October is Rotary’s Community Economic Development Month, a time to spotlight our efforts to help communities build thriving, sustainable futures. This month’s observance aligns perfectly with the Rotary core value of leadership.
It is often said that a smile can tell a thousand stories. When you meet Christine Kirungi, her smile does exactly that—inviting you in, softening the weight of years of struggle, and revealing the courage of a woman who refused to be defined by circumstance.
In the bustling city of Jinja, within the quiet grounds of Spire Road Primary School, stands a place where hope shines brightest for those born without sight. For more than three decades, the Balitwegomba Home for the Blind has nurtured, educated, and empowered children with visual impairment—ensuring that they, too, can dream, learn, and thrive in a world that often overlooks them.
Demonstrating service above self, the Rotary Club of Buloba, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Moorestown and Let There Be Light International, has lit lives across some underserved communities in Sentema- Wakiso district. Working through Solar Health Uganda, and Kyosiga Community Christian Association for Development, the collaboration brought reading light for the children, safety for the community, and hope to families.
In 2021, during a community assessment by the Rotary Club of Sonde, one story silenced the room. Hajat Hadijah Nakitto, Headteacher of Kiwango UMEA Primary School in Bukerere, spoke of a ten-year-old girl forced to drop out of school after becoming pregnant.
