Green schools in Karamoja

Droughts, Poverty, Malnutrition, Illness – these are some of the factors at play. In Karamoja access to water is one of the principal problems. The report on disarmament and development prepared by the Prime Minister's Office for the period 2011-2015 indicated that 73% of the region's population took at least 30 minutes to reach a water source. And even of one has access to water, contamination remains a serious problem, in particular with regard to systems of collection, transport and conservation of. In some districts of Karamoja, in particular in the district of Moroto, the level of alphabetisation stands at only 13%. According to statistics available from the district of  Moroto, the number of children of school age is 24,277 but only 7,195 result as enrolled on school registers, of which only 5,244 actually attend (just 30% of the total). The integration of children in the school system results complicated for many reasons; the precarious dietary situation and the seminoma culture which prevails in Karimojong makes the presence and the work of the children indispensable for the upkeep of the community.
The Green Schools project looks to give a concrete and efficient support to primary schools, two of which are situated in the district of Napak and two in the municipality of Moroto. In essence the project promotes the access to primary education through an improvement in dietary and general health conditions in the schools. Moreover, the actions proposed intend to also follow the pilot project commenced whereby a greenhouse was installed in the compound of ISP Moroto. The objective is to verify the potential of this type of agricultural production in a new context. Any profit generated from the sale of vegetables grown in the greenhouse will go towards covering the running costs. The installation of two tanks for the collection of water at Demonstration P.S. and Lokupoi has certainly improved the situation. At the moment there is no system for the accumulation and erogation of water so once action is taken this will considerably further improve a reduction in the time necessary for the daily allocation of water. In the Lokupoi school action is to be focused on the development of the  school's plant nursery , and which will contribute to the creation of income to cover running costs. Through the construction of a walled kitchen with two ovens the saving in economic terms will be at least 30% (in terms of the amount of firewood used).
Thanks to the distribution quality controlled seeds for the vegetable patch and the planting of fruit trees the agricultural element at the two schools has increased and consequently also in the communities around.
Through theoretical and practical lessons at the the Demonstration P.S., Lokupoi P.S., Lia P.S. and Kautaku P.S schools teachers and students have been instructed on the environmental and agricultural aspects at play in the projects and the economic sustainability of ISP Moroto has improved, through the contribution generated by the sale of vegetables produced in the greenhouse.
The core of activity of the Green Schools is based on theoretical and practical lessons for the classes of Primary 4 to Primary 7, and focused on the following themes: environment and trees, agroforestry and composition of terrains. For the practical sessions the contents are: sowing of vegetable seeds, planting of fruit trees, demonstration of agricultural practices useful for the protection of produce, use of residue foliage as natural fertilizer. The resulting greenhouse vegetables and produce generally is sold at stalls of the ISP of Moroto, at the Moroto market.
The total number of beneficiaries of these important actions is 1,664 persone, a rather high number and divided as follows: 1,613 students, of which 821 are male and 792 female; 51 teachers, of which  31 are male and 20 female. The Green Schools project is of an emancipating nature, aimed at youngsters in particular, and this through the teaching and learning of concrete productive techniques, with emphasis being on various environmental factors.