Growing our schools in Uganda!

Thank You For A Great 2021!

Although the COVID-19 pandemic persisted in 2021 and schools remained closed, we had a year full of growth and expansion. We also celebrated 20 years of changing lives! We have at least ten achievements that stand out in our minds as the best in a difficult year.

1. Our SGBV team had essential worker permits and has been able to respond to the increased reports of violence during lockdowns in the pandemic.

2. We have retained all our staff and recruited new staff members to support our expansion - Nyaka is growing.

3. Nyaka’s Education Program adapted to the extended school closures in Uganda (many students have been out of school since March 2020) by conducting teacher visits, student counseling, a mobile library service, distributing study materials, masks, soap, sanitary towels and emergency food.

4. We broke ground on staff quarters.

5. We have introduced a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Team at Nyaka.

6. Our Grandmother Program expanded into the new district of Rubanda in southwest Uganda. Nyaka now works with 20,000 grandmothers across 3 districts who are caring for 86,000 orphaned and vulnerable children. 

7. Nyaka’s first Leadership Training took place this year in Kampala, training 24 team leaders in leadership skills.

8. Nyaka UK carried out its first fundraising campaign focused on soap, which led to the distribution of 720 bars of soap to grandmothers and children.

9. We participated in the 50th Annual TCS NYC Marathon with 20 runners. This marathon was simultaneously run in Kampala and Kanungu.

10. The Nyaka Football Club was launched.

Of course these accomplishments are not possible with you! Thank you for your ongoing support and we can't wait for another great year.

Webale!

Links:

• Nyaka Global Website

Meet Teacher Lydia, Nyaka primary school teacher & counselor 

Lydia began working as a student teacher with Nyaka in 2003 and then as a full time teacher in 2004. Usually she works as a teacher in Nyaka Primary school, teaching students in Primary 2, 5 and 6 (equivalent to Grades 1, 4 & 5). During the pandemic, Lydia’s role has changed a little… Lydia has been working to support students who are out of school. She helps to identify suitable educational materials, print them out and distribute them to students. When government guidelines allow, she supports students in small clusters, helping them keep up with their learning. She also does a lot of counseling. Students have experienced a lot of loss during the pandemic and teacher Lydia helps them to process their feelings and feel less alone.  

Quote from Lydia: “My role in the pandemic is to counsel and guide students on how to cope with the lockdown.”

Many teachers like Lydia are continuing to travel to their student's communities to deliver materials and to teach small clusters. Instead of giving up when the Nyaka bus transporting teachers to their student's villages got stuck in the mud, teachers went as far as to walk to their student's villages to distribute study materials.

Nyaka teachers will stop at nothing to continue educating our students while schools remain closed. 

Links:

• Nyaka Website