pme donates: EduConnect Uganda
EduConnect Uganda is a non-profit association based in Bonn, which directly and specifically supports two school and training projects in Uganda. Daniela Schulte zur Wissen founded the association in 2024. She gives us an insight into its inspiring work.
"The encounters with the families moved us deeply."
How did the EduConnect project come about?
Daniela Schulte zur Wissen: About 25 years ago, Vincent Zinunula, founder of St. Vincent de Paul Primary School in Kiryaginja (Uganda), became acquainted with our educational landscape during a stay in Germany. After his return, he began to implement his vision of a school for children from poor families - initially with almost no support. For many years, we supported his commitment with small donations for building materials, school books and equipment.
In January 2024, we traveled to Uganda as a family to get to know Vincent's work. We visited the school in Matugga and were guests of honor at the opening of the Daniela Vocational Center in Kasawo - a training and family center that Vincent had named after me out of friendship. The encounters with the families moved us deeply and gave us an impressive insight into social inequality.
Back in Germany, we founded the non-profit organization EduConnect Uganda e.V. in March 2024 to sustainably promote educational opportunities for children and young people in Uganda. We support two institutions:
- the St. Vincent de Paul Nursery and Primary School in Matugga
- the Daniela Vocational College in Kasawo
How many children are currently being taught in elementary school, which families do they come from and what are the challenges?
The Nursery and Primary School in Matugga currently has 54 children aged 1 to 9. Many come from very poor families and two thirds are unable to pay school fees. Nevertheless, no one is excluded. The challenge for us is to ensure continuous operation. We make sure that the salaries of the teachers and school management as well as the money for learning materials, school meals and ancillary costs are reliably paid to the school each month.
Our aim is to find a sponsor for each child who will pay the school fees of €150 for one year. Until enough sponsors are found, we also finance school operations through bazaars, flea markets and individual donations.
What are the contents of your training and family center in Kaswawo?
The Daniela Vocational College offers young people training opportunities in crafts (e.g. sewing, hairdressing), art and gastronomy. The aim is to give young people career prospects and a self-determined life.
Over the next few years, the college aims to offer training courses with state-approved trainers in order to give young people from the region the best possible opportunities for a career. At the same time, voluntary courses in writing and reading for parents and older people are already taking place.
What measures were you able to implement with the donation from pme Familienservice ?
With the generous donation from pme, we were able to realize the following projects for the school in Matugga in 2025:
- renovate the kindergarten and equip it with toys and learning materials suitable for children
- Repairing floors and walls in the classrooms
- fence in the school grounds to protect the children and teachers
- Procure drums, costumes and a dance teacher for a large cultural festival
- build a well on the school grounds to provide clean water.
What plans do you have for the further development of the project?
We have big plans for the coming years:
Expanding the water supply in Matugga: Following the successful construction of the well, we would like to install water treatment, tanks and pipes in the elementary school so that there is finally running water in the kitchen, classrooms and sanitary facilities - a big step towards better learning and living conditions.
Securing school operations in the medium and long term: Our aim is to secure long-term funding for all children in Matugga to attend school. With 30-35 new permanent sponsorships, we could keep the school stable in the long term and develop and facilitate educational content and projects with the school management and teaching staff.
Further development of the Vocational Center in Kasawo: We want to offer state-recognized training courses, set up additional workshops and expand the restaurant and catering area. In Kasawo, we want to promote the infrastructure with its own water supply, stable property boundaries and a guest house for helpers from Germany. We also support the development of a garden and small local projects to make the college economically independent.
How can private individuals and organizations support your work?
We want to reach even more people who support us in our work - including through events, crowdfunding and social networks. We continue to rely on donations and are grateful for any financial support. On the EduConnect Uganda website interested parties can sponsor a child or make a donation with just one click. Current information is also available on Instagram at @educonnect_uganda.
Social commitment of the pme Familienservice
The "pme donates" fundraising campaign has been running for four years, giving pme team members the opportunity to nominate charitable organizations in the areas of international development aid, social work, climate and animal protection and culture for a donation, which they actively support. All team members then vote for the organizations they want to support. The organizations with the most votes receive a donation from pme Familienservice. In 2024, six national and international organizations received a total of 50,000 euros in donations.
