Daystar School is now open! We welcomed our first students in May 2022. We now have 370 students with more eager to enroll!
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School in Uganda generally consists of 3 nursery school grades (about 4-6 years old), 7 primary grades (about 7-15 years old), and then secondary school or vocational training.
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Daystar School currently offers all three nursery grades and primary 1. Our hope is to gradually expand to all 7 primary grades. A primary school education is lifechanging, helping kids develop their language skills, critical thinking, and opening up a variety of trades and professions.
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Currently, very few Namalemba kids are able to graduate from primary school, due both to the high cost of school fees and the burden of commuting to a distant school. Without a primary school diploma, kids' options are limited to farming, day labor, or starting their own business.
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By bringing an affordable school to the neighborhood, Daystar is stepping into this gap. Upon graduating from primary school, students can enroll in vocational school (hairdressing, tailoring, and baking are especially in demand in Namalemba) or enroll in secondary school, which prepares them to become teaching assistants or university students.
We currently employ five teachers and are holding classes in the Daystar Church building. We are raising money to set up a permanent, dedicated school structure that will create a more focused environment for students and enable us to serve additional grade levels.
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Our heart is to provide lifechanging education to the kids of Namalemba, both those who can afford it and those who cannot. Currently, about 40% of our students are unable to pay school fees. We have visited the homes of these students, many of whom have lost one or both parents, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to keep them in school.
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The excitement in the community is palpable, as parents know what education means for their children. We are thrilled to help these kids develop their potential, and we can't wait to see where they go from here!
