On 22nd February 2026, a powerful new chapter in community empowerment began in Kinawataka as the Rotary 7 by 7 Collaboration launched the “Start with Mothers” initiative in partnership with the Amarok Society. This ambitious collaboration brought together seven Rotary clubs: RC Saturday E Jazz, RC Kampala Impala, RC Kira, RC Kampala Early Bird, RC Sode, RC Nsasa, and RC Kampala Morning Stars, united by a shared vision of tackling illiteracy at its roots. The project was officially inaugurated by District Governor Martin Kitakule, who presided over the opening of the classroom where mothers will gather to learn, marking a significant milestone for the community and for Rotary’s commitment to basic education and literacy in the region.
The Start with Mothers model is not a conventional literacy programme; it is a proven methodology that has already transformed over 7,000 lives across Asia, where it was successfully implemented by the Amarok Society. The approach is elegantly simple yet profoundly effective: teach mothers basic literacy and numeracy skills, and then empower those mothers to pass their knowledge on to at least five children in their own homes and neighbourhoods. This creates a multiplier effect that extends far beyond the classroom, reaching children who might otherwise never have access to formal education. In Bangladesh, where the programme was first established in 2006, mothers who began with no education at all have gone on to become neighbourhood teachers, and children taught through this model have graduated from secondary school, with many pursuing higher education and even professional careers. The results speak for themselves: communities served by Amarok Society schools have seen significant reductions in child marriage, domestic violence, and other social ills as educated mothers gain confidence and become advocates for their families and neighbours.
At the heart of the Kinawataka launch was the official opening of the classroom where mothers will gather daily to learn. District Governor Martin Kitakule presided over the ceremony, offering words of encouragement to the inaugural cohort of mothers who have committed to this transformative journey. The classroom itself represents more than just a physical space; it is a sanctuary where women who may never have had the opportunity to hold a pencil will learn to read, write, and calculate, gaining skills that will not only change their own lives but also shape the futures of the children they will teach. Each mother who completes the programme pledges to pass her learning on to five children, creating a ripple effect that will extend literacy and numeracy skills throughout the Kinawataka community and beyond.
The choice of Kinawataka for this initiative reflects the collaborative spirit of the Rotary 7 by 7 group and their commitment to reaching communities where educational opportunities are scarce. By partnering with the Amarok Society, which has decades of experience working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, the project brings a tested and refined methodology to Uganda. The model has been shown to work even in slum communities where conventional schools struggle to make an impact, precisely because it meets people where they are, teaching mothers in familiar settings, using materials and approaches that are accessible to those with no prior education. As the project takes root in Kinawataka, the vision is clear: mothers will learn, children will be taught, and a community will be transformed from within. The Rotary 7 by 7 clubs look forward to supporting these mothers on their journey and witnessing the profound impact that educated women can have on the families and neighbourhoods around them.
