Danida is a community in Jinja, Eastern Uganda, and home to our second 22STARS project location.
Our connection to Jinja, however, began long before 22STARS Foundation existed.
A relationship that goes back to 2009
In 2009, Stella met Aidah Nambozo while spending time in Uganda. Aidah had a background in social work and strong connections within her community in Jinja.
It was also Aidah who later introduced Stella to Susan Laker in Kampala’s Acholi Quarter, a meeting that eventually became an important part of the story behind 22STARS.
Over the years, the friendship and collaboration continued.
As our education programs developed in Kampala, it became clear that the same long-term approach could also create opportunities for children and families in Jinja. Our work expanded to Danida, and the locally registered Shining Stars CBO was established to lead our programs there.
Led by people from the community
Today, Shining Stars is led by a local team that knows the children, families, schools and wider community personally.
This local knowledge shapes everything we do.
The team follows children's progress at school, stays in close contact with caregivers, organises weekly programs and identifies where additional support can make a meaningful difference.
Rather than programs being designed from Europe and brought to Jinja, priorities are developed together with the people implementing the work every day.
Education and much more
Education remains at the heart of our work in Danida.
Through child sponsorships, children are supported from kindergarten and primary school through secondary education and vocational training.
But what happens outside the classroom matters too.
At Shining Stars, children come together for weekly nutrition, homework support, holiday activities, mentorship and opportunities to learn new skills. Families can participate in entrepreneurship and savings initiatives designed to strengthen livelihoods and create greater financial independence.
The result is not one isolated project, but a community of children, caregivers and local leaders growing together over many years.
Learning from each other
Danida is also where visitors joining our Impact Trips get to experience some of our programs firsthand.
One favourite is cooking together with the women of Shining Stars.
Visitors do not come to teach. They join the kitchen, learn how local dishes are prepared, try new techniques and inevitably discover that the women are much faster at almost everything.
Between chopping vegetables, rolling chapati and preparing meals, conversations happen naturally. Skills are exchanged, stories are shared and there is usually plenty of laughter.
These simple moments reflect something important about our approach: everyone has something to contribute, and everyone has something to learn.
Shining Stars today
What began with relationships between a small number of people has grown into a locally led community organisation supporting children and families throughout the year.
Aidah and the Shining Stars team remain at the centre of that work.
22STARS Foundation provides funding, international coordination and access to a global community of sponsors and supporters. Our local team brings the relationships, experience and everyday understanding that make the programs work.
Together, we can commit for the long term.
Because meaningful change rarely happens through one intervention or one school year. It grows through education, opportunity, trust and relationships built over time.
Danida became our second project community.
Today, it is an essential part of the 22STARS family.