One year ago, Ms. Jackie Namakula was selected as the Change Agent of the Year by LIFE Academy for her dedicated work to integrate sustainable development at Mengo Senior School in Kampala, Uganda. She was awarded 1000 US dollars to encourage her ongoing work for sustianable development in order to become one of the first LIFE School in Africa. This autumn (2019) they were certified as a LIFE School. 

– Mengo Senior school are privileged to be a Life school. We are motivated by the need to make learning more practical through activity based interactive approaches. We seek to stir a student to think beyond the classroom walls and realise that there are many ways of solving community problems and that the student is part of the team to answer issues in society, says Ms. Jackie Namakula. 

Knowledge exchange with school in Sweden

Mengo Senior School have also started a collaboration with the school Älvkullen in the county of Wermland. One upcoming activity is an email chat between the students about technology and energy use in Uganda and Sweden. 

– We look forward to the experiences and solutions students from these two countries will have developed by the February 2020, says Ms. Jackie Namakula.

What are your challenges? 

– We still need to do more sensitisation for students, teachers and general community about Sustainable Development goals and more so Education for Sustainable Development. It is still a new concept to many, says Ms. Jackie Namakula.

What are your ambitions of being a LIFE School?

– We hope that our engagement in ESD and SDG activities will enhance skills like creativity, critical thinking, self initiative, teamwork, not only among students but also teachers and general community. We also hope that by the time a participant leaves Mengo Senior school, they shall have gained so much more than just the academic grades on the report card, they shall have been molded into all round responsible citizens equipped to serve their communities and the world, says Ms. Jackie Namakula.

About Mengo Senior Secondary School 

Mengo Senior Secondary School is the oldest school in Uganda, founded 1895. It’s a public school, and is ranked as one of the best Secondary Schools in the country. Read more: http://www.mengoss.sc.ug 

About LIFE School

The concept “LIFE School” has been developed by LIFE Academy to empower and facilitate schools in integrating sustainable development into school curriculum and daily practical school activities by engaging management, teachers, school staff and learners. Read more: https://life.se/projects/life-schools