Birungi Rukia is a 35-year-old Play Leader teaching at our Play Lab at Narwara Islamic Primary School. She is a single mother of two boys, and lives in Narwara village, Luwero district, Uganda.

She completed her education up to Ordinary Level in 2001 and gave birth to her first son soon after. In order to look after her son, she ventured into a small-scaled grocery business which did not last for long. In 2009, she got married and had her second son. Unfortunately, the marriage fell apart and she resorted back to petty businesses to look after her two children.

In 2018, BRAC Uganda organised a meeting to sensitise the Narwara community members on play-based learning. Rukia was intrigued to learn about the ECD model, training opportunities, and how parents can also get involved.

Rukia decided to join one of the training offered by the ECD programme. She learnt how to make play materials, lesson plans, learning aids, and importance of child centred teaching, play-based learning, and how to provide emotional support to students.
The community leaders encouraged Rukia to start teaching at the community based Play Lab. “I love teaching and spending time with young children but was scared to apply,” Rukia says. The Head Teacher of Narwara Primary School supported her to make the right decision of becoming a Play Leader.

“The students are lively, smart, and eager to learn, they are the reason why I want to come to the Play Labs and teach them,” Rukia says. “The Play Lab project has changed my image in the community. Parents now trust and respect me. They are amazed by the practical learning we offer to their children. I am forever grateful to BRAC Uganda for this life changing experience”.