Sarah in Uganda

“The curriculum in Uganda emphasizes reading as a core component of learning in primary schools, but many pupils complete school without touching a reading book”  (Ugandan newspaper New Vision, 06.09.2010)

As many of you know, Elliot and I have been teaching at a local primary school during our time in Uganda. While I have throughly enjoyed the challenge, I was often stumped when it came to what to do with my P.6 English class. The headmaster had charged me with teaching the comprehensive portion of the curriculum, which was supposed to entail reading comprehension and vocabulary. I attempted to teach these skills to the best way I could think of, using the one P.6 English reader the school owned. Not only was it published in the early ’90s, which resulted in us reading a story about Zaire and the Zaire River (now known as Democratic Republic of Congo and the Congo River), but there were only 6 copies for all 30 students. This meant that each book was shared between 5 students. Now add in that most of them can barely understand my America accent and you can see how trying to get students to read aloud, pay attention, and actually learn something from the lesson becomes a challenge. 

Then in November, I received an extremely generous donation from my church, Briarcliff Congregational Church— 30 brand new copies of Charlotte’s Web for me to use in my classroom! Now every student had their own book to hold in their hands and read. Once the novelty of the pictures wore off so that the kids paid attention and were reading, I actually started to look forward to teaching my English class.

Hence the idea for the St. Gertrude’s Classroom Book Project was born. I want every classroom at St. Gertrude’s to have books to read during English lessons and for each child to be able to hold their own copy of the book being read. But in order for this to happen I need your help! stgertrudes.bbnow.org is the official website for my project and not only includes more details about the project, a PayPal link for donations, but also an updated “Wish List” of the books needed to help bring reading to St. Gertrude’s. 

There are two ways to donate: you can either make a monetary donation online or purchase books you wish to donate and send to Martha Yergeau, 15 Surrey Lane, Ossining, NY 10562 or at Union College drop the books off in the Minerva Programs Office, Reamer 303. Donations can be made individually or by a group. 

Just $10 dollars donates one book and brings us one book closer to being able to give the gift of reading to the children at St. Gertrude’s Primary School! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement!