The Rotary Club of River Cities recently led a project to install a computer lab at Candle Light High School in Kampala, Uganda. The impact of the Computer Lab on the academic achievement of the Candle Light High School students has been remarkable and measurable. In 2023 – prior to the installation of the computer lab – no fourth-year high school student was able to achieve a score of Grade 1 (top level) on the Uganda standardized achievement exam. In 2025, all 54 fourth-year students received a score of Grade 1 on this exam.
Rotary is a global network of more than 45,000 clubs and 1.2 million members dedicated to providing service to others, promoting integrity, and advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace. Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Locally, the Rotary Club of River Cities supports the communities of Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, and Prospect Heights through financial support, in-kind donations, and volunteers. Annually the club purchases winter coats for children, awards college scholarships to help students afford the cost of tuition, supports summer reading programs and camp scholarships to enrich the lives of local youth, and supports other organizations that make meaningful differences in the lives of the individuals they serve. The Rotary Club of River Cities also engages in international projects.
The Rotary Club of River Cities recently led a project to install a computer lab at Candle Light High School in Kampala, Uganda. The school serves over 400 of Kampala’s most impoverished and vulnerable young people. Prior to the installation of the computer lab, no computers were available for students to use in their learning. Since the implementation of the computer lab, male and female high school students have cultivated new computer capabilities, including advanced skills such as web development. In addition to advancing their computer skills, students are utilizing the computer lab to support their other studies, perform research, and complete their homework.
The impact of the Computer Lab on the academic achievement of the Candle Light High School students has been remarkable and measurable. In 2023 – prior to the installation of the computer lab – no fourth-year high school student was able to achieve a score of Grade 1 (top level) on the Uganda standardized achievement exam. In 2025, all 54 fourth-year students received a score of Grade 1 on this exam.
The Rotary Club of River Cities is deeply grateful to the Rotary Club of Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates, the Rotary Club of Naperville, the Rotary Club of Kampala Nsambya, the Masonic Lodge of Barrington, and several individual donors for their financial support of this endeavor and partnering with us to enhance the educational experiences of students in Uganda.
The Rotary Club of River Cities and our project partners meet with the Candle Light High School students via Zoom regularly, enabling students to demonstrate the computer skills they have acquired and to share their future plans.