Education Rebuilding Communities: Girls, Healing and Hope in Northern Uganda
What happens when you redesign education around the people who have been left behind?
Meet Alice Achan - social worker, educator and founder of the Te-Kworo Foundation, a boarding school in Northern Uganda that is helping young mothers and vulnerable girls rebuild their lives. What started as a small support group during the aftermath of war has grown into one of the most remarkable educational models in Africa. Today, Te-Kworo's three campuses support more than 1,000 young women through education, childcare, healthcare, counselling and community support.
Alice shares how her own experiences as a child of war shaped what she calls a "School of Restoration" - a place where education, healthcare and healing work together to empower young women to create better futures for themselves, their families and change entire communities.
In this episode:
• Why Te-Kworo calls itself a "School of Restoration"
• The link between education, healthcare and opportunity
• The ongoing challenges of child marriage and cultural expectations
• How boarding schools help keep vulnerable girls safe
• The power of defeating shame and rebuilding confidence
• Why educating girls can transform entire communities
• Why Te-Kworo calls itself a "School of Restoration"
• The link between education, healthcare and opportunity
• The ongoing challenges of child marriage and cultural expectations
• How boarding schools help keep vulnerable girls safe
• The power of defeating shame and rebuilding confidence
• Why educating girls can transform entire communities
04:48 Interview with Alice Achen
07:38 Education as a pathway out of poverty
10:15 The tension between creating different futures while protecting cultural boundaries
12:12 From education to healthcare - Te-Kworo's holistic model
14:57 What happens when women have access to healthcare and education
15:31 Gus & Amy - Midpoint reflections
17:35 From trauma to triumph - Alice's personal story
20:57 How Alice started a school under a tree
26:52 The power of defeating shame
28:38 Intergenerational ripples
30:08 Alice's biggest lesson
30:38 Bunk beds from Fix The News
31:19 The big vision for Te-Kworo
33:33 Alice's remedy for the world
34:46 Gus & Amy - Final thoughts
Become part of the Te-Kworo community:
If Alice's story resonated with you, you can learn more about Te-Kworo and support their work below.
If Alice's story resonated with you, you can learn more about Te-Kworo and support their work below.
About Fix The News:
Fix The News is a solutions-focused media platform sharing stories from the frontlines of progress - exploring what’s working in the world and the people making it happen.
Fix The News is a solutions-focused media platform sharing stories from the frontlines of progress - exploring what’s working in the world and the people making it happen.
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If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast and leave a review - it helps more people find these stories.
Production credits:
Hosted by Angus Hervey and Amy Davoren-Rose
Produced by Fix The News
Audio production: Anthony Badolato, Hear That!
Hosted by Angus Hervey and Amy Davoren-Rose
Produced by Fix The News
Audio production: Anthony Badolato, Hear That!
This episode was produced in Australia on the lands of the Gadigal, Wurundjeri and Woi Wurrung peoples.
Creators and Guests
Host
Amy Davoren Rose
Amy Rose is the Creative Director at Fix The News. After 15 years in legacy media, she now uses storytelling, writing and production to shine a light on the people quietly changing the world for the better. She one of humanity’s biggest cheerleaders and still believes there’s no substitute for putting pen to paper.
Host
Angus Hervey
Editor of Fix The News, recovering political economist, co-host of two podcasts: Fix The News + A Short History Of Saving The World. He is committed to showing that we’re making progress (even if we don't hear much about it) and that, despite the setbacks, humanity is still rising to meet many of the big challenges of our time.
Guest
Alice Achan
Alice knew firsthand the power of education. Founder of Te-Kworo Foundation. As a young girl during the LRA conflict, Alice missed vital years of school and struggled to complete her education. She also knew that without an education, the girls returning from rebel captivity would never be able to move forward. Determined to create opportunities for them, she's created a place for young women and vulnerable girls to heal and rebuild their lives.
