BRiCE and the magic of Teacher Learning Circles (TLCs)
In 2019, in Palabek Refugee Settlement in the heart of Uganda's Lamwo district, teachers experienced an inspiring transformation through the Building Resilience in Crisis through Education (BRiCE) project. Implemented under a Brice’s Oxfam-led consortium, BRiCE aimed at strengthening non-formal and formal education systems in Uganda and South Sudan.
Under the project, Luigi Giussani Foundation (LGF) contributed to safer and better teaching and learning in formal and alternative educational through providing training packages on the meaning of education, gender and conflict educational approach, among others. LGF also offered training to teachers in Early Grade Literacy and Mathematics, remedial learning (TaRL) and Accelerated Education programmes, trained teachers using the abridged curriculum following the COVID-19 learning loss at the time and also supported teachers with classroom observation, peer to peer classroom visits but most importantly introduced the popular Teacher Learning Circles (TLCs).

The TLC approach was phenomenal in promoting peer to peer learning among the teachers.
Here are the change stories from the teachers who participated in the project. Rose Morine Obol Adyero, a teacher at Beyogoya Primary School, vividly recalls her early struggles managing refugee children with traumatic backgrounds. Initially, discipline was enforced through caning, but this only deepened the children’s resistance and hostility. "With LGF, I was trained on alternative discipline methods, child-centred learning, and psychosocial support. Now, my learners feel safe and motivated, and school enrolment has soared,” she said.
Philip Ongwech, another teacher at Beyogoya, described how his teaching approach and self-confidence blossomed through LGF's training sessions. “Before, I struggled with making instructional materials. But through TLCs, I learned from my
peers and now create better resources that aid learning,” he explains.
At Glory Land Primary School, teacher Johnk Kalisto Amone reflected on the significant changes in his approach to classroom management and well-being. “BRiCE’s focus on stress management helped me navigate challenges, both at work and home. I’m now better equipped to handle conflicts with a calm mind, and I encourage my learners to do the same,” Amone says. This transformation not only improved his teaching but has also strengthened his relationships at home and with colleagues.
Martha Canodiya from Layamo Agwata Primary School recounted the project’s positive impact on health and hygiene. The formation of a health club improved school sanitation, leading to increased enrolment and parental engagement. “We’ve seen more girls stay in school, as they’re provided with sanitary towels and hygiene essentials. Parents are now regular visitors, checking in on their children’s progress,” Canodiya said.
James Odera, another teacher at Layamo Agwata, witnessed a complete shift in school culture. “Corporal punishment is history. Teachers plan lessons with schemes of work, and everyone dresses professionally, setting an example for our learners,” he explains. Odera emphasizes how these changes have eliminated fear, allowing children to enjoy school without the constant threat of punishment.

At Ogwangcan Primary School, teacher Jackline Acan shared her journey from managing anger and stress through BRiCE’s tailored trainings. “I used to struggle with anger, which even led to health issues. BRiCE’s focus on emotional well-being helped me form a supportive bond with my learners.
Now, I see myself as both an educator and a friend, and my students respond positively,” she says. Amos Awira Okumu, a tutor at Kitgum Core Primary Teachers College, highlighted the shift from passive to active teaching methods in the classroom. “Planning lessons and crafting participatory activities are now integral to our teaching approach,” he explains. Okumu’s school visits reveal the far-reaching effects of BRiCE’s training, as teachers across schools are now prepared, focused, and collaborative, leading to a safer and more enriching environment for learners.
The BRiCE project’s impact reached beyond curriculum; it reshaped lives, instilled hope, resilience, and a renewed passion for education among teachers and pupils alike.