Build A Primary School for 300 students in Uganda!

Thanks to our generous community of supporters, Rukundo Preparatory School is celebrating a successful first term for the 2024 school year. On February 5th, 2024, we enrolled 220 students, and expanded our school to include the 5th grade. Our dedicated staff ensured that new pupils were seamlessly integrated into the school community while returning students were warmly welcomed back for the start of the academic year. 

Our students continue to thrive, thanks, in part, to donations raised through our annual Spring Make Your Mark(et) campaign which ensures that we are able to set our students up for success each year with two nutritious meals each day; proper scholastic, play, and hygiene supplies; plus fair salaries for our amazing teachers and support staff, and so much more. 

Construction Update

The first term will conclude on May 3rd, with students on holiday until May 27th. During the school holiday, we hope to resume construction on Rukundo’s Primary School, ensuring that a roof is put on the building and that the fourth and fifth grade classrooms are finished. Up to now, the fourth and fifth graders have been housed in temporary classrooms while we secured the funds necessary to continue our construction efforts. Thanks to all of you who donated to this much-needed and long anticipated expansion project!  While we have secured the funds needed for the 4th and 5th grades, we still require an additional $10K for next year’s sixth grade classroom, so please keep those donations coming! 

Serving the Community 

Beyond providing a quality education for our 220 students, our schools and grounds continue to serve as a safe and loving space for our neighbors to receive much-needed community services. During the first quarter of 2024, we’ve hosted events for our Girl’s Empowerment Program participants, including a reusable sanitary pad making clinic and an agricultural training complete with a demonstration garden. In addition, an average of 210 children have attended our Amaani G’abato Kid’s Sunday program each week, where they’ve received mentoring, a hot meal, and trainings on hygiene, baking, cultural dance, and so much more. On Easter, that number grew to approximately 500 children when we not only hosted our usual, fun activities, but also served a meal complete with meat and soda, treats that most of these kids get to experience only twice per year, on Christmas and Easter.  

Students of Rukundo Preparatory School: Meet Mark! 

Mark is a new third-grade student at RPS who receives a full scholarship through our Scholars Program. These are his own words: 

“At my former school my fellow students never wanted me to be near them because I was diagnosed with cancer, and due to medication I lost my hair and also my fingernails changed their color. This made me hate school and I never wanted to study again, not until I was referred to RPS which I am very proud of.

The pupils at RPS are very good and welcoming, teachers understand each student’s needs and I am very comfortable now and I know that I will perform well.

I like playing football during games time. It's my favorite because I play with my friends. Teachers also play with us and this makes me feel great and happy to be at RPS. I enjoy the nice meals provided at school and even if I don’t have food at my home, I will sleep knowing that tomorrow I will have porridge and lunch at school.

Thank you, RI, for giving me a second chance to study and I know that I will make it since I am healing and am in a better place.”

It’s hard to find the words to express our joy when we see Mark playing and laughing with his fellow pupils. When Mark initially applied for our program, his mother expressed her fears and trepidation, due not only to his cancer diagnosis, but the fact he is older than the other children in his class because of missed school and the intense bullying he experienced at his last school. Your support creates a safe, loving space, not only for Mark, but for all of the amazing students at RPS.  Thank you, sincerely, for continuing to make all these programs, and more, possible for vulnerable children and their families in Uganda. We are so very grateful for your belief in our important work.