Stories & Photos

When we celebrate the achievements of Bishop Comboni College or of individual students, we want to share the event with donors. These brief stories give a little insight into the lives of the sponsored students on the secondary campus, Bishop Comboni, and their personal struggles and triumphs.

Bishop Comboni College has developed a plan to build more staff housing on campus. There is no longer an option of housing teachers outside the main gate to campus. Currently, 15 teachers are facing housing insecurity. The academic standards of the school are rising due to its teachers and the many improvements to campus. The faculty is strong and continuity is critical to progress. Teachers mentor and provide stability for 650 students living on campus for 4 to 6 years. They need to have dependable housing.

The housing will be constructed in an area which already has some family teacher housing. The plan is to provide buildings containing 15 one-bedroom units; creating a community area for faculty and staff. Each unit is 35 sq. meters with a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bath; offering privacy and security. The units will be furnished by the teacher to create a personal space, reflecting their own tastes. Built in a quadrangle configuration, the opportunity for interaction will enhance their bond to the school and the other staff members.

The construction of the 15-unit building is a $95,000 project for which BCP is pursuing grant funds, etc. The work will be broken into stages; site and foundation work, individual residential units, etc.

Donating to this urgent need will help BCP and Bishop Comboni begin the first steps. The cost per unit is approximately $6,400; a very cost effective way to retain the teachers. Please help with any amount. It will be put to work immediately.
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This project may also be built as four Four-Unit Buildings.
They would be clustered on the land identified for the 15-unit building.
The cost of each building
would be $25,263.
Each teacher would have a
private 35 sq. meter unit.

Andrew the architect on library balcony

The completely furnished E-Library is waiting for students to arrive for third term on September 16th, 2019. Two years of work has come together. All the furniture for Phase II has been installed. The wonderful architect who oversaw the project is seated in his favorite spot on the balcony. His pride in the outcome is inspiring. And he will be providing help with future projects.

Completed Library

The need for more computers and textbooks remains a goal. The students who were using the first phase of the library had already been mentioning the desire to have more access to computers.

Our librarians are downloading encyclopedias, taking advantage of the free material available, and learning how best to assist the research students’ needs.

The connection to the world is here! It can get stronger and better. We thank all who have helped us and encourage the sharing of this delightful news with friends. The students are excited and grateful. Let’s get more computers and textbooks!

Help BCP to finish this in 2019 by going to the “Other Donations” page!

Sign Unveiling Celebration

The Faculty Research Center is officially open and operating! Internet is on the Bishop Comboni campus, paving the way for the e-Library atop the new classroom building. This first step is a major development for the community surrounding the school, the students and the faculty.

BCP is diligently working on writing grant proposals to finish the library space and donors have been surprising us with wonderful gifts.

New Classroom Building

A very generous school in Seattle made all the difference when they donated 29 laptops and a router. BCP had received donations to provide the Internet connection and furnish the room for the Center.

The excitement on campus was phenomenal for the opening ceremony which took place on the third floor, future home of the e-Library

Faculty Research Center

The Faculty Research Center is on the second floor of the classroom building.
It provides a connection to the world for a rural community that will thrive with this opportunity.

The highest score in SW Uganda on UCEs (National Exams for graduating S4s) was accomplished by a BCP-sponsored student. We are all so proud of the work ethic and tenacity of Moreen.

She deserved the District Award that was given to her on February 6th, 2017. A District Official came to Bishop Comboni to give her 1 million shillings in a school ceremony honoring her hard work.

Moreen with her award

This was a stunning achievement for a rural school. All of the news broadcasts talked of her score during the week of publication. Moreen wants to become a doctor and we know that she will succeed.

Kudos to the school staff, her sponsor and all who helped her come this far.

The Award Ceremony

BCP donors have provided individual solar lamps for all the sponsored students for use during breaks. Secondary students go home to a world of chores and found their evening hours could not provide the much-needed study time since they have no electric service in the village. The staff and faculty at Bishop Comboni also now have solar lamps so they can work during power failures. Light is the answer to so many problems.

Students with Bulbs

The improvements to the water system on the Bishop Comboni campus are complete. Filters have been installed to allow everyone to fill their personal water bottles at the dining hall. The final stage of the water project was to install a 2nd well with a solar-powered pump. The system will now be capable of functioning without the unreliable hydro-electric power and a 2nd well will mitigate the damage caused by the constant use of the first well. Solar is a wonderful thing in Africa!

Filter Station

There are many construction projects underway on campus at Bishop Comboni. The construction of new teachers’ housing will be a huge factor in retaining good teachers in this rural setting. Each unit will house three families. Brother Kato raised more than half the funds needed for this building. We are trying to raise money to help them complete this structure. The school would like to build 6 units like this one. The current housing was meant to be temporary and has been utilized far beyond its intended years.

The collection of rainwater began in 2014 and is now complete. Most of the buildings on the Bishop Comboni campus now have rain collection gutters in place. The boys had the honor of moving the last storage tank into position. “And they got a physics lesson, too” commented the Headmaster.

BCP gave the graduates of S4 a Christmas gift in December of 2014. They were able to attend a computer class near their homes during the long break (before classes began again in February 2015). The Certificates that they earned were handed out at a very colorful ceremony.

It took nearly a year from the time of an exam by a visiting specialist, but Cuthebert finally got his hearing aid. A representative from Starkey Hearing Foundation delivered it and advised Cuthebert about how to maintain the aid. This is a happy young man who will no longer have to sit in the front row of all of his classes.

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