SLICKS PROJECT EMPOWERS KAMPALA LEARNERS WITH PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING

The Director of French Development Agency (AFD) Uganda, Marc Trouyet, has underscored the importance of international educational exchanges as a means to address pressing global challenges and cultivate an open-minded international society.

Speaking at the conclusion of a groundbreaking exchange program between Kisaasi Primary School in Kampala and Erasme College in Strasbourg, Trouyet praised the initiative's commitment to promoting sustainable education and urban development.

The exchange program, which commenced in September 2022 and concluded on October 31, 2023, is part of the "Building Sustainable, Learning and Inclusive Cities (SLICKS)" project, a collaborative effort between the cities of Kampala and Strasbourg, funded by AFD.

"The aim of these exchanges is to reflect on and propose solutions for facing today's challenges together, like climate change, while building an open-minded international society of tomorrow," Trouyet stated.

The exchange program, will transition to a new program with learners from P4 and P5, set to begin in February 2024.

The program's overarching philosophy is project-based pedagogy, emphasizing learning through practical experiences to promote sustainable education.

One of the great successes of this exchange program is the creation by the Kisaasi and Erasme learners of a recipe book of French and Ugandan cuisine (from the four regions) in French and English, which was shared with all the Kisaasi learners who took part in this project at the program's closing ceremony.

Under the SLICKS project, KCCA focuses on three priority areas: urban agriculture, green spaces, and education.

One of the key aspects is to promote gardening in schools as part of the curriculum, empowering children with essential life skills.

Children are taught to establish kitchen gardens, make items from waste, and engage in recycling activities, as noted by Kisakye David Nsubuga, the Head Teacher of Kisaasi Primary School.

“The program aligns with my vision of equipping children with essential life skills. Children are now able to establish kitchen gardens, make items from waste,”Nsubuga said.

He highlighted the tangible results achieved during the exchange program, such as the establishment of kitchen gardens and innovative waste recycling projects.

He emphasized the need for the program's continuation, with hopes that the knowledge and experiences gained would be channeled into a sustainable development project benefiting not only the participating schools but the broader community as well.

The exchange program also witnessed pupils from both schools engaging in various enriching projects, including creating postcards, writing letters to pen pals, learning the French language, and exploring international culinary delights.

Manon, the Supervisor of the program, expressed her gratitude to all stakeholders for their contributions and emphasized the importance of exposing learners to different cultures and experiences. She expressed her unwavering commitment to continuing the project in February next year, with the support of all teams involved.

The Supervisor of Education and Social Services in Kawempe Division shared their aspirations for a future where every school in Strasbourg is connected to a school in Kampala, highlighting the program's potential to foster international understanding and cooperation in education.​