Let the building begin – charity launches ‘£5 school’ appeal for Uganda

A Northern Ireland charity is launching an imaginative new campaign to build a ‘£5 school’ in just  50 days in Uganda.

 Bangor-based Abaana is launching the initiative on Easter Monday and hopes to inspire 10,000 people to each donate £5 so the charity can start building Ayila Primary School in Northern Uganda.

Abaana founder, Scott Baxter, said the idea behind the ‘£5 school’ was simple – “Most people can afford £5 for a  really good cause and everyone can feel part of something special; everyone can say they helped build this school and they will be giving children in the north of Uganda a real chance in life,” he said.

 The first 50 supporters recently got together for a pre-launch and started the ball rolling with their £5 donations. 

 “The idea is that they will each secure four more donors who will in turn do the same. In this way it will take only four steps to have over 10,000 donors,” said Scott. “We believe the campaign will quickly gain momentum and we will be keeping everyone up-to-date with progress on the ground in Uganda through our dedicated website, www.fivepoundschool.org.”

 “We currently have over 1,000 fans on our Facebook fan site, and more are coming daily.  The message for every person we come in contact with is the same -  spread the word and help build this school for £5!”

Since its inception in 1998, Abanna – meaning ‘children’ in Luganda, a major language in Uganda – has raised over £1,000,000 to build schools, develop medical projects, establish water pumps and generally support children in need.

 “The north of Uganda has had a 20-year civil war, during which children have been abducted and forced to fight,” explained Scott, who was first moved to help after a visit to the country in 1997. “ Families have been tortured and brutalised by soldiers with no mercy. Currently, the area has the worst school results in all of Uganda.

 “ Abaana has already built one school in this area, and through this £5 school initiative, we hope to build another one and give 300 more children a quality education. We all spend £5 without much thought, whether that is on a takeaway, cinema ticket or whatever, yet in Africa, it is more money than many people will see in one month.”

 In 50 days’ time, it is planned to show each donor the bricks, cement and wood which their £5 has helped purchase.

 “Soon, everyone will see the school under construction and the vision of the school built with fivers will come to life,” added Scott.

 Anyone who would like to make a donation or who would like more information , should visit the website www.fivepoundschool.org.

Abaana charity workers Holly Pearce, Paul Baker and Fiona Baxter want £5 of your money! The goal is to get 10,000 people to donate £5 in 50 days in order to rebuild Ayila Primary School in northern Uganda.