01 Jul Every Child Counts: Meet Kian
Published as part of Act4Africa’s Every Child Counts campaign, July 2026.
In Uganda, nearly half of all children will never complete primary school.
It is a statistic that is easy to read and harder to sit with. Because behind that number are children — real, curious, bright, full of potential children — whose futures are shaped not by their ability or their eagerness to learn, but by the circumstances into which they were born.
And it does not begin at primary school. It begins much earlier — in those first precious years, when the foundations of learning, confidence, and character are either built or missed entirely. Children who miss out on quality early years education face an uphill climb before primary school has even begun.
This is why the work of Kathy’s Kindergarten in Mayuge, Uganda matters so profoundly. And it is why Kian’s story is one worth telling.
An ordinary day that changed everything
Kian’s journey to Kathy’s Kindergarten began, as so many life-changing moments do, completely by chance.
His mother — a woman with the same fierce, quiet hope that drives so many parents in Mayuge — was going about her day when she overheard a neighbour talking about their children. About the school they attended. About the difference it had made — not just academically, but in who they were becoming. Their manners. Their kindness. The confidence in the way they carried themselves.
She wasn’t even part of the conversation. But she heard every word.
And in that moment, something shifted. Because she recognised, with absolute certainty, that what her neighbour was describing was exactly what she had been searching for. Not just a school. A foundation. A place that would shape not just what her son learned, but who he would become.
She brought Kian to Kathy’s Kindergarten. And his story began.
The journey of settling in
Kian is the firstborn of his mother — a role that carries both pride and great hope. Like any child stepping into a new environment for the first time, those early days at Kathy’s were not without their challenges. New faces, new routines, a world still unfamiliar and full of things to navigate.
But the teachers at Kathy’s Kindergarten are patient, warm, and deeply committed to each child in their care. With their support, Kian began to find his feet. Day by day, something shifted. He grew more comfortable, more expressive, more willing to engage with the world around him.
Three months on, the transformation — quiet but profound — is clear to see.
A foundation being built
In the classroom, Kian is discovering his voice. He is learning to follow instructions, to participate in activities, and to connect positively with his peers. His curiosity is beginning to surface — that wonderful, wide-eyed eagerness to explore and understand that every early years educator hopes to see.
Beyond academics, the changes in Kian’s character have been just as significant. The values that Kathy’s Kindergarten is known for — respect, kindness, and discipline — are taking root. They are the very qualities that inspired his mother to bring him here in the first place. And now, three months on, she watches them grow in her son every single day.
His journey is still at its earliest stages. But the foundation is being laid — strong, intentional, and full of promise.
The children who never get that chance
Kian’s story is a hopeful one. But it is impossible to tell it without acknowledging the weight of what surrounds it.
For every child who finds their way to Kathy’s Kindergarten, there are countless others in Mayuge who do not. Children whose families never overhear the right conversation. Who never find their way to a setting that believes in them. Who grow up without the foundation that makes everything else possible — and who, statistically, are far more likely to become part of that deeply troubling number. Nearly half of all children in Uganda who will never complete primary school.
Kathy’s Kindergarten cannot reach every child. But it can reach more than it does today. And that is what Every Child Counts is fighting for.
Be part of the next story
This July, Act4Africa is raising awareness and funds for Kathy’s Kindergarten as part of our Every Child Counts campaign. Every pound donated goes directly towards keeping the school running — towards the teachers, the resources, and the nurturing environment that is changing lives in Mayuge one child at a time.
Kian’s mother overheard a conversation and changed her son’s life. Now you have the chance to be part of another story.
To donate to Every Child Counts, visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/a4aeverychildcounts.
To find out more about Act4Africa and our work in Uganda, visit https://act4africa.org
