By Eric Ayamba

On April 10, the village of Nyairongo came alive as community members, education advocates, and other guests gathered to celebrate the official launch of Jasper Primary School. The ceremony was officiated by Ms. Margaret Obilo, Program Lead for Scholar Support in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa. She was accompanied by fellow Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program representatives, Ms. Aileen Kaguhya and Ms. Sellina Mwatua, both passionate advocates of education and youth empowerment.

Jasper Primary School is the product of a long-standing dream shared by four young African changemakers: Eric Ayamba, Milton Edodi, and Erisha Byaruhanga, all Mastercard Foundation Scholars at USIU-Africa, and Erick Mulindi, a student at Skidmore College and alumnus of the African Leadership Academy. United by a commitment to education and community transformation, the founders spent more than a decade conceptualizing a school model aimed at addressing the entrenched educational inequalities faced by children in marginalized, rural communities such as Nyairongo.

The story is deeply personal for Eric Ayamba, the organization’s Co-Founder and Team Lead, who grew up in Nyairongo and experienced firsthand the struggles of accessing basic education. Eric shared that Jasper was born out of a conviction that no child should be denied a chance to dream, to learn, and to lead simply because of where they are born or because of their gender.

For Eric Ayamba, Co-Founder and Team Lead, the project is deeply personal. A native of Nyairongo, Eric experienced firsthand the barriers to accessing basic education. His conviction that every child deserves the right to dream, learn, and lead, regardless of their birthplace or gender, fuelled the vision for Jasper.

“Jasper Primary School is not just a school, but a movement of hope, dignity, opportunity, and transformation. Jasper is for every child who dares to dream,” he said during the launch.

In her keynote address, Ms. Obilo commended the Jasper team and the local community for their collective effort in bringing the dream to life.

“Jasper Primary School is a living example of what young people can achieve when they are empowered and supported. This school is a dream that is now shaping lives. We celebrate the courage, resilience, and commitment of all who made this possible,” she said.

In her speech, she also emphasized the importance of gender equity. “As we mark this milestone, I would like to emphasize the importance of gender equality in education. When we empower girls through education, we don’t just change their lives, but we transform families, communities, and nations. Therefore, Jasper Primary School is laying the foundation for a more equitable and prosperous future,” she added.

Gender equity is a key pillar of Jasper Primary School’s mission. In 2024, Eric participated in the AlforEducation Apprenticeship Program at the African Leadership Academy, where he won the Little Bets Challenge for a proposal addressing gender bias in rural Uganda. Through awareness workshops, his team found that many girls had dropped out of school due to longstanding cultural stereotypes. In response, the school prioritized girls’ enrolment from its first intake, awarding over 30 scholarships to girls from vulnerable households, a move that led to increased enrolment in schools across the region.

Jasper officially opened its doors to students on January 27, 2025, with classes ranging from Early Childhood Development (ECD) to Primary Five. By April, enrolment had grown to over 500 pupils, reflecting the community’s trust in the school’s mission. Speaking at the launch, co-founder Milton Edodi thanked local residents for embracing the initiative.

“Without the community’s support, this idea would not have materialized. Today, we are here because you believed in this mission,” he said.

Jasper's educational model is built around a unique integration of leadership, entrepreneurship, and character development into the national curriculum.

The institution is built on a unique educational model that integrates leadership, entrepreneurship, and character development into the national curriculum. “We want to raise a generation of learners who are not only academically excellent but also visionary, ethical, and socially responsible,” noted the Head Teacher, Mr. Kawamara Joseph during his speech. He also emphasized that Jasper’s success is rooted in strong community collaboration and shared ownership of our children’s future.

In line with its student-cantered philosophy, Jasper School also honoured academic excellence by awarding the top-performing male and female pupils in each class following the mid-term examinations. This initiative underscored the school’s dedication to recognizing and nurturing talent at every level. A parent attending the event captured the sentiment of the day, stating, “I have never seen a school that celebrates every step of learning like Jasper. This kind of approach will transform learning in our community.”

Since 2022, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa has played a crucial role in Jasper’s journey. What began as a community action project by Eric Ayamba has grown into a full-fledged institution, thanks to mentorship, leadership training, and financial support provided through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program’s values of servant leadership, impact-driven innovation, and community empowerment are reflected in every aspect of Jasper’s design and operations.

Looking ahead, the founders plan to expand to Primary Seven by 2026, introduce digital learning tools and 21st-century teaching methodologies, and improve facilities including classrooms, sanitation, and a school library. They also aim to establish three additional schools in underserved rural areas of Uganda over the next decade. With a growing student body, strong community backing, and continued support from partners and stakeholders, Jasper is poised to become a leading model for rural education transformation in Uganda