Build Resource Centre for 4000 children in Kibuli

As the year comes to an end, we hope that you are doing well and finding reasons to be grateful.

Once again, we are glad to share some updates regarding the Angaza Resource Centre (ARC), the baby we have carried, together.

On July 1st, we celebrated the ARC's first anniversary! This is a huge feat that we do not take for granted, at all.

This momentous occasion highlighted how far we have come in our mission to provide quality education for underpriveleged children. It has been an amazing journey, and we couldn't have done it without the incredible teamwork espoused by our community. Together, we have weathered the storms and celebrated the milestones, always pushing forward with dedication and passion. Even when we fall, we know we shall eventually get back up.

At a glance, the Resource Centre currently works with 4 partner schools and engages 214 learners on a weekly basis. 35 teachers have received training in phonics and Early Childhood Development  while 10 others are receiving training in computer literacy.

Seeing the impact made through the centre; the curious learners, empowered teachers and the dreams we've ignited - has been the greatest reward.

We are deeply grateful to be living in this significant purpose. 

In July, we also entered into a collaborative partnership with Booked!—an organisation which operates a mobile library serving schools in underserved communities. The ARC is proud to serve as a liaison point for Booked! to lend books to our partner schools, increasing access to learning resources for the children we serve.

Additionally, we have successfully concluded our third holiday program this year, which continues to provide ICT and literacy classes for teenagers.  Beyond these core subjects, students also engaged in interactive learning sessions that enhanced critical thinking, confidence-building, word games, and more. 

4040 is currently gearing up for one of our major fundraising events, set for Friday, 4th October 2024.The fundraiser will feature an exciting quiz competition, karaoke, board games, and music hosted at Tales bar and Lounge, Bukoto. If you are in Kampala on that day, please plan to join us.

All proceeds will be used to purchase additional chairs for the ARC, enabling us to accommodate more children in our programs. 

As always, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to YOU. Your contributions have been instrumental in helping us realise our vision of bridging educational gaps for vulnerable children.

We look forward to creating greater impact together.

Thank you for being part of this journey to create positive change.

Warm Greetings from the Angaza Resource Centre (ARC)!

We are delighted to share the latest updates from the Angaza Resource Centre (ARC). Your unwavering support has been instrumental in our progress, and we are excited to report on the impactful activities and milestones we have achieved since our last update.

Holiday Program

From January 15th to January 30th 2024, the ARC held its inaugural holiday program targeting teenagers aged 13-19 from the Kibuli and Kabalagala communities. The program featured ICT classes and literacy-centric activities in our library, focusing on creative thinking and problem-solving skills among others. The enthusiastic participation and positive feedback from the teens highlighted the program's success and the immense value it brings to their educational journey. 

Teacher Training Initiative

In our commitment to enhancing educational support, we conducted our first phonics training session from January 31st January to 2nd February 2024, facilitated by experts from READ For Life. Twenty-five teachers from Quentin Junior School and Merowa Junior School participated, aiming to increase phonemic awareness, improve writing skills, and enhance letter-sound correspondence. The training was a resounding success, setting a strong foundation for improved literacy teaching practices in ou partner schools.

Expansion and New Partnerships

The first term of the year commenced on March 4th, 2024, with the exciting addition of two new partner schools: Vallerian Primary School and Hope Shammah Junior School. These schools, located in the Kibuli-Kabalagala area, now have free access to our ICT classes and library resources. We are thrilled to welcome them to the ARC family and look forward to the positive impact this will have on their students.

Celebrating Literacy: D.E.A.R. Week

In a momentous event, 40 Days Over 40 Smiles Foundation (4040) celebrated the ARC’s first D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) week from March 11th to March 15th, 2024. While the national D.E.A.R. Day is on March 15th, we dedicated an entire week to this initiative. Children at the ARC delved into storybooks, either guided by their teachers or exploring independently. The highlight was the presence of special guests who took time from their busy schedules to read aloud to the children. This event significantly promoted a love for reading among our young learners.

Follow-up on Phonics Training

Following the phonics training, facilitators returned to supervise and monitor the teachers' progress in implementing phonics in their classrooms. We are proud to report that over 90% of the teachers scored above the 50% pass mark, with 70% achieving scores above 60%. This indicates substantial progress and the effectiveness of our training programs.

Ongoing Programs and Future Needs

We are currently in the second week of our first-term holiday program, continuing to cater to teenagers from the community. We are delighted to see many familiar faces from the previous program, along with new participants eager to benefit from the centre.

To achieve even greater levels of impact, the ARC is slowly building on resources such as computers, books and furniture. We appreciate your support, which has been pivotal in our success thus far.

Your contributions are enabling us to create a significant and lasting impact on the educational landscape of our community.

Thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission. 

Love, 

Team 4040.