Join us in Uganda for the opening of our secondary school!

We would LOVE you to visit our schools in Uganda. 

After six years operating a successful primary school, we are opening School for Life's secondary school in time for our primary graduates to start their secondary education. 

We are so excited about this milestone, and would love for you, the donors who have made this possible, to visit Uganda with us to celebrate the opening of School for Life Mbazzi campus. 

You have the option of reaching Africa's highest peak with School for Life CEO Annabelle Chauncy in the lead-up to the school's opening on our Kilimanjaro: Trek for our Teachers. But if you would prefer to just attend the school in Uganda you are also welcome to do this. 

Why you’ll love this trip
-    Celebrate the official opening of our new school with our students, parents, teachers and staff – Ugandans know how to have fun so this promises to be a joyful once in a lifetime experience
-    Get a firsthand view of how our schools run and see how far your hard-earned fundraising money goes to educate children living in poverty
-    Get up close to Uganda’s rare mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
-    See elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and more of Africa’s famous wildlife on game drives in Uganda’s famous national parks
-    With all your transfers, meals and accommodation organised for you this is an easy way to experience Africa for the first time (or the 10th time!)
-    Spend time with our CEO and Co-Founder Annabelle Chauncy (OAM) – with more than 10 years experience travelling in East Africa, Annabelle will show you her favourite parts of Uganda with many stories to tell along the way!

The school opening will take place over three days.

After flying into Entebbe by Saturday June 17, you will meet the group of School for Life supporters and spend the night in Entebbe. 

On Sunday June 18, you will relax and adjust to jet lag, with the option of visiting Lake Victoria or the Chimpanzee Island sanctuary via boat. You will then make your way into Uganda's capital Kampala and stay there overnight.

Monday June 19 will kick off the three day School for Life opening party. You will visit some Ugandan Government-run schools before heading to School for Life's Katuuso campus to meet our 360 students in pre-school to Year 7. We will then have a group dinner and stay in Kampala. 

Tuesday June 20 you will visit the home of a student to see firsthand the lives you are changing in Uganda, followed by an afternoon of activities with our students. This will include craft and painting, Ugandan cooking class, meeting our cattle and pigs, learning to dance in a typical Ugandan fashion, playing sports, reading to the students and immersing yourself in the Ugandan way of life.

On Wednesday June 21 the Mbazzi school will have its official opening, a day filled with performances and dancing with School for Life teachers, students and members of the entire community.  

After your unique rural Ugandan experience, you can see more of this beautiful country on a safari to the many national parks or trek to see the rare mountain gorillas.  Our preferred third party providers are Classic Safari Company and Kombi Tours, which we can put you directly in touch with for a range of tailored packages that meet every budget. Both tour companies can create a personalised tour to Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to visit the incredible gorillas. 

If you would like to join us in Uganda, there is a minimum fundraising requirement of $1500. This does not include flights to Uganda and accommodation, but we'll cover your costs, including transfers, meals and entertainment once you arrive.

Please contact us for more information about this unique experience. Email Annabelle at annabelle@schoolforlife.org.au. We can also provide fundraising tips and offer advice on the best places to visit in Uganda!  

 

 

Success Stories
Goretti

Sweet and shy Goretti lives with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a small house in the local village. When Goretti was younger, she moved in with her aunt and uncle because her parents could no longer look after her. She was one of our first students at Katuuso Primary, starting in 2011 when she was just 4 years old. Now, Goretti is in Senior One at Mbazzi High School, and is relishing the honour of being a high school student in her community - something that is taken for granted in Australia, but in Uganda, represents freedom and opportunity. Goretti also loves attending School for Life because she hopes to one day become a pilot in Uganda - a dream which she knows can only be reached with the help of a good education.

Violah

Violah has been at School for Life since since she was six years old. Sadly, Violah has experienced hardship no child should ever deal with. Her Dad passed away three years ago, leaving her Mum without the financial means to support her family - so she left Violah and her siblings with their elderly grandmother. Every day, Violah has to wake up at 5am to fetch water, cook meals and make sure that her younger sisters are properly looked after. Then she walks half an hour to get to school. Despite this adversity, Violah has flourished at school and has made many friends. She loves that School for Life is "helping me to build a future". After finishing school, Violah hopes to become a teacher to help other children.

Umar

Umar is one of our best performing students at Mbazzi Riverside High School - but life has not always been easy for Umar. His father abandoned the family in 2015, leaving his mother to struggle to support her five children on her own. School for Life has provided Umar with opportunities that may never else have eventuated for him. Umar begun his journey with School for Life at Katuuso Primary School, where his academic ability was quickly revealed. Now, he is a thriving member of our Senior 1 class and a formidable wing on the football team. With a love for mathematics, Umar is set on studying electronic engineering after finishing his senior studies - a goal which he is the first to admit is now within reach thanks to the skills and resources provided to him by School for Life.

Rose Nambooze

Rose is a 32‐year‐old single mother of one. She started working with SFL in 2013, after taking part in our tailoring training program. Prior to working with us, she was unemployed and living in her father's home helping to care for her father, who had cataracts, and his farm.
Thanks to her full time employment, Rose was able to save enough money to pay for an eye operation and restore her father's sight, allowing him to return to work as a mechanic. Now, Rose has moved into her own home and no longer relies on her father financially. 

Joseph

Joseph is one of our Special Needs teachers at Katuuso. After surviving a severe case of malaria at age four, he was left permanently deaf. He was raised by his single mother and attended a nursery school for the handicapped and later transferred to a school for the Deaf in Kampala. He eventually mastered sign language and pursued a university degree in education. Joseph decided to become a teacher so that he could give the gift of education to others who are hearing impaired.

Teddy Namatovu

Teddy is a participant in the Kumi Tailoring Program and four of her five children attend Katuuso Primary School. She and her husband farm two acres of land, which supplies fluctuating revenue. Participation in the Kumi Tailoring Project has secured income to reliably pay for school fees, nutritious meals and renovations to the family home. Teddy has gained a great deal of self-esteem from her ability to support her family and she takes pride in independently financing the education of all five children. Teddy has also been working on her numeracy and administration skills. She was appointed Treasurer of the tailoring group and will be responsible for keeping records of their savings.

Flaviah Nassaazi

Flaviah Nassaazi started working at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School in 2011. Prior to cooking at the school, she and her husband were subsistence farmers. They worked tirelessly for small yields and minimal income to support their family. Flaviah's cooking job not only enables her to pay school fees for her children, but she has also invested in a local barbershop business. She is now passing her cooking skills onto her eldest son Frank, who has also joined the school's cooking staff. Flaviah and her husband attend the adult literacy classes offered weekly at the school. Her English and reading have improved immensely, as well as her confidence.

Rachel

In 2010, Rachel began as a cleaner at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School. She was working to save money to study to be a teacher at University. Thanks to Barrie and Simone Goldsmith, her dream of studying came true and she is now fully qualified.