IGF promotes literacy and enhances formal education by improving the learning environment and access to quality primary education among war affected children and youths in the Kitgum District and the greater north Uganda area by establishing education infrastructure and facilities in hard to reach areas. Over 4,400 pupils are enrolled across the four IGF Primary Schools and students receive daily:
- Education from Primary 1 to Primary 7
- A free, balanced and nutritious breakfast and lunch
- Medical support through our on-site medical clinics – seeing 200 students daily
- School uniforms, shoes and scholastic materials
- Safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities
- Counselling and child protection
There are 4 IGF Primary Schools:
IGF Town Primary School (1,830 pupils.)
IGF Town Primary School was our first school officially opened in 1994 and it is where Irene first started teaching the children under the mango tree. IGF main school has its foundations in Irene’s first day in Kitgum. Children who gathered at the spectacle became her first students. This school grew and grew as more needy children crowded at her gates, culminating in enrolling 3600 children. At this time, the Minister of Education commended Irene for operating the largest school in Uganda. IGF Main continues to offer education to the neediest children in Kitgum Town, continually increasing their level of excellence.
IGF Padibe Primary School (1,100 pupils.)
In January 2006, Padibe camp was burned to the ground and 38,000 villagers were left homeless and helpless, with no water, food or shelter from the sun.
In October 2006, a motivated team of 10 builders from IGF arrived in Padibe Camp with wheelbarrows, cement, shovels, food and mattresses and built a fully functioning school with 16 classrooms, a kitchen, medical clinic, pit latrines and 2 water boreholes in 4 months.
Average enrolment across the IGF Padibe Primary School stands at 54% girls and 46% boys. This school is achieving one of its objectives of promoting girl-child education.
IGF Amida Primary School (1,020 pupils.)
In 2004 while the war was still raging in northern Uganda, over 30,000 war refugees were forced to live in an internally displaced people’s camp in Amida. Thousands of children had no access to education, nutrition, medical care or safe water.
IGF responded immediately and constructed Amida Primary School, which today provides full day care and education to over 1,500 children daily.
IGF Palabek Primary School (450 pupils.)
Palabek is IGF’s newest school and was strategically located in an area where children had been required to walk many miles to attend the closest school. As a result many village children did not attend school. IGF Palabek now provides the local children with a quality education, nutrition, medical care, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities within easy walking distance from their homes.
Nutrition program
Nutrition programIGF’s nutrition programs in all schools provide free, balanced and nutritious breakfasts and lunches to all students and continue to promote regular attendance, increased concentration in class and improved school performances.
IGF also identifies any malnourished students attending school and provides these children with additional nutritional supplementation.
Co-curricular activities
All IGF schools identify and nurture individual pupil’s talents, engaging students in soccer, athletics, Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) and various activities of Clubs and Societies within the schools. IGF encourages students to participate in district, sub-county and national competitions in athletics, dance and music and some of our students have been very successful, winning many awards.
Post-primary education
IGF provides scholarships covering tuition fees and scholastic materials to at least 200 students each year to secondary school education, Business Technical Vocational Education and Training as well as tertiary education. Other students are offered admission into IGF’s Technical & Vocational Institute. Click here to learn more about our Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training program.
