The Flying Car: Namakula Learns to Celebrate the Offbeat!

It was Science Project Competition time at Uganda Girls’ College, and Namakula had big dreams. She teamed up with her friends Hezyme and Irene, ready to win—until Hezyme suggested something outrageous: a flying car! At first, it sounded like a joke to Namakula—something too wild for school, let alone a science fair.

“A flying what? That’s ridiculous,” Namakula said, walking away. She couldn’t imagine anyone taking such a wild idea seriously. She started her own team with a “sensible” project: a working fan made from paper. Simple. Safe. Smart. She believed that staying realistic was the surest way to win the judges’ hearts.

But as the competition neared, Namakula noticed the tension. Everyone wanted to win. Irene missed their friendship, and even Namakula began to wonder: What if different isn’t always bad? She caught herself glancing at their strange-looking project and wondering if maybe, just maybe, she’d been too quick to judge.

Then the big day came—and the winner was announced. Not the fan. Not the usual. It was... the flying car! Judges praised its creativity, courage, and bold thinking. Namakula was stunned. The crowd’s cheers made it clear—people love ideas that dare to dream big.

That’s when she realised something big: just because an idea is offbeat doesn’t mean it’s wrong. In fact, the best ideas often start out sounding strange. Like flying cars. She thought back to famous inventors who were once laughed at—and suddenly it all made sense.

She went back to congratulate her old teammates, hugged them tight, and said, “I’ve learnt that it’s okay to dream differently. Creativity isn’t always neat—it’s brave, wild, and wonderful.” Her heart felt lighter, and for the first time, she was proud of what they had achieved—even if she wasn’t part of it.

So next time you hear an unusual idea—pause. Don’t laugh. Celebrate it. Because crazy today might be genius tomorrow. Just like Namakula learnt, the offbeat might be the big switch you need! After all, in the world of innovation, the sky isn’t the limit—it’s just the beginning.