The Nile Explorer Bus Holds Students’ Leadership Retreat

Kampala, UGANDA – From 19th to 22nd April 2022, Open Space, under the Nile Explorer Bus project powered by the U.S. Mission Uganda, conducted a students’ leadership retreat for a total of 25 enthusiastic students. Two students each were selected from the 12 schools reached by the Nile Explorer Bus during the first phase of the project in the districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Entebbe, Mukono, Ssembabule, Rakai, Gulu, and Amolatar This retreat, organized to complement the previous in-school Health and STEM trainings for the students, hinged on three main pillars including leadership development/enhancement, awareness creation, and student-led innovation.

The overall objective of the retreat was to nurture the 25 student leaders through a complimentary program that reinforces their innovative and leadership capabilities as well as their ability to make healthy life choices both in school and in their communities. The sessions were facilitated by trainers who guided the STEM and health-related sessions as well as, mentors and young leaders who guided the leadership sessions.

The students had the opportunity to visit the American Center in Kampala, where they had the opportunity to interact with the U.S. Ambassador, Natalie Brown, who had lots of nuggets of wisdom to share. The students presented and shared their experience with the Nile Explorer Bus before, during, and after it came to their schools. Still, at the embassy, the Chief Information Officer of the U.S. Department of State, Keith A. Jones, graced the event with his presence, for a light-hearted networking session with the students, where he both shared the story of his rise in career and encouraged them to identify and follow their own career paths.

By the end of the four-day retreat, the 25 young people were successfully mentored in their leadership and future aspirations, with sessions encompassing storytelling, journaling, personal leadership and goal setting, communication and public speaking, and finally, a comprehensive introduction of the students to debate.