Our time at Ruhoko Primary School coincided with the rainy season. And with the rain comes new plant growth, green pastures - and cooler temperatures. A chill sets in...people start to layer up. The teachers at Ruhoko were noticing some shivers among their students - not everybody had enough clothes to stay warm. Their hearts went out to these kids. Plus, it was distracting from their studies. They really wanted to find a way to got some sweaters, jackets, and long sleeve shirts to their students. A little shopping spree was just what they needed! “This new clothing is wonderful," said teacher Bosco. "Everyone is very excited. Some children come from needy families and the items you brought are especially helpful during the rainy season. When it is cold, they are so helped by these extra clothes.” No more shivering, no more unsuccessful attempts to stay warm. The students of Ruhoko are looking better - and warmer - than ever! This day of change brought to you by … [Read more...] about Staying Warm, Studying Hard

You know how when you stray from a routine, it can be really hard to get going again? Once you skip a day at the gym or miss a class, it's a little bit easier to do the same the next day. For a lot of girls in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, the same happens with school once they get their periods. If they don't have the right supplies to help them through, they might miss a few days of class one month. And another. Soon, it's all too easy to stop going to school. For teachers, watching these days add up to missed opportunities and lack of education is pretty painful. They're on a mission to turn things around. In addition to more sanitary pads, the girls also need things like more underwear and soap. "Soap, knickers, and sanitation pads help the girls," said Pinklenn, one of the teachers. "Sometimes you might find that a girl comes to class and she is afraid of standing up because she is worried about bleeding. She doesn’t want to leave the class, just wants to … [Read more...] about The Little Things Add Up

There's nothing better than a hot cup of tea when you're feeling worn down. To jump start your day - or relax at night. Tea is a big part of daily life in Uganda. That includes teachers. And anyone who's known a teacher knows that a little pick me up might be needed in the mornings to fuel for the long day ahead. But the teachers of Nakivale Refugee Settlement had a problem. “Our tea always gets cold in plastic cups,” they said. Plus, they were serving the tea in big pots instead of, making the hot water a little tricky to pour. Venting their frustrations made us boil over with ideas! We found a new kettle, one fit for the whole staff, and new ceramic cups to keep the tea nice and hot. Aside from tea supplies, plates, pots, pans, and silverware accompanied the tea as well. Having that morning or evening ritual is so important to staying balanced - those little life comforts sustain us more than we realize. This day of change brought to you by Edmentum's … [Read more...] about Start Your Day Off Right

There's something really incredible that happens when colors are splashed onto a previously dreary place. Bright, beautiful, bold colors can make someone feel different about their surroundings. Feel a little more motivated - even happier. So why did Kabahinda Primary School in Nakivale look so drab? The teachers at the school wanted to brighten things up. They wanted to spread some positivity. So teamed up with them to add a little color to their world. We reached out to our friends at Revolution Artists, a team of artists in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, to help design and paint a series of murals at Kabahinda! Listening to the requests of both teachers and students, they painted messages like "pupils have a voice," and "pupils are encouraged to think for themselves." Never underestimate the power of joy - in whatever form it takes - to lift up, to bring together. Today, the teachers of Kabahinda brought that joy through color. Tomorrow, their students will be … [Read more...] about Express Yourself

When you open a book, who knows what new knowledge may be waiting for you inside? Or what ideas that knowledge may spark. The most important job of the teachers at Misiera Primary School is to infuse their students with knowledge - with excitement over new ideas and windows to the world. But without access to books, they felt a little stuck. They have some books. But not enough for every student. And certainly not enough for every teacher to have a copy, too. The teachers were struggling to make lesson plans - and the students don't have much time with the books they need to study. To really absorb the material. Giving wings to the mind is a whole lot easier when books are close at hand...So we got to work! We got the Misiera's teachers a bounty of books and the textbooks they needed - and they were so happy. "These books help us make lesson plans," said Phoebe, one of the teachers. "The textbooks are so exciting!" Books help to unlock potential. To lift … [Read more...] about Give Wings to the Mind

You know those things that you never really think about until you really need them? Things like socks. Stamps. Envelopes. Paper towels. They're not very exciting...but when you're searching for that matching pair of socks in the morning and coming up short, there's nothing in that moment you need more. For the teachers of Misiera primary school, that missing thing was tape and glue. They wanted to do arts and crafts with their students. But whenever they set out to get creative, they were limited with the tools to cut and paste. It was clear that for these teachers, tape and glue were sort of like those matching socks - not there when you really need them. Luckily for us, we could step right in. We supplied some glue, wood glue, and tape to these crafty teachers. Don't you wish someone could sweep in, just in the nick of time, when you can't find that pesky stamp? Or paper towel? That one matching green sock...? Today, we could be those people for the teachers of … [Read more...] about There When You Need It

There's a reason why teachers like posters in their classrooms. They're colorful and inspirational. They can spark a student's creativity and dreams. And, they're just fun. The walls of Misiera primary school were bare. The teachers saw this as a missed opportunity - an opportunity to add some life and excitement to their classrooms. “We use the charts for learning in class," said a teacher named Phiona. "When they're hung, people can keep learning even when a teacher is not around.” We loved Phiona’s idea - and thought it was perfect for 365. We found a local school supply store that had just the thing the teachers were looking for! Charts for learning to count, biological diagrams, and the alphabet all laminated and ready for hanging. As the teachers unrolled the new teaching materials, the classrooms began to brighten up and fill with color, just as the teachers had dreamed. There's nothing wrong with a little fun and color in the classroom. Especially … [Read more...] about Don’t be Afraid to Have Fun

A good night's sleep impacts everything. How you look at the day's challenges. How you spend your time. Even the quality of your work. For teachers, a good night's sleep helps prepare them to match the energy of their students. But without mattresses, their chances of that blissful eight hours weren't very high. Most of the teachers at Nakivale Refugee Settlement are sleeping on tile floors. These floors are hard and cold at night. Some teachers do have mattresses, but they're old, thin, and falling apart at the seams. So when the teachers of Nakivale asked for some mattresses, we jumped right on the case! We packed up a large truck of mattresses and brought it into the school. The faces of the teachers spoke volumes. Excitement and thanks washed over them as we unloaded the mattresses. “These mattresses are very helpful to us," said one teacher named Milly, "because our homes are very far away. Normally we can only bring a small mattress from so far. Now we can … [Read more...] about Sleep on It

Walking into a kids' classroom, there's always a certain feel to the place. Posters on the wall, coloring supplies stashed in the corner. Pencils and markers overflowing from desks. It just feels full. But in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, some of the classrooms were feeling empty. In many of the schools in the camp, these abundant supplies you normally see in classrooms are limited or even nonexistent. And teachers wanted to do something about it. At the request of Nakivale's teachers, we brought books, writing utensils, dictionaries, and posters! All of the things that make learning possible. The items were a huge hit. Especially the posters! One teacher held up a map of Africa poster and proudly pointed to Uganda. Every student deserves to be surrounded by the tools of learning. These teachers wanted that for their students. And today, we got to make that wish come true. This day of change brought to you by Edmentum's We Can Learn Foundation … [Read more...] about Adding a Little Means a Lot

When you're far from home, what are the things that bring you comfort? How do you make a place feel like home away from home? It's not always easy, but the teachers at Nakivale Refugee Settlement make home wherever they are. They live at the schools they work in, which means that they're far from family and those they hold dear. Their fellow teachers and students become their second family. But at Ruhoko Primary School, there were a few things missing that would make their school dwellings feel a whole lot more like their own. There simply weren't enough kitchen supplies. They were missing little things - like a good mug that actually keeps your tea warm, or enough plates for the whole staff to eat at once. Those details that add up to comfort and belonging. The fix was easy. Cups, mugs, plates, kettles, ladles, and cooking pots. A complete kitchen. A feeling of being whole. Making home wherever you are isn't always as simple as kitchen supplies. It's an … [Read more...] about Make Home Wherever You Are