Around the world: In Uganda

Scripture Union has been a leader of children’s ministries for more than 50 years within Uganda. Working with both churches and schools, Scripture Union Uganda (SUU) is engaged in evangelism and discipleship of children and young people through school clubs, camps, and Bible Ministries among others. In their desire to counteract the moral decline and guide young people of all faiths, SUU initiated a Values Education Class (VEC) code-named ‘VOICE’ to mean Values Orientation in Classroom Education.

Volunteer VEC teachers are sent primarily from Christian churches to teach God’s standards of righteousness in classrooms of both Primary and Secondary schools once a week for 6 weeks during each of the three school terms. The VEC curriculum is Biblically based and it uses story-telling as its primary teaching method and is combined with a full-coloured visual aid book. VEC incorporates music and activity sheets to further engage the students. Feedback from school administrators, classroom teachers, parents, volunteer VEC teachers, and the students themselves is revealing the program’s effectiveness.

Generally speaking, Ugandan schools welcome spiritual input from the community for their students. Thus, one of the most strategic ways to teach God’s standard of righteousness is to offer the schools a structured, non-sectarian and an effectively proven values’ teaching program.

Students showing spiritual interest can be channelled into the Scripture Union Club and or a nearby Bible-believing church for further teaching and nurturing. Following the six-week VEC, supporting churches are then tasked with the follow-up of students who are asking for a visit, including a visit with their parents/guardians.