By Auma Sharon | Project contributer
*Update: Our Outreach Program*
*Theme: Meeting Children Where They Are at Gaba Hope for Kids*
Our outreach program is how we find children before barriers push them out of school. It is the work that happens beyond the classroom walls. Since 2021 we have supported over 860 children, and outreach is where most of those stories begin.
*What Outreach Looked Like This Term*
1. *Home + Community Visits*: Peer mentors walked to homes and talked with guardians. We listened first. Children miss school for reasons adults often do not see. Understanding the reason helps us give the right support.
2. *Identification + Follow-Up*: We met children at risk of dropping out, children returning after time away, and girls missing days each month. Each child was mapped with a plan, not just a name.
3. *Bridging To School*: For children returning from the street or long absence, we paired them with a mentor and classmates who welcome them. Starting over is easier when you do not start alone.
4. *Guardian Conversations*: We talked with families about attendance, dignity, and long-term goals. When homes understand why school matters, children get support at the door and at the desk.
*What Is Changing Because Of Outreach*
Outreach stops problems early. A child who might have dropped out this term is still in class because a mentor showed up at the right time. A girl who would have missed days is now present all month because we addressed menstrual health before she stayed home.
Teachers tell us attendance is more consistent and children are more settled. Guardians tell us they feel supported, not judged. Children tell us they feel seen. That matters. A child who knows someone is watching out for them is more likely to show up.
One peer mentor shared: “We do not wait for children to fail. We walk to them before they disappear.” That is outreach.
*Next Steps To Strengthen Outreach*
To keep finding and keeping children in class, we are focusing on:
1. *Earlier Identification*: Train mentors to spot warning signs faster so we can act before a child leaves school.
2. *Stronger Follow-Up*: Increase home visits for children transitioning between stages so they do not get lost in the change.
3. *Community Partnership*: Equip more local advocates who know their neighborhoods and can open doors for us.
*Closing*
Outreach means we do not wait for children to come to us. We go to them. It is slower, harder work. But it is how we turned streets into classrooms and missed days into full terms. It is how we protected over 860 children since 2021.
*Call to Action*
Want to walk with us on outreach? Your support helps mentors reach homes, follow up with children, and bridge the gap between barriers and classrooms.
Every child deserves someone who will come looking for them.
By Auma Sharon | Project contributer
By Maniragaba Elijah | Founder
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
