Annual Volunteer Visit at St. Martin's School: A Transformative Experience

Friends of St Martins School July volunteer visit

A Collaborative Effort

In July, 38 volunteers from Salesforce, Pracedo, Celonis, Capita, Amazon, Google, Cloudco, McKinsey, Boostai, ServiceNow, ALU, and ALX visited St. Martin's School. This annual volunteering event brought together individuals passionate about making a difference. The volunteers engaged in various workshops within the school and the Kibagare community.

Key Activities

The volunteers participated in numerous impactful activities, including:

• Sponsor Engagement: Approximately 50% of our school income comes from sponsorships. Retaining these sponsors is crucial. With the help of our volunteers, we recorded videos of sponsored children. These videos will be shared with our sponsor community to strengthen connections.

  
  

• Solar Project Review: We assessed the sustainability and efficiency of our solar project. There is still a pressing need to add more panels to enhance our energy resources.

  
  

• Feeding Program: The volunteers played a vital role in feeding 1,600 children during the Saturday feeding program. We extend our gratitude to Zahid Jiwa and his family for funding this initiative. Their support also contributed to the daily feeding program at the school.

  
  

• Sanitary Dignity Packs: Volunteers packaged and built sanitary dignity packs for distribution to girls and young women in the community. A total of 372 girls in primary and secondary schools received these packs, along with a workshop on menstrual health and reducing period poverty.

  
  

• Mentorship Workshops: Volunteers conducted a basketball and mentorship workshop at St. Martin's Boys School in Kiserian. They shared insights on careers, technology, and essential life skills.

  
  

• Home Visits: The volunteers had the opportunity to visit the homes of their sponsored children and explore the Kibagare community. This experience helped them understand the environment from which our children come.

  
  

• Career Workshops: We organized workshops for high school students focused on future-ready careers. Students learned about the opportunities available in the technology sector. Additionally, high school girls received training on essay writing and university applications.

  
  

• Creative and Educational Activities: The week included science experiments, arts and crafts, bead-making, sports, and various classroom sessions and games. These activities fostered creativity and teamwork among the students and volunteers.

  
  

Lasting Impact

The annual volunteer visit at St. Martin's School not only provided immediate support but also created lasting relationships between the volunteers and the community. The shared experiences and knowledge exchanged during this week will continue to benefit the students and the Kibagare community for years to come.

Conclusion

The commitment of these volunteers exemplifies the power of community engagement. Their efforts have made a significant difference in the lives of many children and families. We look forward to continuing this partnership and expanding our initiatives in the future.

For more information on how you can support our mission, please visit our website. Together, we can create a brighter future for our children.