Charity Work at Medstead Primary

2010/2011

The young governors, after consultation with the children, have decided the school will adopt 3 charities at the local level, nationally and internationally.

Local Charity

Supporting the reconstruction of Medstead Village Hall

National Charity

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

International Charity

Continuing to support Mrs Dendy's orphange work in Uganda

2009/2010

Local Charity

Naomi House - A children’s hospice that provides support to children and young people with conditions that mean they are unlikely to live to become adults.

Harvest Festival 2010 - A food collection for Winchester Night Shelter and a retiring collection for Naomi House.

National Charity

Children in Need

International Chairty

The school is sponsoring Jessca, a hearing impaired child in Uganda with donations from various school events.

Medstead Primary School has been helping to support Jesca for just over a year now. We have paid for her to begin vocational studies in the New Hope Uganda project (www.newhopeuganda.org)  that one of our teachers, Sarah Dendy, visited in April 2009.

Nanyomba Jesca was born on November 24th 1992, Her parents, Kakande Christopher and Nabakooza Robinah, have four other children: Nakubulwa Grace aged 18yrs; Najjembe Sarah aged 12yrs; Kiwanzi Enock aged 10yrs and Musasizi Charles aged 6yrs. There is also a young paternal uncle, Steven, who lives with the family.

Jesca’s father died in December 2004, he died of AIDS. Jesca stayed with her mother after that. (it is known for the father’s families to come and claim the children after the father’s death, as well as all the father’s property, leaving the widow absolutely destitute)

Jesca was born a normal child and developed well until, when she was still quite young, she was severely ill with malaria; this left her deaf.

Because she couldn’t hear, her speech development was also affected, although this has gradually been restored, although still limited. She can understand from lip-reading what people say, although obviously is more relaxed with people she knows.

Jesca has attended school locally, but, because of her hearing problem, and the size of the classes, 60 -100 children, and the method of teaching in Uganda, she has not progressed very well.

Last year Medstead Primary School supported Jesca in attending a special school in Kampala. The classes were smaller and this enable her to learn in a much easier environment.

Until two years ago the family lived in a very small mud hut with a thatched roof, there was not really room for them all; but then the family received help from a church in the UK, and they now live in a small brick built house with a corrugated iron roof and a packed mud floor.

Jesca likes to do handcrafts, making mats and baskets and weaving.

When at home she also helps her mother with cooking, washing clothes, digging in the garden where they grow food, and other home chores.

Jesica’s mother, Robinah, earns a living as a house help, washing clothes and cleaning the house for two western households at Kasana Children Centre. She is trustworthy and a good, hard worker. She also grows food to supplement her income and help feed the family. She does very well in caring for her children, but catering for Jesca’s special educational needs is far beyond what she is able to do.

Medstead Primary School has commited to support Jesca for a further term, when it is hoped she will have completed her vocational studies and have qualified as a seamstress.

Other Events

The school will continue to support events such as "Red Nose Day", "Comic Relief", "Children in Need", "Poppy Day", and our shoe box appeal.