Raceland Middle School Students Get a Glimpse of Uganda

Raceland Middle School Students

Get a Glimpse of Uganda

Jarrod E. Stephens

The Ashland Beacon

When you enter a typical classroom, you will find kids engaged in daily work that requires a computer and sometimes a textbook. Education in the 21st century has become increasingly difficult as kids are continually immersed in technology and games. It’s easy to overlook your blessings when you don’t look up. However, sometimes a return to the simplest forms of learning can render the most excitement and results.

As the kids entered Mr. Ryan Biederman’s classroom this past week they were fortunate to have a guest speaker who has become a familiar face around our region and world. Mrs. Amy Compston and her husband Chris have created the Amy for Africa foundation where they educate and care for kids in Uganda. The African nation struggles with poverty and political corruption and caring for its most vulnerable has become the mission of the couple.

Amy shared the seven pillars of society, government, military, religion, media, education, business and family and compared the Ugandan way of life to that of an American. Mr. Biederman’s class is currently in the midst of a unit about Africa and when the students heard first-hand information about the difficult living conditions of Ugandans, you could see the seeds of learning germinating.

When Amy asked the class, “What does it cost you to attend school at Raceland?” The answer was a resounding, “Nothing.” She went on to explain that most kids never get the chance to be formally educated in Uganda and can expect of live in poverty their entire life.

That question and response was part of Biederman’s intentions for the project. When asked the purpose for the project, he responded, “For students to learn about a culture different from their own. This is a way they can experience cultural diffusion for themselves. There are many differences between Eastern Kentucky and Uganda. I hope that students realize how good we have it here in the U.S.”

It was apparent that the students in attendance were shocked to learn about the poverty that most Ugandans live through. Lack of basic essentials such as food and clothing were highlighted during the presentation. After her presentation Amy shared a video highlighting the work of the foundation. Afterwards Mr. Biederman reflected on the students’ response by saying, “Through the presentation, it was obvious that our 7^th graders realized they should be more thankful for all of the comforts we have in our part of the world and complain less.”

“The overall mission of Amy for Africa is to give hope to the kids of Uganda by introducing them to Jesus Christ,” Amy stated. “We do this through many means such as community Bible studies, food distributions and job training through a program called Threads of Hope.”

The culminating activity for the unit will be a Pen Pal experience between Mr. Biederman’s class and the Ugandan school where Amy and Chris work. The seventh graders wrote letters to the Ugandan students hoping to gain a clearer understanding of what life is like in their country. In exchange, Mr. Biederman’s students will be able to share information about their lives to the students in Uganda.

Amy and Chris are leaving for Uganda on January 26, 2026 with the letters from Mr. Biederman’s students and will bring the reply letters when they return in March.

Based upon the reactions and questions posed by the students who are participating in the project, their eyes were opening to just how blessed they truly are to be students in an American school. Now after getting a glimpse of Uganda, the students in Mr. Biederman’s classes can eagerly wait for a reply from their new pen pals and reflect on the blessings of their educational opportunities.