Layibi Secondary School was founded in 1953 as a boys’ boarding school. During the heightened intensity of the war in the 1980s, students and teachers abandoned Layibi because of insecurity. During this time, most of the structures, books, and furniture were looted or burned by the LRA. The students have since returned to the original site despite its poor condition. The library was built for 400 students and now attempts to serve a population of over 1200. The school still has only one computer, which is used by the secretary. Though the basic structures of classrooms and dormitories are still in place, they are in dire need of renovation and there is hardly any furniture within these buildings. The dormitories were packed with rows of bunk beds but are still insufficient to house all of the students. Only 25% had mosquito nets. Student sanitation facilities were very poor and the gaping holes in the roof of the laboratories were a huge problem during the rainy season.

To date, we have been able to refurbish a set of laboratories and supply them with equipment and furniture. We have also refurbished the main nine-classroom block and rehabilitated two boreholes.

We have supplied the school with a limited quantity of core textbooks in the main compulsory subjects and basic laboratory equipment and chemicals, though the school is still not equipped to the national standard. We have also been able to provide teacher training, psychosocial support for guidance counselors and training on financial management and planning, record keeping and computer literacy among other things. Work will soon be underway for the total refurbishment of the schools’ library and auditorium. Funds from Round IV will ensure that the library is fully furnished with shelving and books.

The Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sport has come in to refurbish Layibi’s two largest dormitories in addition to the work we have done. The momentum of both our efforts seems to have inspired the school administration and PTA, who have contributed to the refurbishment of one small classroom block and one dormitory. The site is barely recognizable from the state it stood in a mere eight months ago. The huge change in the campus at Layibi has resulted in a greater respect of facilities from the student body and subsequent improvements in discipline. We are proud to play our part in this monumental change and are working hard to ensure this progress continues.