News - Meaningful Volunteer

Congratulations Rebecca

Malcolm Trevena — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 21:44:39 +0000

Congratulations to Rebecca Nadutu for completing her Bachelor of Science Degree at Busitema University! We are all so very proud of you.

Rebecca was an early student at our School in Uganda and has made it all the way to being university-qualified. Simply Amazing.

A special shout out to our partner Girls Matter for making all this possible.

And thanks to Mary for Esther. Without our awesome staff, none of this would be possible.

What makes a school work

Malcolm Trevena — Thu, 16 May 2024 17:03:26 +0000

A full stomach is one of the most important things to getting a good education. It’s hard to take in any information if all you thinking about is how hungry you are.

This is why we have Mary cook a meal for the kids daily. Thanks, Mary!

Coming in a close second is keeping the kids as healthy as possible. Mosquito nets and a working latrine are huge bonuses for education.

When our school was built over ten years ago, we hired a man we nicknamed Bulldozer to build us a latrine.

He dug a large pit by hand and built the latrine on top. Thanks, Bulldozer

Unfortunately, let’s just say that the latrine filled up.

We had some money left over in a slush find for projects like this, so we sent our staff the money and a new latrine was built. This will hopefully keep more kids healthier and enable them to not miss school due to illness

A special shout out to Meaningful Gaming, whose generosity makes projects such as this possible.

More pictures of the construction below

Christmas Celebrations and Graduations in Uganda

Malcolm Trevena — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 03:19:49 +0000

The Christmas and Graduation were celebrated at our school in Buyaya, Uganda.

We are so proud of all our students who have taken the next step in their education journeys.

One of the things we always emphasize to our students is the importance of giving back. This is exactly what a former student of ours called Evelyn did when she made all the graduation clothes. Thanks Evelyn! We look forward to you accomplishing so many great things in your life

A special shout-out to all who have donated over the year.

A special out to Debbie and Joe Boles for their generous donation that made this event possible,

Also, to all who slay dragons each and every week to raise money as part of Meaningful Gaming.

Ugandan Students past test with Flying Colours!

Malcolm Trevena — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:49:50 +0000

When we first set up Meaningful Volunteer in Uganda, we set up a meeting with the Elders and asked them what was needed

The Elders said that one of the biggest problems was the illiteracy rate for kids who had finished elementary school.

It was decided that the best way to address this was to set up a preschool where kids could learn their ABCs and their 123s and at least have a running start at elementary school.

Anecdotally, we have seen that what are doing is having a real positive effect on the illiteracy rate.

Just recently, our students took the formal Pre-Primary Assessment test, and they all passed with flying colours!

We expect our students to go to elementary school with a head start and, eventually, graduate with the ability to both read and write fluently. From there, the sky is the limit!

Harvest time in Buyaya

Malcolm Trevena — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:34:51 +0000

One of the goals for Meaningful Volunteer was to make our schools as self sustainable as possible.

One of out ideas was to turn some of the land that schools resides on into an “Edible schoolyard”.

So it raises a smile on all our faces when it’s harvest time for the schoolyard.

Here are some pictures of the tomato and soy bean crops from our school in Buyaya

Soccer Balls Donated to Buyaya

Malcolm Trevena — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 23:36:10 +0000

A group of students from Eagle Ridge Elementary School in British Columbia, Canada put on a fundraiser and purchased several soccer balls for the kids at Meaningful Volunteer’s school in Uganda

Their effots were acknowleged by Bonita Zarrillo, a member of the House of Commons of Canada.

Good work guys!

Merry Christmas from Buyaya, Uganda!

Malcolm Trevena — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 20:46:57 +0000

Merry Christmas from Buyaya Uganda!

Thanks to Jen Drakes Dr Kim Redman, Mary Elaine Petrucci and Melissa Deally for their generous donation to make this Christmas party possible.

A big shout out to all those you game over at Meaningful Gaming whose continued donations make it possible for us to run our schools year around

Anna sponsored by Mountain View Law

Malcolm Trevena — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 04:39:11 +0000

Thank you to Peter Shrimpton of Mountain Law for your ongoing support of Meaningful Volunnter’s partner Girls Matter, and for sponsoring Anna to complete High School. You are truly making a difference in Anna's life and community, allowing her to complete High School, avoid teenage marriage and break out of the poverty cycle.

Blankets and School Supplies Donated in Nepal

Malcolm Trevena — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:33:12 +0000

From Hema, our manager in Nepal

“A person’s true asset is a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help others.”

And Mr Axel Velberg from Norway 🇳🇴 is a true example of this quote.

He distributed much-needed stationery supplies and warm blankets to the children of our preschool today. We would like to express our gratitude to his kind gesture towards our little ones. Also Thank you Mrs. Ramkali Ram Kali Khadka for making this happen

Flooding in Uganda

Malcolm Trevena — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 18:41:24 +0000

The road leading into Buyaya

Uganda was recently affected by excessive rain that lead to flooding, most notably around Uganda’s second-biggest city Mbale. Twenty-four people lost their lives.

Our Uganda school is near Mbale but it was spared the worst of it. There was some genuine concern for Esther and Mary and everyone in Buyaya at one point. They are all fine, albeit a little wet.

The recently repaired main road that heads up the sloped of Mt Elgon to our school was severely damaged by the flooes

COVID 19 Supplies to Buyaya

Malcolm Trevena — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 18:58:46 +0000

The Ugandan government recently mandated that all schools in Uganda must have COVID protections in place.

Thanks to our supporters, we were able to purchase

A handwashing station
Liquid Soap
Sanitiser
Masks

This should keep everyone in Buyaya as safe as possible during these trying times. We will send money for additional supplies as needed!

Thanks everyone!

Christmas Party in Buyaya, Uganda

Malcolm Trevena — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 19:08:01 +0000

Thank you to each and everyone of you who donate regularly to Meaningful Volunteer! You make it possible for over 100 students to attend our schools!

Every year we have a Christmas party in Uganda to celebrate another successful year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Scenes From Our School in Nepal

Malcolm Trevena — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 19:18:49 +0000

A special shoutout to Hema for sharing these pics. Keep up the awesome work Hema!

New Roads in Buyaya

Malcolm Trevena — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 02:37:33 +0000

One of big challenges of building the school in Buyaya, Uganda was transporting materials to the job site.

Buyaya lies on the side of Mt. Elgon. The first 90% of the journey up Mt. Elgon was easy, but the last 10% was a real challenge. The grade would increase considerably and there weren’t really potholes, they were just plain old holes. I have a vivid memory of my father flipping backwards off a motorcycle he was a passenger on. Fun times.

We had to hire massive trucks to bring the sand and other supplies up the mountain as smaller trucks just couldn’t handle it.

Now that has all changed! The road in Buyaya has had significant improvements.

Not only will this make life easier for our school, but it will make life so much better for the wider community.

Check out the pics of the upgrade below.

The Simple Pleasures

Malcolm Trevena — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 17:31:00 +0000

Meaningful Volunteer district manager Esther made the evening with this delicious fruit at our school in Buyaya

Happy Birthday to Debbie Boles

Malcolm Trevena — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 19:16:19 +0000

Debbie with her mother Margaret

A special Happy Birthday shout out from all of here at Meaningful Volunteer.

Year after year, Debbie Boles has been an adamant supporter of everything we do here at Meaningful Volunteer.

Without fail, she has donated money for a special Christmas meal in Buyaya in Uganda.

Debbie continues on the legacy of her late mother Margaret who started the tradition of the Christmas and Easter meals many years ago.

Happy Birthday Debbie! Check out a special message from Buyaya below

Another Alumni of Meaningful Volunteer Gets Sponosored

Malcolm Trevena — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 17:13:12 +0000

Anna Alice Wanyeze

Congratulations to Anna Alice Wanyeze who has been sponsored by Mountain Law in Whistler for a full six year scholarship at the local high school!

Thanks to Peter from Mountain Law and the wonderful Esther Nabukonde and Mary Wenyisa for making this all possible

Anna Alice Wanyeze is heading to High School with a Full Sponsorship

Malcolm Trevena — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 17:42:29 +0000

When Meaningful Volunteer first started in Buyaya, Uganda, the very first thing we did was to sit down with community elders and just listened. They expressed a disappointment that so many of their children were going through the primary school system and coming out the other end illiterate.

They said that they didn’t need another primary school, but rather a preschool. This would have many benefits to the community, but they were most interested in giving their students a running start to the primary school system. If they could get a strong grounding in their ABCs and 123s then at least they would have a better chance of doing well at primary school and beyond.

So, Meaningful Volunteer built a preschool!

It was always going to be a long term play and we wouldn’t see the benefits for several years.

We are seeing the results now!

Anna Alice Wanyeze went through Meaningful Volunteer’s preschool program where she worked diligently on her ABCs and 123s. She then went on to be a star pupil at her local primary school.

Anna was still stuck though. High School is very expensive in Uganda. She saw many of her friends and siblings marrying early due to a lack of funds for education.

Thanks to a very generous donation by Peter Shrimpton at Mountain Law in Whistler, Canada, Anna is now able to complete her high school studies with a full scholarship!

Anna plans to study social work and nursing and use her skills to help her community.

Congratlations Anna and thank you so much Mountain Law!

Coffee Harvest Time in Buyaya, Uganda

Malcolm Trevena — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 17:11:26 +0000

The edible schoolyard at Meaningful Volunteers school in Buyaya, Uganda is coming up trumps once again.

The land that was generously donated by Mrs and Mr.Stephen Wabudeya now contains three classrooms, a guesthouse, an outhouse, a playground as well as our edible schoolyard.

Our intention for our school in Uganda was that it would be as self-sustaining as possible. Our edible schoolyard is helping to feed our students as well as provide income via things like coffee and bean harvests.

While Uganda is suffering terribly under the strains of COVID-19 infections (on oh so many other things), our little school on the slopes of Mt. Elgon is doing better the most thanks in no small part to its edible schoolyard

Reaching out to Peniniah

Malcolm Trevena — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 18:19:14 +0000

Students near Whistler, Canada are reaching out to Peniniah Namono.

Check out their message below

The students plan to help raise funds for Peniniah’s school fees. Peniniah is one of our sponsored students with our partner organization Girls Matter.