Our highly successful, community-based school readiness program preparing out of school children to enter the Uganda formal school system and begin their education journey.
Jenga Jenga – (Build Build in Swahili) is our support of community initiated building efforts to create structures for the Soma Soma and Kura Kura initiatives.
Our livelihoods/income generation program that grows out of parental involvement with Soma Soma. All initiatives are community selected and community run to benefit individuals, the community and Soma!!!Soma!!! sustainability.
Working in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement of the past several years, Now and Tomorrow believes that community-based programs hold the key to sustainable solutions. Everything we do is centered on community supported and community led initiatives.
Working in refugee communities since 2019
Our highly successful, community-based school readiness program preparing out of school children to enter the Uganda formal school system and begin their education journey.
Jenga Jenga – (Build Build in Swahili) is our support of community initiated building efforts to create structures for the Soma!!!Soma!!! and Kura Kura initiatives.
Our livelihoods/income generation program that grows out of parental involvement with Soma Soma.
This is our settlement-wide initiative to identify and share crop maximization methods specifically tailored to the Nakivale climate and soil conditions to help reduce food insecurity.
Soma!!!Soma!!! learners
Hand washing stations set-up
Households Received Ducks
CBOs Supported
Soma!!Soma!!! Parents’ Committee Chairperson, Isanja
I thank Soma!!! Soma!!! supporters for their continued support and the best service that was brought to our community. The number of children loitering in the community was reduced and they have been shaped morally.
The workshops have prepared many of us to become responsible parents, and the parents’ committee was able to also get a chance to be taught English. The children used to gather under trees to study but now Soma!!! Soma!!! built a learning center where our children learn from.
Soma!!!Soma!!! Parent
When Soma!!! Soma!!! enrolled children and taught them for a few hours a day, the children loved the program. When the first batch of Soma!!! Soma!!! children joined formal schools, we were excited and the way the children were supported with Uniforms, books, and other school
necessities made us as parents see the importance of Soma!!! Soma!!!. The orphans were supported, and workshops were conducted to help the parents and prepare them to understand the importance of formal education. During the lockdown, Soma!!! Soma!!! instructors helped the families of the children by training them how to observe COVID-19 preventive measures and went ahead to engage learners at household levels.
Soma!!!Soma!!! child
My name is Ampere Shalome. I am 13 years old and currently in Primary 6 at Misyera Primary School. I joined the Soma!!! Soma!!! Readiness Program in September 2019 as part of the first cohort.
This program has had a big impact on my life. I am truly grateful for all the activities and support it provides. Soma!!! Soma!!! program helped me learn to love school, stay in school, and believe in the power of education. It supported me by providing a Soma!!! Soma!!! t-shirt, school supplies, and by covering my school fees through Kabazana Kurakura group- this made a big difference for me and my family.
Through the program, I discovered my strengths and learned how to build good relationships with my classmates. I also gained knowledge about my rights and the importance of having a bright and safe future.
Even after being transited to Misyera Primary School, the Soma!!! Soma!!! program never stopped supporting me. It kept encouraging me to stay in school, to work hard, and to understand the dangers of dropping out. One message that really stuck with me is:
“Determination + Hard Work – Laziness = Success.”
As I look to the future, I kindly ask Now and Tomorrow Uganda through its initiatives to continue supporting me with school fees and scholastic materials. With your help, I believe I can achieve my dreams.
Soma!!!Soma!!! Community instructor
My journey with Now and Tomorrow Uganda has been truly transformative, both personally and professionally. Personally, I have gained vital skills such as public speaking, decision-making, and planning.
These have not only shaped me but have also created numerous opportunities for me, including securing a job and being honored with the title of Community Coordinator.
As a married person, I have been deeply encouraged and supported by N&TU to pursue my education. Thanks to their support, I was able to return to school, complete my high school studies, and graduate with excellent results (11 points). This experience has instilled in me a strong work ethic, the ability to collaborate effectively with others, and a sense of creativity and innovation, all of which have positively impacted my community.
As the Isanja Coordinator, I am proud to see the peaceful changes in my community, especially through the Soma!!! Soma!!! workshops for both men and women. These workshops have played a vital role in reducing violence in families and promoting harmony within our community. N&TU has also taught me the importance of leadership and communication, which have been invaluable in organizing community efforts and fostering collaboration. I have learned how to work effectively with partners, solve problems, and make informed decisions for the greater good of the community.
The impact of N&TU has been profound. It has contributed to a positive shift in our community, bringing about improvements in education, security, creativity, and innovation. For example, through the Isanja Community school, young children including my own have access to education, with the school conveniently located for easy access by all.
Community leader
In 2017, our community faced a significant challenge: our children had to move long distances to access education, which affected their learning and attendance. To address this issue, we united our efforts and constructed a three-room school building, bringing education closer to our children.
In 2018, Eric, accompanied by Mukamba from Base Camp Sangano, visited our community with the intention of distributing books. Upon learning about our newly established school, Eric was inspired to do more. He felt supporting the creation of a library is not the appropriate approach but rather he initiated an educational program for children under the age of six who had previously missed the opportunity to attend school. This intervention has had a profound impact on our community. It has provided our young children with a chance to learn and grow, ensuring they are not left behind. We are deeply grateful for Eric’s support and the positive changes it has brought to our children’s education.