What happens when you redesign education around the people who have been left behind?
Meet Alice Achan - social worker, educator and founder of the Te-Kworo Foundation, a boarding school in Northern Uganda that is helping young mothers and vulnerable girls rebuild their lives. What started as a small support group during the aftermath of war has grown into one of the most remarkable educational models in Africa. Today, Te-Kworo's three campuses support more than 1,000 young women through education, childcare, healthcare, counselling and community support.
Alice shares how her own experiences as a child of war shaped what she calls a "School of Restoration" - a place where education, healthcare and healing work together to empower young women to create better futures for themselves, their families and change entire communities.
In this episode:
• Why Te-Kworo calls itself a "School of Restoration"
• The link between education, healthcare and opportunity
• The ongoing challenges of child marriage and cultural expectations
• How boarding schools help keep vulnerable girls safe
• The power of defeating shame and rebuilding confidence
• Why educating girls can transform entire communities
Timestamps:
00:46 Why giving partners are a core part of Fix The News
04:48 Interview with Alice Achen
07:38 Education as a pathway out of poverty
10:15 The tension between creating different futures while protecting cultural boundaries
12:12 From education to healthcare - Te-Kworo's holistic model
14:57 What happens when women have access to healthcare and education
15:31 Gus & Amy - Midpoint reflections
17:35 From trauma to triumph - Alice's personal story
20:57 How Alice started a school under a tree
26:52 The power of defeating shame
28:38 Intergenerational ripples
30:08 Alice's biggest lesson
30:38 Bunk beds from Fix The News
31:19 The big vision for Te-Kworo
33:33 Alice's remedy for the world
34:46 Gus & Amy - Final thoughts
Become part of the Te-Kworo community:
If Alice's story resonated with you, you can learn more about Te-Kworo and support their work below.
👉 Website
👉 Feed the School campaign
About Fix The News:
Fix The News is a solutions-focused media platform sharing stories from the frontlines of progress - exploring what’s working in the world and the people making it happen.
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Production credits:
Hosted by Angus Hervey and Amy Davoren-Rose
Produced by Fix The News
Audio production: Anthony Badolato, Hear That!
This episode was produced in Australia on the lands of the Gadigal, Wurundjeri and Woi Wurrung peoples.
