On September 07 2022, we re-visited Kwiayakuru community primary school in Ragem sub-county in Ajibu village Pakwach district. The school was started by the community members themselves due to the lack of a nearby primary school. The children from this community trek every morning for about 2km to look for a nearby primary school. Many young children and their families could not afford to move and because of that, many parents decided to keep their children home until community members themselves thought of opening a school to help their children. The community stakeholder gave a helping hand to have this school started, like the catholic church offered their one grass thatched house which is acting as the classroom now to accommodate over 200 children.

During the roadtrips, our coordinators often observe and experience the joys and hardships of the communities they visit. Coordinators are seen as allies in the storm of life, and so they see and experience the joy and heartache of these communities, either from the children, parents or teachers.

Join us as we share another STEPi Roadtrip to a "forgotten" community in Northern Uganda where children were consumed with excitement in receiving their own book for the very first time.

Parents in the USA say happiness is what they want for their kids. But what does happiness or education even mean? I think for both parents in Africa and the USA, education means preparing our children for the real world. In Uganda the assumption is education brings success. In the USA we feel happiness is success.

Happy World Teacher’s Day from all at STEPi! In honour of World Teacher’s Day, we wanted to discuss the impact and needs of teachers, specifically those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Read more as we dig deeper into this topic.

The old adage that you cannot force cows to take water is very applicable when it comes to promoting reading. Like a herdsman who wants his cows to drink water so he gives them salt to eat first (because that’s what they love most), thereby instantly making them thirsty for water, children too need positive motivation to appreciate reading. We don’t force learning. We inspire learning.

Children learn. But what do we want them to learn? Do we want them to learn to be: persistent? Good communicators? Good at relationships? Respectful? Happy? Self-reliant? A self-starter? Able to read so they can read to learn?

Join us as we share with you a roadtrip that one of our coordinators embarked on to Buvuma Island in Uganda.