A message from a Kindergarten teacher: After forty years in the classroom, my career ended with one small sentence from a six-year-old: “My dad says people like you don’t matter anymore.” No sneer. No malice. Just quiet honesty — the kind that cuts deeper because it’s innocent. He blinked, then added, “You don’t even have a TikTok.” My name is Mrs. Clara Holt, and for four decades, I taught kindergarten in a small Denver suburb. Today, I stacked the last box on my desk and locked the door behind me. When I started teaching in the early 1980s, it felt like a promise — a shared belief that what we did mattered. We weren’t rich, but we were valued. Parents brought warm cookies to parent nights. Kids gave you handmade cards with hearts that didn’t quite line up. Watching a child sound out their first sentence felt like magic. But that world slowly slipped away. The job I once knew has been replaced by exhaustion, red tape, and a kind of loneliness I can’t quite describe. My evenings used to be filled with construction paper, glitter, and glue sticks. Now they’re spent filling out digital reports to protect myself from angry emails or lawsuits. I’ve been yelled at by parents in front of twenty-five children — one filming me with his phone while I tried to calm another child mid-meltdown. And the kids… they’ve changed too. Not by choice. They arrive tired, anxious, overstimulated. Their tiny fingers know how to swipe a screen before they can hold a crayon. Some can’t make eye contact or wait in line. We’re expected to fix all of it — to patch the gaps, heal the trauma, teach the curriculum, and document every move — in six hours a day, with resources that barely fill a drawer. The little reading corner I once built, full of soft beanbags and paper stars, was replaced by data charts and “learning metrics.” A young principal once told me, “Clara, maybe you’re too nurturing. The district wants measurable results.” As if kindness were a weakness. Still, I stayed. Because of the small, holy moments that no spreadsheet could measure — a whisper of, “You remind me of my grandma.” a shaky note that read, “I feel safe here.” a quiet boy finally meeting my eyes and saying, “I read the whole page.” Those tiny sparks were my reason to keep showing up. But this last year broke something in me. The aggression grew sharper. The laughter in the staff room turned to silence. The light went out of so many eyes. I watched brilliant teachers — my friends — vanish under the weight of burnout, their joy replaced by survival. I felt myself fading too, like chalk on a board that’s been wiped one too many times. So today, I began my goodbye. I pulled faded art off the walls and tucked thirty years of handmade cards into a single box. In the back of a drawer, I found a letter from a student from 1998: “Thank you for loving me when I was hard to love.” I sat on the floor and cried. No party. No applause. Just a handshake from a young principal who called me “Ma’am” while checking his notifications. I left my rocking chair behind, and my sticker box too. What I carried with me were the memories — the faces of hundreds of children who once trusted me enough to reach out their hands and learn. That can’t be uploaded. It can’t be measured. It can’t be replaced. I miss when teachers were partners, not targets. When parents and educators worked side by side, not in opposition. When schools cared more about wonder than numbers. So if you know a teacher — any teacher — thank them. Not with a mug or a gift card, but with your words. With your respect. With your understanding that behind every test score is a heart that cared enough to try. Because in a world that often overlooks them, teachers are the ones who never forget our children.

When Kampala meets Lugazi, the story writes itself: calm fairways, fierce play, and unforgettable shots - including an incredible hole-in-one. Here’s some of today’s 2025 Absa Pro-Am action as the awards are currently underway, and the road to the 2026 Magical Kenya Open is being written right here.

Ready to dive into the insights? Join us at 12pm EAT to be inspired. Live link here - youtube.com/live/IVMi4hiaXEQ…

A little rain can’t stop a big purpose! Today, we ran through the rain, sweat, and joy—and what an incredible sight it was! The 2025 Absa KH3 – 7 Hills Run was nothing short of spectacular, with thousands of Ugandans and runners from across the globe braving the early morning downpour to run for a cause bigger than us all—keeping girls in school. Flagged off by our Chief Runner, Kampala Capital City Authority (@KCCAUG) Executive Director Hajjat. Sharifah Buzeki, alongside our Interim Managing Director @DavidAWandera, the run saw an unmatched display of energy, resilience, and heart. Over 65 corporate entities stepped up, not just as sponsors and corporate teams but as active changemakers, proving that when we run together, we write a brighter future for every girl. But today was more than just a run. It was thousands of individual stories—of determination, of teamwork, of unwavering commitment—coming together to deliberately weave and rewrite the stories of less fortunate girls. Every step taken today means another girl gets to stay in school, dream bigger, and chase her own finish line. A massive THANK YOU to every runner, partner, volunteer, and supporter who made today unforgettable. You didn’t just run—you made a difference. Relive the moments! View some of the best highlights of the day. #AbsaKH37HillsRun #WeRanForAGirl #ChangeHerStory #YourStoryMatters #ThankYou @PrudentialUG  @BakaimaGroup @NBSportUg @nbstv @HarissIntLTD @UG_Airlines @UAPOldMutualUg @DPFUganda @NationMediaGrp @Mighty_ridesug @JubileeInsUG

We’re More Networked Than Ever—Yet More Disconnected Than Before. You have 1,000 contacts. Hundreds of LinkedIn connections. Thousands of followers. But when life hits hard, how many will actually show up? Let’s break it down 🧵👇

Exciting moments today as we welcomed the team from @AbsaUganda, led by interim Managing Director David Wandera! Something special is in the works. Turn your notifications 🔔 on! #AbsaKH37HillsRun #YourStoryMatters #RunForAGirl #ChangeHerStory #NBSportUpdates

If "thrown in at the deep end" was a person, that person in many ways, would be @MumbaKalifungwa. 4 years ago this month, he took on the role of @AbsaUganda Managing Director. Apart from being Mumba's first time as a CEO, just a few days earlier, Uganda had gone into a countrywide lockdown following the discovery of the first COVID-19 case on March 21 2020. As if that was not challenging enough, the bank was also undergoing a name change from Barclays Bank Uganda- a name Ugandans had known for several decades, to Absa Bank Uganda⏤ a whole new name, with a whole new Chief Executive. Following the release of the 2023 financial results, CEO East Africa Magazine examines the 2023 performance together with Mumba's 4 years in office⏤ a good show by all means. ceo.co.ug/report-card-4-year…

A swing that etched history and a putt that resonated across borders! Congratulations to @RonaldRugumayo for being the first Ugandan to make the cut at the @DPWorldTour @KenyaOpenGolf since its inception in 1967. Your remarkable journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and potential. At @AbsaUganda, we believe #YourStoryMatters, as every achievement, big or small, inspires and connects us all. Ronald's story is not just about golf; it's about dreaming big and breaking barriers. Let's continue to write our stories together because in them lies the power to inspire the world. #YourStoryMatters #AbsaUganda #BelieveInAfrica @RonaldRugumayo @Absa @AbsaKenya @MumbaKalifungwa @HNangonzi @Ochungochwa @segwaya @gkluta

As a truly African brand, we are committed to fostering positive change in our communities. @AbsaUganda committed Ugx 131M towards the provision of ICT equipment to Kabalye Police Training School. 1/4

Yesterday @AbsaUganda planted over 6000 trees in kawempe and gave the community hopes for green life and nature again #MYTREE

Everyday is about looking for opportunities to be an active force for good in society 6000 trees planted, 1m to go💃 #Sustainability @AbsaUganda @pam2rya @rm_kamuntu @mytreeUganda @UgandaRedCross nilepost.co.ug/2023/02/23/ab…

🥳🥳HAPPY INTERNATIONAL PULSE DAY🥳🥳 Here are some faces of your @nswdpi team doing research into REALLY cool stuff with pulse crops or their pests & diseases, thanks team🙏. @kbhobbo @ChickpeaAus @Tendo_MM @glenn_lendon @vanleurj @GRDCNorth @theGRDC #chickpea

To harness the power of Uganda’s opportunity, you need to know the insights. We do. Join us as we present the latest edition of the Absa Africa Markets Index and share insights into what means for Uganda. #AFMIndex #AfricaExpertise

We congratulate Dr. Omar Ali Muhammed, one of our scholarship beneficiaries, upon graduating from @iuiuac Absa Bank prioritizes education and skills development while supporting the youth in accessing education provided through various programmes such as the Absa Scholarship 1/2

Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with moments of love, laughter, and goodwill. From all of us @AbsaUganda #AfricanacityLove #AbsaSekukulu

The WNF team was accompanied by the Absa Regional Manager Nile region, Peter Watuwa Werikhe, Sustainability Manager Pamela Turyatanga, Head Mortgages Concy Akiteng among other Absa staff from the region. The LC5 Chairman Simon Peter Edoru was also present at the event.

The WNF members delivered a water purification system, 5 laptops, crocheting items, 100 fruit trees, & financial literacy lessons in support of the efforts to restore the dignity of affected women. Soroti Woman MP, Achom Alobo graced the ceremony & commended Absa for the support

Alice Emasu Seruyange, Executive Director TERREWODE noted that the program's vision is to uplift vulnerable women affected by fistula & help transform their lives. She also thanked Absa for delivering support, financial literacy and economic empowerment for the affected women.

"Sisterhood is to be together, feel together, heal together and rise together" - Unknown. Today our Women's Network Forum (WNF) members shared love with teenage mothers in Soroti supported by @TERREWODEUGANDA a community program supporting women afflicted by obstetric fistula.