First of all, thank you so much for the incredible support you have given to JET at this difficult time for everyone. 

In a country where healthcare is severely limited and there is no safety net of any kind, the current crisis is particularly challenging and frightening. Uganda’s lockdown and curfew have been especially tough for our teachers, many of whom were stranded when restrictions were introduced so quickly they were unable to reach places of safety and support. Schools have been closed since March so staff have remained without pay and everyone is struggling.

We have been doing all we can to support the JET community of schools and children’s homes, as they in turn reach out to all the children, teachers and families under their care. We have achieved a great deal thanks to the overwhelming response we had to our Covid-19 Appeal.

As a result of your generosity, we have been able to deliver food to both teaching and non-teaching staff and their families, as well as taking maize and bean seeds to each of the schools so they are able to grow food of their own. In preparation for the schools reopening, we have installed additional handwashing facilities and ensured that all have access to clean drinking water. We have also developed study packs, not only in case of future lockdowns but also so children can study at home during school holidays.

To give you an idea of how your donations are spent:

* With £1 a child has a study pack for learning at home

* £3 gives a child nutritious porridge for one month

* £25 provides a handwashing station with soap

* £40 means a teacher’s family has food for two weeks

* £100 buys food, soap and other supplies for a family for a month

When the President finally announced that schools could reopen for exam year students, we leapt into action to make sure we were all ready for 100 of our children to be back in class on 15 October. We have assisted JET schools with deep cleaning supplies, setting up isolation rooms and guidance on complying with Government requirements.

While the reopening date for other classes remains uncertain, we continue to work hard together in this time of transition. We’ll be helping everyone get back on their feet by providing school meals for the children and teachers for the first term back, in the process supporting a large number of local suppliers too. We are all so immensely grateful for anything you can do to assist us with this effort.

https://www.justgiving.com/jinjaeducationaltrust

Take care and keep safe. Thank you from all of us at JET and every one of our children and teachers.