Support Education for Youth in Rural Uganda

Hi everyone,

For 2017, Friends In Need Integrated Development Project (FINIDP) has continued to support the education of academically promising but economically challenged needy children in different schools at both Primary and Secondary School levels. This year we were able to support 5 students who were destined to drop out from school because of lack of school fees and scholastic materials yet they were in their candidate (certificate-awarding) classes. In Uganda like in many other parts of the world, a certificate is evidence of attainment of a given education level and also a stepping stone to another level in their education career. Hence, missing certificate exams means lot a lot to the future of all academics.

With funding support raised through GlobalGiving initiative and channeled to FINIDP through Even Ground, we have provided one year scholarships to the five and helped them to have uninterrupted study for the entire year. With the scholarship assistance the five were able to sit for their final exams in November 2017 and therefore are waiting for results to join other levels. Two of them sat for Primary Leaving Exams (PLE) while three of them sat for their Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE). Examination results are expected to come out early next year (usually January). It is anticipated that the ones in Primary level will join secondary level education while those in form four will either join tertiary institutions or High School (H.Sc.) level for form five and six after which they will join university or college.

The children supported and their guardians and were very grateful and expect good grades because they attended school the whole year without any inconveniences related to school fees. Whichever route they take, the children will still need scholarship assistance if they are to stay in school undisturbed. The stories of the children who have been sponsored are really very touching but one clear message is that the educational support was a complete rescue. For instance, one girl had been supported by an uncle for 3 years after her parents had passed on. Unfortunately, the uncle also had six children of his own to care for and bad luck came when the uncle lost his job at a time when the intelligent girl had just been promoted to form four, she was to drop out had it not been for this scholarship assistance. With the GlobalGiving scholarship the girl is expected to score grade one.

 Attached herewith is the letter of appreciation from one of the beneficiaries.

As project implementers, we are very grateful to whoever contributed towards raising funds that made this support possible because the lives of these youth have been changed. And having successfully sponsored the five children, many more needy students are writting to us seeking for similar short-term assistance at various education levels.

It is a reality that one of those we supported earlier is almost failing to sit for semester one exams due to lack of a sponsor, simply because his parents just can't afford the cost of University education. The demand is so huge, but funds limitations can not permit us to support a reasonable number.

Thank you.