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Ugandan Partner Visit to ATU
Since 2017, Atlantic Technological University (ATU) St Angelas has supported NGO Bright Kids Uganda (BKU) through various humanitarian initiatives. Since then, a formal Erasmus+ partnership has been established which offers students and staff a truly life-changing experience though community engagement projects in the Entebbe region of the country.
In recent years the programme has gone from strength to strength as further links and initiatives are forged through the guidance of trusted community leader and BKU’s Director, Dr Victoria Nalongo Namusisi.
Recipient of the 2023 African Humanitarian Award, Victoria made her inaugural visit to Ireland, and specifically to ATU St Angelas last week, where she got to reconnect with past participants of the programme as well as meet key staff to highlight her ongoing work and the importance of collaborations such as this.
During her visit, Dr Namusisi explained; “Our vision is to establish long term community-based homes for abandoned and neglected children and to provide education, vocational skills and medical care. We can provide protection and love to the vulnerable when they have nowhere else to go”.
As well as supporting the health and welfare needs of children, BKU together with ATU St Angelas also manage projects in the wider community which include general health checks, vision assessments and workshops.
Programme Co-ordinator, Seán Kelly, explains how this transformative experience provides a dual benefit for those involved; “for the kids and the communities, we can provide for and support those marginalised and often neglected in Ugandan society, whether it’s those living with a disability, single mothers, victims of civil unrest or acid attack victims – through Victoria, we can go right to the source and help at grassroots level”. “For our students and staff, we come back with an appreciation and understanding like nothing else – it’s clear that the experience builds on everyone’s empathy towards others and offers valuable leadership skills”.
ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn, adds “alliances such as this reminds us that as a university, we have the potential to go beyond academic structures and the Uganda Programme is the pure definition of community engagement, something we are eager to develop further with our partners in the global south”.
Also welcoming Dr Namusisi to Sligo was Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Declan Bree, who emphasised the significance of these lived experiences for ATU students through initiatives such as this.
In her closing comments, Dr Namusisi said her visit to Sligo highlights the value of partnerships and networking in achieving her goals; “We sincerely appreciate the support of ATU St Angelas to help us positively impact the lives of our children and other people in our communities – this has helped us greatly to observe children’s rights, widen our scope of work, and meet our cost of operation so that we can continue to do what we do”.
In July 2025, a team including eight students and three staff from ATU St Angelas will embark on a two-week programme based in Entebbe. Students are currently fundraising to support ongoing and new projects which help to improve the lives and conditions of the children and the people they meet there. For more visit, www.gofundme.com (ATU St Angela’s Community Engagement in Uganda 2025).
Photo attached:
L-R: Dr Edel McSharry, Head of School of Nursing, Health Sciences and Disability Studies; Dr Amanda McCloat, Head of ATU St Angelas; Seán Kelly, Uganda Programme Co-ordinator; Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Declan Bree; Dr Victoria Nalongo Namusisi, Erasmus+ Partner and Director of Bright Kids Uganda; Michelle McCabe, Home Economics Lecturer, ATU St Angelas; Dr Evelyn McManus, Programme Director, Gener Nursing, ATU St Angelas.
