This blog features news, updates, information from Kasese Humanist School, an education institution that comprises of a nursery, primary and secondary school.
The school is built on the foundation of Science and cherishes Humanist values, critical thinking and evidence based learning.
We operate as a nonprofit charity and our school serves both vulnerable and well to do children giving them chance to attain education. Our school motto is ; With Science, we can progress
Happy Holidays! Remember, this season celebrate reason… and don’t let Christians hijack a great secular, pluralistic holiday!
if you are celebrating any of the western traditions of Christmas this year, remember that you are actually enjoying the rituals and activities of several ancient religions whose traditions have been borrowed by the Christians over the years for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Buy presents, enjoy family, eat good food. We can still enjoy a season of good memories and fun ancient traditions, even without god… especially when those traditions didn’t start as Christian traditions anyway.
As free thinkers, lets celebrate WINTER SOLSTICE
Just smile and Enjoy your LIFE as we say BYE to 2010
HAPPY CELEBRATIONS FROM KASESE UNITED HUMANIST ASSOCIATION
News update about the KUHA SCHOOL PROJECT
Kasese Humanist Primary School will be opening its doors to the pupils with effect from Early February . A school badge has been designed by one of the Atheist Alliance International Volunteers 2010 by the names Edan together with Bwambale Robert the Founder of Kasese united humanist association plus Edison, the KUHA Chairman. Description of the badge:
Its in a circular shape depicting the Globe, Microscope for science, Books for learning, Humanist symbol the official logo for Kasese united humanist association (the owners of the school) and the name of the school appears on the Upper halve while the School motto lies on the lower halve and an animated shape of a young child can be imagined spreading his hands depicting his yearning for knowledge and in the middle of this child lies the Atom symbol. The School Badge:
Kasese united humanist association is planning opening up another school in kasese town, the new school is to be called Kasese Humanist Primary School and is to be fully managed by Kasese united humanist association.
The new school will be offering nursery and primary education to young people aged between 4 and 13 years and as a start we plan to offer nursery class to Primary four Class.More classes will be added each year to the recommended
primary seven.
The new school will be opening in Early February 2011 and the reason we plan extending to Kasese is to allow the young people in our communities to benefit from the quality of Education in a secular environment free from dogma and indoctrination.
Kasese united humanist association (KUHA) is appealing to the international community to help in supporting the organization such that this school is set up. Atheist Alliance International is working hand in hand with our organization to ensure that this new school is set up.
Other members in the rationalist world plus all those who wish the African Child to get chance and access Education should help in sending assistance so that the school project becomes a success.
Financial donations should be wired through Atheist Alliance International based in USA and the contact person is STUART BECHMAN at email sbechman@sbcglobal.net or sent direct to Kasese united humanist association bank account details which are available on request. A detailed bank account information can be accessed on our website at www.kaseseunitedhumanist.webs.com
THE TEN PRINCIPLES FOR A GLOBAL RATIONAL WORLDHUMANISM CODE FOR GLOBAL ETHICS:
1. DIGNITY: Proclaim the natural dignity and inherent worth of all human beings.
2. RESPECT: Respect the life and property of others.
3. TOLERANCE: Be tolerant of others belief and life styles
4. SHARING: Share with those who are less fortunate and assist those who are in need of help.
5. NO DOMINATION: Do not dominate through lies or otherwise.
6. NO SUPERSTITION: Rely on Reason, Logic and Science to understand the universe and to solve life’s problems.
7. CONSERVATION: Conserve and improve the Earths natural environment.
8. NO WAR: Resolve differences and conflicts without resorting to war or violence.
9. DEMOCRACY: Rely on political and economic democracy to organize human affairs.
10. EDUCATION: Develop one’s intelligence and talents through education and effort.
Kasese united humanist association (KUHA) is a registered community based organization set up on the Foundation of Humanism and Science.
We are committed to promoting free thought and science in our communities and are advocating for a secular society, a just world free from dogma and indoctrination.
The library is located on plot 31 matebere road – kiteso upper and in stock is a variety of book resources on Humanism, Science and Free thought.
We run a Public library and a Humanist school called kilembe valley humanist primary school situated in katiri village in kilembe Sub County.
We are engaged in activities in the fields of Education, Environment, Human rights and Sustainable Agricultural Development.
1.What should you do, in order to be ‘good’ or ‘do what’s right’?
Answer:
You should try to lead a full and happy life without harming others. One way to do
this is to help other people to do the same.
Question 2:
2. Who or what tells you what is right or wrong?
Answer :
You use human nature to decide what is right and wrong. There is no god or holy
book to turn to.
Question 3:
Why should you try to do what is right?
Answer:
The use of reason and empathy helps us live well together in groups.
Those whocare about others and act on it usually have better relationships and more fulfilling lives - they are happier.
Question 4:
Is there any way in which bad actions are punished and good actions rewarded, like
karma, reincarnation, heaven or hell?
Answer:
The world is full of injustice - but being good and trying to do the right thing.
generally helps you live happily with other people.
There is no life after death. We should make the best of the one life we know
We have.
We should try to make the world a better place, because we can empathize with the suffering of others. Any rewards and punishments we may receive are here and now.
- The Association is running a Public Library which is now open to the general public. It opens Monday – Saturday , 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
- We are running a school called Kilembe Valley Humanist Primary School, the first secular school in Kasese district set up on the Foundation of Humanism and Science. The school support young pupils in availing to them primary school education. For more information about the school you can visit the school website at www.kvhumanistschool.blogspot.com.
- We are promoting Free inquiry, humanism and free thought to people in our community. We are doing this by arranging meetings with the locals and Under ground house to house approach. We are holding regular meetings with our members educating them about humanism, free thought and sciences. These meetings are held twice in a month, every first and last Sunday in a month.
- We are promoting Science Education among students and pupils by availing to them access to science books and we are planning to be holding seminars, debates on the usefulness and goodness of science in boosting development. Plans are under way to move around schools in western Uganda area to encourage them open up Science & Humanist Clubs.
- We are raising a voice on all forms of injustices, discrimination against our people especially on domestic matters, Civil liberties, Homophobia and Human rights freedoms.
- We are engaged in establishment of Nursery beds in Kasese District. we plan setting up a Botanical garden and practicing organic farming,
- We are lobbying for assistance from western donor nations to support the less privileged and vulnerable persons like orphans, street children, disabled persons and widows. The assistance sought is needed to cater for the provision of basic needs for these people.
Kasese united humanist association has initiated the establishment of a private humanist nursery/primary school set up on the Foundation of Humanism and Science.
The school is called Kilembe Valley Humanist Nursery/Primary school and its set up on the Foundation of Humanism and Science.The idea of begining the school was an idea raised by Mr Bwambale Robert, the Founder and Director of Kasese united humanist association together with Mr Baluku Yusuf both of them humanists hailing within kasese district region.
The school is located in Katiri , Makerere village in kilembe sub county, a distance of about 10 kms from Kasese town in Western Uganda.The school is being housed in rented structures of the defunct kilembe mines limited and formerly before initiation of the school those houses used to serve as residential places for some mine workers.
The school premises are in good shape and the school management together with effort by the parents has helped in shaping the structures to suit the school premises.A small play ground is in place for the pupils to pass their leisure and the school is served with electricity and piped water.
The school now has a total of 180 registerd students and the school is offering nursery Education and Primary Education and so far below is school enrolment for last term ie February intake 2010:
Nusery Class:
LOWER ( BABY) 34
UPPER 21
Primary Class:
P. 1 39
P.2 37
P.3 20
P.4 17
P.5 12
CURRENT SCHOOL STAFF
Masika Nevercate Qualification Grade 3 Teacher
Sibuthokwa Zackus Grade 3
Thembo Remegio Grade 3
Kyakimwa Teddy Nursery Certificate
Ayikaru Gladys Nursery Csrtificate
Kalende Simon Senior Six Drop out
Magamba Jackson Grade 3
Atemi Mary Senior 5 Drop out
CHALLENGES FACED IN RUNNING KILEMBE VALLEY HUMANIST NURSERY/PRIMARY SCHOOL
1. INSUFFICIENT FINANCES:
The school since it begun has been undergoing financial set backs and at the moment funds to effect smooth running is still needed,The source of funds has been largely been contributed by the local community as payment of school fees of their pupils but owing to the financial crisis hitting hard on the side of these parents some of them are living below the poverty line and entirely peasant farmers,others were former workers of kilembe mines who at the moment are out of service and other retired.
The School Director Mr Baluku Yusuf and Bwambale Robert have tried all they can to inject in some financial resources out of their pockets with an aim to uplift secular education in this area.These is problems encountered in paying for teachers salaries and the non teaching staff.
2. HIGH NUMBER OF ORPHANS AND NEEDY PUPILS
Kasese and kilembe area in general is a locality that was affected badly by rebel insurgencies of the Allied Democratic Forces ADF and National Army for the Liberation of Uganda NALU and these attacks led to loss of lives in which men and women lost their lives leaving behind orphans,These attacks led to the attack on Kilembe Main Market located afew metres from our school in which it was set ablaze to ashes and local business people lost their merchandise and became poor.
Kasese United Humanist Association in a meeting that was held at the school recently in Mid March 2010 promised the Guardians that it will try and raise this issue to fellow Humanist,atheist and Rationalist Community all over the world to make sure we seek for foster parents to help in sponsoring the orphans and well performing needy students.
A Total of 41 Pupils in our school got themselves registered and are awaiting placement to potential sponsors.
3.GENERAL RENOVATION OF THE SCHOOL
Though the school management in conjunction with Kasese united humanist association have tried all they can in ensuring renovation of the structures, still more effort is needed to put the buildings in good shape like painting the entire premises, thorough renovation of the school kitchen, finishing up the new pit latrine which is under construction, equiping the Staff room/ Office with furniture and some office items and installing a shelves where we can be able to shelf the books and also putting a school library in place.
All the above have been not been possible because of the limited finances we have in our reach.
4. FENCING OF THE SCHOOL PREMISES
The school boundary so far is marked by temporary rids and there is a need to put a perimeter fence around the school so that there is security of the school properties not to be stolen by intruders and also securing easy monitoring of our pupils and privacy reasons.
The southern side is served with a brick wall but other places remain not covered,once we put the fence,there will also be a need to put a gate.
5. LIMITED SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS
The school doesnt have enough books to be used by teachers as Teaching Guides, we are operating on afew books purchased on our meagre resources and these are needed urgently for they play a vital role because its where the teacher gets the topics being taught.
Also books to belong to our school library are still small.
6. URGENT NEED FOR MORE TEACHERS
The school is getting a challenge of competent qualified teaching staff because at the moment we still have school drop outs on our teaching staff list, a total of nine teachers is still a small number but the reason we still have a few little staff is because we still cant maintain having a bigger staff and at the same time we are having hardships in meeting their salaries and further still what we give them is still pea nuts and there is a need to increase on their salaries such that they are motivated to teach.
7. LEGITIMACY OF THE SCHOOL
Kasese United Humanist association together with Mr Baluku Yusuf have tried all they can to follow the right channels and have the school get registered with the local authorities and so far the school has been registered at Vilage, Parish and Sub county Levels and plans are underway to have the school registered at District and National level.We hope to do this before this year 2010 ends.
REQUESTS FROM THE ENTIRE RATIONALIST WORLD
Kasese united humanist association embarked on this project so that it helps the young people of kasese to also get chance and attain Pre primary and Primary education so that we build a stronger foundation is modelling the younger generation on a secular point of view free from dogma and indoctrination of ancient religious beliefs.
We are kindly requesting the entire Humanist, Atheist and Rationalist community all over the world to support us so that we make our innovations a reality.Under this we need assistance in any of the forms mentioned below:
- Request for Teaching Volunteers to teach in this primary school and get to know more about the African Child,Quality of education at the same time getting to learn about different cultures and learning to live and volunteer in a foreign country.
- Kasese United Humanist Association in inviting request from potential Humanists and Atheists all over the world to help and sponsor any of the 40 Orphans and Needy Students at Kilembe valley humanist nursey/primary school, interested Foster parents are requested to write to the School Project Coordinator or Write to the Director, KUHA, P.O.Box 58 Kasese Uganda or Email info.kuha@gmail.com for details.
- We Request for Financial or Material Donations in support to the the school such that we are in position to run the school and advance it to greater heights.
- We request international vistors getting a tour to Uganda to visit us at Kasese united humanist association or the school and assess what we are doing and perhaps look at our accomplishments and the load we are carrying.
