As we close out 2024, I’m filled with gratitude, pride, and a deep sense of reflection on how far Funlearn Club has come. Our journey this year has been nothing short of remarkable, filled with highs and lows, triumphs and lessons, all of which have shaped us into a stronger, more resilient team. Let me take you through our story of 2024 and share the vision we hold for 2025.
Looking Back: Where We Came From
In 2023, Funlearn Club tasted its first bits of success. Back then, we had started operating in four schools, and though we were a small team, the impact was tangible. One standout experience was at Turkish Light Academy, where we taught over 500 students in various fields, including Innovative Entrepreneurship, Graphics, and Web Designing. It was in these early moments that we saw the seeds of potential begin to sprout. Students came up with brilliant ideas, and we were determined to grow this momentum.
2024: Entering with Enthusiasm
We entered 2024 with renewed energy and lofty expectations. This year, we decided to shift our focus to international schools. While our work with UNEB schools had been impactful, we often faced challenges in incorporating innovative approaches into their traditional systems. With high hopes, we pitched Funlearn Club to two international schools. One became a success story, and the other… well, let me start with the disappointment.
The Ruby International Christian Learning Center Experience
Located in Entebbe, Ruby International Christian Learning Center was our first foray into international schools. We began with a lot of excitement. In my first encounter, I presented concepts in Animation, Filming, and Web Designing. The students were engaged and eager to learn. By the end of the term, their work was nothing short of amazing.
However, behind the scenes, challenges brewed. Despite our agreement with the administration, the principal refused to pay for our services. This was a bitter pill to swallow, as I had hoped international schools would be different from the local schools where we had faced similar issues. The lack of payment put us in a tough spot—I was left with no funds to pay three instructors. The school later fabricated excuses that made no sense, and we decided not to continue with them. While the learners kept checking in, their administration remained a barrier.
The Kabojja International School Success Story
In stark contrast, Kabojja International School was a beacon of positivity. Invited by Mr. Wilber Muwoya, the Head of Careers, to speak at their Careers Day, I was welcomed with open arms by curious students and supportive staff, including their headteacher by then, Mr. James Arthur. Though my initial intention wasn’t to start a club there, the overwhelming interest from students changed my mind.
We started with about ten students, divided into Filming and Web/App Designing groups. During a profiling session, the students shared their dreams and aspirations, many of which they were about to realize through Funlearn. I personally took charge of the Filming Club, while our tech instructor guided the Web/App students. From this, the concept of our Tech Innovation Club was born.
The Birth of the Tech Innovation Club
While coding was initially a significant part of our Web/App Club, I noticed it could be daunting for some students, especially those who already had clear ideas they wanted to bring to life. This led to a reimagining of our approach, reducing the focus on coding to just 5% and emphasizing idea realization. The shift was transformative. Students’ imaginations soared, and we saw remarkable innovations come to life. Let me highlight a few standout projects:
1. Jovitah Namakula and ClassVotex
Jovitah Namakula is the kind of student who sees a problem and decides to do something about it. She was frustrated by how much money schools spent on ballot papers during elections—money that could be used elsewhere. Not to mention the trees that had to be cut to produce those papers. Her vision was bold: to change how students vote, starting in her school and eventually across Africa. That’s how ClassVotex was born—a platform for online student elections that’s efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective.
When Jovitah first came up with the idea, she got to work immediately with the guidance of our web/app instructor. But like most big dreams, the road got tough. A few months in, she started to lose momentum, and for a while, it seemed like ClassVotex would remain just an idea.
Then came the twist. Two weeks before her school elections, Jovitah casually mentioned to me that the school had approved her project for use during the elections. I was thrilled for her—until she dropped the bombshell: the project was still just an idea. Nothing had been built yet.
With only two weeks to go, we jumped into action. As Funlearn, we couldn’t let one of our students’ dreams slip away. We worked tirelessly with Jovitah to develop a working MVP (Minimum Viable Product) in time for elections day. It was a race against the clock, but we made it. On election day, ClassVotex went live, and it worked flawlessly. The elections were a huge success, and the school loved the innovation.
Jovitah didn’t stop there. She took ClassVotex to the Liberty Kuza Challenge, where her idea was recognized as the most innovative. She won first place and walked away with UGX 2,000,000! Watching her grow from a student with an idea to a leader who’s now planning to roll out ClassVotex across schools in Uganda has been nothing short of amazing.
We’re incredibly proud of Jovitah, and we can’t wait to see where ClassVotex goes next!
2. Lisa Nantongo and My School Bites
Lisa Nantongo is just 15 years old, but she’s already a force to be reckoned with. Her story started with a problem that almost every student could relate to: the long, frustrating lines at her school canteen. While most of her peers grumbled and moved on, Lisa decided she was going to fix it. She envisioned a platform that would allow students to pre-order meals, pay cashless, and skip the lines entirely. That’s how My School Bites was born.
But the road to making My School Bites a reality wasn’t smooth. For starters, coming up with the perfect name was a journey in itself—we brainstormed, debated, and scratched out more options than I care to admit. Then there were the nitty-gritty details, like designing the platform and figuring out how it would actually work in a school environment.
The real turning point, though, was market research. Lisa didn’t just sit back and make assumptions; she rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She interviewed her fellow students, the school administration, and—perhaps the most intimidating of all—the school canteen staff. The canteen already had a system in place, so convincing them to give technology a try wasn’t easy. But Lisa’s determination won them over. They agreed to test the idea, and just like that, the groundwork for My School Bites was set.
Her efforts quickly started paying off. Lisa entered the Liberty Kuza Challenge, where her idea came in second place, just behind Jovitah’s. For her hard work, she walked away with UGX 2,000,000. But Lisa wasn’t done yet. She then took her idea to the Kidspreneur Uganda Pitching Competition, where she emerged as the overall winner. Imagine that—her idea was winning awards even before it officially launched!
Now, we’re gearing up for the grand launch of My School Bites, planned for January 2025. Watching Lisa grow through this process has been nothing short of inspiring. From market research to pitching competitions, she’s shown a level of drive and maturity far beyond her years. And honestly? We couldn’t be prouder.
3. Cynthia Owomugisha and EquiSkool
Cynthia Owomugisha wasn’t originally part of the Funlearn Tech Innovation Club. She was actually a member of our Filming Club, but what made her stand out was her fearless nature. Cynthia was the kind of student who could walk into any room and talk about her business, Eco Harmony, without skipping a beat. She knew her numbers, her business plan, and probably even had a pitch ready in her sleep. Eco Harmony was her passion—it revolved around animal husbandry and sustainability, and she was laser-focused on making it work.
When Liberty Insurance announced the KUZA Challenge, a competition for students with innovative business ideas, Cynthia jumped right in. She confidently presented Eco Harmony, and we all thought she had a solid chance. But to everyone’s surprise, she didn’t win. Instead, the spotlight went to two of our Tech Innovation Club stars, Jovitah and Lisa. You can imagine Cynthia’s frustration—it was like being so close to the finish line and tripping on the last step.
But Cynthia isn’t one to back down. Soon after, another competition came knocking: the Kidspreneur Uganda Challenge. This time, though, she was nervous. Losing once had shaken her confidence, and she was worried about a repeat performance. That’s when she did something bold: she reached out to me in a public WhatsApp group. It was a simple message but carried so much weight. She asked for help, and of course, I couldn’t say no.
We had a long phone call that evening, brainstorming how to turn things around. That call was the beginning of something incredible. Together, we cooked up a completely new idea: Equiskool. The concept was simple but powerful—a platform where students could invest in animal husbandry and watch their investments grow. We realized that while non-tech ideas like Eco Harmony are valuable, they’re often harder to scale and attract investors. By incorporating a tech angle, we gave Cynthia’s passion a new lease on life.
The next few weeks were a whirlwind. We designed the website, refined the business model, and even lined up a few potential partnerships. By the time Cynthia entered the Kidspreneur Uganda competition, she was armed with a polished pitch and an idea that was leagues ahead of what she had before. And guess what? She won! Not just any win—her idea was crowned the “Best Long-Lasting Idea.”
But it didn’t stop there. Equiskool quickly gained traction. We sealed a partnership with Youth Platform Africa (YPA), which provided goats as investment opportunities on the platform. Cynthia is now dreaming big—like, 75-billion-sillings-in-cash-flow-in-10-years kind of big. Ambitious? Absolutely. But if anyone can pull it off, it’s Cynthia.
Looking back, it’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do at Funlearn. It’s not just about teaching skills—it’s about being there when students like Cynthia need that extra nudge to turn their dreams into reality. And hey, if that means taking late-night calls and brainstorming business ideas on a whim, sign us up!
Pictures from the KidsPrenuer Uganda Summit where Cynthia and Lisa Emerged winners
Snippet from the Liberty Kuza Challenge
Other Innovators
We’re also fortunate to have other incredible students in our Funlearn community, including Favoured and Karen from Brook International Christian Academy, Nelisa, Thecla, and Vanessa from Nazarite Home School Academy, and Mach and Pauline from Kabojja International School. Each of them is currently working on innovative ideas that have the potential to make a real impact.
Although these ideas haven’t been shared publicly yet, I can assure you they’re truly remarkable and show the creativity, resilience, and problem-solving spirit we nurture at Funlearn. We’re eagerly watching their progress and can’t wait for the world to see what they’re creating!
Expanding Our Reach
In addition to Kabojja, we established clubs at several other schools, including:
Christian Light International School: Students explored Filming and Computer Graphics.
The Brook International School: Focused on Graphics and Tech Innovation.
Entebbe Junior Cambridge International School: Introduced Filming and Graphics.
Nazarite Home School Academy: Students delved into Graphics and Tech Innovation.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
2024 wasn’t without its share of challenges. One major hurdle was our initial online learning platform, which proved to be substandard. The platform fell short of our expectations, resulting in high dropout rates among homeschooling students. This setback, however, became a turning point. It pushed us to develop a world-class platform that now serves learners across the globe, ensuring a much better experience and more impactful learning.
Another key lesson we learned was the importance of focus. Initially, we were teaching multiple disciplines, ranging from digital art to IT and innovation. However, as the year progressed, it became clear that Tech Innovation had the most significant impact. Streamlining our efforts in this area allowed us to refine our approach and deliver better results.
That said, we haven’t abandoned the other courses. They remain available through our online learning platform, providing flexibility and variety for learners who want to explore additional fields at their own pace. This year taught us the value of adaptability and focus, and we’re carrying these lessons forward into 2025.
The Innovation Corner TV show
As we step into 2025, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of The Innovation Corner on Hope Channel Uganda. This TV program is a game-changer for us, providing a platform to showcase the creativity and innovation of our students to a wider audience. Available on Free-to-Air, GoTV, and Startimes, The Innovation Corner features engaging sessions with mentors, inspiring stories from young innovators, and live competitions that keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
We believe this initiative will not only spotlight the incredible talent of our learners but also inspire thousands of other young minds across Uganda to embrace creativity and innovation. With this new venture, you can expect even more thrilling competitions, impactful mentorship moments, and groundbreaking ideas brought to life in 2025. Stay tuned as we make this year our most exciting one yet!
Our Partners
We are incredibly grateful to our partners, whose support has been instrumental in shaping our journey this year.
First, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to StartHub Africa, who have stood by us in numerous ways—offering mentorship, financial support, and other invaluable resources. Their unwavering belief in our vision has been a cornerstone of our success, and we are proud to have them as partners.
Secondly, a special thanks goes to Kidsprenuer Uganda, an organization deeply committed to nurturing entrepreneurial skills among students. My relationship with the founder goes back nearly six years, and their support has been both professional and personal. They have helped us empower our learners to think big and dream bold.
Thirdly, a special thanks to Hope Channel Uganda, our partners that have made the innovation corner possible, providing a platform to showcase the creativity and innovation of our students to a wider audience. Available on Free-to-Air, GoTV, and Startimes
Our Team
Behind every milestone we’ve achieved this year is an incredible team working tirelessly, often going above and beyond to make things happen. I want to take this opportunity to thank each member of our team for their dedication, creativity, and resilience. You are the backbone of our work, and 2024 wouldn’t have been a reality without your efforts.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we step into 2025, our vision is clear. We aim to:
- Expand our Tech Innovation Clubs to more schools.
- Enhance our online platform to offer even more personalized, self-paced learning.
- Launch student-led innovations like ClassVotex and My School Bites on a larger scale.
- Empower more students through competitions and public platforms.
Final Thoughts
2024 has been our longest, most challenging, yet most rewarding year since Funlearn Club’s inception in 2022. We’ve grown in ways we never imagined, and the lessons we’ve learned have prepared us for even greater things. To everyone who has been part of this journey—our students, instructors, partner schools, and supporters—thank you. Here’s to a brighter, bolder 2025!
Written By:
Baliira Rodney
Founder of Funlearn Club
I have been an educator for seven years now, and my journey has been nothing short of inspiring. It all began when I was just 20 years old, back in university, where I started teaching graphics at an institute. Since then, my passion for sharing knowledge has taken me on an incredible path.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working in diverse roles, from TV stations to lecturing students at GreenBridge School of Open Technologies. I’ve taught across all levels of education—nursery, primary, secondary, and university.
Academically, I hold a degree in Industrial Art and Design from Kampala University, complemented by specialized training in Computer Animation from Kyambogo University.
Through Funlearn Club, I am committed to making education not just accessible but transformative for every learner. It’s a journey of passion, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of helping young minds reach their full potential.
