CYEN has been supporting the unique transformative work of the Chrysalis Secondary School for since it was built in 2020. Its goal is to help rural children in Uganda reach their potential and achieves this by offering a huge range of activities and sports to the children that attend the school.
In 2025, the students developed a team for 15-a-side, having previously done little other than sevens (at which they had already proved themselves), and decided to enter the Northern Region secondary school rugby championships. A young team compared to many they were not expected to win any matches, they made their way to win the regional finals unbeaten. However, now they want to test themselves against teams in the rest of Uganda.
The finals are taking place over nine days in Eastern Uganda at a place called Bukedea. Most of our kids have never travelled to Eastern districts and Bukedea is 320km away from their home in Omoro. We are being asked to hire a vehicle to travel there and back with 30 people, about £450. It's in the school holidays, so we also have to pay the costs for the team's food for the nine days, about £300.
The boys have a passion for rugby ahead of every other sport and this passion is coming across to the entire school, as more and more students want to play the game.
(All photos from the Regional Finals in Gulu)