Education is about creating an environment where learners can thrive. The interventions at St. Joseph Ssozi Primary School by Teach For Uganda Fellows have transformed the school into a shining example of what community-driven initiatives can achieve. For years, learners faced the same challenge every evening; the setting sun meant the end of study. Darkness arrived, cutting short opportunities for reading, revising, and preparing for the next day. That all shifted when Teach For Uganda Fellows stepped in, mobilising the community to acquire a solar panel system. Suddenly, classrooms glowed at night and students could gather under the solar light to continue learning. Beyond academics, the solar lamps brought a sense of security to the school compound, reassuring parents that their children were safe.
The Fellows didn’t stop at lighting up the school. Recognizing the strain that daily meal preparation placed on both teachers and resources, they worked with the community to build an energy-saving stove. The stove uses far less firewood, allowing the school to cut costs while protecting the environment. Meals are now cooked faster, and because food can be provided more reliably, children stay in school longer. Parents, too, have taken notice that they would want to send their children to a place where learning is brighter and meals are guaranteed.
Teach For Uganda Fellows Byogera Hamidah, Kubimba Besweri and Nakasumba Juliet have championed transformation at St. Joseph Ssozi Primary School.
Behind this transformation is leadership built upon vision and teamwork. Teach For Uganda Fellow Kubimba Besweri, working closely with Byogera Hamidah and Nakasumba Juliet, has been a driving force. Together with the Fellows, they’ve influenced more children into the classrooms at St. Joseph Ssozi Primary School, Mukono District. Enrollment has climbed because of consistent, practical improvements that speak directly to the needs of learners and their families.
The results are visible not only in attendance but also in learning outcomes. According to Headteacher Nalulu Charles, nearly 65% of students can now add and subtract with confidence, and many have developed strong reading skills. These statistics at the school represent young minds breaking barriers and children gaining the tools they need to dream bigger.
Teach For Uganda Fellow Besweri Kubimba stands beside the energy-saving cooking stove and large saucepan in the kitchen at St. Joseph Ssozi Primary School, Mukono District.
Change has also been about meeting the small but vital daily needs of the school. One such example is the large saucepan that the Fellows helped the school acquire. At first glance, it may not sound like much, but in a community where feeding hundreds of children is no small task, the saucepan has been a blessing. It allows the school to prepare enough food to keep learners nourished and focused throughout the day. it’s these small, practical solutions that paint a story of transformation. Solar lights mean children can read when they’re most inspired. An energy-saving stove means meals are affordable and sustainable. A large saucepan means no child studies on an empty stomach. And behind it all, the tireless work of teachers and Fellows shows what’s possible when people believe in the power of education.
