Buiga Sunrise Pre & Primary School

Status

Current Funding Partner

Buiga Sunrise School began in 2004 with just two preschool classrooms, created in response to the need for accessible education in the rural community of Banda Kyandaaza. Over the past two decades, the project has grown alongside the community into a fully established primary school serving up to 400 children from pre-primary through Primary 7.

Today, the campus includes permanent classrooms, a library and computer learning resources, vocational programs, school gardens and boarding facilities for both girls and boys. The school is a registered examination centre, enabling Primary 7 students to complete their national examinations through their own school. What began as a small grassroots initiative has developed into a locally managed educational institution focused on quality education, practical skills and sustainable access for children from all economic backgrounds.

Values

Respect

We value and honor the diverse identities of all individuals within our school and communities.

Appreciation

We show appreciation for one another whenever possible. We appreciate parents and teachers for everything they do for us and appreciate the kindness of our friends.

Community Mindedness

Our school is a central hub of our community. We welcome friends and neighbors to share their knowledge and we contribute our efforts to improve our local community through volunteering.

Growth

We have growth mindsets. We always believe we can improve and work every day to learn something new.

Compassion

Sunrise is a school that grows children who care for one another, are concerned about the suffering of others, and want to act to make our world a better place.

Leadership

We strive to become the leaders of tomorrow by practicing leadership in our school and community today.

Community Need

Childhood is an essential time for development and education is every child’s fundamental right. In Uganda equity and inclusion are major challenges and there are many barriers to education including poverty, inadequate facilities, high tuition fees and gender inequality. Low learning levels resulting from crowded classrooms and overburdened teachers, contributes to poor acquisition of foundational skills; many students fail to transition between grades and drop out before completing secondary school.

Solution

The mission of Sunrise School is to uplift the community by enriching, educating, and improving the quality of life for all children. We started our preschool in 2005 under a sponsorship model, but over time, with the support of the community, our model evolved and we began cultivating local sustainability. Class space is now distributed between 200 subsidized day students and 150 boarding students who pay full tuition. Fees collected from the boarding section provides financial support for low income students attending as day scholars. All students receive the same high quality education and are included in various school clubs, teams and extra curricular activities. Local income generating initiatives, such as agriculture projects and a fish pond, provide unique vocational learning opportunities for students and further contribute to our model for sustainability by keeping tuition prices low.

Accessibility to affordable education, manageable class sizes, qualified teaching staff and our model for sustainability, builds resiliency and creates a culture of shared responsibility for future generations.

Sustainability

Locally Funded

Salaries

Student meals

Classroom & office supplies

Cleaning supplies

Property maintenance and upkeep

Utilities water & electricity

Licensing & local fees

Location:

Banda Kyandaaza Village, Nakisunga sub-county, Uganda

Key Members:‍ ‍

Program Director: Okidi Tom

Head Teacher: Okurut Zachary Ogwang

Senior Teacher: Ajuma Robert

Services & Activities

  • Preschool (Baby & Middle Class)

  • Kindergarten (Top Class)

  • Primary (Grades 1-7)

  • Vocational Classes - Aqua-culture, Apiary, Agriculture

  • Meal Program (Breakfast & Lunch)

  • Boarding Dormitories

  • Debate Club

  • Chess Club

  • Soccer and Netball Clubs

  • Computer Classes (in partnership with Access Knowledge Africa)

  • Lending Library (in partnership with Access Knowledge Africa)

  • Child Advocacy

  • Mentorship Programs

Funded by Sunrise Centre

Upgrades & renovations

Furniture

Vocational tools and equipment

Teacher resources

Skilling workshops

Construction & expansion

Needs based scholarships (up to 14 per year)

Buiga Sunrise School operates through a locally sustainable model designed to keep quality education accessible while reducing dependence on international funding. Day-to-day operating costs are funded locally, while Sunrise Centre focuses donor support on investments that strengthen the school, expand opportunity and build long-term capacity.

A central part of this model is the school’s boarding program. Revenue generated by boarding students helps subsidize education for children from lower-income families. For every student enrolled in the boarding program, one low-income day student receives a scholarship to attend the school. As boarding enrollment grows, so does the number of children who can access education regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

The result is a model in which local revenue sustains the school’s daily operations and helps expand access, while donor funding is directed toward long-term improvements, educational opportunities and infrastructure that strengthen the school for the future.