Breaking the Silence of Words Thur Language
SIL Uganda is launching a literacy initiative called “Breaking the Silence of Words,” aimed at empowering children from the Thur-speaking community in northeastern Uganda. Although the Lëb Thur language is the heart language of over 50,000 people, it has historically been excluded from the education system. Children are expected to learn to read in English or other regional languages they don’t speak at home, resulting in widespread illiteracy, poor academic performance, and a deep sense of disconnection from their cultural identity.
Our project seeks to address this injustice by helping children learn to read in the language they understand best, their own. Through this community-based initiative, we plan to provide two years of literacy training for 300 children, starting with 85 in the first phase. The program includes training local teachers, creating culturally relevant learning materials in Lëb Thur, and running village-based reading sessions to build confidence and long-term reading skills.
While the full project cost is $70,000, we are starting with a realistic fundraising goal of $20,000 to launch the first phase. This amount will allow us to reach 85 children with the tools they need to become lifelong readers. The cost per child is approximately $235, but the campaign is designed to be inclusive, welcoming all contributions, no matter the size. Even a small donation can fund printing materials, cover a week of instruction, or support a community literacy volunteer.
Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to unlocking literacy for these children. Here's what your gift can do:
This is not just a reading program, it’s about restoring dignity, affirming identity, and opening access to education through language. We are asking for support from people who believe that every child deserves the chance to read in the language of their home and heart. Your role is to help present this vision in a way that speaks to the public: inviting them into a story of change, equity, and empowerment one child, one word, and one language at a time.
Project Code: Resourcing-D_UGA