Damage and breakages can sometimes happen by accident and sometimes it can be as a result of sheer vandalism. Vandalism caused by frustration or jealousy or both. However the window panes were broken, they needed to be repaired... Phew... all done now. [gallery...
Until they can complete the first floor they can't really start building the second floor so they needed a temporary protective roof to cover the stairwell. Somehow they managed it by using some spare bricks from and earlier project and topping it off with some newly...
Nearly there!! They’ve almost completed the internal toilets…. Wow! Well done everyone they look impressive!! All we need now is to raise the money to buy and install septic tanks Then they can use them! It is going to be a big and expensive project 😱 [gallery...
They never stop working at the Emily Collins School. The internal toilets are almost ready for the sanitary ware, doors and windows to be installed. Now we need to find the money for the septic tanks so they can use them [gallery...
The guys are in full flow working on plastering, tiling and commissioning the internal toilets! Thank you Alresford Rotary!!! And our other sponsors because without you none of this would be possible! [gallery...
Martin sent me these photos this morning because the school is looking smart and tidy. And, of course, with the two nearest volcanoes visible this morning the view from the top of the school is even more inspiring.
Technology is so important for the development and efficient running of the school but it is also important to be able to introduce the children to it too. So a new desktop has been delivered and because a regular supply of electricity is not always forthcoming…a...
Apparently it was a bigger job than expected but now it is almost finished! Transformed from bare bricks and holes in the ground to plastered, tiled, plumbed in, including squat stances and euro toilets! What a transformation, I can’t wait to see the final result!!...
It was vital to complete the installation of these balustrades to ensure that the school is safe for the children, staff and visitors. So well done everyone, sponsors, builders, welders, painters and of course the staff. I think they look quite cool too…...
It is back-breaking work digging in volcanic ground! The guys are doing well though. They’re digging two deep holes in which to put the septic tanks. Toilets may not be a very exciting topic but the finished articles will be very exciting… especially when you need...
The first governors meeting of 2025 included a tour of the school to see the progress of the building project….
The children from the Emily Collins School shared testimonies on the local radio station of what attending their school means to them. How wonderful ❤️
Once the guys had finished building the first floor, the priority was to get the barriers manufactured and installed on the balconies and the stairwells so that the teachers and children could use the classrooms safely. The local skilled metalworkers, who made the...
I am thrilled to be able to share some wonderful news with you all. We received an extremely generous donation from a very kind friend which enabled Martin to replace the old broken down truck with this one! This was the first day it was used and they were all so...
The safety of the children at the Emily Collins School is paramount and at every stage of the building programme we re-assess the risks to the children. We are not perfect but we always strive to be better. And the good news is...we are, indeed, getting better! For...
Wow! What a response… more than 50 people turned up for the Feedback Coffee Morning at the Beacon cafe, St. Mary's Church, Ferndown - so a huge thank you to all those of you who came, to those who helped with the catering, cleaning and washing up and an even bigger...
What a great morning! Dan invited Nelly (of BBC Bake Off fame) and her family to the ‘bake off’ at Brothers Farm this morning - Great competition, lots of beautiful cakes etc and the money raised will go to two charities. We were chosen as one of the beneficeries so a...
Happy New Year from the children at the Emily Collins School, Kisoro, Uganda. Thank you for your financial support to continue building and running the school, for your prayers for the staff, the guardians and the children, for your willingness to sponsor some of the...
The Christmas treat for the children this year was a trip to Lake Bunyonyi. 57 children from the Emily Collins School in Kisoro and 134 from Rukingiri district travelled by coaches to the beautiful lake for an exciting day together. It was all paid for by special...
We held a very successful coffee morning in the Beacon Cafe yesterday and the people that braved the storm to come were exceedingly generous. However the star of the day was definitely the Christmas cake featuring Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. A very...
There is always something going on at the Emily Collins School! Teaching, learning, children playing, then there is the buying of building materials, installing conduit, mixing cement, watching the rough track outside being transformed into a useable marram road - it...
At the Emily Collins School everyone is involved in sharing knowledge and skills. Allan is our caretaker and security guard but he has been growing maize and other vegetables as well as rearing piglets at the school. He recently invited some of the children’s family...
I will be travelling out to Uganda in January/February 2025 to see the Emily Collins School again but this time, my wife lovely Sarah won't be coming with me. However, before you say 'aw'. I won't be travelling alone, three lovely people are coming with me. This is...
Wonderfully cheerful children studying hard under the watchful guidance of Ken, our hugely experienced senior teacher. What a blessing he is, especially over the last two weeks where the school has suffered from not having electricity because the heavy rains had...
And now the digger and the new road have reached the school…they’re getting there!
It is so encouraging to see the Emily Collins School develop a great relationship with Kisoro council. So much so that look what turned up the other day to turn a half mile long very rough track from the main road to the school into a reasonable country lane!! Thank...
I’m going with a wonderful small group of friends to Uganda at the end of January 2025. It will be great to visit Kisoro and Rukungiri, to take some photographs and videos of the school, the children, the people and the beautiful country…all of which will help to...
Lots of hard work going on to seal the roof before the rains start! Boy this is physically demanding…we’re focussing now on raising enough money to buy the bars, and cement - oh yes and to pay the workers Kisoro, Uganda
We are so blessed to have the wonderful Ken with us now. He is joyful, wise, experienced and willing to share his knowledge with the teaching staff. This is a a truly wonderful group of people doing an amazing job. They rescue vulnerable children from the jungle and...
This is the current team at the Emily Collins School, they are a a truly wonderful group of people doing an amazing job. They rescue vulnerable children from the jungle and streets of Kisoro and give them safety, nourishment, an education and hope for a brighter...
Day by day, as funds allow, they make good progress on the roof slab! And it is certainly looking even better in the Ugandan sunshine ???? Emily Collins School, Kisoro.
The next stage has begun....Lots of progress being made at the Emily Collins School in Kisoro! The supports for the roof slab are going up on the shorter length of the L shaped building. The steel wires have arrived despite the huge increase in the price of steel and...
Such fantastic news, the concrete has set!! They’ve taken the support poles away to use on the other part of the 1st floor. The ceiling slab is now over 2/3rds of the school and work begins on the other 1/3rd. Thanks for your support so far! And we look forward to...
The Raise the Roof Party organised by my lovely friend Tiffany and her family was a huge success! It raised £4k to help put the concrete slab on top of the remaining section of the first floor. There is still a long way to go but, as always, we travel ‘one step at a...
We call it 'building the roof' but in reality we are currently trying to finish building the slab for the first floor which will, in time, become the base for the next floor. This is only the long section of the 'L' shaped building and once the concrete has set, the...
One Million Steps! We’d like to invite you to join us in a virtual ‘walk around the world in 80 days’. Get fit, improve your well being and raise money to rescue vulnerable children from the fields, streets and jungles around Kisoro. My friend Greg and I have linked...
Christmas Appeal 2023 - The Emily Collins School in Kisoro, Uganda This year donations given at our Community Carol Service, Christmas Extravaganza Service and Midnight Communion Services will go to the Emily Collins School in Kisoro, Uganda. This is one of our...
I was honoured to be invited to give a talk about the Emily Collins School at a parents event at Pamphill First School last evening. The schools are ‘twinned’ and exchange videos that have been made by the children so they can all learn things about and from each...
Wine O’Clock - at St. Mary's Church, Church Road, Ferndown, Dorset On Monday evening 23rd October, Sarah and I will be hosting ‘Wine O’clock’. It is going to be a fun wine tasting with nibbles at St. Mary’s Church. The good news is that it is not just for...
We are able to offer the choice of 2 different calendars for 2024. All we ask is a donation of £15 per calendar and, as you know, 100% of your donation goes directly to the school. Here are photos of the content in the calendars...please click on this link to go to...