Impressions of Uganda

In the lush highlands 40 miles from Kampala sits St. Kizito’s High School. Five hundred girls, including 40 GTL scholarships recipients, live on this campus with spectacular views of the countryside. Sister Salome, GTL coordinator and St. Kizito’s Headmistress, sets the tone with her professional, smiling presence. In a country where more than 40% of the women are illiterate, Sr. Salome, a graduate of Makerere University, is a role model and mentor to her students.

The curriculum is rigorous and the school days are long. Some items the girls must bring from home are a mattress, a bucket for washing clothes, and a machete for work in the fields. Most of the food consumed by the students and faculty is grown on the campus. Despite the hard work expected of the girls, there is easy laughter and exuberance, and it is clear they feel safe and cared for. On our visit we were entertained by the girls’ drumming group – local champions where it is unusual for girls to drum – and by their classmates who broke into a spontaneous dance.

The atmosphere at St. Kizito’s sharply contrasts to their usual home life. Poverty, violence, and the threat of early pregnancy and HIV are a reality for too many. There is no free secondary education in Uganda, and UNICEF estimates that only the richest 4% of families can afford secondary school. Yet a GTL scholarship means more than the opportunity for education; it provides a haven in which the girls are free to focus on their studies and develop the confidence they need to fulfill their aspirations. After talking with GTL girls and hearing their stories, I am filled with admiration for their commitment to making the most of the opportunity GTL provides.