March 2026 - Growth, Opportunity & Community at Sunrise
Student Dorm Mother Nakatunda Angel (middle)
Dormitory Construction Set to Begin
Excitement is building at Sunrise as we prepare to break ground on our new dormitory on April 14! With plans officially approved at the sub-county level, this milestone reflects both strong local support and the Coalition’s growing leadership. Partnerships with the Plattern Foundation, Reach Out Mubuya, and a third foundation in Kisoga—alongside a vibrant marketing campaign—are already paving the way to welcome boarding students for the 2027 school year. These partnerships will bring students through independently run international sponsorship programs, while proceeds from the boarding section will directly support scholarships for low-income day students in the surrounding community.
Construction is expected to take approximately three months, with a targeted completion date of August 1, depending on the rains. This project will also create a unique hands-on learning opportunity—older students in Primary 6 and 7 will assist the builders, gaining practical construction skills while contributing directly to improving their own school. Alongside this, the dormitory helps nurture student leadership through the role of “Dormitory Mothers,” where selected senior students support house matrons in caring for younger children and serve as mentors and role models. Altogether, this initiative strengthens infrastructure, builds confidence with partners, and reinforces Sunrise’s reputation as a capable, community-driven school.
Zzaweda Shanita with school friends
Inclusive Education in Action
At Sunrise, inclusion is not just a philosophy—it’s lived every day through stories like Shanita’s. Zzawedde Shanita has been part of the Sunrise family for 13 years, after being taken in at age seven by our neighbor, Aunty Milly. When Shanita first arrived, she was in a fragile state—malnourished, neglected, non-verbal, and isolated from other children. She began in kindergarten alongside much younger students, and slowly, with patience and care, started to find her voice and confidence.
Today, Shanita is 20 years old and thriving in Primary 6. She is vibrant, verbal, and actively participates in class—copying from the blackboard, engaging with her peers, and showing up every day eager to learn. She never wants to miss a lesson, and Sunrise has become her second home—a place where she feels safe, valued, and truly included. Beyond the classroom, Shanita is a proud member of her community, helping Aunty Milly on weekends with gardening, fetching water, and household chores—living proof of what’s possible when a community comes together to uplift every child.
Skill Building Workshops Grow Opportunity
Practical learning continues to thrive at Sunrise as Teacher Robert leads chalk-making workshops with upper primary students—an activity that is both hands-on and impactful. Building on this success, an expanded series of skilling workshops is planned for Term 2 beginning May 11. Held on weekends to protect academic time, these sessions aim to equip students with valuable, real-world skills while strengthening the school’s reputation and long-term sustainability. The launch of these workshops—and the revitalization of the fishponds and aquaculture project—will depend on funding approval from our primary donor, and we remain hopeful and optimistic as these plans move forward.
Workshops will focus on producing essential items such as liquid soap, notebook binding, and chalk—helping reduce school operating costs while teaching practical entrepreneurship. If successful, production could expand in 2027 to supply nearby schools and generate local income. Students are also eager to participate in restoring the school’s fish ponds, gaining hands-on aquaculture experience with the goal of supporting 2027 operations through future harvests. In addition, hair styling workshops will nurture creativity, confidence, and self-reliance, with the potential to grow into a small student-run salon in Kisoga—benefiting both graduates and the school.
We are truly inspired to see these meaningful opportunities opening up for the Sunrise children—creating space for them to learn, grow, and discover their full potential.
Exams, Registration & Welcoming Families
Sunrise is taking an important step forward as the Coalition nears completion of the school’s official Centre Number registration—a key milestone that strengthens credibility, accountability, and trust. This recognition by the Ministry of Education assures families that Sunrise meets national standards, with student results publicly available and each learner assigned a unique identification number to track their academic journey. It also enables district oversight through standardized assessments and ensures that all teachers are properly qualified and certified.
In preparation for this certification, Sunrise students completed midterm examinations in March, with results submitted to the district to benchmark progress and ensure full compliance. The exam period was also a time of connection, as parents were welcomed for midterm visitations—spending meaningful time with their children, especially those in boarding, and experiencing firsthand the supportive and vibrant school community their children are part of.
Access Knowledge Africa
Access Knowledge Africa is continuing to grow in response to increasing demand in the communities we serve. As more children join our partner schools and class sizes expand, our mobile library program has been reaching more learners than ever before. To meet this need, while maintaining the quality of each reading session, we are bringing two of our Literacy Champions onto the team as support staff. These individuals have already demonstrated commitment and capability through their involvement in community outreach, and this step allows us to strengthen our delivery while staying rooted in local leadership.
Beyond simply expanding capacity, this is an important investment in mentorship and long-term sustainability. By walking alongside these emerging leaders - equipping them with practical experience, guidance, and responsibility - we are building a model that can grow from within the community itself. This approach not only ensures continuity of the program, but also creates pathways for local ownership and leadership development. As our organization continues to evolve, we remain committed to solutions that are both responsive to immediate needs and sustainable for the future.
Message from the Coalition
Over the past three months, the Coalition has grown tremendously—gaining hands-on experience in school management, real-time problem solving, and coordinating support across multiple channels. Through strong communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution, we have built meaningful relationships within both the staff team and the wider community, reflected in a 90% satisfaction rate. We have also led the integration of new systems, equipping us with a broader skill set and a deeper understanding of effective school operations.
As we continue this journey, we are confident in our leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to motivate and support those around us. We remain committed to strengthening the foundation of the CBO and serving our community with integrity and purpose. As Robin S. Sharma reminds us
“Hard work opens doors and shows the world that you are serious about being one of those rare and special human beings who use the fullness of their talents to do their very best.”