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

The teachers at Kabahinda primary school had one more request for their school. Sometimes, they said, it's tough to just keep the school and the school's latrines clean. They didn't have the tools to make a clean environment possible. Sometimes, when you see a problem that needs solving, you have to take a situation into your own hands. That's what these teachers wanted to do. And we wanted to help them. We got new brooms to sweep away all of the dust that gets tracked in from all over Nakivale. We also got soap - for cleansing the latrine floors and sanitizing classrooms. “We need to protect our learners," said Edgar, the head teacher. "That's why this is so important." These teachers have a number one priority - and that's keeping their students safe. They give everything to their students. And now, that includes a cleaner classroom. This day of change brought to you by Edmentum's We Can Learn Foundation … [Read more...] about Keep it Clean

A pickup game of basketball, soccer, or football is one of the best ways to bond with friends - especially for kids. Whether it's getting out there and moving your body, or meeting new people, sports have a special way of bringing everyone together. The teachers of Kabahinda Primary School know how powerful group sports can be for their students. So they had a simple request. More sports! “Sports for teachers and students are important," said the head teacher Edgar. "When they're active, their minds are calm. When they play outside, they come back to class and think more clearly.” Now, both the students and teachers will be able to calm their minds with volleyball, badminton, and soccer! These teachers are such superheroes. Even in their requests for themselves, they are focused on making sure it can benefit their students. What a great example to the next generation they're helping to grow! This day of change brought to you by Edmentum's We Can Learn … [Read more...] about More Sports, Please!

One thing we hear a lot in refugee settlements is the need for sanitary pads. Especially when you talk to teachers - they're especially tuned into this need because they see first-hand what happens when students don't have access to them. Sometimes, it can mean the difference of whether or not a girl stays in school. One school in Nakivale told us just that. So today, we decided to show up with some help. We brought pads, underwear, and soap to the school. After everyone had their own set of supplies, the group let out a loud cheer of excitement! “These will make a big, big difference to the students,” one teacher told us. Pads and underwear can go a long way in making sure that these young girls are feeling confident and ready for class. For today, these students can rest assured that we've got them covered. This day of change brought to you by Edmentum's We Can Learn Foundation … [Read more...] about Staying in School

You know that story grandpa told you about needing to walk miles in the snow, just to get to school?That story is real life right now for school kids in Nakivale. There's no snow, but there are bumpy, dusty roads. Many children all over the settlement lives miles and miles away from their school. Getting there takes time. And it's also hard on your feet - especially if you don't have shoes. Today, at the request of the teachers of Kabahinda primary school, we set out to make that epic trek not exactly shorter, but definitely easier. We laid out all of the shoes for the children to see, and one by one they chose what pair and size they wanted. There was so much excitement - and pride - as they picked out their very own pair. “These kids travel long distances to school," said the head teacher. "And many of them don’t have shoes. These shoes will help protect theirs little feet and carry them to their school safely.” These kids will still have bragging rights when … [Read more...] about New Kicks

Teachers change the world. We know that. You know that. But sometimes it doesn't hurt to remind the teachers themselves. At the secondary school in Nakivale, there's nothing right now that unites teachers visually. And they'd like to change that. "Having the same t-shirt makes us more visible," said Groetti, one of the teachers at the school. "It motivates the staff and brings them together. They would remember that they're in this together." Getting some t-shirts for these teachers seemed like a no brainer. And on the front, splashed loud and clear for everyone to see? TEACHERS CHANGE THE WORLD! These teachers are teaching classes with 100 or more students, when the standard size is 53. They're truly superheroes. "These t-shirts make us so proud," said another teacher, Edgar. "They make us feel like we are really changing the world!" This day of change brought to you by Edmentum's We Can Learn Foundation … [Read more...] about Teachers Change the World

Sarfa is the art teacher at the secondary school in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. She believes in the power of art to heal, grow, and excel. But she's constantly faced with a challenge - there aren't enough art supplies. Art is the type of discipline that is a little bit tough to do without paint, colored pencils, clay - the things that help express yourself visually. So we wanted to do something to help Sarfa feel a little more confident in her lessons... We got Sarfa and her students a boost in supplies so their creative spirit won't be hindered by a lack of materials. "We need to improve the visual arts of the school," said Sarfa. "I'm most excited about using the pastels." "Seeing learners excel is my favorite part about teaching art. These materials will help all of the students grow. They're going to be so excited!" This day of change brought to you by Edmentum's We Can Learn Foundation … [Read more...] about Color Your World

As we've seen, the 27 teachers at Nakivale's Secondary School sometimes get a bit antsy. They all live on site, and sometimes it's a struggle keeping up with normal routines. One of those routines is hitting the gym. We all know what it's like to want to get in shape, but feeling the lack of time, resources, or willpower to do so. This was a gap these teachers felt in a big way. "I would like to get in shape," said Linnet, one of the teachers at the school. "I've been lazy!" There's not a gym nearby. But can we bring the gym to them? We pulled together an ad hoc "gym" with all the basic equipment - weights, dumbbells, jump rope, resistance bands, and active games like badminton. Then we asked everyone to give their best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression. They were amped and ready to pump some iron! "This will give me some motivation," said Linnet. "I think other teachers feel the same way. I'll look for a partner so I can get someone to push me. I can skip rope … [Read more...] about Hitting the Gym

There are 27 teachers that live at the secondary school in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. That's a lot of people in one space, most of whom are living apart from their families and friends. Needless to say, sometimes they can get a little stir crazy. There's not a whole lot to do at night, aside from grade papers and prep for the next day's lessons. So our team had an idea...what if we could do a little something to help the time pass, to help bring these teachers together? The idea was simple. Indoor games! We got together the classics - Scrabble, checkers, chess, darts, and ludo. The teachers jumped right in, throwing the dice and moving pieces around the boards. Teachers in Nakivale work really hard. These games will help them relax - and have a little fun - after a long day. This day of change brought to you by Edmentum's We Can Learn Foundation … [Read more...] about Fun & Games