Cornerstone High School — Classrooms for Africa

Cornerstone High School
Okweta Village, Soroti District, Uganda

Project needing funds:

Construction Administration/Multipurpose Building

Cost:

$50,000

Local Contribution:

Bricks, labour for site preparation

Projects Completed:

2019 - Four-classroom block funded by donors from Western Canada

2020 - Science block and water well funded by donors from Western Canada

2020 - Two classrooms and an administration block funded by donors from Western Canada

2021 - Kitchen and store room funded by donors from Western Canada

2021 - Construction of two classroom block extension funded by donors from Western Canada

Local Contribution:

Some of the labour and bricks will be provided by the school community

Background:

In 2013 parents and church leaders established Okweta Primary school to help improve educational opportunities for the local children. Okweta Village is situated about 20 km from the town of Soroti in North East Uganda. The region is gradually recovering from many years of destabilization due to rebel activity and conflict which left the area impoverished. With the help of donors from Western Canada, Classrooms for Africa was able to fund the construction of a complete primary school including classrooms, offices, a kitchen and a rain-water harvesting system.

The area lacked a high school and so in 2018 the community came together to start a high school to be know as Cornerstone High School. The school is located on the edge of Okweta village on land donated by the local village elders.

In 2018 the school enrolled 20 students in S1 and S2 (grade 8 and 9). The enrollment in 2019 increased to 100 students in S1, 2 and 3 (Grades 8, 9 and 10). The high school will serve graduates from Okweta Primary School as well as other young people from the surrounding area. The completion of the classroom block has enabled the school to move out of the temporary facility in the village.