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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

| January 16, 2012 | 5:52 pm | Donations, Education, Fundraising, Uncategorized | No comments
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In 2009, Chessa Forer was a member of a team of eight teachers who traveled to Uganda to work collaboratively with their Ugandan colleagues. Over a two-week intensive workshop led by Bank Street College faculty member, Ginny O’Hare, teachers from both countries learned innovative techniques to improve the quality of teaching and learning at each of our five primary schools.

Returning to New York, where she teaches at the Chapin School in Manhattan, Chessa wanted to continue to contribute to the children she came to know and love. Through her art, she has found a way. Chessa recently sold four of her beautiful photographs and donated the proceeds, $600 to Positive Planet. Chessa, your photographs are made even more beautiful by your generous gift. As we say in Uganda:

This photograph is entitled Curiosity, and was one of the works sold by Chessa Forer

Webale-Nyo!! Thank you very much!!

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Construction of New Library and Classroom Begins at Lwamaya Primary School

| January 13, 2012 | 9:05 am | Uncategorized | No comments

Brick by Brick Masons Digging Foundation

This week construction began on the construction of a new building at Lwamaya Primary School. In partnership with the local community, which has made significant contributions, Brick by Brick has begun to build a 3-room structure which will house a classroom, a new library stocked with books, and a storage room. This will complete a multi-year construction project funded by the students of the Mary McDowell Friends School in Brooklyn, New York. By mid-February this building is scheduled for completion so that each student will now have a safe and secure classroom in which to learn, and a library to access books. Thank you to the students, parents and teachers of Mary McDowell for your dedication over the past 7 years!

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Marketing Brick by Brick

| January 6, 2012 | 7:04 am | Uncategorized | No comments

Brick by Brick Manager Max Ssenyonga shows off new sign

Brick by Brick Construction is off to a promising start in Year I. We have built 12 rain water harvesting tanks ranging in size from 10,0000 to 30,000 liters, and a new school library using Interlocking Stabilized Soil Brick (ISSB), environmentally-sustainable technology. This month, we begin construction of a 3-room classroom-library block for the Lwamaya Primary School. Our team of professional masons, led by Manager Max Ssenyonga, is proving that social entrepreneurship works to provide revenue for much needed community-based projects, while making an investment in the local economy. Brick by Brick is starting a marketing campaign to expand our business and build on the success of our first year. In addition, to a road side sign post, we will soon complete an array of marketing materials that will spread the word about the valuable services provided by this innovative company.

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Three School Libraries Completed

| December 8, 2011 | 2:45 pm | Construction, Education, Sister Schools | No comments

Most primary school children in Uganda never know the joy of opening a book. Recognizing this gap in education, Positive Planet started its Library Project, with the goal that each of our participating schools have a working lending library. In 2009, we shipped over 6,000 used books donated by public schools in Long Island. We then met with parents and teachers at each of our schools and developed a cooperative plan to make the dream of a school library, a reality. Last month, with the support of Brick by Brick, we completed three new libraries at Kirumba, UMEA and Matale Hill Primary Schools, including desks, chairs, shelving, and of course, books! This month, we will begin construction of the fourth library at Lwamaya Primary School.

Starting next year, local school administrators who have experience managing lending libraries, will assist their neighbors to ensure that their skills and knowledge are shared fully. For the first time, over 2,000 students will be able to do what we all take for granted, open a book and learn.

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Working With the Peace Corp on Behalf of the People of Uganda

| December 8, 2011 | 12:17 pm | Education, Partnerships | 1 Comment

2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corp. The Peace Corp was founded to allow Americans to answer President Kennedy’s call to service in the developing world. Positive Planet is pleased that beginning in October, one of our country’s best and brightest, John Trimmer, has answered that call and is already a major contributor to our work in the Rakai and Masaka Districts of Uganda. John is pursuing a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida. He will be working on expanding Brick by Brick as well as our school-based initiatives.

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