In my role as constituency MP for South Northamptonshire, I try and support as many of our excellent schools and colleges as possible. The Discovery Centre Uganda is a project established in 1997 as a response to the dire situation with regard to AIDS in the country at that time. Since then its programmes have expanded to include educational conferences for both primary and secondary schools in Uganda.

The Jinja International Youth Meeting has been held each year since 2007, attended by sixth-form students from the UK and Uganda. I set up this twinning project with Richard Johnson who taught at Campion School and is a Trustee of the Discovery Centre. We wanted to enable 16-18 year olds from Northants and Uganda to spend time living and working together at this beautiful spot on the shores of Lake Victoria. These youth meetings take the form of conferences, where students research and discuss topics like sustainable development, restorative justice, the rights of women and other relevant subjects. It is a life-changing experience for all who take part.

This year the Primary School Conference for teachers and teaching assistants is taking place from 4th – 14th April in Uganda. The cost will be approximately £1050 to include flights, hotels, meals, local transport, visa, and vaccinations. The programme will include visits to Jinja, the Source of the Nile, Itanda Falls, as well as a number of workshops and work with visiting schools. A headteacher from a UK primary school will be leading a weekend of workshops using the creative arts to boost performance. 

To find out more, please visit the Discovery Centre Uganda’s website or get in touch with their team via email at enquiries@discoverycentreuganda.org.