25th October | Kampala Serena Hotel
Good evening everyone,
I would like to share with you a story, a story about a boy named Andrew Lords Ahabyoona, a student from Parental Care Primary School.
When we first met Andrew, he could not even stand up in class to give an answer. He was painfully shy, withdrawn, and unsure of himself. But his teacher, Desmond, saw potential in him. He encouraged Andrew to join the literacy club, one of the many clubs we support through enjuba across the country. We now have nearly 200 literacy clubs in schools nationwide.
At first, Andrew was hesitant. He didn’t believe he belonged there. But slowly, he began to participate — to spell, to read, and to find joy in words. Soon, he was spelling confidently alongside his friends and reading short stories with enthusiasm.
By Primary Five, Andrew had not only grown in confidence, he was now serving as the Readers’ Secretary of the literacy club. He began volunteering to read stories to the younger children in Primary Three. Imagine that transformation. From the boy who could not stand up in class, to one who now stood before others to read!
Later, he participated in the enjuba Spelling Bee, excelling at both the school and district levels in Bushenyi. He went on to the national stage, this very stage, and became one of the top three spellers of that year.
As part of our work, enjuba co-founded the African Spelling Bee, which now brings together participants from over 20 African countries. Each year, the top three winners from Uganda go on to represent the country at the continental competition. Andrew Ahabyoona, as we fondly call him — was one of those representatives.
Today, Ahabyoona is in secondary school at St Henry’s College Kitovu, where he serves as Head Boy. He also chairs the debate club, which has gone on to win international competitions. If you were to meet him now, you would be struck by his confidence, his eloquence, and his energy. He carries himself with the poise of a young leader, the kind of young Ugandan we all dream of nurturing.
The story of Andrew is not an isolated one. In fact, we now have data from teachers across the country that shows the real impact of the Spelling Bee.
- 84% of children who participate report improved confidence.
- 92% improve in their reading and spelling abilities.
- And 60% show measurable improvement in their overall academic performance.
Every teacher and parent is excited to see how participation in the Bee translates into not just spelling success, but broader academic growth. The Spelling Bee has become more than a stage performance. It is a catalyst for literacy, learning, and confidence.
These results happen because of the dedication of our teachers. At this point, I would like to ask all the teachers in the room to please stand. (All teachers in the hall stand up)
Ladies and gentlemen, the people you see standing are the most powerful people in the world. It is because of teachers that we are who we are. They nurture, they encourage, and they shape us into what we become. Let’s give them a big round of applause. They truly deserve our celebration. (Applause)
At enjuba, we remain committed to creating enabling environments for children to become their best selves. Over the last 13 years, we have grown the Spelling Bee into one of the most exciting educational experiences in Uganda. But our work doesn’t stop there.
We have built a strong network of libraries across the country, perhaps the largest of its kind. Each year, we add 50 new libraries, and today, we operate over 320 libraries in schools and communities. We also run a network of Early Childhood Development centres, spaces where we are building the foundations for learning. Because we believe that foundational literacy, numeracy, and executive function skills are essential for children to gain confidence, to stand on stage, to fail, and to thrive.
Starting next year, we are introducing a Spelling Bee for younger children, aged five to eight years old, giving them an early start to experience the power of words and the joy of learning.
We are excited about what lies ahead, and even more grateful to everyone who has walked this journey with us; our judges, who volunteer their time and expertise; our parents and teachers, who invest so much in their children; our spellers, who have shown remarkable courage and brilliance; and of course, our partners and supporters who make this dream possible.
You have been here since morning, listening to some of the toughest words imaginable, cheering for the spellers, and celebrating every success. Thank you for your time, your energy, and your love for learning.
At enjuba, we believe that education is the great equalizer, the most powerful tool for social mobility. It can move people from poverty to prosperity. And we will continue to spread this opportunity across the country, giving every child, in every corner of Uganda, a chance to thrive.
