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Educate a Child Uganda’s students finished another successful year at boarding school in Kampala. December 2015.
Our children - Lawrence, Hamza, Alex, Teopista, Olivia, Vanessa, Phionah, Gabrielle, and little Joven all moved up and will start a new school year in February 2016.
Lawrence, Teopista, Hamuza, Alex and now Olivia and Vanessa are thriving at their boarding school. They range in age from 10 to 13 years and will all start levels primary five and six in February.
The boarding school we chose – Kawazu Parent’s School - is in Kampala and the classes are small enough so the children have the individual attention they need. They receive three meals a day, participate in sports, and have time and a place to study. These children continue to "blossom” at boarding school. The school is basic, the children sleep in multibed dorms, and eat nutritious plain meals. They love it and continue to gain self-assurance, confidence and pride in their accomplishments at school.
Why help children in Uganda go to school?
Because education has the power to make the world a better place.
How?
Peace and Democracy
Literate people are more likely to participate in the democratic process and exercise their civil rights.
Educating children in Uganda and other developing countries provides many benefits:
- They learn fluent English
- Education decreases poverty
- Education gives young people a chance to control their own destiny
- Education makes it possible for young people to achieve their full potential
We have six girls and three boys in our program.
Our girls Vanessa, Teopista and Olivia at Kawazu Parents School.
Why so many girls?
If a family cannot afford to send all their children to school, they will often choose to send the boys.
However, educating girls is the most effective way to safeguard the well-being and health of children, and leads to the long-term success of developing economies.
Girls' education benefits individuals, families, and society.
How?
Education is key to women's rights, self-expression and civic engagement:
It results in:
- Lower child and maternal mortality
- Better child nutrition and health
- Lower birth rates
- Increased economic productivity and growth
- Protection of girls from HIV/AIDS, abuse and exploitation
Gabriella, 5 years old, proudly showing off her pre-school graduation certificate.
Why boarding school?
The government schools in Uganda and many other developing countries are seriously underfunded and under resourced. The classes may have over 100 children, the teachers may not speak English and often do not even show up to teach. Therefore, many private schools have opened and have reasonable fees. They offer a higher quality education..Children who are able to attend these schools have a much better shot at success. That is why we are raising funds to send these bright children to a boarding school. We also assist some children who live in a small village so they can attend the government school. Although the fees are minimal and are only used to cover school supplies and uniforms, many families cannot pay these fees. Children who are behind in their fees do not receive report cards and are often harassed.
Kawaza Parents School: Principal and teachers with our students when I visited in August 2014.
Our Director
Kasule Michael, the program founder and director, did a tremendous job supporting the children, meeting with their teachers and parents, dropping them off, picking them up, and making sure they all had the school supplies they needed. We pay for school fees and supplies which include brooms, books, pencils, pens, and uniforms.
MIchael and the children writing letters to our supporters
Life in Uganda
Unfortunately, one of the ongoing risks of life in Uganda is contracting malaria. Many of our children at the boarding school became sick with malaria in the spring, despite sleeping with bed nets and spraying the dorm rooms. Michael took them out of school in order to obtain the best medicine for them at an excellent hospital in Kampala. They all recovered quickly and returned to school. This would not be possible without our donor’s generosity as medicine is expensive and many children do not receive this high quality medical attention.
What about the the childrens families?
The childrens’ mothers, grandmothers, fathers, uncles and aunts, who all warmly welcomed me into their homes last year when I visited Uganda, are most appreciative of the support the children are receiving from Educate a Child Uganda because they understand how important a good education is for their childrens' futures.
They continue to help as much as they can with funds for school supplies. They visit on parent’s day and meet with Michael throughout the year to discuss their children’s progress in school
Joven, in pink dress, with her family. She is our yougest student and she is attending pre-school .
Olivia
Our special child, Olivia, who is living with HIV infection, had some changes in her life this year.
Olivia’s parents and siblings all passed away from HIV infection several years ago. She is the youngest and has been in the care of her elderly grandmother. Fortunately, this year her grandmother was able to move from a difficult housing situation to much better housing outside of Kampala. Olivia now stays with Michael’s mother in Kampala during school breaks and this is a good situation for all. Olivia did well in her first year at boarding school. She was a little behind as previously she had been in a government school in a class of more than 75 students. Now with a small class and more attention and good nutrition she is catching up and passed all her courses and was promoted to primary five. She is happy and appreciative of this opportunity and was the star of the costume dance festival they had at the close of term in December. Michael’s arrangements worked well and she is receiving her antiretroviral medications at school that are essential to maintain her health.
Olivia in costume at the dance festival
This year we added Phionah to our program. She lives in a small village near Masala, several hours by car south of Kampala, south of the equator. She was introduced to us by her cousin Jjuko Joachim, Michael's assistant, a university student who grew up in this village.
Phionah with her family during winter break in her village.
She is now attending a very good boarding school close to her village.
Phionah outside her school in Bukomansimbi
How much does boarding school cost?
School Costs:
Our costs are $800 per child for the entire school year at the boarding school for seven children. This includes transport, supplies, extra tutoring if needed, and a small stipend for Michael.
Fees are paid three times a year so if you are interested in giving monthly donations that is much appreciated as our costs are ongoing.
The two younger children – Gaby and Joven - are in day school and their yearly costs are $300 a year per child.
One of our donors is sponsoring Lawrence who is very happy about this and writes letters to his sponsor to let him know about his progress.
If you are interested in sponsoring one of the other children at boarding school the cost will be $800, which covers all expenses for the entire year.
The students thank you very much and truly appreciate your help. Michael and I also thank you for helping these very deserving and bright young future leaders obtain a quality education so they can and will contribute to a better future for Uganda and our world.
Our boys, Alex, Amza and Lawrence going home for Christmas break
Thank you,
Michael and Phyllis
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