The Educate & Empower Nyakijumba Project is a multi-year, Rotaract-led initiative transforming a rural primary school in Nyakijumba, Kabale District (Uganda) into a center for education, opportunity, and sustainable community development.

This project has been in active development since 2024, driven by Rotaractors and shaped through continuous dialogue with the local community, Rotary leaders, and international partners. It is led on the ground by the Rotaract Club of Kampala South and co-led internationally by Rotaract Club Scheveningen, reflecting a strong model of youth leadership supported by global collaboration.

From the beginning, the project has been developed in close cooperation with Rotary Zone leaders, the Rotary Action Group for Education, and a wide network of experienced Rotarians, ensuring strong strategic guidance and technical expertise. This has allowed the initiative to evolve from an idea into a well-structured, high-impact program aligned with Rotary’s global standards and long-term vision.

At its core, the project tackles multiple challenges simultaneously: education, water and sanitation, energy, and economic resilience, recognizing that these issues are deeply interconnected. The project includes the renovation of school infrastructure, the creation of a library and IT hub, access to clean water and improved sanitation, and the installation of a reliable energy system. In parallel, community training in literacy, farming, and income-generating skills strengthens long-term independence and local development.

The impact is both immediate and long-lasting: over 300 children and teachers benefit directly from improved learning conditions, while approximately 1,500 community members gain access to water, training, and new economic opportunities.

What makes this project stand out is its depth of preparation and true partnership approach. Over multiple years, Rotaractors, community leaders, and Rotary experts have co-designed a project that is not only ambitious, but realistic, locally owned, and sustainable. It is not a one-off intervention, but a long-term investment in people, systems, and future potential.

Funding for the project will be raised through a broad international effort, mobilising partners, donors, and supporters across Europe and beyond, leveraging the extensive Rotary and Rotaract network. This ensures not only financial viability, but also continued international engagement and shared ownership of the project.

The project has been closely developed and supported by Derrick, Creven and our own Admiral, who has played an active role in shaping the concept, building partnerships, and coordinating the international dimension of the initiative.

With an estimated budget of approximately $59,000 (± €55,000), this project demonstrates how Rotaract, working hand in hand with Rotary, can lead meaningful, scalable change on the ground.