitchen unit so that the money used daily to buy firewood can be allocated to more productive areas of education.

Young girls going to the bore-hole to collect water in Kikube Primary school. The trainees will build a 10 or 20 thousand litre water tank in the school grounds which will mean girls like these will have more time to learn.

On behalf of all our beneficiaries, the HYT Uganda team would like to thank everyone who attended the Frugal Ball on Saturday as well as those have already been supporting our work. There are now hundreds of Ugandan children, teenagers and young adults who have greatly benefited from new physical facilities or the ISSB masonry training we have been able to provide.

New faces and new places

2010-10-27T15:24:00.013+03:00

October has been a busy month for HYT Uganda and has brought with it the arrival of one familiar face and one not so familiar to Uganda. Russell Matcham arrived on the morning of the 17th and visited HYT project sites past, present and future as well as meeting up with old friends during his week back in Uganda. Although it was a fleeting visit, Russell managed to see and advise upon a wide variety of work done by the HYT team.

Another arrival this month was the new HYT volunteer Jay Lane. He will be working in Uganda for around 2 months, until early December. Jay will be working alongside the HYT Uganda team as well as using his sporting and academic skills in voluntary work at Lords Meade Vocational College.

This month, HYT's A-Team set to work on a 20,000litre water tank in Lake Site primary school in a poorer suburb of Jinja town. The job was funded by Bujagali Trust (HYT's sister-company). Under the leadership of Philip and Fred (senior trainers), the highly motivated and trained Ugandan building team were able to finish the job in just 12 days! This will soon be painted and will become another completed water tank to add to the ever increasing number of these invaluable and cost effective water provision solutions.

Meanwhile, another branch of the ever-growing HYT team has continued work at Masese, partnering with HELP international to build a primary school. The work at Masese has been going well and the new classroom blocks, being supported by HYT and HELP international, are close to having the building work started. The ISSB blocks, used in the HYT buildings, are created onsite using murum, a Ugandan soil. This compression of the bricks happens on site, therefore slashing the possibility of the bricks being broken, and reducing the cost of the bricks and therefore the building as well.

The new 'One Village' location, Kizzigo, is now ready to be started in the first week of November. The HYT supported building work in this area will be more of a community minded effort. Previously, HYT has just worked in one school in an area, however this new 'One Village' will include building new facilities in three neighbouring schools. These schools include two primary, and one secondary school, all with motivated and driven headteachers.

ISSB beyond HYT

2010-09-10T10:12:00.006+03:00

It has now been just over a month since the completion of work in Kasokoso. Last week however, HYT met with the 3R's ISSB building graduates to discuss the future of work in the area. Through the school the graduates have access to both a straight and curved block press such that ISSB development in their community can continue after our departure.

The meeting took place on a small plot of land which John III (one of our graduates) had bought in instalments whilst working/training with HYT on the 3R's school development project. This initiative is a great example to other young people in the area and John now intends to build the first private ISSB house in the area. It is also hoped that the building will work as a showcase demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of using ISSB in place of fired bricks.

The main agenda for this meeting was for HYT to understand the difficulties which might prevent graduates from beginning their own projects using the machines provided. Once this had been established, HYT worked with the graduates to develop a strategy with which to overcome the highlighted issues. The outcomes of the meeting were as follows: -

1 - The graduates concluded that by working in teams whereby they develop one another's projects in turn, they would reduce or even eliminate the object of labour costs.

2 - It was also concluded that the heavy taxation on cement would mean that individuals would be forced to stop work on projects whilst work funds were acquired to progress onto the next level. Philip (Head of Training) and Sam (Country Manager) are currently experimenting with block making compounds which use string and straw to vastly reduce the amount of cement required. This would greatly reduce building costs when used on a small scale.

3 - HYT will look into developing an incentive scheme whereby once an individual reaches a level in construction, HYT might provide a bag of cement, a small amount off wood or some iron roof sheets for a number of pilot projects. This would be carefully monitored to ensure that it is a catalyst for swift development and NOT a free hand out!

Updates from HYT Uganda

2010-09-08T10:54:00.006+03:00

Helen Godard has now left HYT and is reportedly happy in her new job in Sudan. We thank her for her fantastic work over the past two years which enabled HYT to develop and grow into the fine organisation that it is today!

A few weeks after the opening ceremony, The 3R's took delivery of 14 boxes of laboratory equipment donated by Lab Aid and shipped by TWAM. This included multiple text books as well as a microscope and countless other items. John II, Deputy Headmaster and science teacher was incredibly happy with the new equipment which will complement their new laboratory (built by HYT). John firmly believes that the 3R's has the best science facilities of any school in the district.

Students enjoying the now well stocked library complete with solar power which HYT were able to provide due to kind donations from supporters in the UK and around the world. These boys are now able to learn IT skills at school where before many young people from the village would have limited or no access to a computer.

Further updates of recent activity will be posted in the next few days...

The 3R's Secondary School Officially Opens!

2010-08-09T13:08:00.022+03:00

Saturday 7th August marked the official opening of 3R's Secondary School in Kasokoso. This was the first village to benefit from the 'One Village at a Time' scheme. The opening ceremony was a very well attended event showing great local support for the work of HYT and the school.

Generous donations and support meant that HYT were able to provide the remote village school with: -

3 rain water harvest tanks
A kitchen complete with energy saving stoves
A well equipped classroom block with science laboratory and library.
A double pit latrine
A double shower block
A school counsellors room

In addition, our team worked along side Johns I & II (the HM and Deputy HM) to drastically improve the whole school environment. The newly named 'Attlee Hall' now provides a cool clean environment for examinations as well as having the potential to be used as a function venue as a fund generator for the school.

The 12 young men from the local village were trained in ISSB block making as well as general construction whilst building the new school facilities. Pictured above after being awarded their certificates, it is hoped that they will go on to use the machines and training provided by HYT to generate income whilst developing the surrounding community.

Inside the new library. With the new solar system students are now able to learn IT skills.

The new classroom, laboratory and library block. One of 3 litter bins can also be seen. This is part of promoting a 'keep your school clean' ethic.

Finishing touches on a rain water harvest tank. The tanks mean that an hour long journey to and from the nearest water source is no longer necessary.

Good Times

2010-06-29T09:09:00.003+03:00

We have just finished giving the staff room a lick of paint with the help of staff, students and volunteers. The school bought the staff a sofa set and the Headmaster donated his coffee table to complete the look!
The Goddard Kitchen now has a plaque which we celebrated being put up with some posho and beans.
Old Haileyburian, Mary Bird enjoyed her first week in the village and was thrilled to see the money she had raised from the Triathlon has managed to build a 20,000 litre ISSB Rainwater Harvest tank!

The Kennedy's

2010-06-07T17:36:00.003+03:00

Marianne's family joined us in the village to have a go at making bricks and were welcomed in style with traditional dancing in the Attlee Room. They tried posho and beans from The Goddard Kitchen and said they were really impressed with the work.

If any Haileyburian would like more information about coming out to Uganda with HYT - please do get in contact - hytuganda@gmail.com or visit our website.

6 Months down the line

2010-06-07T17:12:00.004+03:00

So we are about 6 months into the project and we so far have a fully functioning kitchen, a Counsellor's/Careers guidance Office and the Attlee Hall. We are currently working on the 20,000 litre water tank, pit latrines, shower block and the school ISSB team are continuing to make benches. Tom, Marianne, James and Winifred continue to do a sterling job in the painting department and we are planning to build another water tank as well.

Apart from our ISSB work we are making improvements to other parts of the school including putting mosquito nets on both dormitories, improving the headmasters house, the offices and staff room by replacing leaking iron sheets and giving them a lick of paint and sensitising the school about maintenance.

The road up to the school was so bad that it was impassable for vehicles so HYT came to the rescue armed with spades and wheelbarrows to 'level' out the situation. As a result of fixing this small part of road the local sugar cane company, MEHTA, came and fixed the whole road the following week - well done team!

2010-05-17T20:42:00.003+03:00

The Attlee Hall is now finished! HYT Ugandan Gap Year Student and budding artist, James, finished work by painting the name on the front, as seen in the photo above. Also 3Rs students have been learning about ISSB by building benches around the compound.

The main classroom block has been rendered and water tank training has begun.

One of our trainees has recently bought a plot of land with the money he has saved working with HYT and declared he wanted to be the first person to build an ISSB house in the village - sterling work!

HYT is also currently helping the trainees to set up bank accounts for themselves in order to encourage them to save their money.

Attlee Hall

2010-04-15T15:25:00.002+03:00

3Rs are now the proud owners of a functioning school hall. The aptly named, 'Attlee Hall', will not only be used by the school but also the surrounding community for various functions. The gap year students, Tom and Marianne, and recruited friends have been busy scrubbing and painting the hall along with help from 3Rs students.

The roof is now going on the laboratory/classroom/library block and preparations are being made to start training for a 20,0000 litre water tank to harvest the rain water from the building.

This month has gone extremely well - congratulations to everyone for their hard work!

Another productive week

2010-03-26T19:18:00.002+03:00

So our third week in the village was spent with company from some of our fellow ‘Gappies’ from the Busoga Guest house. We thought we would show them a thing or two about a hard days work! Having completed the HYT Run on the Monday we returned to Jinja for a bit of R&R and then went straight back to the village on Tuesday afternoon. As ever brick building seemed to take priority but when work was complete dance lessons directed by Marianne allowed us to show off our western masterstrokes!

Thursday - it was time to take action on the birds’ eviction notice in the proposed ‘Attlee Hall’ which they had rudely ignored. So armed with long poking sticks we set about removing nests from rafters. In the evening we played football and this time the school got their own back against the village team with a 2-1 victory.

On Friday we began treating the wood in preparation for the ceiling to go up in the Atlee Room. Another great week!

HYT Run Prep

2010-03-01T20:46:00.002+03:00

So as some people are aware HYT is running from their offices in Jinja to 3Rs School near Lugazi on Monday 8th March - so that's 44km. The plan is to cover the distance as a team consisting of HYT Staff, Ugandan and British Gap Year Students and the trainees from the 'One Village at a Time' Project. This morning we decided it was about time to get training so the team started preparations in the school playing field with some laps round the field and games. We so far have sponsorship from 2Friends Guesthouse & Restaurant, Alpha Woollens, Nile River Explorers and Advanced Tours and Travel.

Marianne

2010-02-25T10:28:00.004+03:00

Second week in the village did not feel as draining as we had our own room in the school so didn’t have to walk the 2km to and from home everyday! Our room in the school had a beautiful view of the hills and countryside. Our first day was mainly spent building bricks followed by a lovely dinner with Fred and Phillip. The following day while Tom helped Phillip in Lugazi, James, Winfred and I spent the morning hole filling in the Counsellors Room, ready for painting. In the afternoon I was asked to sit in a fine art lesson where I seemed to be the source of entertainment and focus of attention, being the only mzungu (white person) in the room! Wednesday was a busy day, having finished painting the 3 walls of the Counsellors Room with ‘off white’ emulsion, and adding a splash of cornflower blue to the 4th - Tom and I felt a successful days work had been accomplished. In the evening, Fred taught us how to cook the best local food you can eat - rolex, which we are to cook for, and hopefully impress, our housemates in the Busoga Guest House with! On our last night at the village, Helen joined us, surprising us with two friends from the guesthouse, and 3 kilos of meat to barbecue!! A deliciously cooked barbecue by Fred Rhodes, surrounded by members of the 3Rs staff and a bonfire was a great way to finish our second week in Kasokoso village.

Tom

2010-02-25T09:23:00.002+03:00

The first day was primarily spent sorting out our ‘bedroom’ so that it was fit to live in and then onto some brick building. It was good to see the blisters reopening after a hard days work with two batches of soil completed in the first day. In the evening we joined Fred and Philip for dinner, which was, as always delicious - the 3R’s cook definitely requires an award for ‘Outstanding Cooking in a rubbish Kitchen/Chicken House’. The second day we were greeted with rain for the first time since we’d been in the village. I accompanied Phillip to Lugazi to buy some paint for the Counsellors room and some timber for the furniture. The trip was relatively painless although undercoat proved to be quite elusive for the most part! Whilst away, James, Marianne and Winifred began smoothing down the walls ready for painting. With Marianne as Team Leader for the painting of the Counsellors Room the undercoat was splashed on. HYT had decided that one wall in each room should be a bright colour so out came the cornflower blue to finish the effect! The striking contrast proved to be a valuable asset to the room and really gave it that finishing touch. In the evenings we underwent regular chef master classes from the one and only Fred Ramsay who taught us how to make ‘rolex’, which to the unknown is chapatti with an omelette inside and delicious! The week was a huge success with not only the laboratory and library starting to take shape but the Counsellors Office almost 100% complete. Marianne and I became accomplished chefs so it was really a win win win for HYT! Until next time…

A Ugandan Welcome

2010-01-25T14:33:00.006+03:00

HYT UK Gap Year Students were welcomed to 3Rs, Kasokaso in traditional style. Local drummers played a beat whilst a talented 6 year old shaked her stuff as well as some of the HYT trainees! Tom and Marianne are staying in the village this week with their Ugandan counterparts, James and Winifred. As well as experiencing village life, they will also be learning about ISSB and HYT's work.

As you can see the foundations have been dug whilst finishing touches are being made to the kitchen. The existing laboratory, which also acts as an examination hall, is home to many and varied bird life so HYT have decided to issue its residents with a Eviction Notice, replace broken glass panes, put in a ceiling and give it a lick of paint! Linda Barker - you'd better watch out! In addition, we plan to replace some leaking iron sheets on the girl's dormitory to give them a better nights sleep!

2010

2010-01-21T11:41:00.003+03:00

HYT started back at Kasokaso after a good Christmas and New Year with family. Work recommenced on the kitchen and blocks continued to be made for the main building.

Old Haileyburian, Graham Goddard (Batten 1969), came to Uganda to see HYT's work and had a go at making a brick too! He was impressed to see, despite the school lacking running water or electricity, the high level of education. He commended the work of HYT for not only providing necessary facilities for the school but giving training and employment opportunities for locals. Thanks go to John 1 (Headmaster), John 2 (Deputy Headmaster) and Philip and Fred(HYT's wonderful Trainers!)

Celebrations!

2009-12-28T12:37:00.005+03:00

HYT celebrated Christmas in the village with friends and family over lunch followed by a volleyball match. Each trainee received a food parcel to enjoy with their families over the festive period.

The Counsellor's Room is now finished and there is even a ceiling! Emmanuel, Local Chairman, said; "I wish I could transplant this building onto my land"! We hope that once the trainees have completed their work with HYT that we are able to fulfil this wish.

HYT wishes everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year. Thank you for everyones support in 2009. The next year will see even more great work!

One Down

2009-12-17T12:30:00.002+03:00

This week Philip, Fred and the trainees have finished the Counsellor's Room with only painting and furnishing remaining. One trainee, with experience in carpentry, has agreed to set up his work bench at the school so his fellow trainees can learn a little bit about wood work. HYT are going to furnish every constructed building with necessary fittings in order for each room to be fully utilised as well as painting both interiors and exteriors. Tom and Marianne, our UK Gap Year Students for 2010, will definitely have their work cut out for them with the aid of their Ugandan counterparts!

The slab for the kitchen has now set so bricks are being laid whilst the fuel efficient stoves are constructed. Brick making continues for the large building comprising of a laboratory with store, classroom and library. The trainees will definitely gain enough experience required in order to build in their villages for themselves and others.

Progress

2009-12-09T11:15:00.003+03:00

The first building is almost finished which has been a training project for the 6 trainees. Philip and Fred are pleased with their progress and teamwork. The building is going to be fitted and furnished as the School Counsellor's Office ready for the new academic year starting 1st February 2010.

This week the kitchen foundations have been dug and blocks are being laid. We also hope to finish this building by the start of term in order for the school cook and students to enjoy smoke free cooking!

Ground Breaking Ceremony

2009-12-01T09:39:00.007+03:00

The Ground Breaking Ceremony at 3Rs was attended by staff, students, parents, HYT and trainees. The Chief Guest, District Education Officer (DEO), Mukono District, was very impressed with the ISSB technology and training taking place. He thought the new facilities would increase student numbers and improve the level of education. He also hoped to see the use of ISSB in the community instead of mud and burnt brick houses. HYT plans to facilitate the use of ISSB by working closely with Local Chairmans (LCs) and current HYT trainees.

We finished the day by knocking down the existing ‘kitchen’ structure and planting several fruit trees in memory of the day. The Headmaster said “this day will go down in school history” and it will certainly be remembered by all HYT staff.

First building

2009-11-25T09:48:00.003+03:00

Training has been going really well - the team have already started on their first building! They have been learning about ISSB construction by building a small room which is going to be used as the School Counsellor's Office. It is also a fantastic demonstration to people in the surrounding villages of small scale ISSB construction.

The Parent Teacher's Association started construction of a Pit Latrine Block using burnt bricks but have decided to finish the work using ISSB and the HYT trainees.

The art students of the school have kindly painted us an HYT signpost to put up which you can see in the photo and this week the Ground Breaking Ceremony will take place in order to start digging the foundations for the kitchen.

One Village at a Time - 1st Week

2009-11-17T17:33:00.001+03:00

So HYT started its new project, 'One Village at a Time' last week at 3Rs, Kasokaso, 8km from Lugazi, deep in the village! We are training 6 locals in ISSB (Interlocking Stabilised Soil Block) technology whilst constructing in the school. Philip and Fred, HYT trainers have had a fantastic week with the trainees and have taught them about marram selection, the ISSB press, block making aswell as time management, team work and the basics of note taking. It was like being back at school again!

The week ended with each member being presented with an HYT t-shirt which was proudly put on for the end of week HYT games and sport.