Our little remote school is blessed with several dozen international visitors each year. We try our best to make everyone feel welcome. Our students are genuinely curious to find out as much as they can about the lives of those who have travelled such a great distance. Visitors are often overwhelmed emotionally with the reception they receive.
The following remarks were shared with us by Hugo and Conny L. who call Austria their home. Be sure to watch the three short video clips which give you a good sense of how St. Peter’s touched them “to the core.”
In February 2025 we travelled to Uganda and also visited Lake Mutanda. During a community walk, we passed the St. Peter’s Primary School and got interested when we saw all these children. We stopped and had the great opportunity to talk to the Head Teacher and one of the female teachers who was carrying her baby on the back. This encounter touched us to the core. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience.
We were surrounded by I think some nearly 300 or 400 children who were all so joyful, friendly and curious, but at the same time well behaved. The Head Teacher asked us to introduce ourselves and we told them our names, the continent and country where we came from. The Head Teacher made the children repeat each of our answers in a chorus. Can you imagine 300 or 400 children shouting with great pleasure our names, Hugo and Conny coming from Austria in Europe. I have never ever seen such an enthusiastic, inspiring and loving teacher. The children sang and danced for us and it made me cry.
We were told that the school is a private one with all costs covered by the parents which is not easy. There is also a kitchen providing lunch for the children, whose parents are able to pay for that. Others bring their own food and again others walk home during the break for lunch.
We were explained that the school needs to build additional classrooms because of the ever increasing number of children. Many children have to share one desk leading to severe lack of space. We were also shown the facilities at the church (a simple wooden structure) where additional classes take place, as an interim measure, but obviously this is not ideal, nor efficient, since teaching different grades in the same big room is very noisy and makes it difficult for the children to listen and concentrate. The school desperately needs to construct more classrooms to meet the current needs.
I can only express my great appreciation for the efforts demonstrated by the school teachers and their administration in trying to provide a good education for all these children, despite quite difficult circumstances. This is truly impressive and very commendable. Meeting these teachers and the children, many of whom do not enjoy the usual privileges of Austrian schoolchildren, but exude at the same time such a contagious joy and great energy, makes one think hard about values and chances in life. I wish they could pass on some of their enthusiasm to Austrian school children.
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