Uganda native Joanita Bbaale earned a degree in Education from Kibuli

Teachers College in 1991. As a public school teacher, she was troubled

by the fact that some students were being denied an education because

their families were too poor to pay school fees. Some of these children

lived in her neighborhood and attended her church. As a Sunday School

teacher, Joanita found herself teaching basic reading to her pupils.

In 1993, there was a national effort to enroll children in nursery

schools. Because there were no nursery schools in her area, Joanita

decided to leave her teaching position to establish one. There were

initially 8 students who met on the porch of her parents’ house that

first year but soon more students began coming.

At the end of the term, parents begged Joanita to continue teaching

their children. Joanita and her family rented land and erected temporary

classrooms. Higher grades were added each year until the School was

offering nursery through 7th grade classes.

Today, Peace Nursery and Primary School is a family-run urban school that educates about 200 students from nursery through Grade 7. Classes are taught in English. Both Christian and Muslim children attend the School, which is open to to people of all faiths. Despite meager conditions, the school produces the highest-testing and most well-behaved students in the area.

The School serves students whose families cannot afford to send them to public schools. Some of Peace School’s students are orphans whose

parents have died of AIDS. Without the school, these children would have no one to care for them. The School provides for all their needs:

housing, food, clothing, medical care, emotional support. There is a

boy’s dormitory and a girl’s dormitory at the school where the orphans

and some other students reside. Most children commute from home.

The School is supported by the selfless giving of the Bbaale family.

Besides Amina Bbaale, the family matriarch, there are six sisters and

four brothers, all of whom either work at the school or support it

financially. Many nieces, nephews and cousins are also involved.

Families of school children contribute what little they can to their

children’s education. The School earns operating funds by raising

poultry. Children assist in gathering and selling eggs. At certain times

of the year, chickens are also butchered and sold.