May 2019. It had been one year since our team trained teachers and leaders in Uganda. We were excited to see results and continue to deliver modules so that KidZ Teaching Certicates could be awarded.
After four days on the ground in Uganda, we had the opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with Enoch Mwesigye as he drove us to our hotel. Enoch is the Chairman of the Rushenyi Junior Academy school board located in Western Uganda. During the drive, Enoch shared an update on the work taking place since our last visit when some of the Academy's teachers had been trained. The leaders of the school were initially encouraged with the KidZ curriculum presented to the Christian school teachers, and they had been watching for obvious improvements in each teacher’s ability to lead.
Enoch explained that he and Nathan Mashaija, Headmaster of the school, reached out to neighboring communities and met with the regional Bishop and Arch Bishop of the Anglican Church. They were asked questions about the curriculum and whether or not it would interfere with the content the church was hoping to implement at the school. After a number of meetings and discussions, the church and community leadership came to the conclusion that the
KidZ at Heart curriculum was a great complement
to what was already being offered! This was a relief to the school leaders as they believed in the material and wanted to continue the trainings.
But would the teachers take the next steps and put into action what they had learned during the KidZ at Heart modules? Often when we labor and till the ground, it can appear as though nothing is happening, but we should never forget that God is at work.
After a year of application without obvious results, Enoch and Nathan were beginning to doubt the impact of the previous trainings - that is, until our team returned to continue training in 2019. This time, the class size increased 100% from last year with additional community members and church leadership attending the sessions! Enoch, Nathan, and the team were so encouraged and excited, as were we. God is clearly growing his kingdom in Uganda!
(Submitted by Andy Metroka, KidZ at Heart Team Leader for Uganda. Andy and team members are pictured below with Enoch and Nathan.)
