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Message 1 | FHCANADA.ORGUganda BUKIENDE Mid-Year Community Update 2025From classrooms to kitchen gardens, families in Bukiende are working together to build a brighter future for their children, and their eorts are bearing fruit! This year, more children are staying in school and performing better. How? It’s the result of stronger parent-teacher collaboration, a renewed focus on early childhood education, and increased support for teachers. With new access to storybooks written in the local language of Lumasaaba, families are reading together and building lasting learning habits at home. Caregivers are also taking an active role in their children’s health, learning how to prepare nutritious meals that help kids grow strong, stay focused, and thrive both in and out of the classroom.In the elds, farmers are also seeing their hard work pay o. Training in sustainable farming is boosting harvests, while savings and loans groups are helping families build more stable futures. Food security is improving, families are growing their own vegetables, and small businesses are ourishing.Bukiende is moving forward with strength and determination. Thank you for walking alongside them on this journey!POPULATION21,815 HOUSEHOLDS4,726PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS 13,229Written by Stella Aleper, FH UgandaPrepared by FH Canada7 COMMUNITIESThe training on agroecology and nancial literacy have greatly changed my life and that of my family. The knowledge I got has enabled me to save and start a retail shop. This shop has helped to cater for the needs of my family.— Abdulatif, farmer, BushangiWalking with Bukiende:7 communities20292019

2 | FHCANADA.ORGTurning the Page on LiteracyStory and photographs collected by Mollex NakutiIn Bukiende, children are turning the pages of their rst books and beginning a new chapter of learning. “We had almost no books. Most learners had never owned one,” Beatrice, a teacher and mother of four, remembers. “Even at home, I didn’t read with my children. I thought learning only happened at school.”That mindset began to shift when Food for the Hungry launched the Let’s Learn to Read project. The most transformative part, Beatrice says, was putting books directly into children’s hands. FH distributed 2,000 books for schools and 600 more for families! Written in the local Lumasaaba language and lled with familiar animals and names, they gave children something they’d never had before: stories that felt like theirs.Beatrice saw the impact right away. Her children began reading every evening. In her classroom, students were gaining condence and speaking up with pride. “The Let’s Learn to Read project has been a game-changer for our children in the community,” she says. “They’re more condent and excited about learning. I’ve seen a big dierence in my children’s ability to read and understand stories.”Across Bukiende, reading is becoming a shared part of family life. Parents are making time to read, visiting classrooms, and creating space at home for learning. For families living in poverty, this access has helped level the playing eld. Books at home give children the chance to practice, imagine, and grow—regardless of their economic background.A New Generation of Readers One student, Kenneth, had always struggled. Without books at home, he had little chance to catch up. But after receiving his own set, he started reading every night. Over time, his skills grew—and so did his condence. Today, he’s one of the strongest readers in the class and supports others who are still learning. “Let’s Learn to Read isn’t just about providing materials,” Beatrice says. “It’s about transforming lives.” She’s seen barriers to literacy begin to fall. Children aren’t just learning to read, they’re developing a love of learning that will stay with them for life. With books in their hands, she sees the beginnings of a new generation of readers, thinkers, and leaders in Bukiende—young people equipped to shape their futures and build a stronger community for all.From the CommunityMy children now have friends and this gives me a sense of belonging. I feel loved by my community members!— Beatrice

3 | FHCANADA.ORGDigging into LearningEducation is a team eort! After observing lessons, coaches oered feedback to teachers. New techniques in literary and numeracy instruction are boosting their condence and making learning more engaging. Parents are also supporting learning at home, reading with their children and attending school meetings. As they connect with teachers, they’re discovering how much their children can achieve when their potential is nurtured.Meanwhile, 200 youth are rolling up their sleeves and planting school gardens. They’re learning climate-friendly farming techniques like mulching. Many have started growing vegetables at home, sharing their knowledge with family. As parents, teachers, and youth work together, communities are taking greater ownership of their schools and shaping quality education in Bukiende.Speaking Up for HealthFamilies are learning simple habits that create lasting change! Through hands-on training, caregivers are learning how to store water safely, wash hands properly, and prepare food in healthier ways. These small shifts are helping children stay healthy and grow strong.At community meetings, more than 170 residents gathered to discuss local health concerns, including limited access to medicine. Their feedback is already making a dierence as FH installed suggestion boxes so that every voice has a place in shaping local healthcare.A new nutrition team brought leaders together to plan for long-term change, making sure families can access the knowledge they need to raise healthy children.volunteers trained to help parents support their children’s learning, reaching 1,728 caregivers144students learned to grow food using climate-friendly farming techniques200community members met to shape local healthcare services170Mothers and their children received books to read at home, boosting literacy and condence for young learners!Health & Education“As leaders we are grateful to FH for the work done in Bukiende. School enrolment and performance have improved signicantly. This gives a ray of hope!”— Joseph, District Councillor, Bukiendecaregivers trained in hygiene practices like handwashing, safe food prep, and water storage86

4 | FHCANADA.ORGChop, Drop, and GrowFarmers in Bukiende are planting the seeds of long-term change. Over 200 lead farmers received hands-on training in sustainable methods like soil conservation, crop rotation, and “chop and drop”—an approach where farmers cut plants at the base and leave the tops on the ground to create natural mulch. It keeps moisture in the soil, adds nutrients, and reduces the need for expensive fertilizers. These farmers are now sharing what they’ve learned with more than 6,000 others across the region.To create stronger connections, FH mapped over 50 local partners, from seed suppliers to government oces, and helped farmers connect with trusted dealers. These new relationships make it easier to access quality supplies and avoid counterfeit products that can harm their harvests.Money Skills That MatterFamilies in Bukiende are nding new ways to build income and plan ahead. Over 350 individuals were trained in nancial literacy—learning how to budget, save, and manage credit. Another 300 community members received training in business start-up and money management, helping spark a growing culture of saving and small-scale entrepreneurship.As trust grows, community savings groups are beginning to dream bigger. Members are exploring ways to pool their resources and invest in group projects, like small businesses or joint agriculture ventures. This creates more opportunities to grow income while sharing the risks. Stronger incomes and smarter savings give families more tools to build stability and shape a more secure future—on their own terms.Thank You! Thank you for walking alongside the families of Bukiende. With your support and the partnership of FH Uganda, children are learning to read, farmers are growing more food, and parents are building brighter tomorrows. Your belief in this community’s strength and creativity is helping Bukiende grow into a place where every family has the chance to thrive.community members attended sessions to strengthen agriculture partnerships.160savings groups members from 80 savings groups saved $61,416 USD since 20192,400community members trained in business start-up and nancial management304farmers boosted food security through peer-to-peer training6,030Betty learned sustainable farming methods, like organic fertilization, which made her farm more resilient and today her crops are ourishing!Livelihoods & Leadership@fhcanada @foodforthehungrycanada @fh-canadafhcanada.org/storiesFollow your impact all year long.