Glade´s Story: Supporting Inclusive Education Pathways in Uganda

"I had given up on my dream of becoming a teacher after being out of school for three years.  But when I returned to the classroom, I felt so happy.  Now, I am working hard to become a teacher and help other children achieve their dreams."  Glades - 14 Years Old.  

In the heart of Amuru District, Glades, a spirited 14-year-old girl, is rewriting her story. Currently a Primary Four student at a local school, Glades is the eldest of four siblings and lives with her mother and grandparents. Known for her warm smile and occasional bouts of temper, she thrives in the company of friends, often playing her favorite game, “dodging ball.” 

Glades began her education in a nursery school in 2016 at the age of five. However, her journey was abruptly interrupted in 2019 when her father passed away. With her family unable to afford school fees, she had to drop out of Primary One at just seven years old. Instead of going to school Glades took on household responsibilities, helping her mother with chores, gardening, and brewing waragi, a local alcoholic beverage, to support the family. 

Hope for an education returned to Glades’ life in 2022 when Save the Children enrolled her in the POWER 4 AY project. Through this initiative, she received life skills training, including functional literacy and numeracy, and, in 2023, rejoined school, starting Primary Three at Abalikodi Primary School. 

One of Glades’ transformative moments came when she experienced her first menstruation while in class. Thanks to the life skills training provided by the project, which incorporates adolescent sexual and reproductive health, she managed the situation confidently whilst her mother supported her for sanitary towels. Her teacher, Mr. Okot Santo, highlighted her growth, noting that Glades is a diligent student and a class favorite. Elected as class monitor, she is steadily building confidence and excelling academically, despite her initial shyness and temper. 

Glades’ mother, Annek Jennifer, a single parent, expressed profound gratitude for the POWER 4 AY project, saying, “I felt so sad seeing my daughter at home while her peers were in school. But I am so thankful to Save the Children for helping her return to school. I love seeing her happy with her schoolmates.” With the 95,000 UGX received from the project as support for school re-enrolment, Jennifer paid 25,000 UGX in school fees, purchased a uniform, scholastic materials, and shoes, and used the remaining funds to start selling tomatoes at a roadside market. 

For parents of very young adolescents to be able to sustain their children´s school fees, the project also helps them establish income generating activities and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA). This way, Jennifer joined the Gumperom parents’ group, established through the project and comprising 30 members. The group, trained in VSLA, began saving weekly amounts between 1,000 and 3,000 UGX. Jennifer later borrowed 30,000 UGX to expand her business, which has since grown to 70,000 UGX. Additionally, the project provided the group with 11 piglets (10 female and 1 male) to launch a piggery business. Members share responsibilities for the pigs, with plans to sell offspring to sustain their families and the group enterprise. 

Glades’ journey underscores the transformative power of education and community support. Through the POWER 4 AY project, she has not only reclaimed her right to an education but also her dream of becoming a teacher.