Help Children Get the Future They Deserve

What do we do?

Primary children in the Kirima playground

Our donors give children the education they need to break the cycle of poverty. We provide nursery, primary, secondary and college education, and continue to support young people as they make the transition into adult life.

We work in Kanungu, a rural district in south-west Uganda where incomes are very low and most families depend on subsistence farming to survive.

Around half of children in the district leave school before completing primary education. For many, this leaves few opportunities beyond working on the land. At our schools, pupils receive a high-quality education from committed teachers who are paid regularly. Parents value the education, care and nutrition their children receive, and this encourages them to keep their children in school.

Education gives young people the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to build a better future. It opens the door to further education and paid employment, helps girls remain in education and delay early pregnancy, and enables young adults to support their families and contribute to their wider community.

How does it work?

Primary school computer lessons

Over the last twenty years, we have built a team in Uganda who believe passionately in giving their pupils the education they need. Our staff could get higher-paid and easier jobs at Government schools, but they are committed to the quality provided at Teach Uganda schools.

Our donors have given thousands of girls and boys of all faiths education from nursery right through to college, completely transforming their lives.

The exam results are among the best in the region, not because the school limits itself by teaching to the exams but because of the pupils’ engagement and staff dedication.

We focus on subjects which will be useful for their lifetime, including science and computing. It is expensive to provide the necessary library, lab equipment and laptops, but well worth it.

We love visiting Kanungu regularly because we see what a difference this work makes to people there. With your continued help, we look forward to seeing further improvements in future.

How can I help?

Heading to high school sports day

It costs just £15 per month to give a child the education they deserve and change their life. 100% of your donations are sent to the schools in Uganda, not on UK staff, admin or marketing. Click the link below to download a standing order form.

Educate a child

If you can't commit to sponsoring a child, please make a one-off donation now to help us provide resources for the schools:

Bank transfer

Larger projects are funded from individual donations, links with schools, churches, Rotary etc, so do get in touch if you think you could help:

Leaving money in your Will is a simple and powerful way to create a legacy which will change children's lives

A Gift in Your Will

”Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.“ Nelson Mandella

Primary

Children at Primary School

Giving children a great start

It is difficult for us to imagine life without a basic education… being unable to read, write or understand numbers.

At primary level we teach this and much more, including science, geography and computing, starting boys and girls on a journey of lifelong learning.

Children at our schools achieve good grades in their P7 leavers' exams, meaning more stay in education rather than returning to help their families with subsistence farming.

More about Primary

Secondary

Lesson in the science lab

Learning skills for life

Our High School builds on pupils’ knowledge, leading to ‘O’ level exams based on UK standards. They need these skills to get a job, earn an income, and support their family.

They share their life skills with the wider community, for example teaching their family better health habits and crop management.

Educating girls promotes gender equality and reduces the number of early pregnancies.

The ethos and capability they develop at school give pupils confidence, empowering them to make better life choices.

More about Secondary

College

Meeting newly-elected guild students

To the next level

We were delighted to open a new college in February 2024 to complete our education programme from nursery all the way to equipping the young people of Kanungu for paid employment.

The college teaches Certificate and Diploma Courses: Business Administration, Tourism & Hotel Management and Accounting & Finance. These subjects are important locally, leading to good employment opportunities for the graduates and contributing to the fledgling economy in the region.

In only its second year, over 250 students have enrolled, demonstrating our reputation and the local need.

More about College

Why do we work in rural Uganda?

Uganda is a low-income country. Some people live in abject poverty. Families with as many as ten children are common, illiteracy is high and family planning is a work in progress. The Times, Feb 2024

We work in Kanungu because education changes lives. Young people are the future but they need good schools to reach their potential.

Of 20,000 children who start school in the county, only 5,000 finish primary school… and a mere 1,000 complete their seconary education—a shocking 95% fallout rate. It is challenging to send children to school and, as children get older, they become useful at home. So parents only make the necessary sacrifices if they are sure the education their children receive is worth it.

Our schools are popular and have a low drop-out rate. Families make a financial contribution, which pays for school meals, because they understand the benefit their children are gaining.

When we meet young adults who are making a difference locally, it is gratifying but also shocking how many of them are graduates from our schools.

A few stats about Kanungu…

Over 50%

of the population are children under 16 years old

Only 70%

of children are educated even to Primary level

73%

of people’s main source of income is subsistence farming

28%

of adults cannot read and write

Source: Uganda Bureau of Statistics. All photos were taken in Kanungu by Teach Uganda supporters.

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