It was only when Annabelle Chauncy was evacuated from Kenya to Uganda while she was on a six-month trip for ‘time out’ during her law degree that she found her true calling in life.
The then 21-year-old, from New South Wales, realised just how extreme the situation was there.
‘I was moved beyond belief,’ she told FEMAIL. ‘I saw kids with absolutely nothing who wanted to help themselves.
Annabelle Chauncy (pictured) is the Australian founder of School For Life – FEMAIL spoke to her about how she came up with the idea
‘They were trying to go to school even though they had nothing at home, no shoes on their feet and empty stomachs. It inspired me to do something as it doesn’t take much to make a difference.’
Ten years later, Annabelle is at the helm of School For Life in Australia – a not-for-profit organisation that works on supporting local communities in rural Uganda and helping children break free from poverty by way of education.
Here, Annabelle shares her incredible story with FEMAIL.
It was only when Annabelle found herself in Uganda after being evacuated from a six month stay in Kenya that she was ‘moved beyond belief’ when she saw children living in poverty
Ten years later, Annabelle (pictured with school children) is at the helm of School For Life in Australia – a not-for-profit organisation that works on supporting local communities
According to Annabelle, who has received an Order of Australia in her time as the founding director of School For Life, while she always had an interest in service, it wasn’t until she was in Uganda that she changed the course of her life by accident:
‘I had been studying to be a lawyer and working as a paralegal when I took six months out to travel to Kenya and work as an English teacher,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘When Kenya erupted into a civil war while I was there, I was quickly evacuated across the border into Uganda where I found myself at a bit of a loose end.
‘After thinking about what I could do while I was there, I saw first-hand what was going on. 42 million people in need of so much help, with only 56 per cent of kids completing primary school.
‘But they were so resilient. It was their resilience that inspired me to do something small and make a difference. By the time I boarded the plane back to Australia I was drawing up a business plan.
‘It changed everything.’
By the time she boarded a plane back to Australia after her time in Uganda, Annabelle was drawing up a business plan for School For Life
To this day, the organisation has three schools, 680 children and 48 local teachers. By 2020, they expect to have an impressive 1,600 (pictured)
Annabelle spoke about the fact that when she launched School For Life, people would often say that she was young, naive and overly passionate at age 21 (pictured now at 31 in Uganda)
Soon after she arrived back in Australia, Annabelle started to put together plans for School For Life – and a project she could embark on to help local communities in Uganda:
‘My law degree stood me in good stead,’ she admitted. ‘And I did finish it off for the next two year, but I also spent my time researching and meeting people.’
While the 31-year-old said it was ‘hard’ and ‘exhausting’ at times working 80 plus hour weeks, she was passionate:
‘People would say to me that I was naive and overly passionate and that I should come back when I’d grown up a bit,’ she said.
‘But I knew what I wanted to do.’
And School For Life launched in 2008, with the first classrooms opening in Uganda in 2011.
To this day, the organisation has three schools, 680 children and 48 local teachers. By 2020, they expect to have an impressive 1,600.
Annabelle has huge plans for the organisation – and now splits her time between Uganda and the schools (pictured) and Australia, where she works on fundraising
The 31-year-old explained that, as an organisation, they are ‘working towards a social uplifting of communities through education’
‘Seeing the children’s smiling faces makes it all so worth it,’ she said. ‘It can be overwhelming how much there is to do, but that’s what also keeps me going,’ she added
Annabelle spoke about how you can help the schools in Uganda (pictured), by donating just 30 cents a month or donating school supplies
These days, ten years after the launch of School For Life, Annabelle splits her time between Australia and Uganda, where she makes sure there are ‘the right teachers’ in place.
When she is at home in Sydney, she will work on ‘fundraising and marketing’:
‘I speak at lots of schools, pitch for funds and work on the long-term strategy,’ she said.
The 31-year-old explained that, as an organisation, they are ‘working towards a social uplifting of communities through education’:
‘Seeing the children’s smiling faces makes it all so worth it,’ she said. ‘It can be overwhelming how much there is to do, but that’s what also keeps me going.’
Annabelle has received the Order of Australia, as well as countless other accolades for her services, but she said it’s not what drives her – it’s the children (pictured)
She has also recently launched a Travel4Good program to help parents and their kids visit Uganda and tour the schools in the School For Life Foundation
Speaking about how we at home can help, Annabelle revealed it’s surprisingly easy:
‘Money goes so far,’ she said. ’30 cents a month will give three meals a day out there, or you can give another kind of support – via donations of stationery, white boards and the like.
‘If people have skills, those are also often useful.’
She has also recently launched a Travel4Good program to help parents and their kids visit Uganda and tour the schools in the School For Life Foundation.
TV host, Georgie Gardner, is an ambassador – and recently took part with her daughter, Bronte.
Lastly, Annabelle revealed how you can pursue philanthropic ambitions, and her business tips for others
She recommends you don’t overthink and instead go with a gut instinct, as often it’s not wrong
Lastly, Annabelle revealed how you can pursue philanthropic ambitions, and her business tips for others:
‘Don’t let over-planning de-mobilise you,’ she explained.
‘I was young and naive and passionate, but if you’re passionate you will be successful. It’s when you have no passion that things go wrong.’
Annabelle also recommends avoiding overthinking:
‘People can get paralysed with fear when they overthink,’ she said. ‘Go with a gut instinct and you won’t often be wrong.’
For more information about the School For Life, you can visit the website here.