Donate NowAccelerating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Empowering Girls, Transforming Futures, Unlocking Potential Through Education
Social Social-emotional learning is the foundation for all other learning, achievement and human flourishing. When students regulate emotions and work together makes it possible to learn well and achieve better learning outcomes. Despite this, SEL aspects do not yet receive the adequate attention they deserve. JM Education and Research Centre (JMERC) exists to provide all youth in Uganda with opportunities to develop the abilities (skills, values, behaviours and attitudes) they need to manage their emotions and work well with others to achieve personal and social goals. By developing SEL skills, the students are not only able to study well and achieve better learning outcomes but are also better positioned for the labour market. This significantly reduces youth unemployment and gender inequality.
Gender disparities in education remain a pressing issue in Africa, with over 15 million girls in Sub-Saharan Africa aged 6-18 out of school. Barriers such as gender-blind school systems, restrictive norms, and a lack of agency hinder girls' educational access. JM Education and Research Centre (JMERC) is committed to providing school-aged girls in Uganda with equal and quality education opportunities. By empowering them, we help girls gain the knowledge and confidence to contribute positively to their families, communities, and beyond.
Our goal is to produce a generation of youth who are self-aware, life-long learners, with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Girls’ Education and Empowerment
Empowering Girls, Transforming Futures, Unlocking Potential Through Education
Gender disparities in education remain a pressing issue in Africa, with over 15 million girls in Sub-Saharan Africa aged 6-18 out of school. Barriers such as gender-blind school systems, restrictive norms, and a lack of agency hinder girls' educational access. JM Education and Research Centre (JMERC) is committed to providing school-aged girls in Uganda with equal and quality education opportunities. By empowering them, we help girls gain the knowledge and confidence to contribute positively to their families, communities, and beyond.
JMERC partners with secondary schools in rural Uganda, focusing on nurturing girls' agency and potential. We develop supportive school ecosystems, offer teacher training in gender-responsive methodologies, and provide direct mentorship in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), leadership, and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH).
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by young mothers and survivors of gender-based violence, we help them overcome past traumas and prepare for a future filled with hope and confidence. We inspire girls to define their dreams and support them in becoming leaders in their families, communities, and on the global stage.
Foundational Learning
Empowering Ugandan children to learn and thrive through play-based education
Access to quality basic education is a fundamental right for every global citizen. In Uganda, this remains an aspiration for many, as 83% of children aged 10 cannot read age-appropriate text. Most of these children live in rural areas where families face entrenched poverty, making their hopes for socio-economic recovery through education fragile. JM Education and Research Centre (JMERC) is dedicated to transforming this reality by providing all children in Uganda with opportunities to learn, achieve, and thrive.
JMERC partners with primary schools in rural communities, focusing on building literacy, numeracy, and transferable skills through play-based learning. We engage teachers in developing inclusive and gender-responsive teaching methodologies, using formative assessment data to group learners by competence. By empowering parents, community leaders, policymakers, and NGOs to champion this effective approach, we lay the groundwork for systemic change in education and a sustainable path toward ending learning poverty.
Our goal is to eliminate learning gaps and ensure all children learn, achieve, and thrive, regardless of social and economic background. We create enabling school ecosystems and inspire community involvement, nurturing champions of children's learning and building resilient futures.
Empowering Youth through Vocational Skills
Empowering Uganda's Youth: Vocational Skills for Economic and Social Transformation
Poverty and unemployment continue to wreck rural communities in Uganda. The most affected are youth, especially girls and young women. High poverty levels have caused girls to drop out of school, resulting in high rates of early pregnancies, early marriages, and high unemployment rates which undermines peoples’ social and economic well-being and ultimately their human dignity.
JMERC’s vocational skills initiative is part of the Youth Empowerment programme and provides the youth, especially girls and young women with avenues and tools for self-reliance, and economic empowerment.
Our goal is to empower young people and thus nurture a generation of young men and women who are socially and economically empowered, transforming their lives, families and communities.
Strengthening Teacher Capacity for Holistic Learning
Addressing Teacher Challenges: Building Capacity and Motivation for Quality, Inclusive Education in Uganda
While the teaching profession holds immense potential for shaping young minds and fostering positive change, educators in many developing countries often face significant challenges and frustrations, leading to a high turnover rate. This poses a critical issue as the quality of teaching directly impacts student learning outcomes. Research consistently highlights teachers as the most influential factor in students' academic achievement.
At JM Education and Research Centre (JMERC), we are committed to addressing this challenge by ensuring that all children in Uganda have access to quality education. We focus on partnering with schools in rural communities, where resources and support for teachers are often limited. Our approach centres on enhancing teachers' intrinsic motivation and building their capacity to implement learner-centred, inclusive, and gender-responsive teaching methodologies.
Through our programs, we empower teachers to nurture both the academic and non-academic skills of their students, creating a conducive learning environment that fosters holistic development. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate a dedicated cadre of educators who are not only motivated to teach but also equipped with the necessary skills to support students in achieving their full potential.
Engaging and Empowering Parents for Holistic Learning
Revitalizing Parental Engagement: Empowering Rural Parents to Enhance Their Children's Educational Outcomes
Parents are integral to their children's educational journey, profoundly impacting their social, emotional, and academic development. Research consistently demonstrates that active parental involvement correlates with improved academic performance, healthier lifestyle choices, and enhanced social skills among students. In Uganda, the importance of parental engagement is not only recognised in the country's constitution but also emphasized in education legislation.
However, in many rural public schools, parental involvement in their children's education has waned. JM Education and Research Centre (JMERC) is dedicated to revitalising parental responsibility and engagement in rural communities. Through open dialogues focused on pertinent educational issues, we aim to reignite parents' commitment to their children's learning.
Our objective is to empower parents by providing platforms for discussions on the challenges affecting their children's education. By fostering collaboration and collective problem-solving, we strive to facilitate holistic learning experiences for every child.