“I used to stammer a lot when I joined school last year,” explains Ebenezer, 13. “My classmates would laugh at me, and I would feel bad,” he reveals. He just re-joined the school. “TeamUp helped me create friendships and cooperate with others and now, many of my classmates are now my friends.“
“I had left the school earlier because my parents could not afford the fees,” he explains. Being new and laughed at made adjusting to school hard.
Now, a Primary 5 student, Ebenezer is in the debate club and has many friends at school. Things changed for him when his school started TeamUp sessions. “TeamUp helped me create friendships and cooperate with others,” Ebenezer shares, “and now, many of my classmates are now my friends, “he adds smiling.
TeamUp is a psychosocial approach developed by War Child Holland together with Save the Children and UNICEF Netherlands to provide social and emotional support to children through sports and movement activities. Originally developed for children living as refugees, the approach has been implemented by Joining Forces for Africa (JOFA) project in both refugee and development settings.
Sharon Twikirize, Joining Forces Child Protection specialist explains that “JOFA adapted the approach for the development setting to support children cope with stresses and handle issues like conflict among themselves and low self-esteem.”
The approach is being implemented through schools with the teachers facilitating the sessions. The one-hour sessions are carried out during the scheduled physical education (PE) time. JOFA, through Child Fund, trained teachers especially, those interested in sports and PE. The teachers then cascade the training to their colleagues.
A TeamUp session is structured with an opening, middle and closing. “The opening is an activity to set the mood, the middle is the game with the lesson you want to the children to learn, and the closing is a cool down, “explains Sharon. It also supports teachers identify children who may have an issue. “There are three facilitators at each session. They monitor children to see who is not enjoying or whose behaviour is out of the ordinary so that they are able to follow up,” Sharon adds.
The sessions also support children with disabilities to participate. “Children with disabilities are given activities that are appropriate like giving the instructions and blowing the whistle. This ensures that they are not left out,” explains Sharon.
JOFA is implementing the approach in Kampala, Wakiso, Gulu, Busia, Bugiri and Obongi. “We have heard a lot of positive feedback from the schools and we hope that this approach can be scaled-up nationwide,” Sharon reveals.
At Kitala Primary School, in Entebbe, Wakiso district, the approach is supporting children improve their relationships with other children and their teachers. “I learn to work with my friends. For example, if another child has annoyed you in class, and the person is on your team, you become friends because you need to work together,” Ebenezer explains. Creating friendships has helped him cope with hard situations at home. “There are problems at home but when I reach school, my friends help me, and I am able to do well.”
Catherine Nansubuga, Senior Woman teacher and TeamUp facilitator explains that the approach has been a good tool in helping children become more confident in class. “I used to have learners who were shy in class. But through TeamUp, they have become more active.” “We made them leaders in some of the TeamUp activities. This helped them feel like part of the team and now, they offer themselves for leadership in class,” she adds.
Catherine explains that the TeamUp has greatly improved children’s behaviour and relationship with teachers. “There is a spirit of unity in the school and discipline overall has improved.” “Children are more open to us. They share their problems, and we support them, “she reveals.
TeamUp is also contributing to an increase in enrolment at the school. “The population of the school has increased. We used to have 532 learners. Now, we have 642,” reveals Daniel Kabanda Headteacher of Kitala Primary school.
Catherine is excited about continuing TeamUp sessions. “We are going to continue these sessions because TeamUp has changed the children of Kitala.” This is especially true for children like Ebenezer.
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This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union.
Its contents are the sole responsibility of Joining Forces and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.