Happy New Year 2014

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Update on the Classroom constructions@Khps home

Classroom construction exercise kicked off some a week ago commencing with putting in place Nursery Classes to accommodate younger children aged between 3 - 6 years. The block comprises 3 units to house pupils in Baby, Middle and Upper Class.

The building is made from local available building materials and the construction phase is moving on very well. So far the structure by the end of tomorrow 22nd December 2013 will be at wall plate awaiting to be roofed.

Timbers for roofing has been procured and have been delivered at the site. A ring beam has been applied on the entire building to ensure maximum strength and stability of the building.
Funds to purchase iron sheets are also available and strictly colored sheets will be put on the roof.
Arrangements have been made to have the building top be done between 26th - 29th of this month.

A pictorial of the latest images captured on the KHPS Nursery Classroom construction is as below:

Carrying the metal bars at the site

Building now at the wall plate

Back view of the wall at wall plate awaiting to be roofed

A photo shot to show the ring beam, actual size of the classroom, size of window and the ventilators

Builders ferrying timbers for the ring beam

Fixing the ring beam

Builders carrying the metal bars to make the ring beam

Ring beam fixed

Vehicle delivers timbers for the beam

A truck delivers timbers to aid in making the entire roof where iron sheets will rest on

You can get involved and support this project online at Kasese Humanist School fundraiser

Volunteers to participate in future constructions of more classrooms are also welcome. In case you are interest to volunteer as a builder, mason, electrician, plumber or landscape designer. Write to the School Director on  Email  School Email address

More buildings are going to be constructed in more months ahead. Keep following and supporting our project so that secular minds are nurtured in a conducive environment for our students.

More information about the school are available at KHPS School Website

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Letter Exchange Project between USA pupils & KHPS pupils

Some children share their letter with their Teacher

A selected number of Children of Kasese Humanist Primary School  totaling 25 are participating in a Penpal Letter Exchange Service with children from some schools in the United States.

The project was initiated by Lylah Mouton, a 7 year old child who is currently raising funds and material assistance towards Uganda Humanist Schools.

Awor Immaculate shows off her letter

Kasese Humanist Primary School management is engaging 25 pupils to participate in this letter writing/photo exchange program and so far children from the USA have wrote in their first letters which have been anxiously received by our pupils most of which are in the age bracket of 7-13 years.

The children are happy to be part of the project as they have got friends overseas with whom they can share with views, news and life on either side.

Zam Mageya excited to have a Penpal

The first letters from US came along with 3 disposable cameras to aid in shooting photos by the children themselves and these photos will be made available to their USA counterparts. In addition to this the school got 2 electric bells bought for the school by the Dad to Lylah Mr. Mario Mouton. These bells are going to be installed at the school and be used to alert the time of changing lesions, calling children to assembly time and so on.

The photos below show some children after receipt of their letters.

Participants in the project acknowledge receipt of the letters

The KHPS children will reply back the letters early this week and on behalf of the KHPS children, I thank all those children participating in this program for their interest in corresponding with our school and I am optimistic there is a lot my children will learn, acquire in this exercise.

Rafert poses for a photograph

  I thank Mario Mouton for all his efforts in guiding Lylah initiate such an encouraging cause aimed at bringing smiles and hope to Ugandan children.

Kave  poses for a photograph at HeadTeachers'Office

Long live, Kasese Humanist Primary School, Long live , Long live Kids Heart KIds Organization  

Lylah KHPS Salutes you. Pass on our love, affection, passion and compassion to all the children who are participating in this Letter Exchange Program.

With Science, We can Progress

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Secular Student Alliance donates to KHPS

Kasese Humanist Primary School has received a shipment of pens from Secular Student Alliance, a US based secular organization. The package received contained over 700 pens which have been distributed to each student in Grade 2 to Grade 6 leaving there a surplus for future use.

KHPS Teaching and non teaching staff have also benefited from the donation.

Received pens distributed out to KHPS Children

The children, the entire management and staff of Kasese Humanist School thank so much Secular Student Alliance for supporting us with the pens which is a major tool in and out of the classroom.

The pens donation was addressed to Ben Blanchard who has just concluded his volunteering experience at the school last month. Ben was among the other 3 members of the Pathfinders Project who are currently on a yearlong program being funded by Foundation Beyond Belief.

The supplies were received by The School Director, Bwambale Robert who made a brief intro about SSA. The pens were distributed class by class and thereafter children posed for a group photo. 

Children at the school raising high the donated pens. Thanks Secular Student Alliance (SSA)

Thank you so much Secular Student Alliance for donating to our school. 

With Science, we can progress.

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KUHA attends and reports about the IHEYO African Working Group regional meeting & training

Conference Banner

Kasese United Humanist association was among the participant organizations that were invited to attend the IHEYO REGIONAL AFRICAN WORKING GROUP MEETING AND TRAINING that was organized by IHEYO in Conjunction with HIVOS and HALEA, a local NGO. More about Kasese United Humanist Association HERE

The conference kicked off in high gears with representatives from the East African region countries namely Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Finally Uganda. Uganda took the top lead in having several secular organizations participating in the conference.

Kato Mukasa opening the conference

Humanist Association for Leadership, Equity and Accountability was the main organizer of the event and hosted several local organizations who work under the umbrella of Uganda Humanist association. Organizations that were present at the conference were Kasese United Humanist Association represented by Bwambale Robert, HELU represented by Aggie Ajera,  Havrev by Mark Baguma, UHASSO by a team of board of trustees who included Mr. Deo Ssekitoleko, Kisirinya Peter, Mark Baguma, Halea by Mr. Lukyamuzi Joseph.

Opening remarks of the conference was made by Lukyamuzi Joseph who is the current Chairperson HALEA who welcomed all the participants. The turn up was good as all the invited delegates turned up.

Self introduction of the participants followed next.

A short video was played showing HALEA Teens performing promoting Humanism through Music, other videos about witch hunting by Nigerian pastors and Boko Haram fundamentalists were played. There was one scary and horrible video showing the Boko Haram fundamentalists killing a Christian faithful by cutting her throat with a knife and beheading her. This exposes the atrocities committed on the African soil and anywhere in the world in the name of religion. The participants were not happy with the act and condemned the act.

The next item was to call on the invited groups to present to the delegates their activities .Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) opened the exercise where Ssenfuka Warry presented a speech backed with a presentation about the organization plus their activities. Farug is a feminine organization advocating for women and minority rights like LGBT and women emancipation. Warry cited a number of challenges being faced in their works and appealed for legislators and Human rights campaigners to work tooth and nail to ensure that civil liberty and minority rights are observed.

Second on the Agenda was a speech and presentation from Aggie Ajera of HELU Uganda which is based in Gulu, she made a presentation about the organization activities and the delegates were so happy to see that many people’s lives of people in Gulu are being transformed in the right direction politically, socially and economically. Gulu people are just healing the wounds after being victims of the aimless war by the Lords Resistance Army lead by renegade Joseph Kony, a native of the area. Many people have lost their lives, property and spent most of their time in camps and of recent they are trying to rebuild themselves.

Third item was a presentation from George Ongere of Center for Inquiry Kenya who informed the participants about on campus seminars and debates in several Universities around Nairobi where students are enlightened about Humanism and how they can be good people to take Kenya Forward. He also organizes anti superstition campaigns.

Mr. Ongere told the delegates about his new project of the Humanist Orphans where through his efforts, he has managed to put several children in school by paying fees and uniform.

Mr. Ongere is a Writer and informed the delegates of his new book not yet published, its title is Does Africa Need God?.

A speech and presentation from Rwanda was made by Daniel Twesigye who informed the delegates about free thought in Rwanda. He however said that Humanism is still a new thing in their country and in this regard appealed for well-wishers worldwide to supply them with free thought literature, books, magazines and DVDs such that the elites can understand the philosophy with ease. Daniel is a University Student in Kigali doing Business Administration.

A presentation by James from South Sudan followed who told the delegates that Humanism has been deep rooted in the South Sudan army and that they are passing it to local Sudanese in an effort to debunk the prevailing superstitions and beliefs in magic.

A speech by Kasese United Humanist association was made by Bwambale Robert who made a mention about the activities being done to promote humanism, Bwambale talked about the Free thought library and how it has helped to expose to the local people free thought and science knowledge. A mention was made about Kasese Humanist Primary School and Kasese Humanist Botanical Gardens. The delegates were happy with KUHA activities of promoting humanism in several ways.

More information about the school is online at Kasese Humanist Primary School  and Kasese Humanist Botanical Gardens

On day two, began with the recap of Day One activities by Kato Mukasa.

Thereafter the delegates had training on Human rights and the Educator was Ms Kisubi Esther who is a lecturer at KIU accompanied by a Professor who taught the participants many issues on Human rights including its history, the role of Non Governmental Organizations in promotion of human rights, positive rights and negative rights and a mention about the Human rights treaties and relevant documents.

                        

The Trainers emphasized local NGO to employ networking with local and international organization in their efforts to promote people’s rights.

A mention was made about the hierarchy of rights.

A German Expatriate working  with GTZ by the names Ms. Anke Weisheit made a brief well illustrated power point  presentation citing out most influence prominent personalities on the African and western soil and she stressed that Ubuntu or living by the golden rules, humanist values and ethics can bring peace, compassion and harmony in the world. She also gave tips on fundraising strategies and mentioned what donors would expect from donor seeking organizations.

In an effort to strengthen the smooth running of activities done in the Africa working group, a number of issues were discussed ranging from social networking, creating sustainable projects to take local organizations towards self reliance, fundraising strategies, lobbying, creation of more humanist schools, magazines, newsletters and setting up of a radio station to advance secular views.

                                                                               Ms. Anke making a presentation

As the past Leadership did not work to the Member Organizations expectations, some leadership changes were made. Mr Kato Mukasa from Halea has been the Country Coordinator for IHEYO in Uganda  for 2 years since 2011 and suggested to step aside to allow new members to also ride the boat. 

                                                                   Some of the Participants in the conference

On this vacancy Bwambale Robert from Kasese United Humanist Association showed interest in the post together with Aggie Ajera from HELU. There was a cast of ballot papers where Bwambale Robert got 11 votes while Aggie came up with 4 votes. In this case Bwambale Robert is now the Country Coordinator for IHEYO. 

Other Country Coordinators for the other countries were:

George Ongere  Kenya

Rwanda   Daniel Twesigye

Sudan, Lugobya James

All in all, the conference ended at mid day on Sunday 27^th.

Special thanks go to HALEA Uganda for the nice reception, care and conduct of the conference and the Member Organization pledged to work harder in our effort to make this world better for us all. Thanks HALEA, Thanks IHEYO and thanks all the organizations that participated in this conference.

                                 Part of the gardens at Bativa Hotel in Kampala

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A memorable trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park with the Pathfinders

It was on a cool Saturday 5th November 2013 that Kasese Humanist Primary School staff together with the Pathfinders had a tour aimed at visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park located in Kasese district. 

This place is among the treasures that the Ugandan government cherishes so much as it is a tourist destination offering a variety of attractions ranging from a variety of tree species, birds, magnificent views of craters, wild life animals, Aquatics and a variety of geographical features like craters, escarpments, cliffs and a mini museum.

Mweya Safari Lodge seen from a distance ( Photo by Bwambale Robert)

At exactly 9:00 AM, Our Journey started from the KHPS Railway campus where we boarded a mini van that accommodated 18 people comprising of the 4 Pathfinders Conor, Wendy, Michelle and Ben , the School Director and his wife plus the rest being staff members.

We took the Kasese Mbarara road and moved through Kikorongo where we had a stop over at the Equator, one of the land marks that separates the northern and southern hemisphere. 

Pathfinders team with KHPS Staff 2013

This point is at 0 Degrees. Both the Staff and the Pathfinders posed for several photo shots and were all happy visiting this place, the stop over lasted for 12 minutes and we proceeded to Katunguru which is one of the fishing villages around Lake George where we had chance to make another stop over and visited the Kazinga Channel which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. On this channel, there is a giant metallic bridge. We had chance to view a series of canoe boats and engine powered canoes and divers. We spent close to 20 minutes in this place.

Visiting the Katunguru bridge on Kazinga channel

We proceeded with our journey and headed to Queen Elizabeth National Park , as we were moving through the road to the Uganda Wild Life Authority Katunguru Gate road we saw a number of animals and among them were Uganda Kobs, Elephants, Buffalos and some birds. At 11:20 AM, we reached the Mweya Safari lodge and were warmly received by Assistants at the Visitors Information Center where we cleared the charges for visiting the park. An official working for UWA had an introductory lecture about the Queen Elizabeth National Park, explained about the geographical features located within the Albertine rift valley all the way from Lake Albert to Kisoro in South western Uganda and thsi was made possible by an already prepared, electrified diagrammatic chart with buttons and markings of different features like lakes, volcanoes, mountains, rivers, craters in this region. The lecture was very well presented and illustrative, there is a lot we learnt there. We also had chance to view several historical and scientific tools which are well tagged which are educative and informative.

Giant Elephant grazing in Queen Elizabeth National park

At 12:30, we had lunch which we had carried along which was fried rice with meat and sliced irish potatoes accompanied with bottled water. the meal was very tasty and the fact that we had it outdoors under a tree shade made everything lively.

The fact that we reached a bit late in this area to see the animals, we were rather disappointed. The park staff told us that they normally conduct game drives twice in a day and are conducted between 6:00 AM in the morning and from 4:00 PM to night time. We were left with the option to fix a tour of the animals in the evening something we agreed to do.

Lions resting in Queen Elizabeth National Park ( Photo by: Bwambale Robert)

In an effort to kill the boredom, we came up with the idea to visit the nearby attractions gifted by nature. We moved briefly to Katwe, a nearby trading center known for a fishing village, salt mining and small business trading. we came by to the offices of the Lake Katwe Salt mines where i paid the entrance fees to the mines and we proceeded there. We were moved along the mines by an official from the Salt Mines who acted as our guide. He explained to us about the history of the mines and the processes gone through with the extraction of the salt from the lake.

The Pathfinders at lake Katwe Salt Mines together with KHPS Staff

We spent there some good time and we headed to the Lake Katwe Fishing village where few of us had a boat ride paid for by the Pathfinders.

Katwe salt mines

From there, we proceeded back to Queen Elizabeth where we were joined with a Tour Guide provided to us by the management of Queen Elizabeth National Park and this time we moved the Kasenyi side where we had chance to see a variety of animals like the Uganda Kobs, bush bucks, water-bucks, warthog, lions, squirrels, Swaswa and a variety of birds plus magnificent scenery. we went up to Kasenyi landing site and saw another active salt mining lake . At this moment, it was past 6:15 PM and darkness was almost coming so we had to board our taxi through the park and reached the Mbarara - Kasese Road  and headed back to the school. 

Listening to briefs about Queen Elizabeth N. Park at museum

At 7: 30 PM, we reached at the school.

It should however be noted with concern that the Pathfinders Project Team sponsored the trip by meeting all the costs for the 18 Sitter van, paying for the Tour Guide costs to the park while the KHPS management contributed in paying for meals, bottled water and entrance fees to the salt mines.

Nyamunuka Crater Lake pictured from above (photo by : Bwambale Robert)

On behalf of Kasese Humanist Primary School, i appreciate the support and generosity the pathfinders have extended to my school project. The trip indeed was very much welcome and has refreshed and equipped more knowledge in addition to what they teach to the children.

With science, we can progress.

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The Pathfinders Project volunteers visit Kasese Humanist Primary School, Uganda

 The Pathfinders Project Crew tasks as summarized in the first 3 days at Kasese Humanist Primary School in Kasese, western Uganda.

The Pathfinders keen to speak to the Parent and KHPS children

Community walk by the Pathfinders

The Pathfinders chatting with a Khps girl

Moving in Railway ward in search for KHPS families

A Parent to Tina Namudu a sponsored child receives pencils and a book for her daughter

The Pathfinders, School Director & Khps Parent talk

The Pathfinders with Khps School Director directing them to families

The Pathfinders dishing out scholastic s to KHPS children

Entering a khps parent home

The Pathfinders Project crew landed in Uganda on 11th September 2013 and were received at Entebbe International Airport by the School Director Bwambale Robert who welcomed them into the country and led them from Entebbe to Kasese in a journey which took 7 hours.

The Pathfinders reached Kasese at 10:22 PM Wednesday night and the following morning, the Pathfinders Project crew visited Kasese Humanist Primary School site at the railway station and were received at the school by some section of Teachers at the school plus a few students in Grade 7 who are at the school undergoing revision studies during this holiday season.
The Pathfinders  that arrived at the school are all from the USA and are 4 in number whose names are as below:

• Conor Robinson

• Michele Huey

• Ben Blanchard

• Wendy Weber

The Pathfinders Project is an initiative by Foundation Beyond Belief (FBB), a USA charity dedicated to show humanist generosity by helping out upcoming  organization of which Kasese Humanist Primary School happens to have benefited from FBB where the school received some funds that aided the school to procure a water tank, purchase 10 class desks, added more 2.5 acreage of land to the KHPS School farmland making the farmland make it to 7.5 Acres with some funds utilized as well in boosting Teachers salaries at the school.

After the Pathfinders having met with the school staff, they were introduced to the local authorities as volunteer teachers at the school and offices so far visited include the area village chief at Railway and Kidodo, Railway Police Station and the office of the Resident District Commissioner for Kasese District. Plans are underway to have the volunteers visit the Ministry of Education and Sports Kasese Office for introduction as well.

The Pathfinders have been given several tasks to perform at the school and among the activities are Teaching of English language, Science, Mathematics, Humanism, First Aid, Physical Education, Computer lessons plus some games and sports.

The Pathfinders crew have had chance to be toured around to view a number of ongoing projects KHPS is embarking on like the new site where KHPS intends to construct  permanent classrooms on its new land, The School plantation in Muhokya and the Kasese Humanist Botanic Gardens.
As a way to get a clear understanding on the nature, lifestyle and living conditions of KHPS pupils, the Pathfinders Project crew have been moved around the community to visit the children and their parents and they have donated scholastic supplies to the visited homes and  both the children and their parents appreciate the sign of generosity rendered. The Pathfinders have tried to visit some families in Kasese and Kilembe and are looking forward to seeing the children report back for Term 3 which actually is beginning on 16th September.

The school reopens on Monday 16th of September for intensive teaching for all classes.

The pathfinders visiting a needy khps children home

The Pathfinders moving around the village

Inside a KHPS parent home