Come with us as we explore the community of Myende, one of the villages sponsored by CSWCT, on Koome Island.
As you approach the village, your guide tells you that the village has no permanent structures. It is made up of people who come here to find work fishing, and sometimes, remain for a very long time.
As you get off the boat some of the local kids run up to greet you. Your guide explains that the younger children get the afternoon off school, but in a few years they will be in school until 5:30. They don't speak English yet, but understand that you want to take their picture. They laugh when you show them.
There was no school here before we built one, he says, efore that the students would have to study under the trees.
Through the wooden walls you hear laughter and music. A lone cow, one of the few the village owns, grazes outside.
You are welcome, says the villager leader, hank you for coming to our community.\
You walk out of the houses and come into a big grassy field. At the top of the hill at the end of the trail is a quaint red structure, with about five rooms and a whole bunch of students around it. This is the Myende school. You are greeted by the headmaster and a student teacher from Entebbe, who give you a tour.
The insides of the classrooms are covered with educational materials, written in chalk by the students. They are truly making the most of this space!
The teacher taking you around explains that they really would like to plant a garden, but these anthills, some bigger than two cows, make it very difficult.
As you are leaving, the teachers ask you all to sign the visitor's book. The students look over shyly - they are getting an extra long break as the teachers are busy hosting you. The teachers explain that with this school, some students are able to go into the city to study, and even attend university.
