Help Children with Learning Difficulties in Uganda

Hey there, amazing Backup Uganda supporters!

We're thrilled to kick off our first report of 2024 with some incredibly exciting updates that wouldn't be possible without your unwavering support and belief in what we do. So grab your favorite drink and settle in for some good news!

First up, we wrapped up a hugely successful Inclusive Education Conference in January, in collaboration with the International School of Uganda and Kyaninga Child Development Center. We had over 150 passionate educators join us for interactive workshops, inspiring performances, and invaluable experience sharing. It was truly a testament to the power of collaboration and dedication to inclusive education. We can’t wait for the next one - let’s do this again in 2025!

As the new school year kicked off, our team hit the ground running, reconnecting with our partner schools and even expanding our reach by adding 2 new schools in Kitgum. Despite the inevitable paperwork hurdles, we're thrilled to see these partnerships blossom and positively impact even more learners' lives.

But wait, there's more! We recently hosted the 2nd edition of our beloved Inclusion Festival in Gulu, and this time we upped our game with the very first Inclusion Marathon. Picture this: teams of two embarking on a short run filled with fun, inclusive activities along the way – from dancing to blowing soap bubbles and everything in between. It was a joyous celebration of diversity and togetherness that left everyone with smiles for days.

Now, mark your calendars, because we've got something special coming up from 8-12 April – our Little by Little campaign! We're on a mission to give Backup's office a glow-up, aiming to raise $1,000 for simple upgrades that will ensure our space remains a hub of productivity and warmth for our hardworking staff and valued visitors. And here's the cherry on top: every donation up to $50 will be matched with 50% of the amount donated until GlobalGiving’s matching funds run out! It's an opportunity to double the impact of your generosity and help us create an even brighter future for the communities we serve.

So, here's to progress, collaboration, and the incredible journey ahead. Thank you for being a crucial part of the Backup Uganda family – together, we're making waves of change, one step at a time.

Much love,

The Backup Uganda Team

Hello to you!

Of course we have to wish you the obvious for a moment: happiest holidays! We hope you are reading this with a cup of hot chocolate or a cool drink in your hand, depending on where you are at the moment. Are you still working the final stretch of the year, or are you enjoying a well-deserved rest? At Backup Uganda, we have closed our office doors for a few weeks so that our team can relax and celebrate, but we still wanted to give you a quick update of our last few months of 2023.

To start with, did you know that we organized the very first Dyslexia Awareness Day in October? As you might know, dyslexia is a learning disability that shows in challenges with reading, writing and other related skills. It is quite common all over the world, but that does not mean everyone knows about it yet. On 13th October at the Centre for Lifelong Learning in Kakiri, together with our colleagues from other organizations, we brought together parents, teachers and everyone else who was interested to learn more and advocate for better inclusion. It was even shared on national news stations! Check it out here: https://youtu.be/wp9DrGpQC_Q?si=j9OWxQ2BaL8uPQGy

By now, our partner schools may have closed for the end-of-year holidays, but not before we completed several final activities with them - including a rather successful parents meeting at Wilul Primary School! Since we started our partnership with the 3 latest schools a little later in the year, we still have a few final workshops and other sessions pending, but we will be able to complete these in term 1 of 2024. We also had the opportunity to bring one of Gulu District’s Inspectors of Schools along to an ODII session about AD(H)D at Ajulu Primary School - a beautiful way to strengthen our relationship with the Gulu District Education Office.

Another highlight of the past months: 2 successful Backup On Tour workshops on behavioral difficulties! With nearly 30 participants in total, we had a great time sharing more about the complexities of behavior and practical strategies to address it when you need to. Thanks to guest trainer & occupational therapist Imelda, we all learned more about sensory imbalances - including our team!

And then, before we knew it, Giving Tuesday had arrived. Thanks to you, we greatly benefitted from GlobalGiving’s incentive fund, raising $1,205 in total! Remember how we are trying to raise $2,500 before the end of 2023 to reach at least 2,000 children & parents with information about learning difficulties & disabilities in 2024? We’re almost halfway to our goal already! If you missed the chance to give on Giving Tuesday, please know that your contribution is still very much welcome.

That’s it for this year, dear friend! May you make beautiful memories during this season that will carry you right into the new year. See you in 2024!

Much love,

The Backup Uganda Team

Links:

• Dyslexia Awareness Day