Shs1,000 for 3,000 needy pupils drive launched

The 2018 report by Reach a Hand Uganda indicates that many children in Uganda drop out of schools due to lack of school dues but it further unveils that some parents deliberately neglect children by not meeting school dues.
It is also evident that parents tend to neglect vulnerable children such as the disabled, children born with albinism and those with speech impairment, among others.
And now local organisation Ability Explored has moved to rally communities to fundraise for scholarships to help vulnerable pupils stay in schools and those who are out to enrol.
The 10 year projects under a theme Shs1,000 for 3,000 children intends to see communities, stakeholders, schools and concerned citizens contribute at least Shs1,000 to fund the scholarship for the said group of children.
While launching the project at St. Cyprian High School-Kyabakadde, the executive director, Ability Explored, Ronald Mayanja Omugalanda, noted that the project will spread countrywide with an intention of kicking out illiteracy among the vulnerable.

Equal opportunities
The fundraising campaign comes after the launch of Ability Explored Children Scholarship which was commissioned in December last year to benefit 3,000 children in Uganda of which 300 will be albinos.
The benefitting children will be in three categories of primary, secondary and vocational each with 1,000 students. “We are adding the vocational category to ensure that the beneficiaries of this scholarship can create their own employment and start earning right away,” added Mayanja. The selection criteria covers vulnerable children who are among the top 10 of their classes, study in rural areas (outside municipalities), out of whom 60 per cent will be girls and 40 per cent boys but mainly facing school fees challenges.
Unlike other scholarships, Mayanja says theirs will partner with parents to ensure that they provide the rest of the scholastic materials for their children.
Mayanja added that in most scholarships, parents take their role for granted and often refer to their own children as those of the sponsors. “Parents fail to meet even the basic minimum requirements of their children such as breakfast, lunch, books, pens and pencils among others, in anticipation that the sponsoring company will do it for them,” he added.
The beneficiaries will study in affordable schools that are within their vicinity to foster close monitoring by Ability Explored, partnering schools and their guardians.
Accordingly, Ability Explored targets to recruit 300 children annually but have so far recruited 15 in Mukono District for the primary section.
“In order to achieve our target, we have embarked on a campaign to assist us solicit for funds to increase the number of beneficiaries, by working with institutions around the country,” Mayanja said.
We intend to visit schools, universities, manufacturing companies, service and product companies, government ministries, religious institutions and others to implement this campaign.
For as low as Shs1,000, you can change a life by helping someone acquire education.
Joseph Kamya, the head teacher of St. Cyprian High School, Kyabakadde, said it is their culture to give back to society, especially for noble causes such as supporting vulnerable children.
“I commend my students and the entire administration for taking part in this campaign. Other schools and institutions should participate in the campaign in order to improve the literacy levels of the Ugandan child,” said Kamya.