Kizza’s Journey: Catching Up Against the Odds

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Kizza, a young boy from rural Bukomansimbi District, began his education with a significant disadvantage. Due to family circumstances, he missed out on Nursery school and didn’t enroll in formal education until much later—joining Primary school midway through the year after moving in with his uncle.

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Without any foundational exposure to reading or numbers, Kizza struggled from day one. While his classmates were reading and solving simple math problems, he couldn’t identify letters or count with confidence. Teachers noticed his quiet frustration and disengagement.

 

Recognizing his potential, Kizza’s teachers referred him to WatuDev’s remedial support sessions. Designed to meet each child at their current level, our sessions use play-based, interactive learning rooted in the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) methodology. With smaller groups and personalized attention, Kizza found a safe, encouraging space to learn at his own pace.

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By the end of the school year, the results were remarkable. Kizza had not only caught up with most of his peers, but he was also confidently performing basic addition independently. His transformation reflects the power of targeted support to restore confidence and close learning gaps for children who might otherwise be left behind.