PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN UGANDA

The Peace Corps/Uganda program was reestablished in 2001, after its suspension in 1999. Peace Corps has a long-standing commitment to the country's development and has experienced excellent relationships with the people of Uganda throughout the years. Currently, Peace Corps/Uganda has both an education project and a community health project. These projects have been developed on the basis of the interests and needs presented by the government of Uganda and of the communities in which Volunteers work.

For more information on the Peace Corps/Uganda program, click here.

UPLIFT and Peace Corps Continue Literacy Workshops

Uniting to Provide Literacy Instruction for Teachers (UPLIFT) has announced that it will continue to hold workshops and conferences for teachers and head teachers of primary schools in Nakasongola and Luweero districts through early March.

UPLIFT, an initiative of Nakaseke Primary Teachers’ College, was developed by tutors and Peace Corps volunteers affiliated with the college, and it was funded by two Small Projects Assistance grants from USAID.  The U.S. Embassy in Kampala also contributed over 500 books to the program.

UPLIFT seeks to improve literacy among primary school pupils by training their teachers on practical, hands-on approaches to teaching, listening and speaking, reading and writing.  It began as a 3-day workshop for tutors and teachers-in-training enrolled in Nakaseke PTC, and it has now been extended to all the primary schools in Luweero and Nakasongola districts.  Workshops on the teaching of listening, speaking and reading were held in November 2004, while the writing workshops were held in February 2005.

Peace Corp volunteers Nichole Regiani of Michigan, Jessica Nemeth of Illinois and Jennifer Rose of New York have worked closely with their Ugandan counterparts to develop and coordinate the program.  Other volunteers including Craig Halbmaier, Rose Marie LaRocca, Kristen Eels, Beth McIntyre, Koquinda Chambers, Lynne McDermott, Teresa Hoffman, Andrew Bush and John Cutrell contributed to the success of UPLIFT in various ways.

According to Jennifer Rose, “Teachers are very eager to learn practical ways to teach literacy skills to their pupils.   The one thing we hear over and over again is ‘please provide us with more workshops.”

Of UPLIFT, Mrs. Beatrice Byakutaga the Principal of Nakaseke PTC says, “The timing (of the program) has been very fortunate because the Ministry of Education has implemented a new timetable for primary schools with more time for reading and writing.  I am happy that in Luweero and Nakasongola district, teachers will now know how to use that time effectively.”