A Safer Road to Education at JNMPS
Donation protected
My name is Gareema Agarwal, and I am currently living in Uganda with three other UCLA students to conduct public health research with the Mpoma Community HIV/AIDS Initiative (MCHI) and Johnson Nkosi Memorial Primary School (JNMPS). We are working to increase the Nama Sub County’s access to clean water, and a large goal of ours has been to make this project more financially self-sufficient. Since we arrived, we have talked about obtaining a school bus, both as a means of financial sustainability and peace of mind for the children’s’ safety. Having safe school transport would increase Johnson Nkosi’s reach to students and generate more revenue, especially in a time when the school is struggling to be fiscally independent. Over the past few years, many donors have terminated their partnerships with JNMPS because of the school’s success (nationally ranked in the top eighth percentile). This loss inhibits Johnson Nkosi’s mission to serve and educate vulnerable youth populations. Therefore, together, our team and the JNMPS administrative staff, reasoned that a school bus would be essential to the school’s future success, but this solution seemed too costly and, thus, difficult to obtain.
Just as we were discussing this dilemma with the key members of MCHI and JNMPS, a school administrator received a phone call, delivering the news that a six-year-old girl in Primary 1 was killed in a hit-and-run accident. She was crossing the road after being dropped off to school by a paid motorcycle driver (a common mode of transportation in Uganda), and was struck by a van and killed instantly. Students were sent home early so teachers and administration could deliver the news to the family, visit the girl’s body in the hospital, and tend to the family’s needs during this difficult time. My team and I were devastated at the news, but this wasn’t a first for the people of Johnson Nkosi.
Since the school was founded in 1999, five students have lost their lives to accidents near the school—lives that could have easily been saved if they had access to a safe transportation system. Johnson Nkosi is located just off of a main road that has no sidewalks or borders between speeding cars and the children. While this level of infrastructure in the region is commonplace, other schools possess elevated transportation options due to their donors. Traffic-related deaths should not be a norm, nor seen as mere collateral damage to an unchangeable situation. For this reason, my team and I are determined to overcome the monetary barrier of obtaining a school bus. A school bus would mean parents would not need to worry about their child returning home safely and allow them to invest their energy into their child’s future and beyond.
The fundraising efforts of GlobeMed at UCLA, MCHI, and JNMPS alone would mean at least a decade would pass before being able to purchase a bus. That’s an unacceptable ten more years of children and families risking their lives every time they commute to school, and that’s why we’re asking you for help.
Any and all donations would be appreciated, as it promotes greater safety, security, and education for the students of Johnson Nkosi. Thank you in advance for your contributions!
Gareema Agarwal
GROW Member
GlobeMed at UCLA, Director of Partnerships
*100% of funds will be directly transferred to Johnson Nkosi Memorial Primary School.
Donations of $25 will receive a hand-written letter from a student at JNMPS.
$100 will receive a hand-written letter from a student at JNMPS and a hand-made bracelet or keychain from JNMPS.
$500 will receive a hand-written letter from a student at JNMPS, a hand-made bracelet or keychain, a handwoven bag, and a certificate of donors in the MCHI and JNMPS Office.
$1000 will receive a hand-written letter from a student at JNMPS, a hand-made bracelet or keychain, a handwoven bag, a certificate of donors in the MCHI and JNMPS Office, and an opportunity to Skype call with MCHI Staff to learn more about the project.
Just as we were discussing this dilemma with the key members of MCHI and JNMPS, a school administrator received a phone call, delivering the news that a six-year-old girl in Primary 1 was killed in a hit-and-run accident. She was crossing the road after being dropped off to school by a paid motorcycle driver (a common mode of transportation in Uganda), and was struck by a van and killed instantly. Students were sent home early so teachers and administration could deliver the news to the family, visit the girl’s body in the hospital, and tend to the family’s needs during this difficult time. My team and I were devastated at the news, but this wasn’t a first for the people of Johnson Nkosi.
Since the school was founded in 1999, five students have lost their lives to accidents near the school—lives that could have easily been saved if they had access to a safe transportation system. Johnson Nkosi is located just off of a main road that has no sidewalks or borders between speeding cars and the children. While this level of infrastructure in the region is commonplace, other schools possess elevated transportation options due to their donors. Traffic-related deaths should not be a norm, nor seen as mere collateral damage to an unchangeable situation. For this reason, my team and I are determined to overcome the monetary barrier of obtaining a school bus. A school bus would mean parents would not need to worry about their child returning home safely and allow them to invest their energy into their child’s future and beyond.
The fundraising efforts of GlobeMed at UCLA, MCHI, and JNMPS alone would mean at least a decade would pass before being able to purchase a bus. That’s an unacceptable ten more years of children and families risking their lives every time they commute to school, and that’s why we’re asking you for help.
Any and all donations would be appreciated, as it promotes greater safety, security, and education for the students of Johnson Nkosi. Thank you in advance for your contributions!
Gareema Agarwal
GROW Member
GlobeMed at UCLA, Director of Partnerships
*100% of funds will be directly transferred to Johnson Nkosi Memorial Primary School.
Donations of $25 will receive a hand-written letter from a student at JNMPS.
$100 will receive a hand-written letter from a student at JNMPS and a hand-made bracelet or keychain from JNMPS.
$500 will receive a hand-written letter from a student at JNMPS, a hand-made bracelet or keychain, a handwoven bag, and a certificate of donors in the MCHI and JNMPS Office.
$1000 will receive a hand-written letter from a student at JNMPS, a hand-made bracelet or keychain, a handwoven bag, a certificate of donors in the MCHI and JNMPS Office, and an opportunity to Skype call with MCHI Staff to learn more about the project.
Organizer and beneficiary
Gareema Agarwal
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Blake Panter
Beneficiary