STEPi’s books are more than stories, they are gateways to opportunity. We inspire children to enjoy storybooks while simultaneously building their vocabulary banks. Our goal is for every child to learn every word they can read and to use these words in daily conversations. We believe that reading is a tool for learning and growth.

Seek courage and happiness. Listen to your inner voice to find happiness. Happiness equates to success doing what you love because it brings joy. When happiness, creativity and innovation flourish, the doors to new ideas and knowledge are opened. Creativity is a vital leadership skill. Do not deprive yourself of your future. Make wise decisions and pursue your genuine passion. Decide your own path and career. Be courageous.

Our local languages have played a vital role in shaping a culture-centric education system in East Africa. Uganda’s thematic-based curriculum, for instance, relies heavily on indigenous languages like Luganda, Kiswahili, and Runyakitara. This approach has created more inclusive and participatory classrooms.

It was a sunny Monday morning in the Kyaka II refugee settlement when we engaged primary four learners of Itambabiniga primary school. As we entered the class with warm smiles and a stack of colorful STEPi storybooks in our arms, we were determined to make learners fall in love with reading and ignite a spark of inspiration among learners.

With literacy, transformative education, and a desire to strengthen communities, and build parent and teacher resilience, front and centre, Nelson Mandela University in South Africa recently signed an agreement with Utopia Foundation and Squaring the Education Pyramid Institute (STEPi) to help transform education and elevate the importance of early childhood development.

Joy is a champion in her community. She is the Miss Popularity Youth+ 2022 award winner, an award dedicated to youths living with HIV/AIDS who have overcome the shame and ridicule often associated with people who receive that diagnosis, and how they have turned their diagnosis into positive social change in their communities. She joined one of our STEPi Coordinators in Uganda on a roadtrip promoting peer to peer interaction about literacy, reading, education and appropriate relationships to encourage a growth mindset for the children to ensure academic excellence.

The STEPi Coordinators and Ambassadors in Uganda embarked on a journey to help improve the relationships between parents and children, as well as the relationships between parents and teachers. Five schools in different districts of Uganda were approached by the Coordinators and their teams, including Uplift Ambassadors, to host positive parenting workshops, introduce and encourage literacy and reading programs in the different communities and encourage positive parent-teacher conversations.

It is important for us to note that we do not teach learning. We inspire learning. We inspire a positive virtue in every child called curiosity; the strong desire to want to learn. This article is created to help all those who care for and teach children to be aware of and support children’s rights in relation to education as we continue in our quest to raise children who care and contribute to their communities.