READ for Life is a dynamic organization dedicated to transforming the educational landscape in Uganda. Founded by Jody Unterrheiner and Akello Catherine, READ for Life aims to empower teachers and improve literacy among Ugandan schoolchildren. It all started when Jody and Catherine, both teachers, realized the immense difficulties their upper primary students were facing in reading basic text.

Determined to make a difference, they began teaching remedial phonics lessons to older pupils, witnessing incredible progress firsthand. Inspired by this success, they decided to focus their efforts on teaching phonics in primary one. The impact was astonishing, as their primary one class excelled in reading compared to other grades.

Motivated by this, Jody developed a comprehensive phonics curriculum manual tailored to Ugandan classrooms and started conducting trainings for teachers across Gulu. Now, READ for Life has grown and trained the teachers of over 50 primary schools in Gulu municipality. Their ultimate goal is to ensure that all early primary teachers in Uganda receive the best literacy instruction practices, enabling every child to become a strong reader and writer.

Join READ for Life in their mission to change the story of Ugandan schools