In Uganda, students are not waiting for the future to arrive. Through Christ-centered education, they are already shaping it. This year’s EdTech Exhibition, a national, inaugural event running from June through September, brought together school directors, patrons, students, partners, and tech enthusiasts to explore student-built projects in educational technology. One hundred schools meeting specific criteria from across the country were invited to participate, showcasing creative technology projects rooted in faith and designed to expand access to learning for young people. Twenty of those schools were Edify schools that partner with Edify. After receiving education technology training and being mentored through the process, they were invited, vetted, and ultimately stood out for the strength of their performance and presentation alongside 80 other schools. Across four categories, Creating Graphics and Videos, STEM and Robotics, Coding and App Creation, and Website Creation, students prepared to share ideas shaped in classrooms and tested in real life, where Christ-centered education is not only taught, but practiced alongside digital learning.
The Start of Something Great
As the exhibition began, the hall at the National ICT Hub in Nakawa filled steadily with students from across the nation. The low rumble in the room quieted, then stilled. A young girl from a school that partners with Edify, dressed in pink, approached the microphone with confidence that could move mountains. Standing alongside her two teammates, the small group stood as a picture of what becomes possible when potential is given room to grow. On the screen, a website opened. She began to explain what their team had built, a tool designed for farmers. A farmer could take a picture of a crop leaf, upload it, and receive help identifying signs of disease. She spoke plainly, with the steadiness of someone who understands what a harvest means to a household, and what loss can do to a family’s table.
One of her teammates explained why this opportunity mattered and how it shifted what they believed was possible at their age. “What inspired me to be a part of the team is that I have a desire [to learn about] IT and technology. At such a young age, many people wouldn’t believe that we have such skills in IT and web development, but Edify has given us the tools to spark our talents.”
The Ripple Effect
Their teacher, Fred Musungu of Katikamu Academy in Central Uganda, has watched his students’ confidence grow, not in a single competition moment, but as a steady shift in how they learn and perceive themselves. “The use of computers has helped enhance learning outcomes, and with this new curriculum, these students have developed digital skills… and now, our learners designed a website which they now use to share and receive information.”
Through Edify’s education technology training for teachers, classrooms are transformed in ways that reach far beyond the lessons. As educators gain the confidence and skills to integrate digital tools into daily learning, that knowledge is passed directly to students, empowering them to experiment and create digital solutions that can strengthen a nation. When paired with a Christ-centered classroom, learning is shaped by the Truth of God’s Word, forming students who use their skills with discernment and purpose, creating with humility and building with love, so their gifts become a blessing to others.
