By Bazio Doreen 

Authorities in Adjumani District, in collaboration with Right to Play (an NGO), have launched the Ugx 11.9 billion Ready to Learn Project in the district to improve learning outcomes and support 20,000 children in developing critical life skills through the power of play.

The three-year (2025-2027) project funded by the Lego Foundation aims to support the targeted children’s psychosocial well-being as they transition from 25 pre-primary schools (ECD) to primary education in 10 primary schools, targeting 20 teachers, 20 head teachers, and 4 staff from the District Education Office. In Adjumani, the school completion rate stands at 48%.

Speaking during the project inception meeting that took place at the district headquarters on 13th May 2025, Ms. Joseline Draleru, the Community Services Officer at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Pakele, who represented the Refugee Desk Officer, noted that the project would reduce Gender Based Violence, family separation, and child neglect.

“Some parents and caregivers lack skills on how to handle their children’s emotions, and this causes conflict as both the child and parent hide their feelings. Children and parents will become practical in relaying their problems to each other,” Draleru noted.

The project will be implemented in 8 refugee settlements: Maaji I, II, and III; Oliji; Nyumanzi; Agojo; Mungula; Pagirinya; Ayilo; and Borooli; and 6 sub-counties: Ofua, Ciforo, Dzaipi, Itirikwa, Pakele, and Adjumani Town Council.

Similarly, Ms. Sylvia Masika Hope, the Program Manager – Right to Play, observed that many parents not only have inadequate parenting skills to handle the emotions of their children, but some don’t play their role in ensuring that their children access education and have time to play.

“Many parents are not ready to support their children. They don’t know the importance of education and the role of play,” Masika observed. 

The project targets 4,500 parents/caregivers and will conduct 26 play to grow flex programs. These are parenting sessions that train ECD caregivers and parents on gender-responsive and inclusive playground approaches to foster children’s social-emotional learning and well-being. The sessions also seek to strengthen the relationship between parents and children.

Masika also observed that, just like parents, many teachers also lack the required knowledge and skills to know how to respond to children’s emotional needs while at school.

“Some teachers aren’t well equipped with knowledge on how to carry out learning in ECD with incorporation of play. We intend to keep them with skills on how to teach through emotional learning,” Masika explained.

On his part, Mr. Henry Lulu Leku, the Assistant District Health Officer In charge of Maternal Health, noted that “Even the most vulnerable person, when supported with education, can see light at the end of the tunnel. There is a need to include other aspects like nutrition and health because they form part of psychosocial well-being.”

In affirmation, Ms. Frances Dipio, the Senior Probation and Social Welfare Officer, noted that there is a need for the project to also cater to other aspects of social well-being both at school and in homes.

“Embracing school feeding program is still a challenge, especially in refugee schools, because of reduced food ration and funding… where children are well fed, you can also see that the performance is usually good,” Dipio noted.

The 2024 Uganda Food Security Report shows that malnutrition in refugee settlements in Adjumani stands at 7.1%. Right to Play has been implementing projects in Adjumani since 2017. The Ready to Learn project shall also be implemented in Obongi district in partnership with Global Fund for Children, Amma Foundation, War Child Alliance, AMREF, and Innovations for Poverty Action.