CIYOTA is committed to providing refugee children with access to quality primary education. In Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, CIYOTA operates a model Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Primary School, licensed by the Ministry of Education and Sports. Over the past five years, the school has received several awards, including being recognised as a Changemaker School by Ashoka East Africa in 2015. CIYOTA ECD and Primary School is the second-best performing school at the district level, a position it has proudly maintained for the past eight years. The school ensures a supportive learning environment by providing three meals daily, transport for day-school students, and shelter for 300 refugee children, most of whom are orphans. The school also offers students a variety of co-curricular activities such as sports, community work, music, dance and drama.
Since 2009, CIYOTA has enabled 6,345 primary refugee students to access education. Beyond its school, CIYOTA has played a key role in inspiring and mentoring the establishment of seven other refugee-led ECD and Primary Schools, collectively serving over 2,500 learners annually for the past seven years. CIYOTA ECD and Primary School has an enrolment of 1,011 learners, continuing its mission to transform education for refugee children.
We partner with My Home Stars, an organisation founded by one of the resilient refugee youth from our community, to implement the 5 STA-Z Game, a creative and engaging approach based on the Ugandan national primary education curriculum. Through this partnership, our primary students actively participate in this dynamic game, creatively summarising core subjects like Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies while deepening their understanding.
Students answer questions to earn points, collaborate, and develop essential life skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork by forming five teams and navigating a game board with rolling dice and playing cards. The 5 STA-Z Game reinforces subject content and cultivates emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and creativity. As students strive to reach the "King Star" on the board, they gain a deeper appreciation for learning while enjoying a sense of accomplishment. This interactive approach has proven effective in boosting academic performance, building confidence, encouraging positive peer interactions, and making learning enjoyable and impactful.
CIYOTA is implementing Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) in six ECD and Primary schools, including two government-aided schools. TaRL is a unique approach to foundational education. It is an innovative educational approach to improve foundational literacy and numeracy skills for primary three to seven school children. Unlike traditional systems, TaRL assesses students based on their current learning levels rather than their age or grade. By grouping children according to their skills, TaRL allows tailored instruction that addresses individual gaps, making it particularly effective in helping low-achieving students progress at their own pace. This approach is essential in refugee and disadvantaged areas where formal education may be disrupted, offering targeted sessions to close learning gaps. We are implementing TaRL in several primary schools in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, where it has benefited nearly 2,000 learners. We have seen significant improvements in students' learning outcomes, teacher training, and community involvement, mainly through partnerships with government and other NGO schools.
