This October half-term, Emily Walton, Bluesoup’s Head of Digital, joined Edukid on an unforgettable trip to Cambodia.

Bluesoup donates 10% of its profits to Edukid, and this journey was not only a way to support the trip but also an opportunity to witness first-hand how those contributions make a real difference.

“During my weeklong trip, I created some truly unforgettable experiences with the team from Edukid and all the young people I met along the way.

We met some of the rural communities supported by Edukid, which highlighted the profound difference educational funding can make.

One evening, I was honoured to meet a few of the university students who are funded by Bluesoup – we dined on frogs, beetles and crickets washed down with a green fanta! Rathana, in particular, blew me away – she works tirelessly in her community as an intern and teaching English, and then goes to university at the weekend, where she studies full-time. Her passion and commitment were so inspiring and it reinforced the value of Edukid’s work.

I am proud to be part of an organisation like Bluesoup who support Edukid in creating opportunities that empower and inspire communities and individuals. It was an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.”

Gerald who lives Northern Uganda had a tough start to life. He grew up living in extreme poverty and although he was old enough to be in school, he had been forced to drop out. His family simply could not afford schools fees or the equipment needed such as scholastic materials and uniforms that would allow him to continue his education.

Later that year, Edukid met Gerald and moved by his story, we stepped in to support him and ensure he could return to school. Gerald has since been supported by Edukid through primary school, and he has excelled his way through secondary school and university.

Gerald has recently graduated from university with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering! Since graduating, Gerald has been working and training in a local garage, where he has been using his skills to gain invaluable hands-on experience. Using his skills, he is also working at a local college teaching students about Mechanical Engineering. He is passionate about sharing his skills and knowledge with the next generation of learners.

His next dream? To pursue further education in a more specialised field of mechanical engineering and eventually start his own business. When speaking to Gerald on a recent visit to Uganda, he said:

“My vision is to provide skills, training and job opportunities to local children who lack opportunities. I believe this will build and empower the community”.

We’re so excited to see Gerald continue to grow and give back to his local community.

Gerald’s story is a clear example of the importance of education, and its power to break the cycle of poverty. It also serves as a reminder to us, that education can cause positive, ripple effects throughout the entire community.

In 2017, driven by a vision of empowering communities through solar light, Natalie and Edukid established Solar 4 Students – an initiative that provided a safe and sustainable source of light for students living in very rural communities in Northern Uganda. Fast forward to 2023, and the impact was profound – 522 solar panels have been distributed so far to children within the Edukid programme. The path towards a brighter and sustainable future has been created.

At the beginning of February 2024, the Solar 4 Students team travelled to Northern Uganda, Gulu, to distribute the final solar panels to children at Wilacic and Koch Goma Primary School. Throughout the week, the S4S team heard about the challenges the students face using paraffin candles, particularly for health and security. Importantly the children expressed their struggles to complete homework without electricity, and in the dark. During this week, the final 62 students in the Edukid programme received the gift of light for the very first time!

After sunset one night during the trip, the team visited a local family to light up their banda for the very first time with their new solar panels. The impacts were beyond imaginable, and the basic activities that were once a challenge such as cooking, reading, and simply spending quality time together, became not only possible but also enjoyable. With solar, children have the opportunity to study during the evenings, improve the quality of their education and therefore improve their educational outcomes.

Prior to this trip, 522 solar panels had been gifted to children enrolled on the Edukid programme. By the end of the week, all 584 children had received the gift of light!

“This is what it is all about! After 10 years, the 584th and final solar light has been switched on! The team visited a local family after sunset during our week in Uganda to light up their banda for the very first time. The impact goes beyond education, health and security. It’s global love and connection! 💡💛🌍

The solar panel programme is not just about providing light—it’s about empowering communities and creating brighter futures for children and their families!

Thank you so much to the Gulu community for inviting us into their hearts and homes and giving us the opportunity to show love through light.”

We recently heard from Charlie, a student currently enrolled on Edukid’s Global Citizenship Programme and volunteering as part of his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. During his time with Edukid, Charlie has been learning about the lack of access to clean, safe drinking water in Gulu, Northern Uganda – one of the many challenges faced by the communities we support.

In response, Charlie has launched his own fundraising campaign. He shared:

“I want to raise money for clean, safe water in Uganda. I will be fundraising via a sponsored row & cycle across the distance of Uganda – from Kampala to Gulu, which is 330km.”

We are so encouraged to see young people like Charlie taking action and advocating for global issues with such thoughtfulness and drive.

Hi, my name is Kirsty, and I first went on a trip with Edukid in 2023 to Uganda.

Since then, I have stayed in contact with the team, firstly to do voluntary work on their databases from home, and secondly to try and spread word of the trips at university. I am currently a student at the University of Bath, and wanted to set up a way in which university students could go on trips, so I have started to train as an Edukid leader to be able to take people on university specific trips, the first of which goes to Uganda in June 2026. In order to train as a leader, I went on another trip to Uganda this year acting as one of the leaders, which was an excellent opportunity.

I was very surprised how much of an impact my first trip had on me. I know people always say these sorts of things, but you really have to be there to see and understand it. I am not a particularly emotional person, but going on this trip made me realise how much we have at home, and how little it takes to change a child’s whole world by giving them an education. On this trip, we spent several days at the school doing activities and learning about the local culture, and we also visited the home of a student to see what their daily life consists of. For me, the home visit was the most touching part of the trip, and the bit that motivated me to want to make a difference to this community.

After coming home from my trip, I decided to sponsor a student, as the small expense for me can improve their entire future, as well as their family’s. I now get annual updates about how my student is doing, including statements from her and photos of her at school. It is amazing to see how you are actively changing someone’s life. However, it is not possible to pay for everyone to go to school, and I still felt I wanted to make more of a difference, so I got in contact with the Edukid team again, looking for voluntary work I could do to help remotely. I now do small amounts of work on their databases, which takes pressure off employees and allows them to put more time and effort into working on projects which go towards the education of children living in extreme poverty, without taking up too much of my time.

Once I had my place at university confirmed, I knew I wanted to try and organise a trip with them, so we could increase awareness of and contact with Edukid around the country. After working with the team, we decided the best thing to do was create a trip specifically for students, which is slightly longer than usual trips, to give people an opportunity to see things for themselves. We then thought that it would be a good idea for me to become trained as a leader so it could be a university-led trip, and so I could take people on these trips every year once there was more knowledge about them. This led to me going on my second trip to Uganda in 2025, which turned out to be the best trip of my life. It was so lovely to return, knowing what to expect, to meet some of the people I had met previously and even to meet the girl that I sponsor to see how her life is progressing.

I would love for everyone to have the opportunity to go on one of these trips, to experience the wonderful things Edukid do in country, to see the different cultures and to integrate with the local communities. It really is a life changing experience, so if you ever get the chance, you should take it straight away, it is the best decision you will ever make. If not, it is amazing to make a difference in any way you can: financially, through volunteering or even just by spreading awareness. My hope is that Edukid will have the resources to expand and change many more lives than they already have.

Edukid’s mission is to educate, inspire and empower individuals all over the world!

Edukid ran oversea zoom calls with primary and secondary schools across the UK to connect with students in Uganda. Over the calls all groups of students had the opportunity to ask each other questions to find out more about their schools, hobbies, values, cultures and of course their favourite football teams!

Each zoom finished with our UK students learning Acholi – the language spoken in Northern Uganda. The students in Uganda took the lead with this and successfully taught 1-10 and simple words and phrases such as – Hello, My name is, and Thank you. The students were very keen to learn Acholi, particularly the secondary students who will soon be travelling to Uganda and visiting the children.

Edukid’s School Coordinator, Rosie, commented: “A particularly memorable moment was when Bickleigh Primary students sung a song from the popular musical, “Matilda” to the students in Uganda. This then encouraged and empowered Pauline in Uganda to sing a popular Ugandan song to her cross-continent friends both inspiring each other and creating beautiful memories.”.

Delighted smiles lit up the room and both the UK and Ugandan students were simply beaming with joy! It was truly a beautiful moment to be apart of, as cross-continent friendships were created.

Thank you to all the schools, both UK and Uganda, who took part with us in creating smiles, laughter, and lots of learning!

Last month, a total of 80 girls successfully completed the Bonga Girls programme and celebrated during their graduation ceremony!

These young women, who had previously been denied access to education, faced numerous challenges in their lives. Many were at high risk of child marriage, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse.

The Bonga Girls Programme has not only provided them with the opportunity to acquire valuable training in vocational skills such as baking, hairdressing, and tailoring, but has also empowered them with the knowledge and confidence to build brighter futures for themselves and their young children. This programme marks a turning point for these girls, offering them an opportunity to become self-sufficient, improve their living conditions, and break the cycle of poverty and abuse that they were once trapped in.

This day was filled with special memories, and an opportunity to honour the resilience, courage, and determination of these young women 🩷

In April 2024, Edukid staff Kate, Kara, Robbie, and Chloe, took to the streets of London to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon, raising both awareness and vital funds for Edukid’s life-changing projects around the world.

After months of committed training, early mornings, and pushing through personal challenges, each of them crossed the finish line with pride – and purpose!

This wasn’t just a personal achievement. Each runner chose to support a specific Edukid cause close to their heart:

Chloe ran to raise funds for solar panels, helping bring sustainable, reliable energy to schools and communities that often go without electricity.

Kara dedicated her race to the Bonga Girls in Uganda, raising funds to support vulnerable girls helping them access education and vocational training.

Kate and Robbie teamed up to raise money for our Girls’ Shelter in Peru, which provides a safe space, education, and hope for girls escaping abuse or extreme poverty.

Huge congratulations to them all for absolutely smashing their races, and fundraising!

In October 2023, Becca and her son travelled to Uganda on an Edukid trip. During her visit, she noticed that the water source at Koch Goma school, previously constructed by the local government, had become unreliable and inadequate for the school and surrounding community. Motivated to make a difference, Becca, her husband Rick and family set out to raise money for a new, more reliable borehole that would provide clean, safe water to the children and the wider community in Koch Goma, Northern Uganda.

Fast forward to the beginning of 2025, and their “Miles for Smiles” journey has been truly inspiring! From running events like the Bristol Half Marathon, Manchester Marathon and Bristol 10k, Becca and Rick have been tirelessly raising funds for this vital cause.

The students of Koch Goma returned to school in Uganda in February, and this was such a wonderful welcome for them, ensuring clean water was available when they arrived back after the holidays. What a beautiful start to the new school term!

A massive THANK YOU to Becca, Rick, and their family for their hard work and dedication – and to everyone who has supported them along the way!