The Pangbourne College community came together at the beginning of the academic year to donate a wide range of ‘back to school’ resources for the children of the Nabugabo Community Learning Centre (NCLC) in Uganda. The much needed resources were delivered over the October half term break by Caroline Bond, Assistant Head Pupil Mental Health at Pangbourne College.

The College works alongside HUGE, which stands for Helping Uganda Educate, a charity based in Pangbourne which has been set up to make a difference to children in Uganda. It specifically provides financial and resource support to the Nabugabo Community Learning Centre.

Each of the Pangbourne College boarding houses (Divisions) were tasked with bringing in various donations, such as school rucksacks and geometry sets to help those starting school at the NCLC. 

Alongside delivering these donations, Caroline spent time with the children and teachers to share valuable skills. Together with her sister-in-law, an experienced primary school teacher, she introduced ‘circle time’, aiming to develop all-important speaking and listening skills. There was also one-to-one time spent with individual children hearing them read which, like all schools, was much needed after Covid . 

Caroline explains, “We’ve had a reciprocal partnership with HUGE and the NCLC now for over a decade and have helped with various projects over the years. However, as a College we have also benefited hugely, not least in being able to give Sixth Form students the opportunity to visit the school and do some meaningful voluntary work.

It was wonderful to revisit the school over half term and deliver the donations.  Alongside this, the opportunity to work with the teaching staff and children to help develop listening skills and literacy was a real pleasure. It was an enriching collaborative experience for all involved.“

Caroline continues, “It was also wonderful to meet with the children who had progressed through the NCLC and are now in secondary education, thanks to the Further Education Fund that the HUGE Partnership have put in place. Their enthusiasm and ambition for the future is overwhelming to see and, hopefully, will be a real inspiration to our students when they visit next year. inspired.”

Melanie Batten, Trustee at The HUGE Partnership adds, “On behalf of HUGE and the children, teachers and community in Nabugabo, Uganda, I wanted to say a very big thank you to all the students, parents and staff at Pangbourne for organising such a wonderful collection of much needed resources.  Due to the Covid pandemic and being unable to visit Uganda for quite a while, the School had been crying out for these much needed resources, they will make a real difference.” 

Pangbourne College is aiming to undertake a trip to Uganda in Summer 2023, with a group of Lower Sixth Form students who will work on vital local projects.