OUr Context

Following several feasibility studies conducted in Uganda in 2016, 2018 and recently post pandemic in 2023, it is clear that despite significant gains made in primary school enrollment, quality education remains illusive for many children. Children from rural areas, girls, migrant and marginalised communities remain at a disadvantage. Currently, the drop-out rate in Uganda is the 2nd highest in Africa at 68%. Majority of those who drop out are the poorest children. The 2019 World Bank Country Report on Uganda confirmed that only 2% of children in year four, can work out a simple fraction in Maths and only 6% can read and comprehend a simple sentence. By age 18, children in Uganda on average will have studied for a total of 6 years which translates to 4-5 years of study in real terms owing to 2-3 years being ‘lost’ due to waste.

With on the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world, 53% of Uganda’s population is below 15 years old, well above Sub-Saharan Africa’s average of 43%. The school-aged population (6-18 years) stood at circa 11 million in 2010 and is expected to almost double by 2025. This means that the education system needs to double its current intake capacity. Buckling under the pressure of lower primary entry numbers, quality of learning is more important than ever.

We believe in a more equitable society which can only be achieved when all children are partakers of a quality education that allows them to thrive both in school and in life. We know that access to quality early years education enables efficiencies to be maximised throughout the education journey and therefore we focus on pre-primary and primary education. We work in areas where poverty intersects with other compounding effects to further affect learning outcomes. We believe that wealth, gender, ableism and location should not be a factor in whether a child learns or not. Our work in Uganda began in Iganga and Bugweri Districts and we have recently expanded to Wakiso District to cater for the peri-urban poor.