Community Involvement
Amatsiko is rooted in our community
Our commitment doesn’t stop at the school gates. With our founders, Alex and Alphonse, growing up locally and initially going into the villages to support our most vulnerable children, Amatsiko has deep roots in the Kabale community. Although we chose to bring all of our students together in one location in 2014, our connection to the community remains as strong as ever.
Amatsiko supports our guardian families
While our guardian families provide a home for our students, we in turn support these families as part of the Amatsiko family. On weekends, we host workshops for our guardian families, equipping them with essential skills to better care for their children. We teach practical life skills like nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, and sustainable farming practices. Together we work hand in hand to empower our students and create improved livelihood for all. When we are in times of need — maybe we are running short on food — it is often our guardian families who come to Amatsiko making critical donations out of the little they have, enabling us to keep going.
Amatsiko supports our students’ home communities
During school breaks, when our students return to their home villages, we visit them to provide support and education to their communities. Just like with our guardian families, we teach nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, and sustainable farming. Go Organic Africa, our partner organization, plays a vital role in these efforts. As climate change exacerbates extreme weather events and pesticides deplete the soil, these skills are critical for ensuring families can successfully live off the land, while also restoring our area’s vibrant eco-system.