Growing our schools in Uganda!

Kutamba Primary Schools have been participating in online engagements with other students from around the world! These interactions have been helping Nyaka students build community with children just like them from other countries and also broadening their horizons.

Nyaka Primary students attended online meetings with students from Partners in Education in Vancouver Canada. The purpose was to foster and nurture lifelong friendships between students from both schools. During the meeting, discussions covered various topics, including how students cope with life both within and beyond the school environment.

Nyaka students were also involved in online chess training by a High School student in Illinois. The Illinois student first heard about Nyaka when Jackson visited Korea International School. He had been playing chess competitively, but after meeting Jackson was inspired to teach Nyaka students. Students also received donated chess board mats to practice with! Students learning how to play and excel at chess has many benefits including improving students cognitive function and helping them to become more mentally sharp and alert. These benefits transfer not only to their personal lives but their academic success as well.

Links:

• Nyaka Website

Nyaka’s Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) program was launched in 2015 as a response to the needs of a nine-year-old female student who had suffered abuse with no place to turn for help. Like the rest of our programs, we take a holistic, multi-faceted approach to advocating for survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) including providing medical care, mental health care, legal support, and community outreach. To date, We have supported over 600 survivors, facilitated prosecuting over 200 perpetrators in the courts of law, and have carried out training and awareness raising activities in partnership with the community as a whole. 

Through the community outreach portion of this program, over 500,000 people have received training and awareness messages to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) since 2015. A large number of these people have been reached through our annual Walk Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Nyaka’s annual walk was birthed in July 2018, out of the urgent need to widely respond against the escalating situation in Kanungu.

On July 21st, our 4th Annual Walk to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence attracted over 2000 people to the Rukungiri District. The event commenced with the official opening of Nyaka's newest Healing Center at Kebisoni Health Centre IV, led by Chief Walker, PEPFAR Country Coordinator, Mary Borgman, and Nyaka Founder, Twesigye Jackson Kaguri. This center will serve as a crucial support hub for survivors of SGBV. We were graced with special appearances from public figures such as Crowned Miss Uganda 2023 who walked to show her support and to stand in solidarity of our mission. 

Together, we are paving the way towards a future where every individual is safe, respected, and protected.

Links:

• Nyaka Website