A Post-Pandemic Back to School Campaign

BULIISA, UGANDA

The two years of the pandemic was very hard for Ugandan school children. Many social problems, such as teenage pregnancy, early marriage, children's engagement in petty economic activities like selling of eggs on street had become rampant. Parents had begun to use their children for work on their farms. Some parents also lost hope that their children could ever receive formal education.

The Buliisa IP Team, following their one-on-ones in the community, discovered that many parents were concerned about this. They saw the Back to School Campaign as an urgent, relevant and winnable project. They had similar campaigns in four villages in January 2022. The objective of the campaign was to raise awareness so parents will send their children to school.

The campaign achieved more than expected. Nyamasoga Primary School, for example, had its highest registration numbers with 1,300 children enrolled. This became a problem because of inadequate facilities at the school, which will be the IP Team’s next campaign.