A little boy who melted the hearts of Suffolk students during an expedition to Uganda earlier this year has secured a place in a special needs school thanks to fundraising by Brandeston Hall pupils.
Students at its sister school Framlingham College met Lubega Bosco Yosiya, seven, in the Masaka region in July when they were refurbishing classrooms at Brain Trust Primary School.
They described Lubega as a well thought of, “sweet-natured lad”, but who lived with severe learning disabilities and unable to communicate effectively. However, there were no specialist resources at the school to help him.
Team leaders on the trip, Brandeston Hall headmaster Martin Myers-Allen, and Framlingham College senior deputy head Susan Wessels instantly decided to sponsor him.
Upon hearing about Lubega, Brandeston Hall’s Year 6 pupils took up a challenge to raise £100 a year for the rest of his education so that he could attend a specialist school. They were lent £5 as a loan and used their entrepreneurial skills to increase it - and they did, by making and selling marmalade, cutting and selling kindling, washing cars and a number of other activities, which together raised £1,389.
The money will be kept in a trust fund for Lubega throughout his time in education.
Framlingham College headmaster, Paul Taylor, said: “These expeditions are life-changing experiences for pupils at the college, but to know that they have absolutely changed the life of young Lubega is heartening indeed. The pupils rose to the challenge and showed impressive enterprise and entrepreneurial flair in doing so.”
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