Create Foundation

Create Foundation’s mission is to give children a second chance! We are building a school in rural Uganda which will provide 150 students per year a free education. While most Ugandan schools are lacking - from underpaid, overworked teachers that are not always present, to poor facilities, severe overcrowding (sometimes as many as 400:1 student-to-teacher ratio), to unsanitary conditions, the Ugandan school system is failing children. C.R.E.A.T.E. ACADEMY will be different from any other school in Uganda; a progressive educational institution for underprivileged children that supports all learners earning academic achievement through a thoughtfully-planned curriculum, and a warm, caring approach by teachers and staff who listen, motivate and empower. Children will never, ever be charged a fee. Families can finally have peace of mind knowing that they will never again have to chose between their next meal, or seeking medical attention, and their child going to school.
Not only that, but the school will provide dozens of Ugandans job opportunities where they can earn a fair wage, and give back to the community by utilizing our classroom space outside of school hours for adult-ed classes, computer skills and job training opportunities, as well as community outreach initiatives which include: Women’s empowerment and leadership building seminars, and activities where locals can learn critical life skills like budgeting, how to prepare a resume, and job interview preparation.
What makes C.R.E.A.T.E. Academy most unique, is our approach - to not just teach, but to empower. C.R.E.A.T.E. aims to serve a greater purpose… it will not just be a school, it will be a community, an epicenter of learning, opportunity, skills training, and economic growth. It will transform the lives of its students, but also the men and women it employs and trains, the communities served through outreach initiatives, the fruit/vegetable garden which will supply food, the shops which will provide jobs and goods, the adult education classes and salon school which will teach adults valuable skills which will enable them to secure jobs, the welding shop which will provide services as well as valuable skills and entrepreneurship opportunities, and more. C.R.E.A.T.E. Academy is unique to any other school in Uganda, any other community. We will not be there to share some knowledge and leave… we will be there to actively engage communities and provide valuable, powerful skills and resources needed to create dramatic, lasting change for thousands of vulnerable people.

What C.R.E.A.T.E. Academy will provide, is a unique solution to this problem. It will provide children - dropouts due to poverty, the life-changing second chance to attend school, completely free of charge. Our team will literally go out into villages and find children that have dropped out of school, that have been overlooked. The most vulnerable children will have the unique opportunity to receive the type of quality education that only the wealthiest elite of the country have access to. The school will also have adopt a unique approach. In many schools in Uganda, children are often treated without much care. They are dictated to, discouraged from asking questions or really participating in their own learning process, and many school still practice “caning” (hitting) students when they misbehave or even answer a question incorrectly. We believe that children deserve better. We believe children who are respected, uplifted and encouraged are the ones who reach their fullest potential. Children who feel safe in their environment, who do not fear to ask questions, but who feel comfortable sharing and learning, they will reach new heights. Create’s very foundation is built upon this approach. This type of program is virtually unheard of in Uganda, but will have tremendous positive impact. Class size will be kept small, a 25:1 student to teacher ratio, with only qualified teachers hired, who share our vision. Teachers will be readily available to answer questions and help students after class, be prepared to cater to their specific needs and to encourage creativity. This approach will ensure students success. Students will feel motivated and empowered, and therefore, attendance and grades will skyrocket, and the likelihood of a child completing his/her education will greatly improve.

What makes C.R.E.A.T.E. Academy most unique, is our approach - to not just teach, but to empower. C.R.E.A.T.E. aims to serve a greater purpose… it will not just be a school, it will be a community, an epicenter of learning, opportunity, skills training, and economic growth. It will transform the lives of its students, but also the men and women it employs and trains, the communities served through outreach initiatives, the fruit/vegetable garden which will supply food, the shops which will provide jobs and goods, the adult education classes and salon school which will teach adults valuable skills which will enable them to secure jobs, the welding shop which will provide services as well as valuable skills and entrepreneurship opportunities, and more. C.R.E.A.T.E. Academy is unique to any other school in Uganda, any other community. We will not be there to share some knowledge and leave… we will be there to actively engage communities and provide valuable, powerful skills and resources needed to create dramatic, lasting change for thousands of vulnerable people.

Create Foundation is comprised of an eclectic group of people passionate about making a difference for some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Our organization is made up of members with unique and special skill sets that have prepared us to see this life-changing project though to fruition. Our Founder, Jennifer Kirabo, has over 10 years experience in non-profit leadership, specifically, spearheading and carrying out successful programs in Uganda. She Founded and launched “Filmanthropy” a program which introduced the creative arts to children in rural Uganda. She was responsible for developing, organizing and executing the program, which allowed children the opportunity to express themselves creatively, gain critical communicative and interpersonal skills, and build confidence. We have a team of professionals in the U.S., with experience in non-profit leadership and law, and a team on the ground in Uganda, comprised of Ugandan school administrators, who have years of experience teaching and developing programs in the country which adhere to the rules and regulations of the Uganda Ministry of Education. Our team also includes a Ugandan legal team with experience in non-profit law, which will enable the process of running a school in rural Uganda to be successful.

Create Foundation was created in 2017. We were registered as a non-profit organization and earned our 501(c)(3) status in November 2017. We have accomplished a great deal since inception. Create purchased 3 acres of land in the rural area of Madu Village, near Nakasajja, Uganda. We first constructed a road through the village to our land, creating an access road the community regularly uses. In 2020, we constructed a Clean Water Well on site which provides 1,500 people a year access to clean, safe drinking water. We then constructed the school's classroom block, which consists of three larger-than-standard classrooms, two offices and a storage room. After the completion of the classroom block, we moved onto building the school's kitchen and dining hall. The open air kitchen is where all the student and staff meals will be prepared, there is a large storage room and very large open dining space. In 2021, we also constructed the campus restrooms. There's a set of boys restrooms and a set of girls restrooms - each with four stalls, two sinks, mirrors, plumbing and a storage closet. Last year we also constructed the medical center - where a board certified nurse will always be present to care for ill or injured students. The space will also double as a free community care clinic outside of school hours. We then plumbed the entire campus and most recently constructed the school's playground.

Since inception, we have provided over 70 fair-paying jobs to people of local villages. We have hired people as security personnel, cleaners, cooks and construction workers. It is our mission to not only empower through education, but through job opportunities, and providing the tools and resources necessary for the people of Madu to progress.