Schools Mark Ray Sutton Memorial Day

The directors of the Matere Model Nursery/ Primary School and St. John’s Nyakabingo High School in the Kasese area of Uganda have set up an annual March 27th Ray Sutton Day on which prayer and educational activities are held “in memory and honor of the educational work of Ray Sutton”.  Coin drop-boxes are placed in the church and schools for people to make a donation to a scholarship fund aimed at helping to pay schools fees for some high school students who are unable to attend because they lack school fees.  

In addition the Church of Uganda has provided 7 acres of land on which they have planted trees which will be harvested to provide some of the funds for the scholarships.

This year’s efforts have so far helped 11 senior girls. The target is to have 1000 needy students helped by the end of 2032!

Classrooms for Africa is most grateful for this initiative and humbled by the effort this community is making to improve educational opportunities for their children.

Matere Model Nursery and Primary School, located in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, is approximately 30 km from the town of Kasese. The school was started in 2012 by the Nyakabinogo Anglican Parish (Church of Uganda) to serve elementary-aged children on land which the church owns. The church works to support the impoverished community which has suffered due to the lack of basic services, its remoteness, government neglect, rebel activities in the area and a number of environmental calamities.

When Classrooms for Africa became involved with the school in 2017, classes were being held in a few temporary, incomplete structures, the church building and under the trees when the weather permitted. In 2018 and 2019 Classrooms for Africa provided funds for the construction of two three-classroom blocks and a four-classroom/administration block. Today the school has an enrolment of 446 students.

St. John’s Nyakabingo High School is located near the primary school, started in 2011 and currently enrols approximately 300 students 14 to 20 years of age, offering the O level high school grades (Grades 8 – 11). It too is operated by the Nyakabinogo Anglican Parish (Church of Uganda), which owns the land on which the school is situated.

Classrooms for Africa funded the construction of a four-classroom block in 2021 and in 2022 a science block and a rain-water harvesting system.

The school leaders have written “Our children are now studying in classrooms that are free from dust, wind, sunshine, rain and unnecessary distractions that disturb both the teachers and pupils during the teaching and learning process - teachers no longer have waste class time shifting their classes in bad weather. The community has benefitted by locals being employed during the building process and by having a functional school which provides other employment opportunities.”