Shared Sharing Practice

Bugesera project

Group photo of Bugesera project in Malawi

First steps

J Bell, Principal Teacher of RME at Carnoustie High School, has provided this account of the success of Angus schools in fundraising for a project in Rwanda.

In October 2006 I set out to raise funds for a project which would be based in the Bugesera area of Rwanda. The goal was to raise £20,000 towards the building of four houses and the sinking of a well among other things.

The two-year project has now finished and instead of the £20,000 I had hoped for, people have given an astonishing £80,629.

A number of secondary and primary schools in Angus were heavily involved in the project and raised over £20,000. The young people found many innovative ways to raise this impressive amount.

Three houses were named after each of the secondary schools involved - Carnoustie High, Arbroath Academy and Arbroath High (in conjunction with their associated primary cluster schools).

Highlights from the two-year project

  1. My first ever visit to Rwanda in April 2008. Several teachers from Angus schools went on the trip along with three senior pupils from Carnoustie High. The three senior pupils from my school conducted themselves with tremendous maturity throughout the 10-day visit. They then gave excellent accounts back to the whole school of what the visit meant to them. They have also since spoken at several other public events about the impact of the visit on them.

  2. Being at the official 'handing over' ceremony of the first four houses built by the funding. 

  3. Visiting some of the places where terrible things happened in the 1994 genocide. It was so distressing and unbearably sad at times. 

  4. Meeting some of the vibrant and talented Rwandans who are working very hard to improve the quality of life for others in Rwanda.