Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southwestern Uganda’s Kanungu district has been home to the Batwa people (pygmies) since before recorded history. In an area renowned for its gorilla population, we are dedicated to conserving both its animals and its communities with initiatives such as the Bwindi Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School.

THE SCHOOL

Located on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and nearby Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is Bwindi Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School, providing education to over 270 pupils.

Meeting the educational needs of a growing community and establishing a new school would be a daunting prospect for any organisation, one made all the more challenging in one of the most remote corners of Uganda. While it receives no formal government aid (it is not yet Government registered), Bwindi Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School is a shining example of what is possible with the right support, built entirely with a mix of used and donated building supplies.

OUR WORK

Sanctuary Retreats and our guests are working to help the parents and teachers of the school build sufficient infrastructure to satisfy Government registration requirements. These include replacing the roof, building three new classrooms and functioning toilets, buying new furniture and textbooks and helping to establish baseline salaries for the staff. Our ultimate goal is to have the school formally registered with the Ministry of Education, who will then pay teacher salaries and provide school support through formal Ministry channels.