We’d like to start by thanking you once more for your incredible support and for standing by us since the start of the pandemic and throughout what has been the most difficult time for just about everyone.

Over a year on from the gradual reopening of Uganda’s schools, we remain in a state of lockdown with schools closed again when new restrictions were imposed in June 2021.

We continue to do all we can to work with the JET network of schools and children’s homes, as they in turn reach out to all the children, teachers and families within their communities.

Here we take a quick look back at all we have been able to achieve, thanks to the generosity of JET supporters and where we go from here:

We began delivering maize and bean seeds to JET schools to enable them to grow food of their own. The resulting harvest was an important supplement to the food we provided to ensure all children and staff returning to class earlier in the year had a daily nutritious meal.

With the arrival of our new Education Programme Manager, Dan and his experience in agriculture, we have created city gardens at our schools so we can add fresh vegetables to the menu once they are allowed to reopen again. Children and teachers are enjoying the learning experience, while acquiring valuable skills vital to both their survival and the longer-term sustainability of the schools. Watch this space for a new farming programme!
We have continued to work closely with our schools to provide home study materials for those children who are accessible and to give guidance and feedback on their work.

Nurse Pauline has been back in action advising and training the schools and children’s homes on health and hygiene so they are able to comply with Government Standard Operating Procedures once we reopen - in January 2022, according to the latest Presidential statement.

While we wait for this reopening date, we continue to work hard together to make sure JET schools are ready for children to return and the teachers are as well-prepared as possible when the time comes. We are running a course of teacher training on phonics and Maths and have been investigating options for the professional development of teachers; now our Resource Centre is connected to the internet, they are able to access various free online courses and resources.

In addition, we are looking at how best we can take care of the mental health and wellbeing of our children, many of whom will soon have been out of school for close to two years.

Please get in touch if you would like to hear more of our latest news and you can of course follow our progress on social media.

https://www.justgiving.com/jinjaeducationaltrust

Take care and keep safe. Thank you from all of us at JET and every one of our children and teachers.