EMPOWER AND EDUCATE VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN UGANDA

*Report: No Child Left Behind This Term Either*
*Theme: Closing Gaps and Keeping Every Child in Class at Gaba Hope for Kids*

At Gaba Hope for Kids, our commitment is simple: every child in our program attends school with the tools and support they need to learn. This term, that means reaching the last group of children who were still waiting for supplies and making sure no one drops out because of a missing uniform, a notebook, or a meal.

*Why Leaving No One Behind Matters*
When even one child misses school because of a basic need, the whole group feels it. Attendance drops, peer confidence falls, and the message becomes that education is not guaranteed. Closing those gaps sends a different message: you belong here, and we are not done until you are in class. This term we focused on identifying the 40 children who missed out on full kits last distribution and bringing them in.

*What We Did This Term*
We combined distribution with follow-up to make sure support translates into attendance.

1. *Final Distribution Push*: Delivered uniforms, shoes, and stationery to the remaining 40 children across 3 villages. All 220 children in our program now have basic school kits for the term.
2. *Targeted Re-enrollment*: Worked with 8 families to bring back children who had missed the first month due to lack of supplies. Five are now attending regularly.
3. *Menstrual Health Support*: Extended reusable pad kits to 15 more girls, reducing period-related absences in the upper primary classes.
4. *Nutrition and Check-ins*: Maintained daily porridge for 120 children and ran weekly check-ins with teachers to catch absenteeism early.
5. *Mentorship Follow-up*: Peer mentors visited homes of children with irregular attendance to understand barriers and link families to solutions.

*What We Are Seeing*
By week four, program-wide attendance reached 96%, the highest this year. Teachers note fewer interruptions for missing materials and more students volunteering in class. Of the 8 children re-enrolled, 6 have attended every day since returning. Caregivers report less stress around school costs and say children are more motivated to study at home.

*Ongoing Challenges*
Rising prices mean our budget covers fewer children per term than last year. Transport to remote households still limits how quickly we can respond to absences. We also need additional peer mentors to keep follow-up consistent as the program grows.

*Next Steps*
To keep “no child left behind” from being a slogan, we are:

1. *Monitoring Weekly*: Track attendance and participation for all 220 children and intervene within 48 hours of a missed day.
2. *Securing Next Term’s Supplies*: Start fundraising now for uniforms and kits so distribution happens before term starts.
3. *Training 6 More Mentors*: Expand our capacity to follow up and run homework clubs in all 5 villages.
4. *Sharing Progress*: Provide monthly updates to donors and caregivers with attendance data and stories from the field.

*Conclusion*
No child left behind is not a one-time action. It is a practice of checking, reaching, and following through until every child is in class and ready to learn. This term we closed the gap for 40 children, and we are building systems to keep it closed.

*Call to Action*
Stand with us to make sure the next term starts the same way: with every child prepared, present, and supported. A contribution today helps us stay ahead of the next barrier.