From Barren Field to Thriving Campus
In 2005, a visiting missionary spoke to the St. Fabian Catholic Church congregation in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Paul and Nancy Berrigan were struck by the terrible poverty of the people of Chelekura, extremely impressed by dynamic Msgr. John Kauta’s description of the good that might be done there and encouraged by how far the American dollar could go.
Understanding that the root cause of poverty is lack of education, they pledged to build a small school near the village. In an agreement with the Archdiocese of Tororo and the Ugandan government, their initial pledge of a primary school changed into the promise of a secondary school – college preparatory under the British system of education. This resulted in getting Chelekura both a primary and a secondary school.
At this point in our story, we encourage you to watch the video below and listen to Nancy ‘s recount of her Pagan Baby story; we guarantee it will warm your heart and provide tremendous insight into the lifetime commitment of Nancy and Paul Berrigan.
From the beginning, Paul determined that John Paul School was to be a “premier institution.” This meant premier facilities, far superior to other buildings in the community, highly-qualified (degreed) teachers and sufficient up-to-date textbooks and tools. Premier also meant an emphasis on the sciences and technology which would enable students to carve out a role in the world of the future. A goal was to attract motivated students with the dedication and determination to complete their studies, taking advantage of the incredible opportunity being offered. Paul’s vision would – and still does – govern the development of the campus.
Construction of the school began in 2006; however, with no running water, showers, latrines, waste incinerator or electricity, significant infrastructure surrounding the buildings was required
Completed school building
Other components of today’s campus
The Berrigans knew they were offering a life-changing opportunity to the children of Chelekura; what they never imagined was the positive impact they were making on the entire village community. The people of Chelekura turned out en masse for the school dedication in July of 2007, which became a village-wide celebration where villagers brought gifts according to their ability – from one banana to a turkey and even a sheep.
As subsequent elements of the campus were built and yearly visits occurred, the villagers, especially children, continued to take an active interest in the school – realizing for the first time that this could ultimately be “their” school . . . “their” opportunity . . . “their” chance for a better life.
John Paul School as a center of learning for its young people
infused the entire village with hope.
Today, the school when in session is home to more than 575 young men and women – many of them boarding students from areas surrounding Chelekura. Due to the generosity of Dr. Larry and Sue Hungerford who provide scholarships each year to ten deserving primary students from the village, there are now about 60 Hungerford scholars from Chelekura, who work hard to maintain their yearly grants.
We know that providing Uganda’s young people with education is the first step toward a better future.
For them . . for Uganda . . . and ultimately for our world.
John Paul School’s solid foundation and aspiring vision offer you a worthy investment consideration for your charitable options.
