Blog Post

Bandera School Program, was started as an initiative to support the less privileged children of farmers in Kiyunga and neighbouring villages in Kamuli, who could not afford to take them through school. 

Earlier, our teams had held engagements with farmers and noticed that school going children were accompanying their parents instead of attending school. We later discovered that the high levels of poverty, insufficient land for commercial agriculture, and general lack of appreciation for education fuelled the concerning trend.

The Rotary Club of Kampala-Naalya had worked with the community under the Rotary Vijana Poa programme which mainly focussed on skilling the youth in the same community. Through the Programme, more than 20 youths were taught the art of making craft shoes and bar soap. Their products are now on the market.

Two of the Rotary Vijana Poa Trainees, were teenage mothers, who had dropped out of school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the support from Club Members, they both returned to school and continue to thrive with renewed energy. One of them was part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards RYLA, last year, a program that she credits for transforming her life.

Later, the club supported an initiative to take children to school through the Bandera School Programme which aims to break the cycle of poverty through education.

Each primary school child in the Community needs only 50,000 Shillings and direct donations like books, pens, pencils, reams of paper school bags, uniforms, and reading materials to stay in school for a term. Those in Secondary School need up to 150,000 Shillings per term.

One can also donate a goat to the program with the hope that as the goats grow and produce, each goat will be used to cater for the school needs of the child it’s attached to. The Program also encourages teachers who can to volunteer their services whenever possible to teach or learners and mentor the teachers on the ground.

We have seen a steady rise in student enrolment since the inception of the school program and plans are now underway to expand the school facilities to accommodate the growing student population. Today, the school program has up to 203 learners. However, only 25 of these are supported financially.  You too can be part of this program by extending your support to the needy.

The Club support in Kamuli has so far:

• • Empowered youth with practical skills
  • Inspired the creation of the school program
  • Directly supported the education of vulnerable individuals
  • Encouraged community-wide participation in development initiatives

In an inspiring show of community support, the school's director has generously offered land for the community to begin making bricks. This initiative will significantly contribute to our construction efforts, reducing costs and fostering a sense of ownership among community members.

The community's involvement in brick-making not only aids in the physical construction of the school but also symbolizes the strong foundation of community support and participation that will ensure the long-term success of this program.

Our goal is clear: To empower young minds and give them the chance to pursue a better future through education. By addressing the barriers to schooling, we hope to transform not just individual lives, but entire communities.

Happy Basic Education Month