A Vision Born from Experience
The visionary Born from Experience transforming lives through accessible, quality education
About Our Founder
Fr. Bernard Rabwoni Akiiki, a Catholic priest of Fort Portal Diocese, ordained on 30th June 2018. His own journey through hardship and determination inspired him to create opportunities for others.
“I was always very interested in going to school because I wanted to become a priest or a lawyer. But school was more than 10 kilometers away. I walked this distance barefoot, and we had no proper buildings—just trees for classrooms. Despite poverty and many challenges, I was able to study up to PhD level. That’s why I founded this school.” – Fr. Bernard
The Journey
Growing up in rural western Uganda, Fr. Bernard witnessed firsthand the struggles children face in accessing education. After becoming a priest, he was determined to make a difference.
He purchased land in Kasenene, a village in Kyegegwa District, one of Uganda’s poorest regions, and began the school with makeshift wooden classrooms. The goal was clear: to build a low-cost, community school where even the poorest children could receive quality education close to home.
About the School
Cause of Our Joy Junior School – Kasenene is a nursery and primary school located in western Uganda. The school was established to provide accessible, affordable education for children in Kasenene and surrounding villages, where schools were previously more than 5 to 10 kilometers away.
The school serves children from nursery to primary level, and aims to offer more than just academics—it strives to be a nurturing space where children grow in character, faith, and confidence.
Our History
School Founding
Cause of Our Joy Junior School was established on March 26, 2021 with 74 pupils (P.1 to P.4) in temporary wooden classrooms, with a vision to provide accessible and quality education to children in Kasenene and surrounding villages.
Post-COVID Reopening
Following the pandemic-related closures, the school reopened on january 10, 2022, with 191 pupils. The strong return showed deep community trust and growing belief in the school’s mission.
Permanent Structures
Thanks to the generous support from Missio Austria, Bildungshilfe für Uganda Verein (Education Aid for Uganda Association) and Friends of Fr. Bernard, the school began constructing permanent classroom buildings to replace the original temporary wooden structures.
Current Status
Today, Cause of Our Joy Junior School serves about 300 pupils from nursery to primary level. With ongoing support, we continue to expand and improve our facilities, moving steadily towards a fully permanent and well-equipped learning environment.
Our Journey: From Makeshift to Permanent Structures
Our Story
When the school opened, learning took place in temporary wooden classrooms. But with unwavering determination, Fr. Bernard reached out for help during his studies at Vienna University. Through the support and generosity of Missio Austria, Bildungshilfe für Uganda Verein [Education Aid for Uganda association registered in Austria] and other friends of the school, we have been able to construct permanent classroom blocks.
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Challenges and Hope
Most of our pupils come from very poor backgrounds, which poses challenges for school operations and staff salaries. The Kyegegwa District lacks critical services like access to clean water and quality healthcare. Despite these hardships, we press on—because we believe education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Future Plans
We have big dreams for our children and community:
- Building dormitories for orphans and children with disabilities
- Establishing a secondary school with vocational training
- Providing scholarships and support programs for the most vulnerable
- Enhancing access to clean water and basic health services