Children in Uganda are exposed to some of the greatest threats to their success during school breaks. When schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, over 354,000 teenage pregnancies were registered in the country, resulting in huge numbers of school dropouts. Other vices like drug abuse, child abuse and more occur during such school breaks, which is why keeping young people in schools is important.

My name is Nicholas Ssenabulya, the Finance and Administration Manager at Action in Africa (AIA). Financial management and proper financial systems are critical ingredients for any organisation. Action in Africa professionalising and having experts in the finance field is a huge sign that the organisation is growing and building better systems.

The Action in Africa Excellence Award is one of the new ways we are recognising Action in Africa scholarship students who excel in their academics. Action in Africa students have often been hailed by teachers and parents for their stellar performance both in classroom and out-of-classroom activities. Recognising their exceptional performance is one of the aims of this award, but it is also intended to inspire other students to work hard to achieve the kind of success that their peers have managed to achieve.

As we hang up a new calendar, let's take a moment to appreciate the beautiful moments that we shared in 2023 before welcoming 2024 with open arms. Amidst the lessons and changes of the past year, one constant remained: the unwavering support of our fantastic Action in Africa community.

The 9th annual winter fundraiser photo album

Happy November! Since our last email, which focused heavily on events here in the US, we've had so many wonderful things happening at The Center in Uganda. From celebrating Primary 7 students completing their journey with AIA's Primary Partnership Program and getting ready for Secondary School, to chess lessons and student leadership elections there has been great activity in Uganda!

This fall we’ve introduced a slate of new events and local programs to the Aspen community. From our (now annual) Pickleball tournament to the week-long residency program with our friend and AIA Ambassador Chinobay and his youth troupe Dance of Hope, it’s been wonderful to spend time with old friends and to see so many new faces. We have been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from the Aspen community - thank you to everyone who participated! It’s been a transformative year for AIA and as we roll into the final quarter of 2023 we’re already looking forward to even more fun and even more impact in Nakuwadde!

Dance of Hope Residency