Arlington Junior School and Matuwa Junior School

Many students come to school hungry, which makes learning nearly impossible. With a free and daily mid-morning snack and lunch, AJS nourishes children so they can be successful students. This is something that government schools don't have the capacity for, leaving many children without reliable meals.

AJS’s staff of Ugandan teachers is well-trained and dedicated to their students and teaching. They give up modern conveniences of city life to live in this remote mountain village. Many graduates of our scholarship program who have received degrees in education have returned to teach at AJS and other area schools!

Each year, students receive a school uniform and athletic wear. AJS uniforms inspire school pride and build self-esteem among children who otherwise would attend school in tattered clothing.

AJS classrooms and library shelves are stocked with curriculum textbooks and a wide range of fiction and non-fiction materials. MJS is now fully equipped with a library thanks to our donors Marianne and Jeremy Rusk children and their families.

Each year, AJS holds its Reading Challenge program with its sister school Arlington Traditional School in Arlington, Virginia. Students receive colorful booklets, materials, and a theme-based educational challenge. The Reading Challenge engenders an enthusiastic reading culture, and our focus on literacy nurtures lifelong readers.

Each year, AJS students participate in debate and music/dance/drama competitions.  Students take part in debate competitions against local primary schools who participate in the REACH Outreach Program.  Music, dance, and drama competitions start at the local level and winning teams – like AJS! – can advance to competitions at the regional and national level.

Each year every class takes a field trip to nearby urban centers to expose them to broaden their horizons. For many, AJS and MJS field trips are the first and only times they leave the village.

AJS and MJS has computer labs for kids to dive into the expanding world of computers, thanks to the generosity of Carol Ann Bishoff and Mike Regan. AJS also has a sports field where students can practice and play, to express themselves outside of the classroom.

One of the highlights of the school year is the arrival of a big bundle of sponsor letters three times a year. Almost all AJS students are sponsored by a supporter located in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world. In addition to critical financial support, sponsors provide personal attention and moral encouragement by exchanging letters and photos three times a year. Consider becoming a sponsor today!

Marianne and Jeremy Rusk Library at MJS.