TRIBUTE TO A HERO!

Classrooms for Africa was saddened to hear of the passing of one of its long-time partners in Uganda, Vincent Zaake, who went to be with the Lord on December 28, 2020. We extend our deep condolences to Mary, his wife and to the rest of his family. We stand with them in prayer as they grieve their deep loss. Vincent was the director of Hope Schools in the Masaka area of Uganda. His mantle will be taken over by his capable and devoted daughter, Grace Wasswa.

The relationship with Vincent and Mary goes back to 2006 when at a Christian school conference in South Africa, they shared their vision for Christian education in Uganda with Ray and Pat Sutton. In the days when Uganda was still recovering from the trauma of the conflict that had devastated the country, Vincent was involved in founding and operating Hope Primary School in the town of Masaka. The aim was to provide stability and a values-based education to primary school children in an extremely poor area of the town. Vincent had always had the vision of continuing the work of Christian education by establishing a high school. With this in mind the school society had purchased 40 acres of land about 20 minutes from Masaka.

In late 2008 Classrooms for Africa was estalished and the Zaake’s were invited to apply for a grant to build the first classrooms for Hope Comprehensive High School. In time for the start of the 2011 school year, the first four-classroom block and the first section of an administration building was completed. Hope Comprehensive High School enrolled their first 60 students in Grades 8 and 9 and the school was accredited by the local education authorities.

Since that time Classrooms for Africa has been able to provide grants for several other buildings on the campus including large dormitories for girls and boys, ablution facilities, a second classroom block and a kitchen. All these buildings were funded by donors from Western Canada. Over the years, under the leadership of Vincent, the school community has worked hard to develop the grounds, create playing fields and provide resources such as a solar powered computer laboratory. 

Hope Comprehensive High School has grown and developed into a centre of excellence and a model school thanks to the vision and entrepreneurship shown by Vincent and the other leaders. Classrooms for Africa feels very privileged to partner with such an inspiring school community and we look forward to working with the school in the future.