Meeting Moureen

For the last 18 months, Moureen Ninsiima has been the steady hand at the helm of the Connect Centre in Gulu, where the original two teams of Read for Life and Connect have joined together to work as one large RFL team. Since she started the Mobile Library project has been launched and is already going from strength to strength.

Moureen, are you originally from Gulu?

Although I grew up and went to school in Kampala, I originally came to Gulu as a student for a degree in Social Work. I really enjoyed my studies and also gained really valuable experience working in the IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps with a sports outreach programme, that also offered trauma counselling.

Seeing the smiles on those we worked with really made a difference to me. I quickly realised that everyone needs to be cared for, so I decided to settle in Gulu and continue working there.

Do you have a family here in Gulu?

Well, I met my husband Eric through the outreach work - actually I signed up for a soccer skills course and he was one of the coaches. We became friends and eventually married. We now live just outside Gulu and have two children, who are 6 and 9: Krista and Caleb.

How did you end up working with READ for Life?

I had already heard about READ for Life and its great work, but first met Jody as my children went to the same school as her son, Myron. I had also stepped in to help with an admin role there. As I was teaching my own kids to read, I was challenged to learn more about helping them and wanted to get more involved. I really admired the work being done at the Connect Centre and with Jody's Nursery Teacher Training Course. When the vacancy for Team Leader came about in early 2023, I applied and joined the team in June.

Have you mastered the RFL phonics scheme yourself?

I feel very confident in the effectiveness of the whole phonics package - but I just need to perfect my own knowledge of Set 1 - 3!

                                          Moureen with Accountant Kevin & Teacher Winnie at the Gulu Awayday Training in 2023

Anything else important that we need to know?

My favourite sport is soccer - both playing it and watching it. And my favourite food is pizza! 

How do you see the work of READ for Life continuing and expanding in the future?

Looking at the excellent Fun of Phonics programme and the huge number of schools involved, many of them still do not know "where the treasure is". I would love to advocate and open up READ For Life to other communities, to those that don't know anything about reading.  Also, I would love to send it further out and help others find "the treasure".

We need to see many more remote communities accept the RFL reading package.  I think it would be great to involve parents and PTAs, encouraging them to support their children more in reading. A lack of support has such a negative effect on a child's progress. Community outreach in reading and literacy - now that could be a very exciting direction to move in.

Let's grow that idea! 

Thankyou, Moureen.