Arriving rather shaken via the road of a thousand potholes. It was good to be 80km away from the more obviously NGO influenced world of Jinja. As the government schools inspector later said this was a true 'up country' province, where previous NGO/charity project work can sink without trace after just a few short years.
The finishing of the HYT Namaganda project seemed to have a different focus. The emphasis was on this being the beginning of the beginning (to paraphrase the master of ceremonies). They do like a speech or ten I did notice. All local regional school heads were present as were politicians and regional heads of education.
The quality of the building work, new classrooms, and kitchen facility was evident. But more impressive to me was the delivery of vocational skills in building and construction to 12 local youths who graduated that day. The local HYT team had trained and graduated these boys through a structured and tough programme.
The cumulative effect of instilling these self sustaining skills and discipline is how HYT will leave a lasting and growing footprint. This goes way beyond the excellent facilities and buildings behind.
Well done HYT. More prize goats on their way. Not sure the goat enjoyed the 1000 potholes on the way home to Jinja!
At the opening ceremony in Namaganda as an Honoured Geust
