Give a child the start to education for a year

This term began with both excitement and understandable anxiety as our school reached a major milestone—registering our pioneer Primary Seven learners. For a rural school whose progress was once disrupted by the COVID19 pandemic, which kept Ugandan learners out of school for nearly two years, this moment marks a powerful return to stability and hope.

One by one, children arrived at school on opening day.
Some were new—quiet, shy, and still learning their way around. Others ran joyfully into the compound, excitedly greeting old friends, hugging, laughing, and hurrying off to their classes. Amid this energy, our inaugural Primary Seven cohort stepped into what will be their first major national examination year, a defining moment in their academic journey.

Education remains one of the most critical determinants of longterm wellbeing for families in Northern Uganda, a region that has faced years of conflict, poverty, and school interruptions.

Current national assessments show the depth of the challenge:

• Learning poverty in Uganda stands at 83%, meaning 8 in 10 children cannot read and understand a simple story by age 10. 
• Primary school completion rates remain low: only 52% of boys and 54% of girls complete primary school. 
• The 2023 National Assessment (NAPE) for P3 and P6 found persistent gaps in numeracy and literacy, especially among rural learners.

These statistics reflect a national learning crisis that is even more pronounced in rural and postconflict regions like Northern Uganda. This is why supporting our learners—especially those pioneering Primary Seven—is so vital.

As our first Primary Seven class begins this crucial year:

• All teachers are aligning their efforts around ensuring every learner succeeds.
• We are strengthening classroom support, remedial lessons, and preparation for national assessments.
• We continue to create a safe, nurturing environment for children who may have entered school late, experienced trauma, or missed years due to COVID19 disruptions.

This cohort represents more than a class—they symbolize resilience, recovery, and the future of their families.

To ensure these learners thrive, we invite continued partnership through:

• Scholastic materials (exercise books, pens, mathematical sets)
• Textbooks and revision guides
• Teacher training opportunities to strengthen pedagogy and learning outcomes
• Infrastructure support, especially for classroom resources and examination readiness

Your support over the years has brought us to this moment, and we are deeply grateful.

At the end of the year, parents, teachers, and school leaders will look back to assess the progress made and the impact of these shared efforts. We will share a comprehensive results report with the GlobalGiving community.

For now, we celebrate this important beginning—and we thank you for standing with these children as they take the first major step in their academic journey.

Thank you for your continued support.
Together, we are building opportunity, confidence, and a brighter future for the children of Northern Uganda.