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#PowerOfHope: From studying under trees, kids in Uganda now have a bigger school

Students received their lessons in cramped temporary classrooms that lacked even the most basic facilities of any learning environment.

What is the price of a smile? Now multiply that by 71 million. For, that's the number of lives that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives touched and transformed in 2019. It is more than just a cold statistic; it is the number of sighs of relief, tears of joy and stories of gratitude from around the world. In this series, Khaleej Times showcases eight people whose lives MBRGI changed last year through the power of hope. Part 2 of an 8-part series
One of the most crowded schools in the Adjumani district of Uganda, Maaji III Primary School has 2,749 registered students from 14 different tribal groups. Students received their lessons in cramped temporary classrooms that lacked even the most basic facilities of any learning environment.
Adam William Amuku was among the students who benefited from Dubai Cares' school infrastructure development programme that aimed to improve the overall quality of education.
Recalling his struggle at school before the organisation got involved, Adam said: "I joined school in second grade, and we used to take our classes under the trees. The lavatories were quite far, and students had to line up for a long time to use the toilet."
Over the years, overcrowding at the school exacerbated tensions among children. In 2017, a boy died as a result of a brawl between students, sparking a tribal feud in the local community. Nearby properties were damaged, including Adam's family's house. His school supplies were destroyed, making it even more difficult for him to receive a proper learning experience.
Through Dubai Cares, Adam was referred to a local partner organisation, which replaced his school stationery and secured a new home for him and his family.
"We are grateful to Dubai Cares' programmes, which offered students the space to share their feelings," he said. "We now communicate more peacefully, and we share many activities together. We have realised that we are much more similar than we think."
The organisation also provided the school with books and stationery and built three classrooms equipped with bathrooms, a social club and a library.
Dubai Cares' programmes empowered over 20 million people across 59 countries in 2019. The organisation built and restored 2,046 classrooms and schools; distributed 6.9 million books in local languages; supplied meals for 509,294 students; provided 1,100 wells and sources of drinking water; and built 6,272 school bathrooms.
In 2019, the MBRGI's spending on education and knowledge programmes totalled Dh335 million, benefitting around 45 million people all over the world.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com