Below is a dialog between Dawn and Alida.

Dawn: It is great that you have permission to let the congregation know about your friend Dalia’s school. It sounds like the children there know about us.  Where is this school and what type of school is it?

Alida: The school, Shammah School, arose out of a vision and call to Dalia Byaruhanga to start a school in the southern part of Uganda in the town of Mbarara. This is not an area where Dalia would have chosen to go, as it is heavily Muslim, and very poor. She and her husband, a pastor, followed the call and started this school. Their mission is: “To train and equip children who are God-fearing, turning them into citizens of realized potential.”

Dawn: You mentioned to me that your sisters have visited there. What role have they played with this school?

Alida: After my oldest sister Lia visited the area on a mission trip, ministering mainly to women, Dalia asked for help with teacher training. Lia passed this along to my other sister, Maria, who has years of Kindergarten teaching under her belt. Maria committed to three months of teaching there. She lived in primitive conditions and brought teaching aids and hope to the school. She also gave of her money, taking equity out of her home to do so, in order to help the school and its students.

Dawn: What are the most pressing needs for the school?

Alida: When the rainy season arrived many problems became urgent. They badly need shutters on the window openings to keep the driving rain from flooding the classrooms. Also, proper doors need to be installed. The smallest children have had to take their nap sitting on chairs, resting their heads on their arms, as they could no longer lie down in the mud. If the buildings could be properly finished the health inspectors would have no reason to give them any problems and then they could concentrate on the task of educating the children without having to worry about the primitive conditions.

There are other needs also: many of the children are orphans or half-orphans. They generally are ill-treated by their remaining families. They come to school hungry and as a result can’t give of their best when in class. Dalia’s niece (whose father was killed in Rwanda) was sent home from school because her fees had not been paid. Keith and I sent $100.00 so she could complete the school year. She danced for joy when she found out that Maria’s sister had paid her fees. Next year she should really go to boarding school further away, to get a secondary education. That would cost $200.00 per semester. (If only it were that cheap in the USA!). The children are so keen to learn, it breaks my heart that I can’t do more.

My sister Maria took photos of children who badly need sponsorship. $30.00 per month would be a great help. I can get her to send the photos if you’d like to sponsor a child. Dalia would start a lunch program for the hungry children if there were funds for it, also. However, getting the school approved by the health inspector is the first priority.

Dawn: If someone were able to allocate some of their year-end or other donations for this ministry, what should they do?

Alida:  Make out a check to Covenant CRC.  The deacons have asked that you pass the checks to me expedite the process.  Please write “For Alida, Shammah School” on the memo line.   I am hoping to transfer money before Thanksgiving, as the needs are so urgent.

Dawn: Thanks, Alida. I know many people are concerned about the economy right now, but this sounds like a good way to make your dollars translate into immediate help for these children.

Alida: Yes, the area is not served in any way by the CRWRC, so this is the only way we can help them be a light in this dark, hostile environment. The children of the school have started a prayer group for me and my money-raising efforts, I hope you can be part of the answer to their prayers!