"Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire."

The African Heart’s primary school has been established through a collaborative project in Ssenge (Sen’gay) a community a few miles outside Kampala. This vibrant, traditional, rural Ugandan community is the home of the African Hearts house for younger children. Local leaders and AH board members identified the need for a new school and collaborated to plan its philosophy and construction. With funding from Canada donated through Rose Charities by Faculty and graduates of Brighter Smiles Africa the first phase of building began in June 2010. Construction included 5 classrooms, an administrative building, and clinic, and the school opened in January 2011 with 160 children enrolled. A second phase of building is planned, and funding for this is being sought to provide additional classrooms, a library, vocational training facilities, a well, and dormitory facilities for boys and girls.

The school has recruited a dedicated staff and provides comprehensive primary education with equal opportunities for boys and girls. It will also be a Health Promoting school following WHO guidelines to promote health knowledge and healthy practices, and will use the Brighter Smiles model which begins with promotion of better oral health. As in many developing countries, poor oral health (tooth decay and gum disease) is a concern in Uganda, with about 30% of school children already affected  and an increasing number developing caries (tooth decay). Caries is caused by bacteria in the mouth, and is the commonest infectious disease and cause of chronic ill health affecting children worldwide. The long term effects of poor oral hygiene include an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature labour in adult life. But simple, inexpensive measures can improve oral health, and success with this issue leads to schools expanding their health promotion activities with pupils to address other health priorities identified by the community.