Acholi Quarter is where the story of 22STARS began.
Located in Kampala, the community became home to many Acholi families who had been displaced from Northern Uganda during decades of conflict. Over time, people from different parts of Uganda also settled here, creating the diverse community that exists today.
Formany families, earning a stable income remains challenging. Stone quarrying has historically been an important source of income, alongside small businesses, trading and other informal work.
But Acholi Quarter is much more than the challenges its residents face. It is a community shaped by strong relationships, entrepreneurship, creativity and people working hard to create opportunities for their families.
Where our journey started
Our connection to Acholi Quarter goes back long before 22STARS Foundation officially existed.
It was here that Stella met Susan Laker, who would later become the ProjectLeader of our locally registered CBO, Shooting Stars.
Susan and other women in the community were creating jewellery from recycled paper beads. What began as a collaboration around jewellery gradually grew into something much bigger.
Through years of working together, spending time with families and listening to what mattered most to the community, one priority kept coming back: education.
We saw firsthand what access to education could change, not only for one child, but for an entire family.
When 22STARS Foundation was established in 2017, Acholi Quarter therefore became our first project location. Following this, the locally registered ShootingStars CBO was established to lead and implement our programs within thecommunity.
Led from with in the community
Today,our work in Acholi Quarter is led by people who live in and know the community personally.
The Shooting Stars team works directly with children, caregivers and schools, coordinating education, nutrition, mentorship and community programs throughout the year.
This local leadership is central to how 22STARS works.
Rather than arriving with predetermined solutions, programs develop through ongoing conversations with families and our local team about the challenges they are facing and the support that can make a meaningful difference.
Beyond education
Education remains at the heart of our work, but supporting a child often means looking beyond the classroom.
Our programs therefore also include weekly nutrition, homework and holiday activities, computer and music lessons, entrepreneurship support, savings initiatives and practical assistance for families.
Parents and caregivers can access opportunities to strengthen their livelihoods, while children have a safe community around them as they progress through school and into adulthood.
The goal is not simply to provide temporary assistance. It is to create
opportunities that help children and families build greater independence and choices for their future.
A community that shaped 22STARS
Acholi Quarter has shaped 22STARS from the very beginning.
Manyof the relationships behind our work have now existed for more than a decade. Children we first met when they were young have grown into teenagers and young adults. Families have built businesses. Local team members have developed and expanded programs based on what they see and experience every day.
Our role has grown too, but the principle remains the same:
Listen locally. Work together. Invest for the long term.
What started with a few relationships in Acholi Quarter eventually grew into the wider 22STARS community we know today.
And this is still where a very important part of our story continues.