SHALOM NAMUTERE COMMUNITY PROJECT

When we first noticed a few children in the community not attending school, we had no idea how deeply God would open our eyes to the greater need. Initially, our response was simple: to address the frequent non-attendance of children in the community. We asked ourselves, "Why, with free education provided by the government of Uganda, were so many children still not attending school?" Conversations with parents and guardians revealed the harsh reality: while tuition was free, families were required to provide uniforms and supplies—expenses many simply couldn’t afford. In response, we began partnering with a few needy families, supplying uniforms and educational materials to help the children access school. Mobilizing support from friends and family, we collected extra supplies and distributed them to these children. The Growing Realization Despite these efforts, it became evident that attending school wasn’t enough. Learning was not happening. Through evaluation, we discovere...

  In my last two episodes, I shared my childhood experiences first, during the war and after the war.   Today, I'll continue with the third episode, "Beyond the Village." With no high school near me, it was time to leave home and head to the nearest "big town," Jinja, Uganda. I had never imagined myself in a big town before. Jinja, an industrial hub, was unlike anything I had known. After enrolling in high school, I needed to find somewhere to stay. I ended up sharing a small hut with a classmate who had already rented it. I remember looking up at night and seeing the sky and moon through the roof. We had to sleep in shifts because there wasn't enough room for both of us simultaneously. As hard as life was in my village, I missed it. (This is one of my first ever pictures taken)!!!!!!  Back to the story!!  To make ends meet, I worked to pay for my school fees, accommodation, and food. I enrolled in a carpentry apprenticeship and worked with a carpenter, d...

  This is My Story: Part 2   "My Life After the War" In the first part of "This is My Story," I shared glimpses of my early school life amid war. Today, I continue with the second chapter, “My Life After the War.”  When I look back, I realize that the effects of the war gave birth to a deep desire for something different. Join me as I further reflect.  When we returned from exile, we found our home destroyed—burned down and overgrown with bush.  For months, we were hosted by neighbors as my father worked to rebuild our lives. He managed to construct a small hut, but it was so tiny that only my parents could sleep inside. I had to find shelter with different neighbors for quite some time. Life was unbearably difficult.  Before the war, farming was not just our  source of income—it was how we fed ourselves and made any income.  The war disrupted everything, leaving us without food. Thankfully, some neighbors who hadn’t been chased away took pi...

Why Shalom Care School? Background   Shalom Namutere Care School was established in 2017. It was a response to the numerous nonattendances of the children in the community. Though the government of Uganda provides education for free, the students are supposed to bring supplies and uniforms, which most children couldn’t afford.  We started by providing supplies  and uniforms for various needy children. Over time, we noticed that though they attended government school, learning wasn’t happening. On evaluation, the education was substandard, and many, after many years, couldn’t understand anything. We started providing coaching at the weekends to support the students.  Justification   Many children in Uganda, particularly in rural areas, still lack access to quality education. Due to the growing population, the government struggles to provide quality education in remote or underserved areas. While there are schools in the community, not all provide high-qualit...

                                                             This is My Story:Part 1  Early School Life through War!!! Once upon a time!! Haha. Well, the story of my life is a very long one. Today is the beginning of a series of "My Story" that I will keep writing when I have the opportunity. Its a reflection on my early school life.  My education journey began in the mid-1980s, a time when resources were scarce and instability was all too common. I remember writing on the ground because we had no books and no chalkboards for our teachers to use. When it rained, we huddled under a muddy shelter. Lunch was unheard of—during breaks, we would wander to nearby homes of our classmates, hoping to find jackfruit hanging from the trees.  My early memories of school are few, but what followed has left a lasting imprint.  As...