Keeping Ebola out of a refugee school in Uganda

ELINDE response at EL-SHADDAI Junior Parents' School, Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, protecting learners, teachers, and families.

When alerts were raised, ELINDE acted immediately: training staff, engaging families, and putting protections in place.

Health education

Sessions in Kinyabwisha, Swahili, and English on symptoms, transmission, and reporting.

Handwashing

Tippy tap with soap. Learner monitors supervised daily handwashing moments. Songs made hygiene routine for young children.

Temperature screening

Daily gate checks with non-contact thermometers. Symptomatic individuals isolated and referred.

Active partnership with Rwamwanja Health Centre IV, UNHCR, and district task forces.

"I was afraid to bring my child to school. After the teachers explained everything, I understood. Now I feel safer."

— Parent, Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement

"Together, we can prevent the spread of Ebola and keep our schools safe."

BRIEF REPORT ON EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION BY ELINDE

ELINDE respectfully submits this report on education activities at El-Shaddai Junior Parents School, Mahani A, Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement.

ELINDE implements formal education support to improve learner access, retention, progression, and performance. Each year, learners are promoted in primary school and transition to secondary education.

The PLE results of 30th January 2026 show exemplary performance: Division I – 3, Division II – 9, Division III – 1, Division IV – 0, U – 0, X – 0, totaling 13 candidates. One female learner attained Division I with 12 aggregates and was first in Mathematics with 2 aggregates, best in the Town Council.

Two newly arrived refugee boys from DRC, initially demoted due to curriculum differences, performed well after one year of coaching, attaining Division II and Division III.

These results demonstrate the effectiveness of ELINDE’s inclusive education support for vulnerable and refugee learners.

ELINDE’s protection intervention in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, especially El-Shaddai Junior Parents School has significantly contributed to creating safer, more inclusive learning environments. Continued collaboration with education and protection actors is crucial to sustaining progress and addressing remaining protection gaps, in doing so 

Elinde conducted :
Child Protection Training for Teachers and School Management Committees (SMCs): workshop on identifying, reporting, and managing child protection concerns and referral pathway, teachers trained on referral pathways and safe classroom management.

Establishment of School Child Protection Clubs:

child protection clubs formation, trainings of peer educators on life skills, child rights, and reporting abuse .

Community Sensitization on Child Rights and Positive Parentiing:

Conducting Community dialogues with parents and caregivers and focus on preventing corporal punishment, early marriage, and child labor.

Psychosocial Support Sessions:

Group counseling and play therapy for children showing signs of trauma or distress and to refer  them for further case management support through existing protection partners.

El-Shaddai Junior Parents’ School, a community-based primary school located in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Kamwenge District, Uganda, serves both refugee and host community children. The school, established with the support of ELINDE, a refugee-led organization, has been instrumental in promoting inclusive education for displaced children from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following the arrival of Congolese refugee children with different educational backgrounds and curricula, the school launched a coaching program to help learners transition smoothly into the Ugandan education system. Background and Rationale Many children arriving from the DRC have experienced interrupted schooling, language barriers, and exposure to different national curricula. Upon admission to Ugandan schools, these differences create significant learning gaps, making it difficult for learners to adapt and perform at grade level. Recognizing this challenge, ELINDE initiated the coaching program at El-Shaddai Junior Parents’ School in 2023, aiming to: - Bridge curriculum and language gaps for newly admitted Congolese refugee learners. - Support psychosocial recovery and confidence-building through small-group instruction. - Promote smooth integration into the Ugandan primary education system. Program Design and Implementation a) Structure and Approach The coaching program was designed as a remedial and transitional initiative, running parallel to regular classes. Learners were grouped by age and learning level rather than grade to ensure tailored instruction. The sessions focused on: Language development (English and Kiswahili), numeracy and literacy bridging, orientation to the Ugandan curriculum and psychosocial support and confidence building. The program used trained refugee teachers and volunteers, many of whom are former educators from the DRC and nationals. This approach encouraged cultural sensitivity, peer understanding, and sustainability within the community. The coaching program at El-Shaddai Junior Parents’ School, spearheaded by ELINDE, has made a significant difference in helping Congolese refugee children adapt to the Ugandan education system. Despite challenges, the initiative stands as a model of community-driven education and refugee empowerment. With sustained support, the program can continue to bridge learning gaps, enhance psychosocial wellbeing, and build a foundation for a brighter future for refugee children in Rwamwanja Settlement.