Build Resource Centre for 4000 children in Kibuli

It feels like it has been so long since we last checked in. How have you been?

We hope the last months of 2025 treat you well and that this season comes with lots of joy and the spirit of community + gratitude.

Since we last caught up, the Angaza Resource Centre (ARC) has continued to build on its work in literacy and ICT education through teacher trainings, community engagement, supervision and mentorship, and capacity development.  We have also hosted a number of events and spent time connecting with our community.

Here’s an account of the different activities we have engaged in.

On 1st July, the ARC celebrated its second anniversary. The event brought together the community of learners, volunteers, and supporters in a day of celebration through music, dance, and reflection. The anniversary also served as an opportunity to reaffirm ARC’s mission of empowering young people with literacy, ICT, and life skills, and to acknowledge the support received from partners and the wider community.

On 23rd August, the ARC hosted its first Partners’ Brunch. The event brought together heads and teachers from all four partner schools, community leaders, partner organisations, individuals who have contributed to ARC programmes, volunteers, and friends of 4040. Guests experienced literacy and ICT lessons, engaged in interactive reflections, and reviewed presentations on results and impact measurement. Beneficiaries also shared testimonials expressing their gratitude for the services the ARC continues to provide to children and the community at large.

In September, the Centre conducted a training for over 25 teachers from Vallerian Primary School and Hope Shammah’s Junior School, focusing on resource making and Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA). The training equipped teachers with practical tools for classroom engagement and tracking reading progress.

The Centre also held its third holiday programme of the year, which ran for three weeks and engaged over 30 teenagers from the communities of Kibuli and Kabalagala. The programme continued the ICT and literacy lessons infused with soft skills training.

Additionally, the ARC hosted “4040 Prom: Friends and Lovers,” the organisation’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The event aimed to raise funds for the Mobile Libraries Project to purchase books, storage cases, laptops, and support teacher training and logistics.

During the same period, the ARC conducted its first independent phonics supervision exercise. The team supervised 16 teachers across all four partner schools to assess the implementation of phonics training in classrooms. Mentorship was initiated for teachers requiring additional support and will continue alongside regular supervision to ensure consistent progress.

As always, we continue to extend our gratitude for all the ways that you show up for us. Your contributions; monetary, in kind, through words of advice and ever present support keep us going.

May you continue to be blessed, tenfold.

We hope you are keeping well or at least hanging in there during these constant "unprecedented times."

4040 is pleased to share updates from the Angaza Resource Centre (ARC) for the first half of 2025.

With your support, we’ve continued to provide a space for transformative learning, empowerment, and community engagement. Here is a look at our first half of the year.

January Holiday Program

From January 13th to 29th, the ARC hosted its first holiday program of the year, welcoming 30 teenagers and young adults. The program included ICT classes, literacy-based sessions, and life skills workshops on topics such as financial literacy, mental wellness, communication, and social etiquette. While many participants were returning from previous sessions, we also had the pleasure of introducing new attendees to the program.

This program provided a blend of structured learning and personal development, empowering young learners to navigate their academic and social worlds with confidence.

Phonics Refresher Training

From 30th January to 1st February, Read for Life facilitated a phonics refresher training at the ARC for 20 teachers from Quentin and Merowa Junior Schools. The training revisited foundational phonics techniques and equipped teachers with tools to enhance literacy teaching in their classrooms.

Visit from Nonprofit Builder

The ARC also welcomed Natasha and Oprah from Nonprofit Builder an international platform dedicated to capacity building and consulting for nonprofit organisations. Nonprofit Builder connects organisations like ours with expert consultants to enhance operations and achieve better outcomes. We are privileged to receive their support as partners of the Segal Family Foundation.

As proud beneficiaries of their services, we were thrilled to have Natasha and Oprah visit the ARC to witness the impact of their support firsthand. They engaged with our team, observed our activities, and affirmed the incredible potential of our shared mission. Their visit was not just a testament to our ongoing work but also a celebration of the partnerships that make it possible.

 Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.) Week

From 10th to 14th March, the ARC joined Uganda’s celebration of D.E.A.R. Day (March 15th), with a week of engaging read-aloud sessions. Guest readers captivated children with stories, sparking their imaginations and building their literacy skills. The sessions emphasised the joy and importance of reading as a tool for lifelong learning.

Phonics Supervision Sessions

In April, the ARC team conducted phonics supervision for 9 teachers from Quentin Junior School (5) and Merowa Junior School (4). These sessions assessed the effectiveness of phonics implementation in classrooms and offered constructive feedback. While challenges remain, particularly at Quentin, individual teacher performances showed notable improvement from last year.

May Teacher Training

We hosted a three-day phonics training for over 30 teachers from our partner schools who had hirthertho not participated in these sessions at the resource centre.  Conducted by Read for Life, the training introduced teachers of Vallerian Primary School and Hope Shammah Junior School to foundational sounds, Set 1 and Set 2, and effective strategies to integrate phonics into their classrooms.

For many teachers, this was their first encounter with structured phonics instruction. The sessions were highly interactive, equipping them with practical tools to nurture literacy and reading fluency among their pupils. As a result, these educators are now better positioned to create engaging and impactful learning experiences for their students.

May Holiday Programme at the ARC

From 5th to 16th May, the ARC welcomed 31 teenagers and young adults for its second holiday program of the year. This two-week program featured ICT classes, literacy sessions, and life skills workshops. Topics such as online safety, gratitude, social capital, and communication were explored interactively, empowering participants with practical knowledge for everyday life.

The program also included fun activities like board games and word games, nurturing teamwork and camaraderie. The highlight was a visit from Chef Akelly, an accomplished international chef and longtime supporter of 4040. Chef Akelly inspired the students with her career journey and motivated them to embrace hard work and resilience.

Supervision and Mentorship Training

The ARC team recently concluded a three-week Supervision and Mentorship training in Gulu. The training is designed to equip the team with the skills to assess and mentor teachers from our partner schools who have undergone phonics training. We aim to create a ripple effect of improved literacy outcomes through this initiative by ensuring that the phonics methodologies imparted are being implemented effectively in classrooms, enriching the learning experience for students. 

Upcoming

We are excited to embark on an extension of the resource centre through mobile libraries.

This initiative aims to provide more books to our partner schools and extend access to additional schools in which are unable to come to the ARC. By bringing books and learning materials directly to learners, we hope to spark a love for reading and provide equitable access to educational resources for thousands of children across Uganda.

On Saturday, 26th July, we will host a fundraisimg dinner for this cause. If you are in Kampala on this date, please join us. You can also spread the word and/or make a donation towards the mobile library. 

Your donation will help us acquire books, transport in form of tricycles, and the resources needed to make this dream a reality. Together, we can ensure that more children have the tools they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

We appreciate your continued support, which makes all of this possible. From the phonics programs to the holiday workshops, your partnership is enabling us to transform lives and nurture a brighter future.

As always, thank you for believing in our vision and walking this journey with us.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Team 4040.