Education doesn’t just change lives — it creates them.
Run by the Abayudaya Jewish community, these schools aren't just places where kids learn to read and write. They're giving hundreds of children a chance at a completely different future.
The Abayudaya community has always put education first—it's part of Jewish tradition going back thousands of years. When they started building the schools, it wasn't just about keeping their heritage alive. They saw education as the best way to help their kids (and their neighbors' kids) escape poverty.They welcome any child whose family wants them there, regardless of whether they can pay.
Kids come from all over the area to attend these schools. They don't just sit in classrooms all day. Many of their only meals for the day come from the school. Some live in dormitories during the school term because their homes are too far away for a daily commute. You'll see students walking for miles in the early morning just to get to class, their families making real sacrifices because they believe school will change their child's life.
When a student gets good at math or science, their whole village has someone who can help solve problems. And when Jewish, Christian, and Muslim kids study together every day, they grow up understanding that their differences don't have to divide them. That kind of peace-building? You can't put a price on it.
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Hadassah Primary & Boarding School
The Hadassah Primary School was founded in 2001 to address the educational needs of children ages four to 15. Sponsored by the Abayudaya community, it is open to children of all faiths, Jewish, Christian and Muslim. The school ‘s schedule is structured to allow Jewish students to observe Jewish holidays, and its curriculum includes Jewish subjects and Hebrew. The school has also established a farm and an urban garden on the premises, to provide healthy food for the students and staff. When possible, it offers its students full room and board.
Religious Tolerance
Hadassah welcomes everyone. Jewish kids study next to Christian and Muslim classmates. They all learn about each other's traditions while following the Ugandan national curriculum. The teachers do a careful balancing act—honoring Jewish culture while making sure every student, regardless of background, gets an excellent education. It works because the kids grow up seeing tolerance as normal, not as some abstract ideal.
Student Boarding
The boarding program solves a problem that keeps many rural kids out of school: distance. When you live 10 or 15 kilometers from the nearest school and there's no bus, daily attendance becomes impossible. Hadassah's dormitories give these kids a safe place to stay, regular meals, and the stability they need to actually focus on learning. For parents working in distant fields or barely getting by, knowing their child is safe and fed makes all the difference.
Semei Kakungulu High School
The Semei Kakungulu High School was founded in 1999 and is located on Nabugoya Hill, the spiritual and cultural hub of the Abayudaya community. Like the Hadassah Primary School, Jewish education and Hebrew are part of the overall curriculum. When possible, it provides boarding and food for its students and has launched several economic projects to help support the school. Seth Yonadav, a cantor at the Stern Synagogue, serves as the school’s headmaster.
Preparing For The Future
Secondary school matters. It's the bridge between childhood and whatever comes next—university, vocational training, starting a business, becoming a teacher. The curriculum here balances traditional academics with practical skills because students need both. In addition to sewing and other real-world skills, high school students learn how to make Spurlina superfood.
Giving Students a Chance
Money is tight. Many families struggle to pay even minimal fees. Resources are limited. Buildings need repairs. But the school keeps going because everyone involved believes every student deserves a real chance. Students who might have been stuck in subsistence farming are now thinking about becoming teachers, doctors, engineers, community leaders.
Tikkun Olam Primary School
The Tikkun Olam Primary School was found in 2015 by Yoash Mayende, a member of the Abayudaya community, in the Namutumba District, approximately 70 kilometers from Mbale. The school serves children between the ages of four and 15, and is open to students of all faiths. Operated with the support of Global Village Connect, a non-profit organization that partners with classrooms around the world to provide practical solutions to improve health, education and economic development.
The school runs a five-acre farm and on-site kitchen to offer its students nutritious meals. It also conducts several health education programs. Tikkun Olam Primary School is a Jewish primary school that is open to all faiths, including Christians, Muslims and Jews.
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