Educate 200 War & HIV/AIDS-Orphaned Ugandan Girl

Platform for Labour Action with support from GlobalGiving is implementing a project entitled “Educate 100 War and HIV/AIDS Orphaned Ugandan Girls” whose overall goal is to empower female children through education in Lango Sub region. This project was started as a response to the 21-year-old LRA war that left many children orphaned and destitute. There is a pressing need for rehabilitation and empowerment of female children through education. Whereas Lira district is no longer affected by war and the communities are in rehabilitation, there remains a need to better the future for all children especially the female through girl child education.

2.0 SCHOOL MONITORING VISITS

PLA staff appreciated all schools for accommodating school beneficiaries at school even when their fees have not been cleared for first term

The PLA staff communicated to school Administrators that,  the organization is working very hard to see that fees balances are cleared and they should not worry that the organization may not pay school fees for these children.

The schools which were visited included Omito Primary School, Lira Army primary School and Vision Ventures Women Entrepreneurs Association an institute that conducts vocational studies.  a total of 5 female school beneficiaries were met, provided with psychosocial support and personal needs and living materials including sanitary pads, tooth paste, toilet papers, vaseline and scholastic material .  Further the administrated had engagement meetings with the teachers who gave feedback on the beneficiaries’ academic performance that all the beneficiaries are performing very well in their respective classes

The beneficiaries in primary seven were successfully registered for primary leaving examination.

PLA staff also requested all School Administrators to be kind to these children and allow them to be at school because the organization will clear their fees shortly.

It was also found that, those in vocational education are doing very well and are awaiting to be passed out on the 18^th April 2022 upon completion of their one-year training.  The beneficiaries are objective that they start a joint saloon business

During interaction with the class teacher for Akullu, reported that  Akullu needed more books, pens and sanitary pads to to improve her life at school and these were provided by the organisation.

3.1 CASE STORY FROM AUMA

My name is Auma 15 years old. I am in primary seven at Lira Army Primary school.

I am very happy to be in primary seven. I did not know that I was going to reach primary seven with my orphanage status.

I want to thanks platform for Labour Action and all the donors so much for supporting me from primary two to primary seven. I am thankful to PLA as well   for providing me with food during the Covid 19 period.

Thank you so much. Ia m very sure of passing my primary seven very well

May God Bless PLA and the donors so much!

4.1. Challenges faced by children

v  Children are Lacking scholastic materials

v  Some care takers are still making the childrenwork in the morning before they go to school especially those in primary seven are reporting very late

5.0 Action taken by PLA

v  Children were advised to report mistreatment from their care takers to the office or to their senior woman teacher

v  They were also advised to avoid places where people are over crowding since corona is still existing

v  They were advised to wash their hand with soap and the children were provided with basic needs including sanitary pads, pens, pencils, books and vaseline.

v  Children were taken through counselling to strengthen them psychologically in attaining self-confidence to deal with life challenges they are experiencing.

v  Care takers/ Guardians are being counselled and re- sensitized on how to stay with these children as well as sharing with them best practices to improve their welfare. PLA as well appreciated the Care takers for keeping custody of the Children as well as watching over their welfare both during corona up to now.

• Photowith the Class teacher for Akullo and Staff (DOCX)
• PLA staff with Akullo (DOCX)

My name is Amoo a sixteen years old.  I am the eldest child  in my family and I have thre siblings including Atim =who is  twelve years old, Akello who is eight (8)years followed by Ocilo who is five years old. They were left alone in 2016 when their mother commonly known as hellen left and her whereabouts are todate not known. She had not introduced their father or relatives to them hence leaving the burden of bringing up the other children to Amoo . Amoo was heading their family and hence theirs was a child headed family by the time PLA intervened in her situation..

During the Covid Period  they were evicted from the hut due  to the failure to pay rent, their neighbor called Ogal offered them shelter in their home where currently they are staying located in Akolodong Cell, Amuca word, Lira City west Division

She appreciated PLA and the GlobalGiving donors for furthering her Education and enrolling her for Hair dressing, however the training was halted due to the outbreak of Covid 19. She’s hopeful when schools reopen, she will resume the training and thereon start generating an income to feed her and three siblings. She further appreciated PLA and GlobalGiving so much for providing her with food stuffs during covid -19 second Lock down. When school resumes PLA will support the other siblings to reduce the pressure on the poor girl.