Our initiatives : Nurturing Literacy and Education Across Uganda
Our works
Learn more about the diverse and impactful activities that the Reading Association of Uganda (RAU) in partnership with Room to Read undertakes. Have an indepth look into the various programs and projects that define our commitment to advancing literacy and education across the nation.
The Literacy team responsible for book development.Material Development
Location: Masaka at Maple Leaf Hotel
Objective:
The primary purpose of organizing this workshop was to contribute to the development of stories for the Luganda and Runyankore-Rukiga Learner Books and Teacher’s Guides Part A.
Key Highlights and Future Plans
1. Teacher Training: Representatives from Room to Read, conducted an enlightening session where he taught teachers from Mitoma and Mubende, about the key elements of learning. The session was engaging and proved to be fruitful, providing valuable insights.
2. Professional Guidance: Other activities included coordinationg illustrators from East Africa to bring the stories to life with beautiful pictures.
RAU Team members giving out booksBook Donations
Location: Kabunyonyi Primary School
Objective:
In a collaborative effort to enhance literacy resources and learning environments, 7 schools with librarians and school officials gathered to address the deplorable state of libraries within the school system in Mubende District.
Key Highlights and Future Plans
1. The main activity that day was donation of books to some of the primary schools in Mubende.
2. Librarians and school officials conducted a thorough assessment of existing library facilities, taking into account infrastructure, available resources, and the condition of reading materials.
Katabalanga Primary school in Mubende districtField Visits
Location: Mubende and Mitooma Districts
Objective:
One of our major activities as an organisation are field visits that happen very periodically. So far, the pilot districts that are visited are Mubende, Mitooma and Kampala. The team employed Field officers that ensure smooth operation of various programs in the filed.
Key Highlights and Future Plans
1. The active engagaments of RAU with the schools partnering with officials and the government has made training sessions possible.
2. Observing library standards: One of our program initiatives is implementing practices that ensure the reading materials are properly stored, easily accessed and the quality is top notch.
One of the published story titles by Ugandan AuthorsPublishing Material
Location: RAU Offices in Kampala
Objective:
Reading Association of Uganda engages in the publishing of materials, involving both Ugandan and international authors. This initiative demonstrates a commitment to diversity and the inclusion of different perspectives in literary endeavors
Key Highlights and Future Plans
1. The storybooks that were developed were also versioned and translated in the local native languages, Luganda and Runyankore-Rukiga.
2. One of the books was originally developed in Kiswahili, the official language for Kenya and Tanzania. RAU not only expands the reach of the stories but also celebrates linguistic diversity. This approach aligns with the broader goals of promoting literacy and fostering a love for reading within diverse communities.
Literacy Cloud WebsiteLiteracy Cloud
Location: Literacy Cloud site
Objective:
One of the main goals of this site is to encourage reading habits among children starting from an early age fostering a love for books and learning. The team has been visiting some selected schools in Kampala region like Kibuli Demonstration school, Nakasero Primary school, St. Peter's Nsambya and others.
Key Highlights and Future Plans
1. Diversity and Inclusion: Offer a diverse range of exciting and interesting stories that reflect different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, promoting empathy and understanding.
2. Comprehension: Improve children's reading comprehension skills by offering a variety of texts at different difficulty levels, with interactive features that aid understanding.
Author Training at Speke HotelConferences and Workshops
Location: Speke Hotel, Kampala
Objective:
The main focus of this workshop was Author training in the context of non-fictional material typically involves guiding writers in honing their skills related to research, storytelling, and the effective communication of factual information.
Key Highlights and Future Plans
1. During the training at Speke Hotel, Authors had the opportunity to interact with experienced instructors, and network with fellow writers.
2. The target attained in the 3 days of the workshop empowered authors with the necessary skills and knowledge to create compelling and well-researched non-fictional stories for the children.
Observing library standards in Mubende school.Library establishment
Location: Katabalanga Primary School
Objective:
Observing library standards and establishment provides accessible and organized learning resources. This involves assessing the availability and condition of books, ensuring proper cataloging, and creating an environment conducive to learning within the libraries.
Key Highlights and Future Plans
1. Examining the challenges that schools face in maintaining reading materials for children is essential, and exploring various remedies can significantly contribute to promoting reading in schools.
2. Infrastructure Constraints: Schools in some regions lack proper infrastructure for libraries or reading spaces, limiting the availability and accessibility of reading materials.
Mr. Ndunga in class with the pupilsCoaching Center Tutors
Location: Mazooba Primary School
Objective:
The focus of this activity was on coaching Center Tutors (CCTs) in library instruction. This was followed by systematic observations of library lessons, culminating in a comprehensive conference that involved all staff members to reflect on and discuss the impact of library lessons.
Key Highlights and Future Plans
1. Coaching CCTs in Library Instruction: Trained facilitators provided coaching sessions to CCTs, equipping them with effective strategies for integrating library resources and activities into their teaching practices.
2. Identifying Challenges and Solutions: The conference served as a forum for identifying challenges faced by CCTs in implementing library lessons. Group discussions were conducted to brainstorm solutions and develop action plans to address the identified issues.
Ms. Margaret from RAU teaching educators in Mitooma.Teacher training
Location: Mubende and Mitooma District
Objective:
The primary objective of these training sessions is to empower teachers with literacy skills that can inspire and cultivate enthusiasm for reading in learners, starting from an early age.
Key Highlights and Future Plans
1. Instruction Material Training: A few teachers from Mubende and Mitooma together with a team from RAU and an associate from Room to Read had an interactive session where brilliant ideas on teaching manuals for educators and learner books for the children of P.2 were developed.
2. Refresher Trainings: Every once in a while a team from RAU alongside the field officers observe the teachers in class while they teach to track progress of their lessons.
3. In collaboration with representatives from the Ministry of Education and the National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC), as well as school management committees and teacher librarians, the team actively participated in cluster meetings. These sessions were dedicated to sharing insights and discussing the current status of education.