Surrey Psychology student moved by plight of schoolchildren
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Lucy Nathanson, now a final year Psychology and Sociology student at the University of Surrey, spent her summer in Uganda handing over friesian cows to three primary schools having been moved by the fact that school children there had no access to milk and were malnourished.
The three schools to benefit were Namawojjolo Church of Uganda Primary School, Mukono Children’s Home and Namuyenje Church of Uganda Primary School.
Guildford is linked to the African town of Mukono and it’s through this association that Lucy visited the town last year and decided that she would raise money to provide cows for the children and as part of these fundraising efforts, Lucy took part in a University competition funded by SCEPTrE and won.
“When I went back to the UK I started fundraising so I could raise money to buy cows for some of the schools so that pupils can drink porridge with milk,” she said.
“Apart from improving their nutrition, the pupils will learn how to compost manure and how to look after a cow so that when they leave school they will be able to look after their cows at home.”
It was also agreed that the first calf produced by each of the cows would be given to another school, allowing many other children to benefit in the long run.
Headteacher at Manawojjolo school said many pupils struggled in their studies due to poor feeding but said the donation would go a long way to enhancing education standards at the school.
It is hoped that Lucy’s generosity will inspire further support in the future and provide more support to other linked schools in the district.
Lucy Nathanson article (429.6KB - Requires Adobe Reader)