March 29, 2026: In southern Uganda, the Nakivale Refugee Settlement is "home" to more than 215,000 people—nearly half of them children—leading to what has been called a "children crisis". For many, access to education is uncertain. At the far edge of the settlement, BTC St. Joseph Schools is changing that reality. During a recent visit, Rotary Club of West Ottawa member Hugh Williams and fellow Rotarians witnessed firsthand what happens when opportunity meets action: classrooms filled, backpacks delivered, and a growing school community offering something rare in a refugee camp: hope for the future.
Refugees are disenfranchised people. They own nothing. Home – for those who have one - is a borrowed piece of land, a small building, and a makeshift roof. Most live without power, often without water, and too often without proper food. School is a luxury that most children never experience.
For a refugee child to have any hope of a bright future, they need education.
At the settlement’s farthest edge, an hour’s drive from the main road, you’ll find the BTC St. Joseph Schools.
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa and Rotary District 7040 provided a $5000US District Simplified Grant towards the school operation - for food, equipment, uniforms and more.
Just after the school year started in February 2026, we (club member Hugh Williams and wife Ruth) along with the Rotarians Renee Singirankabo (RC Ottawa) and Egide Nimubona (RC Appleton) who built the school, visited the site.
Arriving during the lunch break meant there were many children out playing on the grounds and keen to meet us. One thing you notice is how many students are NEW because they don’t yet have uniforms. Another thing you notice is their smiles.
One thing you notice is how many students are NEW because they don’t yet have uniforms. Another thing you notice is their smiles.
379 students enrolled in 2026 | 168 families represented | 150+ backpacks delivered |
Note: this year’s enrollment is 379 students from 168 families – which is very close to its capacity. That’s a huge increase from last year’s enrollment of just over 150 students!
We brought four large suitcases with over 150 backpacks and all kinds of school needs like pencils, pens, water bottles, notebooks, paper, rulers, erasers, stickers and more – including a handwritten note of encouragement for each of the older children.
The school site itself is overwhelming. Considering that there were only fences and wooden tables two years ago, there are now three large school buildings with big windows for the 10 classrooms. The nursery school building has three classrooms – one each for ages 3, 4 and 5; one of the primary school buildings has three classrooms for grades 1 to 3. And, the largest school building has four classrooms for grades 4 to 7. After graduating from grade 7, those who are able and qualified may continue on to high school, in a boarding school outside the refugee camp.
There’s a huge cafeteria building with a kitchen attached where the food is prepared. The children each eat twice a day (breakfast and lunch). For many, it’s their only food they get in the day.
There’s a large community centre for worship, recreation, and special community events – such as vaccination clinics and adult education – with only the windows left to install.
There’s a large washroom facility – that uses the rainwater runoff being stored by each building for the hand washing and cleaning.
And, there are four residences nearly completed but not yet furnished – each with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
The entire 10-hectare site has a strong tall fence around its 400 by 250-meter perimeter (that is 1.3km of fencing!). The fence was the first thing built and already incorporates bushes and trees to prevent erosion and beautify its appearance.
For many children at BTC St. Joseph Schools, education is not just about learning. It is tied to food, safety, stability, and the possibility of a different future.
The school program will be changing as well. New recreation areas for soccer, basketball and other activities are being created. Along with the new recreational activities, the school plans to introduce music through song and basic instruments.
Also solar power is coming for lights, fans and small appliances – while also enabling Internet connectivity for our club’s Free Reading Program.
Plans are underway to establish a social enterprise involving the parents – with small plot farming and animal husbandry. Not only will this help feed the children and teach key skills to the parents but it will bring new revenue and self-sustainability to the school.
But there’s more. In Rwanda, near the border with Tanzania, lies the Mahama Refugee Camp. Ongoing strife in East Africa is producing more refugees, and as always, many children’s futures are in limbo.
The team has purchased land just outside the settlement gate, built a fence around it, and are well into the construction of another primary school. Set to open in September 2027, this new school with two large school buildings (one of which is two stories), a large worship and community hall, a cafeteria and kitchen, washroom facilities and more will be able to host over 300 children.
It’s a significant investment and funding challenge, but both organizations are powered by faith and belief that those funds will be available. Renee and Egide are taking action to secure the funding through donations and grants to their charity organizations (EmpowerEd Refugee Children in Canada; and, Beyond the Camp in the United States). As with Nakivale, there will also be a social enterprise component involving animal husbandry and locally grown food to help keep operating costs down and parents employed.
Rotarians are People of Action. And here—through education—we are helping children reclaim dignity, opportunity, and a future.
Rotarians are People of Action. And here—through education—we are helping children reclaim dignity, opportunity, and a future. Thank you for your support!