ABOUT WATUDEV
WHY FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING MUST COME FIRST
BECAUSE WITHOUT FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS,
CHILDREN ARE NOT LEARNING. THEY ARE FALLING FURTHER BEHIND WITH EVERY PASSING DAY.
The proof is clear that foundational skills improve education outcomes. And foundational skills are just that—foundational. They are the building blocks upon which all future learning depends.
But foundational learning only happens under the right conditions. For maximum impact, children must be taught by trained educators, using proven methods and given access to the right resources.
From rural Uganda to classrooms worldwide, we confront both a crisis of conscience and an opportunity for change. Can we reimagine education systems that ensure every child moves through school with the ability to read, write and do basic arithmetics?
WATUDEV'S BIG IDEA
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO LITERACY & NUMERACY FOR ALL.
WatuDev’s Threefold Approach to Closing Foundational Skills Gaps: Train Teachers. Target Struggling Learners. Equip Learners.
Foundational learning gaps are locking millions of children out of opportunity—despite rising school enrollment.
WatuDev’s threefold approach addresses this challenge comprehensively—by equipping teachers, supporting the most left-behind children, and resourcing classrooms—so that every child can be met at their learning level, master foundational skills, and thrive.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
WE FIX THE ROOT CAUSE: FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS FIRST
WatuDev’s single purpose is to ensure every child masters foundational literacy and numeracy—the essential skills that unlock all future learning.
We work at the heart of the classroom to address the challenges faced by children and teachers in under-resourced schools: We focus on the core of the learning crisis: the failure to deliver effective, level-appropriate instruction to the children who need it most.
Our unique threefold model—Train. Target. Equip.—goes beyond surface-level solutions to tackle the root causes of low learning outcomes in under-resourced classrooms:
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We train teachers to deliver level-appropriate, engaging instruction that meets each child where they are.
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We target children who are furthest behind, offering timely, tailored support that helps them catch up and thrive
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We equip schools with mobile digital labs and relevant quality print resources that make learning engaging and possible—even in the most remote areas.
OUR MODEL DELIVERS RESULTS
More than 90% of children we work with show measurable improvement in literacy and numeracy.
WE BUILD LASTING CHANGE.
By working hand-in-hand with teachers, school leaders, and district officials, we create sustainable shifts in how learning happens—building capacity that lives beyond our interventions.
ROOTED IN LOCAL REALITIES,
BUILT FOR GROWTH.
WatuDev’s solutions are designed for Uganda’s rural classrooms—practical, adaptable, and ready to expand.
FEATURED FRONTLINE EDUCATORS
Celebrating the teachers who guide children toward foundational skills mastery one step at a time.
MEET THE TEAM STEERING WATUDEV’S BOLD MISSION
Namwanje Milly
Co-founder & Executive Director,
WatuDev Initiatives
Milly believes every child deserves the kind of support that turns struggle into strength—just as her mother’s extra lessons transformed her own education. Growing up in overcrowded classrooms where complex concepts were often missed, she experienced firsthand how personalized attention unlocks potential. Now, she dedicates her career to ensuring no child is left behind simply because they learn differently.
With a Bachelor of Science in Education from Kyambogo University and 17 years of experience in education and community development, Milly bridges grassroots insight with strategic leadership. Her expertise spans program design, team building, resource mobilization, and scaling impact—honed through roles like Education Officer at St. John’s Secondary School and Programmes Coordinator at Wezesha Impact, where she empowered 500+ youth through entrepreneurship training.
As a Mandela Washington Fellow and AWEC alumna, Milly combines global perspectives with local solutions. At WatuDev, she leads with the same determination her mother once showed: piloting initiatives like Kusoma Online (a free digital learning platform during COVID-19) and forging partnerships that bring foundational skills to underserved communities.
"I learned early that with the right support, any child can thrive—now I dedicate my life to being that support for others."
For Milly, this truth guides everything: with the right support, every child can flourish.
Nagawa Christine,
Co-founder & Head of Partnerships and Development,
WatuDev Initiatives
Christine’s belief in the power of learning is deeply personal. As a child growing up in a household led by two dedicated primary school teachers, her home felt like an extension of the classroom. Weekday evenings were for focused revision, weekends meant devouring books at the community library, and school holidays were packed with extra lessons guided by her parents. At the time, she assumed this was normal. Only later did she realize it was an extraordinary privilege—one that gave her and her siblings an academic head start many children in her village never had.
That realization has shaped Christine’s purpose: to extend the same learning advantage she experienced to every child—especially those left behind by systemic gaps. With over a decade of experience in education programming and organizational leadership, Christine brings sharp strategic thinking, operational excellence, and a passion for systems that work.
Before joining WatuDev, she served as Country Director for Elevate Partners for Education, and held leadership roles at Educate. Today, she leads fundraising and partnerships at WatuDev, ensuring the organization can grow its impact while staying rooted in its values.
For Christine, this work is more than a job—it’s a commitment to rewriting the future for children who deserve more than just access to school. They deserve a real chance to learn—and thrive.
“As a child, I used to think we excelled because we were brilliant. Now I know it was the steady supportive hand of someone who believed we could.”
Ssenyonjo Andrew,
Co-founder & Head of Programs and Evaluation,
WatuDev Initiatives
Andrew believes every child deserves to experience the moment when confusion turns into clarity—and confidence follows. A passionate educator and program strategist, he has spent his career helping learners who once feared subjects like mathematics discover they’re more than capable.
With a Bachelor of Science in Education (Mathematics and Chemistry) from Kyambogo University, Andrew brings over five years of hands-on classroom teaching and more than a decade of designing and strengthening education programs for NGOs across Uganda. His expertise spans curriculum development, program strategy, implementation, and continuous improvement through data-driven feedback loops.
Early in his career as a teacher, Andrew specialized in mentoring struggling students—particularly those convinced they “couldn’t do math.” Through patience, creativity, and a belief in their potential, he helped them bridge foundational gaps and achieve academic success. His approach remains the same today: Start at the child’s level, build confidence, and teach for deep understanding.
At WatuDev, Andrew leads the design and evaluation of transformative learning programs—ensuring tools, content, and strategies meet children where they are and guide them toward mastery. His work doesn’t just deliver lessons; it restores confidence and unlocks lifelong opportunities.
“When we restore a child’s confidence in learning, we open doors far beyond the classroom.”
Kalyango Moses
Community Education Champion,
WatuDev Initiatives
Moses believes education is the great equalizer—a force that transforms villages and rewrites destinies. His teaching journey began with a simple conviction: "Knowledge changes lives." This truth fuels his daily passion, especially when working with underserved learners who need it most.
As WatuDev’s Community Education Champion, Moses pilots the innovative Digital Foundational Skills Lab—a mobile classroom on a tricycle that delivers literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to rural schools in Bukomansimbi. His role blends technical skill with heart: setting up tablet-based learning sessions, mentoring teachers, and ensuring every child accesses tools to thrive.
What drives him? A disabled student from his village who became a community leader through education and the joy of watching children grasp concepts once deemed impossible; His approach? Lower yourself to the learner’s level"—meeting kids where they are.
For Moses, WatuDev's Program isn’t just about lessons—it’s about lighting sparks.
"When you equip a child with foundational skills," he says, "you equip them to face the world."
Namyalo Sandra,
Fundraising & Communications Volunteer
WatuDev Initiatives
When Sandra first stood before a classroom at Kyaayi Junior School, she saw something familiar in her students' eyes - the same spark of curiosity she'd felt poring over poetry books as a child. Now, as she transitions from teaching English to championing educational equity with WatuDev, she's found a new way to nurture that spark: by giving it voice.
Sandra studies English and Literature at Makerere University and is part of the Equity Leaders Program. She uses her skills as both a writer and a teacher to help WatuDev tell its story. She knows that numbers alone don’t inspire donors—but the story of a child learning to read with WatuDev’s help does. Every day, she turns real classroom moments into powerful grant proposals, shares teacher stories in newsletters, and works with her team to show WatuDev’s impact in ways people will remember."
"Growing up, I watched brilliant classmates fall behind simply because concepts weren't explained in ways they understood," Sandra shares. "At WatuDev, I get to help remove those barriers - whether by securing funds for mobile digital labs or sharing stories that make distant donors feel like part of our classroom." For Sandra, this volunteer role isn't just about skills development - it's about learning how to better advocate for the children whose voices often go unheard.
"The right words can build bridges - between a child and their potential, between communities and solutions."
OUR FOUNDING STORY
FROM ACCESS ALONE TO FOUNDATIONAL MASTERY.
WatuDev Initiatives was born during Uganda’s COVID-19 school closures—the longest in the world. Learning had come to a grinding halt. We launched Kusoma Online—a free platform where children could access national curriculum content from home, using just a smartphone and internet connection. It was our urgent response to a silent emergency: children cut off from learning, with no clear path back.
But when schools reopened, the truth hit hard: Children were present, but learning wasn’t. Foundational learning gaps had widened. Many couldn’t read a single word. Math was a mystery. Access wasn’t enough. Without foundational skills, learning simply couldn’t happen.
So we pivoted—starting in Bukomansimbi, our home district. We set out to close learning gaps where they run deepest We quickly learned that mastery of foundational skills required three elements: training teachers, supporting left-behind children, and equipping classrooms with what they needed.
Since then, WatuDev has evolved from a crisis response into a comprehensive program implementer—working hand-in-hand with in-service teachers in rural schools to ensure every child receives the support and resources they need to master the basics.
Because being in class means nothing if learning doesn’t happen.
OUR GROUNDING VALUES
INTEGRITY. INNOVATION. IMPACT.
In everything we do, we embody these core values. They are the roots that keep us steady, the compass that directs our steps, and the promise that every resource entrusted to us is used with care and purpose.
INTEGRITY
Transparent. Accountable. Trusted.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of honesty and responsibility. From how we work with children and communities to how we steward every shilling entrusted to us, integrity is the reason partners can be confident their support is making the difference it was meant to.
INNOVATION.
Creative Solutions, Real Change
We don’t settle for “business as usual.” We adapt, experiment, and blend proven approaches with fresh ideas that work in rural realities. Whether through mobile digital labs, tailored teaching methods, or community-driven design, innovation ensures that every effort creates lasting value for children.
IMPACT.
Changing Lives. Lasting Change
We measure success by the pivoted learning trajectories of the children & teachers we serve —not by numbers alone. Every child who gains the confidence to read, every teacher who grows in skill, and every school that gains access to the right resources for learning to happen—that is our impact. We set clear goals, track progress, and learn continuously so that every investment leads to tangible, lasting change.
WATUDEV'S
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
