Meet Arnold & Bernadatte, the Energy Drivers of Action in Africa’s Children’s Program
As we celebrate our Primary Partnership Program (PPP) this month, we simply couldn't miss the chance to honor two incredible souls behind its success. If you have ever visited The Center during a session, you know the feeling instantly: a wave of laughter, rhythmic clapping, creative energy, and focused curiosity.
While it might feel like pure magic, that vibrant atmosphere is intentionally crafted by two extraordinary team members: Arnold Luweesi, our Primary Partnership Program Facilitator, and Bernadatte Orishaba, our Youth Programs Coordinator.
Together, Arnold and Bernadatte are the heart behind the creative learning sessions, high-energy icebreakers, and thrilling competitions that transform everyday learning into an unforgettable adventure. Learning at AIA is far from traditional. They work tirelessly to design sessions that go beyond textbooks, blending hands-on creativity with practical skills. Their leadership and creative arts foster critical thinking, problem-solving, self-assurance, confidence, self-expression, and real-world resilience. They are the masterminds steering our PPP.
Walk with us behind the scenes to discover how they plan, lead, conduct, and bring our PPP programs to life.
Arnold Luweesi, PPP Facilitator
The Primary Partnership Program serves as a vital platform for creative freedom and critical thinking, breaking traditional classroom monotony while paving a pathway to secondary school and university scholarships. I integrate creative arts such as poetry, drama, and storytelling into core academic subjects.
This term, I used active techniques such as static group images and trial parliamentary sessions, which improved students' comprehension, public speaking confidence, and vocabulary.
Learners have transitioned away from a rigid, overly competitive mindset toward group collaboration. Critical thinking skills have also drastically improved. Students who initially struggled to generate ideas can now rapidly compose poems or stories within a short timeframe. Progress is noticeable through collaborative group work, individual composition writing, artistic expression, and varying levels of classroom participation.
Despite these successes, we face significant hurdles with low student literacy and language expression levels, particularly among P.4 learners who struggle to meet basic writing standards. To foster an inclusive environment, I intentionally tailor tasks to unique student profiles, leveraging alternative strengths such as drawing or writing for brilliant but less confident individuals.
Furthermore, the program relies heavily on a targeted nutrition intervention. Providing essential snacks such as eggs, bananas, and watermelons ensures that full-day learners are not distracted by hunger, ultimately fueling their cognitive capacity for creativity.
Bernadatte Orishaba, Youth Programs Coordinator
The most exciting part is seeing learners grow in confidence. Seeing shy learners blossom into active, vocal participants is the most rewarding aspect of the program. Beyond academics, the PPP work plan fosters critical thinking, creativity, and essential life skills.
I use differentiated methods such as art, drawing, and storytelling to allow learners who struggle with reading and writing to express their understanding of challenging topics such as rights and governance.
I give every child a tailored outlet that boosts engagement and aligns naturally with new, learner-centered curricula. Learners show marked progress in peer collaboration, teamwork, and communication. Growth is measured by holistic milestones, including students who have stepped up for leadership, taken initiative, and offered mutual support, rather than by academic scores alone.
I prioritize inclusive teaching, social-emotional development, and basic health needs. The program creates an engaging environment where every child gains the confidence to thrive.
Finally, proper nutrition, including soya porridge, white porridge, eggs, milk, yellow bananas, and watermelons, directly boosts physical energy, focus, and sustained classroom engagement during my sessions.
While Arnold and Bernadatte manage distinct pillars of our Primary Partnership Program, their magic lies in their cooperation. By uniting primary students and youth under a shared culture of creativity, positivity, and continuous growth, they are building a continuous pipeline of empowerment at Action in Africa.
However, none of this would be possible without our donors, supporters, and stakeholders. Thanks to their timely generosity, schools receive nutritious porridge, milk, and snacks right on schedule, allowing Arnold and Bernadatte to execute the program with exceptional dedication and bring the PPP to life across our five partner schools.
