Trinity Children’s Centre
Trinity Children's Centre, started in 1986, is now a certified primary school in Kabowa, Uganda, one of the poorest areas of the capital Kampala. It is also where the Serunjogi family live. Under its umbrella now stands an impressive collection of school campuses, at four separate areas of Kabowa, privately owned and operated by the Serunjogis. What began as one room and six children in 1986 has now grown to over 1,100 children in 2011. When you arrive at the main campus you are welcomed with singing and dancing and joyful clapping. They line the street outside the main campus, they always say, “Visitors, you are most welcome!”, and they make you feel like one of the family.
Trinity offers nursery, pre-school, kindergarten and all primary level classes from Primary 1 to Primary 7. Trinity also offers boarding facilities for approximately 300 students many of whom are orphans. All classes are taught in English once they pass into P3 class. Yes, there is some translation and native language in the classes but they realize that to get ahead they have to use a world language. Put yourself in this picture - just imagine you are learning all your subjects in a foreign language!
1986, the first class. It all started because our partners Romans and Sarah saw a desperate need. Their first child, Lydia, is on Sarah’s lap.
Girls Choir shows the joy of singing and sharing.
The curriculum and the yearly examinations are determined and controlled by the Ugandan Education Board. The P7 graduating Trinity students consistently earn top results in these national examinations. Sports, games, introduction to computers, dance and singing classes emphasizing their culture and sewing instruction are a part of their school week. Trinity also has an impressive brass band to which students vie for membership.
Encouraging visitors to the schools opens up opportunities for sharing especially as so many have not been beyond their town or village. The Serunjogis and by extension the staff are anxious to offer the children special extra curricula – eg. One time when we arrived at the airport a truck full of students came to meet us – Romans made sure they could see a plane land and take off which most could not even conceive of happening.
For the children of Uganda, their education is the one thing, maybe the only thing that can never be taken away from them. For the children of Uganda, it is the gift of HOPE.
A dedicated teacher of Primary 5 class