Meet Najibu Sifa in Uganda

1/10/2022

Najibu Sifa, aged 6, is one of the learners at our cluster group in the Mukondo zone. She is the third born in her family and a daughter of the Cluster Learning Managaement Committee chairperson in the Catholic Church study area.

Despite being six years old, Sifa had never received any education until March 2022 when Children on the Edge introduced cluster learning in Mukondo B village. We asked her about how she is getting along with the new classes…

Sifa, a young Congolese girl sat on a blue mat under a tree wearing a black tshirt, floral skirt and smiling.

“Before the clusters, learning was just for the older children who could walk longer distances. I used to stay home and take care of my brother and sister while mama went to Bukere Market to sell ‘Matunda’ [fruits]. I was happy to start school because I got new friends and I love my teacher – Master Sipiriano.

I have learnt the names of animals in English, songs, numbers [she demonstrates her counting from 1-10], shapes [she mentions triangles, squares, circles, and ovals), na rangi [colours] blue, rouge [red], yellow, blanc [white] and green.

I enjoy going to the study area because I feel good about myself, especially when I give an answer and my classmates clap for me. I know how to draw pictures and can trace numbers, letters, and shapes [she demonstrates], and I teach mama and papa to count in English” [she giggles!].

It is widely understood that the emotional, social, and physical development of young children has a direct effect on their overall development and on the kind of adult they will become. Sifa has a dream of becoming a doctor to support the most vulnerable people in her community.

She adds with a laugh, “I am excited and ready to join the primary school next year, and I know I am going to perform well because my teacher says I am smart.”