June, 29,2026 We have a new Vice President!
After the previous Vice President stepped down, we were looking for a new “Vice.” And we found him! His name is Fabian Oppermann, and he’s from Freiburg. Fabian has been a member of our association for quite some time. He was elected unanimously during the vote at the Annual General Meeting. We’re truly happy to once again have a full board and a new, dedicated vice president.
I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to the previous vice president, R. Simon, for her many years of selfless and highly dedicated service. Without her work and dedication, together with the two Ulm parishes of Böfingen and Jungingen, our support association—and thus the SHAK Junior School in Bulabakulu—would not be where it is today.
Now we move forward! The next tasks await us—the boarding school area, additional teachers’ tiny houses, the expansion and furnishing of the computer lab, and so on, and so on…
May 18, 2026 New Progress
It is currently vacation time in Bulabkulu, and the planned construction projects are moving forward at a rapid pace. Thanks to the large donation mentioned earlier, we can now continue investing in the planned school library. The appropriate windows and doors have already been purchased with this money and have now been installed, as the photos show. Work has also begun on the roof area (photo).
School Principal Luyinda also sent us photos of Tiny Houses 7 and 8, which were financed by the two Ulm church congregations. Except for the facade design, they are complete. The pictures show the plastering work and the fully plastered duplex. Now, of course, the whole thing still needs to dry.
April 30, 2026 Good news!
Surprisingly, we have once again received a large individual donation of €2,500. Last year, the SHAK Junior School was already supported with a substantial amount from the same family. Now we can move forward again. Thank you so much for the wonderful support! I am currently discussing with School Director Luyinda how we plan to use the funds—perhaps for Tiny House No. 9? I’ll keep you updated here!
Secondly: We’ve received new photos of the school’s progress. The future school library building has finally gotten its roof! The building blends in really harmoniously with the existing complex. Furthermore, teachers’ quarters No. 7 and 8 (a duplex) are nearing completion!
April 13, 2026 Construction Progress
School Principal S. Luyinda has again reported significant construction progress from Bulabakulu. The next two tiny houses are under construction—once again as a duplex. See the photos. The next step will be installing the roof.
The future school library, which the team in Bulabakulu has already begun building on their own, is also showing noticeable progress. We recently contributed 1,100 euros toward this project. Here, too, the roof will need to be built soon.
March 26, 2026 New Tables for the Kindergarten
It took a while for the money from Ulm (8,611 euros) and the funds we currently had in our account (including proceeds from the Lenten meal) to reach Bulabakulu. Due to Remitly’s restrictions, we could only transfer small amounts of 1,100 euros per day: But everything worked out. And then we experience the same “miracle” time and again: Within two weeks, the incredible craftsmen from Kampala “whittle” these wonderful kindergarten table sets virtually “out of thin air!” We, along with the management team and the teachers, are truly thrilled. This is not far off from a kindergarten in Europe! What a blessing for everyone involved there! Thanks again to all the helpers, supporters, donors, and association members. You all help to improve the lives of the people, especially the children in Bulabakulu and the surrounding area, and increase their chances of receiving a proper education. Not to mention the craftsmen who receive work orders thanks to our efforts. As always: Double donation!
08/03/2026 Thanks to our donors!
The 15 sets of school desks and chairs are also the result of Christmas donations. They have finally arrived and are waiting to be put to use in the classrooms soon. School principal Saad Luyinda sent us additional pictures of the girls’ sports jerseys. The picture shows the girls’ team playing netball in their new jerseys.
03/02/2026 Proof for our donors
Before Christmas, we received some generous donations for specific, selected items. For example, one family donated a considerable sum for sports jerseys for girls. Then we received donations specifically for bookshelves. Today, as we always promise, we can present the corresponding proof to the donors in the form of photos. This way, the donors know what their money has been spent on. On behalf of SHAK Junior School, we are very grateful for this support. The SHAK Junior School girls’ team finally has its own sports jerseys, and some classrooms can now be equipped with the new shelves. And once again, it is clear that you are donating twice: on the one hand, for example, for the bookshelves, and on the other hand, local craftsmen in Kampala have once again received orders for the manufacture of the shelves. In this way, you are also supporting local craftsmanship!
February 27, 2026 New updated information posters
Just in time for the fasting meal at the Engen Community Center, the new, updated poster series has been completed. Visitors can now find out all about the SHAK Junior School in Bulabakulu.
Our picture shows the last poster in the series, which shows visitors the planned further development steps for the SHAK Junior School
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February 20, 2026 Lenten meal in Engen
On March 1, 2026, the traditional Lenten meal of the Caritas Committee of the Engen parish will take place. Here, the Friends Association will once again be able to provide information about the development of the SHAK Junior School in Bulabakulu with posters and information flyers. Half of the proceeds will go to the women’s shelter in Singen and half to the Friends Association. This means we can soon start thinking about the next projects, such as interior construction and equipping the future computer room.
January 11, 2026 Exchange with Director Saad Luyinda
On January 10, an intensive exchange took place with the school’s founder and director, Saad Luyinda. It became clear that the school is growing and growing. The good work of the teaching team is paying off. More and more children are coming to Bulabakulu from faraway places. This means that the boarding area urgently needs to be expanded. That means more beds, more space, and better facilities. An urgent task for the new year.
We will soon be able to present the detailed plans and ideas for this area here. So there is still a lot to do!
January 04, 2026 Computer building
There will be no standstill at the SHAK Junior School site in the new year 2026 either: the pictures show the interior work on the future computer room building.
