Programmes

Science subjects in villages

We emphasise on science subjects in villages such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology

REFU focuses on improving Science subjects in the rural districts Bukomansimbi, Nakasongola, Nakaseke and Luwero. These include Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Science subjects are compulsory at O level in the secondary school system of Uganda. However, these are performed poorly in rural areas compared to urban areas because of the following reasons:
- Most teachers in rural areas are less exposed and have less knowledge about science subjects
- Rural teachers have no access to study materials such as books
- Rural schools have less facilities such as laboratories, libraries, calculators- Rural schools have huge populations that put pressure on resources
- Rural students and teachers have less networks and rarely connect with other schools and training sessions

What is REFU doing?
- We take teachers for training in urban schools to get exposed and get more knowledge in science subjects
- We take teachers and students for debates in other schools to test their knowledge and get more knowledge in sciences
- We conduct examinations between schools (rural and urban)
- We conduct projects rural in schools, for example Mathematics projects, Chemistry and Physics projects
- Herein, we give out mathematics books, calculators, physics books, chemistry equipment so that the students can improve in these subjects
- We build and renovate libraries to ensure these schools have books

Infrastructure in schools

We build and renovate libraries, laboratories, toilets and water sources in rural schools

Many schools in our area of operation lack basic facilities and infrastructure. Many schools are overpopulated, and this puts pressure on their existing toilets, water resources, study materials such as laboratories, libraries, classrooms, sporting facilities, etc. This makes studying very difficult and leads to poor performance. These schools are characterized by:
- Huge student populations- Students from poor families
- Students have less or no access to study books
- Small libraries and a few books to cover all students- Small or laboratories at all
- A few toilets that inconveniences the students
- Small or entertainment facilities

What is REFU doing?
- We are buying water tanks, building underground wells and constructing boreholes in schools
- We are building libraries, renovating libraries and stocking them with books
- We are proving thousands of books, focusing on sciences books that these schools do not have
- We are setting up new laboratories and renovating pre-existing ones
- We are assisting these schools set up sports grounds

School dropouts

We ensure that school dropouts rejoin school, especially the most vulnerable young mothers and orphans

REFU focusses on assisting school dropouts in rural areas so that they can go back to school. The students most vulnerable to dropping out of school include
- Young girls who got pregnant and had a baby
- Orphans
- Students from poor families- Students who failed to rejoin school due to the negative effects of Covid19
- Students who face domestic violence and school-based violence and abuse

What is REFU doing?

- We are enrolling young mothers back to school. We look for them in the villages, we provide for them all the school needs and we monitor their progress
- We look for sponsors to sponsor poor students at school, so that they can sustainably study without any disturbance
- We work together with our partners such as BUCADEF, Buganda Youth Council, NAYODI among other, who offer scholarships in different rural schools for these students
- We are providing facilities to schools that enroll school dropouts and orphans. We help build libraries, laboratories, toilets, we provide books, calculators, etc.
- We assist teachers in schools that enroll school dropouts. We give these teachers training trips, shoes, laptops etc. to ease and facilitate their work- We have provided Books, Pens, Food, Transport, School bags to facilitate students hier

Nabukeera back to school

Irene Nabukeera got pregnant uring the Covid19 lockdown. She was left with little hope, since her parents disowned her and she felt helpless. REFU School dropout department in Nakaseke district identified her and worked out a process on her to get back to school. She is now in S.6. REFU wants her to go to University. ''We all make mistakes, and mine nearly cost me my future. I was left hopeless and i never knew i would ever go back to school. I am grateful to REFU for getting me sponsorship and for helping my son too with basic needs'', Nabukeera

Youth voices Luwero

REFU introduced this programme in 2019 to help the youth in the vulnerable rural areas of Luwero about the challenges they face, so that they can bring this to light in th community. The youth from different schools make trips to the local government, to different schools, to trading centres, to entertainment shows, to debates among other areas to raise their voices about

- HIV/Aids prevention

- Helping young mothers and school dropouts

- Environmental protection

- Child abuse and family violence

- The plight of orpahans, etc

Mathematics must win Project, Bukomansimbi

This Project, which was focused on Mathematics in the communities of Kyaziza, Makukulu and Mbirizi to improve mathematics in the secondary schools in North Bukomansimbi. The project was sponsored by Ugandans in Boston, USA, and partly by REFU and BYC. Important activities included

- Training of teachers, supply of mathematics textbooks and calculators, renobating both schools' and community libraries, as well as trips for students to discuss mathematics in other schools.