Guest Speaker Presents on Uganda to ESL Students at Bridgewater-Raritan High School

January 27, 2026

Students in the English as a Second Language (ESL) 3 class at Bridgewater-Raritan High School learned about the history, resilience, and daily life of the people of Uganda during a guest presentation on Friday, January 23.

Dr. Jo-Ann Hoffman, Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University and a volunteer with REACH for Uganda, spoke with students in Mx. Jaime Bandel Vasquez’s ESL 3 class in the high school’s 700 building. Uganda is located in East Africa.

REACH for Uganda is a United States–based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children in rural Uganda reach their full potential through education and community development initiatives.

“Dr. Jo-Ann Hoffman presented on building the first library in northwestern Uganda, as well as a school and a medical clinic,” Mx. Bandel Vasquez said. “She explained that in 2008, there were only four high schools in the entire region. Through her work with REACH for Uganda, another high school is currently being built. Increased access to education—particularly for young girls—is opening a world of possibilities.”

Dr. Hoffman also shared how communities in Uganda develop creative solutions to address daily challenges.

“We discussed the innovative ways people in Uganda manage hygiene and health despite limited access to water,” Mx. Bandel Vasquez added. “Dr. Hoffman also highlighted the artistry of Ugandan children, showing how they create beads for jewelry from gum wrappers and use donated clothing scraps to make patchwork aprons.”

The presentation aligned with the class’s current curriculum.

“This visit supported our study of A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park, which explores themes of war, education, and access to clean water through the experiences of two South Sudanese young people,” Mx. Bandel Vasquez said. “We are very grateful to Dr. Hoffman for sharing her knowledge and experiences with our students.”

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