Michelle St John
Mike Musisi is the founder of Luv4all: Uganda Foundation, a vegan organisation dedicated to promoting effective altruism and fostering a culture of empathy, kindness, and understanding for all sentient beings. Their mission is carried out through education, advocacy, and community engagement, while also developing a sustainable food system aligned with their values by providing plant-based alternatives to animal products.
In 2022, they founded the Atlas Vegan Community School, Uganda’s very first vegan school. Serving 200 children, the school offers daycare for children aged 2, as well as nursery and primary education for those aged 3 to 12. This groundbreaking initiative integrates academic excellence with a compassionate, plant-based ethos.
Growing Nature Academy
In October 2024, The Growing Nature Academy, a partnership between the Vegan Organic Network and Veganism in Education, reached out to the school to explore opportunities for collaboration. Our focus was on helping the children grow more organically produced food that does not rely on animal inputs. This collaboration marked an exciting step forward in promoting sustainable and vegan agricultural practices at the school.
We spoke with Peter Nganda, the headmaster of the Atlas Vegan Community School, to learn more about the school’s achievements and challenges:
“Here at our school, we have made significant strides in promoting a holistic educational experience centred around veganism. Our dedication to compassion, academic excellence, sustainability, health, ethics, and community engagement has positioned us as a leader in promoting a vegan lifestyle while preparing students for a successful and impactful future.
The school managed to buy approximately 1.5 acres of land to develop vegan agriculture with the aim of improving the health and well-being of pupils and the community as a whole. However, with our limited funds, we have only developed half an acre and currently grow crops such as mangoes, jackfruit, beans, maize, cabbages, French beans, spinach, and Irish potatoes.
One of our biggest challenges is the limited amount of water for irrigation. This has been a serious issue for the past two years, particularly during the dry season when the school runs short of water to irrigate crops. This shortage also prevents us from expanding our vegan agricultural efforts.”
Sponsorship
Recognising the urgent need to address this challenge, The Growing Nature Academy sponsored the purchase and installation of a 10,000-litre water tank in December last year. This vital addition has already made a significant difference to the school’s agricultural activities and overall resilience.
Mike Musisi expressed his gratitude for this support:
“This incredible gift will support our school gardening initiatives and ensure a reliable water supply for our students and staff. A huge thanks for your kindness and commitment to promoting vegan values and sustainable living. We look forward to collaborating on further educational and growing initiatives to nurture compassionate, informed, and empowered individuals.”
The Atlas Vegan Community School is a shining example of how education, compassion, and sustainability can intersect to create a brighter future. It has also become a proud addition to the Vegan Organic Network Map, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative journey with them.
Luv4all Uganda: https://www.lfaufoundation.org
VINE: www.teachvine.org