No Village Too Far: Reaching students across Amolatar
Special Thanks to our friend Mr. Ongom Benson of NBSTV for creating this incredible piece about Far Away Friends’ new Distance Learning Program! We are proud to work alongside Ugandan creative professionals to to tell Ugandan stories.
Click here to watch the full 14 minute version of this video
In early August, we asked all of you to join us in funding the launch of a new Distance Learning Program, equipping our Global Leaders (GLP) teachers with transportation to reach our students across Amolatar district. Together in just over a week and a half, our FAF USA Community funded the entire program and our teachers are now meeting with over 100 students every week! Check out our short documentary to learn more about how your support powered this program!
PARENTS & STUDENTS RESPOND TO OUR DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM
Unfortunately due to school closures, thousands of teachers across our district have been laid off indefinitely. Thanks to the support of our community of Advocates and donors, Far Away Friends has been able to keep all of our staff employed and now, engaging with their students for the first time in months. Both students and parents alike have expressed their shock to see GLP Teachers like Mr. Oywek and Mr. Ayaka pull up into student’s villages on brand new motorcycles to tutor students and counsel families — no matter how far.Teacher Ayaka Denis meets with GLP Student Viola at her home thanks to the support of the Far Away Friends communityYour support of our #PathwaysToEducation Campaign purchased these two motorcycles and are equipping our teachers to reach students across Amolatar!
“I’ve missed school so much for the five months that I’ve been staying at home. The Teachers have actually helped me to develop my learning skills more. They come at home — home by home — teaching us on the things that we had covered at school.” — GLP Student, Atuhaire Viola
“This Distance Learning program is so new! All of our children have been discontinued from school, there is no money now for school fees because most markets have been closed and sicknesses [like Malaria] have become rampant. I think this school [Global Leaders] is really going to change the poor performance of students in Amolatar. I am very happy about this home-school program. We are praying for God’s blessings upon the school and all its staff!” — Grandma/Guardian of Global Leaders Primary Student, Omara Carlos, Chakwara Village
TRAINING TEACHERS ON CHILD PROTECTION & PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
Not only were we able to purchase two new motorcycles (boda-boda’s) and two bicycles as part of this program, our teachers were also provided an intensive in-service training on Child Protection and Psychosocial support to empower them with the skills to identify signs of child abuse and counsel families who have experienced high levels of stress and/or trauma related to COVID lockdowns.
Lead by the District Social Worker, Teachers focus in during their Child Protection/Psychosocial Support Training session
Breaking up into small groups, GLP teachers were tasked with creating a plan for supporting their students social/emotional needs
As a school focused on the development of the whole child, GLP teachers were highly motivated to learn more about children’s rights, gain tools on helping restore hope and dignity in homes where abuses have occurred and creating environments that support the social/emotional development of all of their students. Through this training, together our teachers identified some preventive measures for possible abusive situations including creating community awareness, setting up watch groups for children’s rights and creating a “Children’s Parliament” at GLP where students are free to speak their mind about a variety of issues affecting their peers. To conclude their training, group work was given to the teachers to develop a “Psychosocial Support Work Plan” as they head out to the field to visit communities affected by lockdown in groups of five.
“This [child protection training] has given me more confidence in handling other issues that are not classroom-based and identifying issues my students are facing at home." — Oywek Denis Veve, Teacher & Head of Student Health, Global Leaders Primary
Thanks to the support of our donors, friends and Advocate community, GLP teachers are now out in the field three times per week visiting over 100 students at their homes, ensuring they are healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged! We are confident that this program will not only keep students interested in learning, but also prevent instances of abuse, neglect, early marriage and early pregnancy among our students and equipping them with the tools to break cycles of poverty.
We could not have done it without YOU. Thank you!
