THE STORY OF SHALOM JUNIOR TRUST SCHOOL

In August, some of the Empower and Shine team was able to go and visit our special partners in Uganda – if you haven’t already, be sure to check out our past blog posts sharing more on the visit. One of the partnerships that is near and dear to our hearts includes Shalom, a children’s school in a village outside of Entebbe. The story of Shalom in the beginning and where it has come is incredibly moving, inspiring, and full of joy. The dedication of Justine and Joel to the school they created long ago has helped transform it into what it is now. I asked Justine if she would share her story and it is one that I could truly read over and over again. 

Amanda: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START SHALOM AND WHAT KEPT YOU MOTIVATED TO FOCUS ON  CHILDRENS EDUCATION? 

Justine: I am called Justine, married to Joel for the last 21 years and we have four children 2 girls and 2  boys. I am a professional teacher, who is also passionate about women empowerment and  having functional marriages where children can have a good environment to grow up in. In 2009, our first born was starting school but we had no jobs and we had been given a notice to  vacate the rental we were in, so our choice was to come to the village and build a shack in the  plot we had .coming to the village was a hard choice but it was the best available option we had  .but there was no accessibility to the main road, no electricity, no nearby water source, and no  security, and more so no schools. 

So as my husband was digging at the premises where shalom is, deep in thought about where  our Jamie will study from, he heard a voice telling him to start a school there. Our motivation was seeing other children in the village not going to school due to the long  distance to the schools in the nearby villages. And shalom was started to meet that need. 

A: CAN YOU SHARE THE BACKGROUND STORY OF HOW YOU FOUNDED THIS SCHOOL? 

J: Monday 10th February 2010, the doors of shalom were opened to the community. We started with borrowed books, in a chicken coop with timber for our unfinished house acting  as the desks for the children. The floor had no cement so we would smear cow dug on the floor  to reduce on the dust. However it helped little therefore we experienced infections of jiggers  due to too much dust and fleas brought in by stray dogs which would sleep in the structure since  it didn’t have doors. 

A: WHERE WAS SHALOM IN THE BEGINNING AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED? 

J: In the beginning, we were renting the chicken coop, after 3 years in 2013 with the help of Patty  Stivala we shifted to our present location just 100 meters from the chicken coop, that’s the plot  that Joel had heard the voice to start a school.  

The change has been amazing from a dusty floor to a tiled one, from having meals in the grass to  a well-established dining hall, from open classes to well-lit classrooms that have doors, a  computer lab, library, well painted play equipment, a smoke free kitchen and the most recent  from a pit latrine to a water borne toilet facility complete with a well to supply water all year  round. 

I must mention that, though we have a vision and we are much passionate about it, we could  not bring about these changes singlehandedly, we attribute the changes to the philanthropy  spirit of Patty and Steve Stivala. In the 14 years, shalom has been in existence, they have been  our wind beneath our wings. 

We pride ourselves in knowing we are one of the first beneficiaries of empower and shine. 

A: WHAT WERE SOME OF THE KEY CHALLENGES YOU FACED IN THE EARLY DAYS OF ESTABLISHING THE SCHOOL? 

J: The challenges were many like, the cultural shock, I coming from the urban area to a rural  setting was a doting task for me, having little funds to pay staff and also do all we wanted to do ,little scholastic materials were challenges, however the most challenge was the mind set the  community had towards education, they saw it as a wastage of money to take children to school  instead of taking them to the stone quarries to work since that was the main source of income  in the community.

A: COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THE SCHOOL OFFERS? 

J: What we offer right now are academic programs, computer classes, sports, music, dance and drama, crafts and swimming However after Covid-19 pandemic, crafts and swimming was halted due to lack of funds.

A:  WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY, AND HOW DOES IT SHAPE SHALOM? 

J: Our guiding principle or educational philosophy is to transform lives and our vision is to have a  transformed generation and this can be achieved by providing quality education with an all round curriculum in a God fearing environment.  

A: HOW HAVE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED TO THE PROGRAM?

J: The first three years we struggled with the negative mindset towards education by the  community, however over the years gradually the mindset is changing due to the new residents  coming in with more exposure and need for quality education near them. I must say there is a  positive response and gratitude towards the school for bringing better services near the people. 

A: DO YOU HAVE ANY SUCCESS STORIES OF STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH OR HAVE GONE  THROUGH THE SCHOOL? 

J: Our first candidate class was in 2016, and now they are at university some pursuing medicine 

A: WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE RUNNING A CHILDRENS SCHOOL IN UGANDA  TODAY? 

J: The challenges we face are the hiked taxes, and paying teachers on time .This is because the funds  that the school gets from parents is little and inconsistent and it can take a whole term (3 months)  for one to complete a payment of 114 dollars. Yet on average a teacher is paid 135 dollars monthly.

A: WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SCHOOL? 

J: Our vision is to build a storied building for nursery section that fully meets the needs of our  young conquerors (children) and the standards of the ministry of education. We also what to expand and set up a field so that our conquerors who are inclined to sports can  thrive and achieve their dreams. 

We already have a name for it, “field of dreams” 

This field will also attract the community which will help us in a small to transform their lives. I envision having conversations with men, young boys and girls at half time that educate them  about domestic violence ,self-love and empowerment .these topics are topics that I wish I had  heard about in my younger days so I feel, am here to stop anyone from such regrets.  

A: WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS IN TERMS OF CHILDRENS EDUCATION IN  UGANDA RIGHT NOW? 

J: I believe the most critical needs ,using my community as the data base is having assurance of  being in class all of the academic year, however due to high rates of unemployment ,the chances  are minimal and so children have to back and forth being sent back home for school fees. Another one is having a hands-on experience of what they are being taught. Most of the  learning aids are expensive and their maintenance is costly for example computers 

A: AS A WOMAN LEADING A SCHOOL, HAVE YOU FACED ANY GENDER-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES?  HOW HAVE YOU NAVIGATED THEM?  

J:Yes, from men but more surprisingly from women too

Men what to assume the leadership role and don’t what to take orders from a woman however I have learnt to ask leading questions with them so that what we want to do comes off as if they  are the ones that came up with the idea. 

And women don’t what to work with women as their direct supervisors .However, one of our  core values as shalom is fairness, so I have created an environment where everyone is important  from the cook to all the staff that have administrative roles. 

Taking up leadership short courses have helped me to understand different personalities and  how to bring out the best from each personalities. 

I have an open door policy where by each staff member can come in and we find solutions to  the challenges they face be it academic or personal. Having a people oriented personality has  been an added advantage. 

My best navigator tool has been prayer, I pray when I am confused, I pray when I have been  betrayed, I pray.  

A: HOW WOULD YOU SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE OTHER WOMEN WHO ASPIRE TO TAKE UP LEADERSHIP ROLES? 

J: First and foremost is to know who you really are, this helps to do away with inferiority complex Then discover your purpose. Most women oftentimes are taken up by the rat race and end up  being burnt out because what they are doing doesn’t bring any fulfillment to them. And the game changer is self-love. Reward yourself with words of affirmation, when you are  paid, pay yourself first, appreciate YOU 

Go in a field that resonates with your passion because it’s that passion that will act as your fuel  to continue in case you encounter gender specific challenges. 

Saving the best for last, they should ask wisdom on a daily basis from God. GOD has stored up  sound wisdom for all who ask. 

GOD BLESS YOU!!!!

Justine’s story of Shalom is a testament to the power of unwavering dedication, resilience, and the transformative impact of education. From its humble beginnings in a chicken coop to its current state as a thriving school, Shalom has become a beacon of hope for children in its Ugandan village. Justine’s journey to empowerment has had a huge ripple effect. Through the programs offered at Shalom, countless lives have been positively impacted, and the school continues to strive towards its goal of transforming the generation. As Justine’s journey demonstrates, education truly is the best path to a brighter future.