The “Flying Teachers” taught during the Covid-19 pandemic
The harsh Covid-19 lockdown in Uganda led to long school closures and economic losses. As schools are important employers, the “Flying Teachers” project responded by having unemployed teachers teach outside and distribute food and clean water.
It fought against illiteracy, promoted education and development, and strengthened school travel as a way out of poverty. After the lockdown, it evolved into the current scholarship programme.
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Schools are educational centres and employers in one
Uganda also went into lockdown at the beginning of 2020 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. It was one of the strictest in the world. All schools were closed for two years. Face-to-face lessons were cancelled for most pupils. There was no digital homeschooling.
Alongside the state, schools are the most important employer in Uganda. The lockdown cost more jobs than any other economic setback. To this day, Uganda is still marked by the economic devastation caused by these lockdowns.
Families lost their savings and schools remained permanently closed even after the lockdowns. However, the spread of the coronavirus was not the only problem. Vicious circles of poverty exacerbated additional pandemics, such as the spread of cholera or inadequate treatment for malaria.
Unemployment as a result of the lockdown
The “Flying Teachers” project was created during this time. We hired unemployed teachers and sent them to the villages that had been hit particularly hard. They taught outside in small groups.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported a dramatic increase in diseases transmitted by unclean water. That’s why we also distributed food and clean water. It was our first major outreach project. Because: no man is an island. And: illiteracy is best combated as early as possible.
It was a commitment to education and against illiteracy, but also a commitment to development and against disorientation. A commitment to strengthening the school route as the best way out of poverty.
After the end of the lockdowns, the nationally and internationally recognised “Flying Teachers” project culminated in the scholarship project. We are still running this today.
