tukore - school for children with disabilities

Tukore is situated some 10 miles west of Mbarara, in the sub-county of Nyakayojo. It is run by an NGO, TISSA, formed by a group of able and disabled people in 1979 with the aim of improving the conditions of disabled people and enabling them to become self-reliant. It is fully recognised by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Gender and Community Development. But it struggles to meet the financial demands made on it.

The school currently caters for c160 primary students, with a teaching staff of 54. It provides education and support for hearing impaired, physically and mentally disabled children within a stable and integrated environment.

Its broader aims include educating the public about the causes and prevention of disablilities; encouraging social integration, and, perhaps most importantly, to give disabled people the self-confidence to oppose the spirit of dependency by acquiring those skills that will make them competitive in the job market.

Most of the children at the school suffer from hearing impairments, usually as the result of untreated childhood infections or dieases.

It was to this school that Krista moved Munankye in 2002 and appealed to the UK for funds. It was, therefore, a crucial stage in the development of the charity. We now give a termly grant to the school which meets the costs of 12 children. A few years ago one of our sponsors funded playground equipment, and recently another sponsor enabled the school to erect a new water tank.

Munankye completed his seven years of primary education in December 2009. There are few opportunities for secondary education for the hearing impaired, and, as trustees, we were concerned about the options for his future. In February 2010 the director told us of an opportunity to study carpentry as an apprentice to a former (hearing impaired) student at the school. He is due to begin in May 2010. It is this care and support offered by the school that has turned Munankye's life around, and now offers him a future based on his skills not his disability.

The school has no electricity, and is applying for financial assistance to install solar panels and lights. This is now seen as a priority - deaf children find it difficult to study and communicate during the 12 hours of darkness. Solar energy would also enable the school access a computer, photocopy machine and television. The latter would be particularly welcomed by the children.

ACC has therefore decided that financial support for this project should be a goal for 2010.