OLIVIA Muhumuza is a teacher and the founder of Hope and Glory Foundation. The group is dedicated to empowering
orphans, school drop-outs and other vulnerable children with life skills to enable them become self-reliant.Doreen Murungi talked to her about her love for children.

AT Hope and Glory Foundation, about eight children are awestruck as they knit and sew. In the far corner of the room, the youngest sits on the edge of her seat immersed in her work, her attention only drawn for a nippy nod of “Hullo.” As soon as I mention the name Muhumuza, they beam with happiness.

The foundation was started by Olivia

Muhumuza to empower school drop-out girls with vocational skills they would sustainably use to support their lives.

Jane Nansamba, a beneficiary, says: “She treats us like her own children. The skills I have gained will be very helpful,” Nansamba says.

“She supports us. She bought the first mat I made and this encouraged me,” Lucy Ninsiima, another student, says.
“Her incredible efforts and concern for orphans and vulnerable children drew me to her,” says Hilda Nalikka, the business basics trainer at the foundation.

Nalikka says children that have gone through the foundation have become independent even at an early age. She says Muhumuza is pro-active and has changed the lives of many orphans and vulnerable children.

Passion for orphans and vulnerable children
“I grew up as an orphan and I was helped by my uncle.”
Since then, Muhumuza thought: “if I get a chance to help, I will be dedicated to making the lives of orphans better. That is why she has mothered many and supported street children to attend school.

“Whenever a street child came to beg for money, I would tell them to come and pick it from school,” Muhumuza says.

Children would go to school expecting to receive money but she gave them education.
Those already at school are provided with all they need in school. After school, they wash their uniforms and return to the streets.

When some mothers tried to discourage some of the children by threatening them that they would lack food because they spent time at school, she started giving them meals after school and sh300 everyday to pay for the verandahs where they spend the nights.

Muhumuza has kept street children in school because at Railway Primary, discipline matters. So caning is not a practice.

“If you want children to change, counsel and encourage them,” Muhumuza advises. Daniel Kamya, a parent, says Muhumuza is generous. “She pays fees for those who are not able and cares for teachers, which is rare in many schools,” he says.

When Caroline Ayebare’s parents could not meet her needs, Muhumuza supported her. Ayebare is now a first year student at Kyambogo University.

“Although I am a government sponsored student, she provides me with other basic needs,”says Ayebare.
Francis Ekii, a former student of Railway Primary, recently won a scholarship to the Africa Leadership Academy in South Africa.

He attributes his success to the time he spent under the watchful eye of Muhumuza.
Hadija Nakibuli, a P.6 pupil, says: “I am an orphan. I had dropped out of school but Mrs. Muhumuza took me up. She takes care of me in every way.”

Railway Primary School is one of the best performing UPE schools and Muhumuza attributes this to the literacy hour, a reading programme, she introduced to encourage children to read.

She also formed small families where 45 students from different classes are given a teacher to talk to them. This helps the teacher to know the children better and to mentor them morally.

She also formed a parenting programme to help bridge the gap between parents and children. Many pupils such as Lillian Namulindwa, of P.6, have benefited from the vocational skills training. “I am happy that I am able to meet my basic needs through the vocational skills I acquired,” she says.

Who is Muhumuza?
Muhumuza is the headmistress of Railway Primary School. She is the first born of 13 children.
When her father died, she went to a teachers’ training college because she felt she needed to take care of her siblings.

She obtained a Grade 3 teaching certificate and later did a diploma in education. She also pursued a degree in education. She is married with three children.

Challenges
Sustaining different programmes is a challenge.
“Children have different needs and with the meagre resources, it is not easy,” says Muhumuza.

Due to the numerous programmes in school, sometimes teachers feel overworked.

Muhumuza is an epitome of Nikos Kazantzakis’ words that ‘Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own.’