Reading, Skyping and Music Link CCS and Ugandan Students
by Rowan Beck,
April 7, 2011, page 11.....

Despite budget cuts and construction, big things are happening at Charlotte Central School (CCS). This past fall a campaign called Leading For Reading began to raise money for the 52 Kids Foundation, created by CCS graduate Jagger Koerner. This foundation raises money to educate, empower and find gainful employment for needy students in Kumali, Uganda.

Jagger started 52 Kids Foundation in 2005 after returning from volunteering in Uganda. He volunteered through Student Partnership Worldwide for six months after graduating from Champlain Valley High School. He enjoyed it so much that he continued his stay for two more months and deferred his first year of college. While there he laid the groundwork for his foundation and identified 52 children to help. Upon his return he began raising money.

It costs approximately $30 for children to attend school in Kumali. They must have a uniform, shoes, a pen and a pencil. The government pays for everything else.

Children may walk up to two hours one way with no shoes to school. It is no surprise that few are educated, and 52 Kids has taken on the challenge to change that. The foundation refurbished an old building and created a dormitory for students traveling the furthest distances. The students spend the week there and go home on the weekends. They have a dorm mother, a full-time cook and a security guard. “It’s a win/win for us,” said John Koerner, Jagger’s father who is now running the foundation. “Kids are getting better grades; the dorm mother provides a good role model, and it costs less.” John has noticed a difference since the foundation’s beginnings in the confidence of the children. “They’ve moved out into the community more; they’re much happier and are becoming leaders in some way… like guiding us on how to build a fuel-efficient stove,” he smiled.

Over the years teachers at CCS have gotten involved, beginning with Colleen Brady. She volunteers every summer and has given presentations or workshops to other faculty on development days. Last year Mary Muroski joined her. Their involvement in 52 Kids has brought a greater global awareness to the students. Mary had her sixth grade class help her prepare for her trip by creating a Future Walk based on education and transportation. At the end, presentations were given to their families. The class also raised $1,000 for the foundation.

This year Mary created Leading for Reading. Students in the fifth and sixth grade teams took pledges for how many pages they could read in four months. “People pledged what they felt comfortable with, a penny a page or more, and 110 kids read over 218,000 pages. We raised $5,237, and now, with the combination of last years $1,000, we’ve raised enough to install solar panels on the dorm,” Mary said. The dorm will have consistent power and sell back the electricity. “Every dollar that 52 Kids gives must be sustainable,” Mary spoke urgently. John later agreed, “I’ve verbally committed to 52 kids; it’s nerve racking!”

Students at CCS have been skyping with the students in the dorm in Kumali. Skype is an Internet service that provides free video communications by computer. Students here have not only learned about the daily schedules and responsibilities of the Ugandan students, but also that they have a definite plan for what they want to achieve. “They’re learning about another country and having real-time conversations,” Mary said. “This will be an invaluable lesson as we’re moving into a more global economy and are working with people all over, not just the next town over.”

After attending a workshop, CCS instrumental music teacher Andy Smith has gotten involved and hopes to have a Skype performance between the CCS Stage Band and the students in the dormitory. He has chosen a few songs from the Jazz era since it was “born and bred in America.” He hopes that both sides will learn from this cultural exchange how small the world has become and that music is truly a universal language.

His proposal has snowballed, and he has enlisted Ed Bianchi for technical support. They hope to open the performance to the entire school, but it does not come without challenges. The main challenge is the Internet connection with Kumali. “It’s a fair amount of work for them, and we are sensitive about asking for more. They already have a lot on their plate,” Colleen Brady explained. “The scale is bigger than anything we’ve ever done before,” Ed said. “We will make it work; it’s too good of an idea.” A live performance over the Internet will most likely have to be modified in some way due to the delay in transmission, but Ed seems confident that he is up to the task. They hope to have the performance sometime this spring.

More than just helping the students in Kumali, 52 Kids Foundation has helped the education of students here. Leading for Reading has inspired students to read. Skyping has allowed all the students to learn about another culture in real time. There has been a true cultural exchange, and relationships are being built. Hopefully, through presentations and workshops, other communities in Chittenden County will get involved. Teachers from Shelburne and Williston have already expressed interest in Leading for Reading, while Hinesburg and Charlotte are planning a “social thing” to raise money. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have four towns working for one thing?” John reflected. For more information on 52 Kids Foundation visit 52kids.org.