The United Nations Association of Uganda, in partnership with its Finnish counterpart, has launched a transformative initiative aimed at empowering secondary school students to address real-world challenges through community-based projects tied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The programme, focusing on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), encourages learners to craft practical, locally driven solutions within their school environments and neighbourhoods.
It was officially rolled out on Friday at Caltec Academy School in Makerere Kikoni, where participating students showcased innovative projects ranging from mental health awareness campaigns to creative waste management systems.
Speaking at the launch, Linda Asaba, representing the UN Association of Uganda, said the initiative is designed to give students the tools and confidence to lead change in their communities.
“We are aiming at leaving no one behind,” she said. “Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world. We’re letting young people show us what they’ve done to accelerate the SDGs, using what they have and know.”
Asaba emphasized that the programme deliberately targets ordinary public and private schools rather than elite institutions.
“We didn’t go to international schools because we want to reach the person from the ghetto—the young person who might not have the opportunity of going to Parliament that easily,” she said. “But they are living in communities that face these issues daily.”
Organisers say the initiative supports Uganda’s revised school curriculum, which now emphasises using local materials and student-led problem-solving to address social issues.
“When we talk about communities, we’re looking at their schools,” Asaba added. “Not things that they’ve just read about—things that are practical. We want them to take ownership through hands-on approaches.”
Mental health stood out as a recurring theme in the students' presentations. One group highlighted the emotional burdens students face at home, which often spill into the classroom and affect academic performance.
“Sometimes these young people go through things at home that later affect them at school,” Asaba said. “They were trying to show us the need to talk to different people—and also the need for adults to talk to them.”
The pilot phase of the initiative involves five schools: Caltec Academy School, Kasubi Secondary School, Namungoona Parents School, APAS Senior Secondary School, and Katwe Noor Secondary School.
Asaba expressed optimism that continued student engagement will inspire a new generation of leaders who see global issues not as abstract challenges, but as solvable problems within reach.
“We want them to know the solutions are with them,” she said. “They’re living with them, and they can actually carry them out.”
With more schools expected to join in future phases, organisers believe the project will help cultivate civic-minded youth who are equipped to contribute to Uganda’s development—and to the global sustainability agenda.