By Ritah Mukasa
For many years, Paibona Primary School grappled with a high dropout rate. Learners, mostly girls would fail to complete the seven years.
Many would push on up to primary five before dropping out mainly due to poverty among other issues. The school is located in Awach sub-county in Gulu district.
Joyce Brenda Lamunu, the head teacher says many parents cannot afford the sh19, 000 school fees charged per term.
Worse still, children also struggle to get scholastic materials and necessities such as sanitary pads.
The situation touched teacher Godfrey Odong and he decided to do something to keep these children in school. Last year, with the head teacher’s help, he mobilized 20 learners and they started the smart farming club. They grew eggplants and good enough, the garden thrived.
The club sold the eggplants and raised over sh100, 000 which they used to clear school fees arears and this was a big motivation to them.
This year, they expanded the garden to include; vegetables, tomatoes and cabbage. Membership has also grown to 30.
“These children are organized. They have a committee that ensures everyone participates in the planting, watering, weeding and harvesting,” Odong says.
They also have a treasurer who keeps records of their sales and expenditure. The seedlings were donated by the Save the Children organization.
Watering is also easy because the school harvests water.
Lamunu is preparing these children to become change agents in their communities. She wants each to start up a garden in their home and neighbourhood.
Members; Joan Akanyo, Holiver Aber and Mary Lisa Akello enjoy spending time in the garden saying, it’s the only hope they have to stay in school because their parents cannot afford the school fees.
“We have to work hard to get good yields. It’s the only way we shall get school fees,” they said.
They work in the garden four days a week after classes.
Meanwhile, these learners also participated in the SAVE OUR PLANET competition and won amazing gifts. The competition runs in Weekend Vision newspaper and TOTO magazine courtesy of Save the Children an organization that saves and cares for children around the world.
Every week, 15 winners are awarded T-shirts, crayons, drawing books and mathematical sets among other gifts.
The competition aims at creating awareness and bringing children on board to conserve the environment and save the planet.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Joyce Brenda Lamunu, the headteacher with the gardening club members in the cabbage garden. Photos by Ritah Mukasa
