Kikondo, UG – Benam Nursery School serves breakfast and learning to local children – Feb 2023

School term 1 started in February with Jaja Sarah, the director of Wamukisa Support Organization and chairperson of Zinabala VICOBA, opening her new school room to educate up to fifty young children. At the end of the month, 17 learners were enrolled, and more are added every week.

Sarah, a University educated and credentialed teacher, has a lifelong commitment to education. Recently the number of schools for young children in Kikondo and neighboring villages has declined while tuition in the remaining schools has risen. Better Lives and Wamukisa partnered with Sarah, providing a construction loan with her contribution being finishing and furnishing the school which she hopes to do continuously.

All 17 pupils that have started school this term come from families who are Village Community Banking (VICOBA) group members so the school has started benefiting VICOBA families. The VICOBA is selling maize flour to the Kindergarten for its breakfast program. At the Thursday ViCOBA meeting Sarah has started updating parents about their children’s performance.

Sarah dreams of providing more educational materials to the school. As enrollment grows, tuition income can fund other family projects and school expansion eventually into a primary school using her land surrounding her school.