Little Shop of Physics at Robert Serunjogi’s school in Uganda
Members of CSU’s Little Shop of Physics in the College of Natural Sciences joined Robert Serunjogi for a visit to the orphanage Robert founded in his home village in Uganda. The orphanage is now a school, due to construction and development made possible with the help of Laura Schreck, a recent CSU graduate, who worked tirelessly to raise funds and provide support.
For people who have supported the development of the school, know this: The community supports the school 100%. They have donated labor, materials, time, and care. It’s amazing to see how much has been done, and how well things are going.
The Fort Collins community, and the CSU community, where Robert is a well-known figure, has also supported the Little Shop of Physics team to help the school develop a science curriculum that matches the Ugandan standards in the Little Shop style of engagement, exploration, and excitement. (School parachutes to teach about air and air pressure? Oh yeah.) Our team—including Robert, Laura and her parents—took over 18 suitcases of equipment to share, and spent 8 days at the school sharing lessons with the students and teachers. All of the equipment was purchased with the generous donations of the CSU and Fort Collins communities. The suitcases were donated as well, for a one-way trip to Uganda, where they have a new life storing science equipment at the school.
It was an excellent experience, as the above video captures. (A higher quality version of the video is available here.) We have made connections, made friends. We will continue to support the school in the future, and we will be back.
Thanks to the College of Natural Sciences for making this visit possible, to the members of the Fort Collins and CSU communities who donated funds (and suitcases!), to the warm and welcoming people of Bweyeeyo, to the teachers at the school who let us join their classes for so many days, and to Robert and Laura for working so hard to make the vision of the school a reality.
The tie-dye backpacks were a big hit. So cool, they demand to be worn on the front. They are full of science supplies: Microscope, measuring tape, notebook….
Learning about circuits by exploration. These students were bright, focused, and very engaged.
We’ll be back.
