Tenth-graders Melissa and Brittany didn’t know much about Uganda before they began writing their own children’s book, but now they feel connected to this place on the map like they never imagined. “I did some research in class and outside of class,” said Brittany. They had to learn more about what a Ugandan village looks like. They are creating a preschool age book from scratch entitled “Shapes in the Village,” where they educate the reader about shapes and then ask them to go around their village looking for them.

English teacher Todd Cunha is in charge of this project at the school and is working with several other disciplines in the building to bring forward many hundreds of one-of-a-kind books to send to Uganda through a program called, “Books of Hope.” This program, part of the Memory Project (www.booksofhope .org), has a mission to “create international educational opportunities for American students by helping them connect with children their own age in dozens of countries around the world.”

Labeled a service learning project by the organization, this program provides Enfield High School students the opportunity to learn about another area of the world, as well as to use their own creativity and skills to create something from scratch. These books will help this east African country advance in its attempt to educate the children, increase literacy and foster empathy between nations.

Mr. Cunha’s class is working diligently to make this a success. Each student is paired with another student and has chosen a subject to write on. Each book will include original writing and pictures, capturing the culture and lifestyle of a Ugandan child.

Brianna has decided to create two books. She was working on her laptop to create an eye catching front cover on her book about numbers (1-10 ), and she is also planning a storybook about a boy who wants to go outside to play but his mom says no because it is too hot out.

Ned was busy putting the final touches on a picture of a fish to be placed next to the letter ‘F’ that his partner is finishing for their alphabet book.

The school they are sending these books to in Uganda is in Kampala in Kireka. Through an organization that helps refugees, this preschool has been set up, but it is in a slum. The parents cannot afford to pay for a formal nursery school, and many of the parents and kids are HIV positive or orphaned. Their situation to educate their children would be pretty desperate, were it not for programs similar to Books of Hope.

The school serves about 160 children between the ages of 3 and 15, but Cunha’s books are being written for the 6-to 9-year olds. Through the program, they have requested science books, math books, alphabet books, numbers and biology. Cunha and his crew of students are focusing on the alphabet books and the storybooks, while other teachers in school and their students are tackling the other topics.

The students can send up to 100 pounds of books for their registration fee of $225. They plan on holding a book fair at Barnes and Noble in Enfield March 27-29 . Ten percent of the purchases made that weekend will be given to the project. Students will be manning an information table Saturday and Sunday afternoon with literature about Books of Hope, as well as some of the books from students.

Cunha has a special affinity for this place in the world. As a son of Peace Corp. volunteers, he is interested in the plight of people in other parts of the world. He heard about this opportunity through an e-mail he received about two years ago.

All in all, there are about 300-400 students , building–wide working on this project.

“It was nice to bring everyone together to do a common project,” said Cunha. Melissa is like all of the other students in her feelings about this project. “I think it’s cool, it will help them a lot,” she said.