Experience education in Uganda

Students Megan Novak, a sophomore business major, and Elizabeth Bloemen, a sophomore biochemistry and MCD biology major (not pictured), sell jewelry hand-made by HIV/Aids widows from Africa during the Educate!'s Annual Ball, held at the Rembrant Yard Art Gallery & Event Center on Saturday. The ball raised funds for students in Uganda. (CU Independent/Charlie Sievers)

CU student volunteers and a select few Ugandan students alike have something to celebrate.

Educate!’s Annual Ball kicked off Saturday with raffles, drinks and a photo booth for everyone who attended the event at the Rembrant Yard Art Gallery & Event Center.

Educate!’s founder, Eric Glustrom, said the event is a way to raise funds for students in Uganda. One $50 ticket supports one student in the program for two months.

The curriculum of Educate! focuses on empowering the students and giving them the confidence and skills to be the difference in their community, Glustrom said.

“Our education helps students understand they are the solution,” Glustrom said.

Students who participate in Educate! are “A” level students, which is equivalent to 11th and 12th grade in American high schools.

“We are the last thing students go through before entering the real world,” Glustrom said.

Providing practical skills is something the Ugandan education system lacks. The main problem with the current education system in Uganda is that it is all based on memorization of somewhat random facts, Glustrom said.

“In the standard education system, students memorize facts. They don’t ask questions, just take notes,” Glustrom said. “By the time the students graduate, they can tell you incredible facts, like naming all the provinces of Germany, but how does this make sense?”

Educate!’s alternative education approach encourages students to ask questions. The curriculum includes a combination of case studies, hands-on community work and games and activities that are all meant to engage the students and build relationships between the students and mentors, Glustrom said.

“We give our students space to think about what they want to do and ask themselves, ‘what can I do for my community?’” Glustrom said.

Linda Schutter is the event planner for and long-time supporter of Educate!

Schutter said she “is amazed by the creativity of the students.”

“At the Aga Khan school, curriculum is taught after school. The administration wasn’t really supporting it,” Schutter said. “A boy named Phillip convinced the administration and mentors to support the program, their goals. He found a literacy center across the street and energized the students to back into it. They fundraised for books and food and showed the administration they were serious about it.”

The program emphasizes using practical skills learned through Educate!’s system to bring progress and business back into the community.

“There is a far-reaching impact beyond the students into the community, I think it is amazing,” Schutter said.

Volunteer Anna Bardonski said she was inspired by a friend to get involved with Educate!

“It’s turned into a passion for the students and a better future for Africa,” Bardonski said.

Shelbi Taylor, a 19-year-old freshman international affairs major, and Elaine Cromie, also a 19-year-old sophomore international affairs major, work with the CU student group Educate!

They fundraise for Educate! and function like a “social business,” Cromie said.

“Educate! students in Uganda have to do a senior project and a part of what we are doing now is to simulate our own project,” Cromie said.

Students like Cromie and Taylor are working on a fundraising project called Mr. Chapati. Chapati is a flatbread and is a common food source in Africa. It is cheap to make and a good way to fundraise, Cromie said.

“[Educate! is] trying to teach students in Uganda how to be entrepreneurs and inspire social change through education and micromanagement,” Taylor said.

Educate!’s first class will graduate in December, Glustrom said.

Students interested in getting involved with Educate! at CU should contact Jessica Ryan at [email protected].

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Erica Lindberg at [email protected].