Educate 200 War & HIV/AIDS-Orphaned Ugandan Girl

Project Title: EDUCATE 200 WAR AND HIV/AIDS ORPHANED UGANDAN GIRLS  

LOCATION: LIRA DISTRICT NORTHERN UGANDA

REPORT PERIOD: JULY_ SEPTMBER 2010

INTRODUCTION

Forty six (46 girls)  are currently benefiting from the project  and are  placed in Ambalal primary school, V.H primary school, Wiobyek primary school, Railways primary school, Elia Olet Primary School Lira Police Primary School and Boke primary school all in Lira district in Northern Uganda. Lira district is no longer affected by war and the communities are in the resettlement and rehabilitation state. They require access to services such as health and education. Formerly displaced and orphaned children leave with guardians and some are child headed households.

In this period the field officer made visits to  nine (9)  schools  where the girls are studying from  namely; Ambalal primary school, Lira P7 primary school, V.H primary School, Railways Primary School , Police Primary School Elia Olet Primary School, Lango Quran Primary School, Ojwina Primary School and Boke Primary School. The children visited in the different schools include two (2)  girls Acen  Jennifer P.7 and Apio Susan P.7 at Ambalal primary school,  three(3) girls in primary sevem  at Boke primary school theses include Acam Molly, Apenyo Stella Monica and Amolo Stella,  five (5) girls from Railways P.7 school theses included Acan Doreen and Akello Nancy primary seven ,  Akwero Loy  primary four , Agoa Louis primary five  and Ongom Louis primary  two , at V.H primary school.Three  children were visited and they included Akot Rebecca, and , Awor faith, and Akullu Daphine primary 5, Elia Olet P& school ;Ateng Rebecca primary four , Achola Brenda and  Aguti Dorine primary six. Scholastic materials like books, pens, rulers among others have been given to the children to ensure that their school requirements are covered to improve on their performance at school. 

Twenty three (23) children received counseling sessions. This ranged from self confidence during final exams, studying hard for exams and resting enough to wake up fresh for exams.  Some children were also worried about their performance in school such as Acen Jennifer During the visit emphasis was place on offering guidance, confidence building and counseling to the girls who are to write their primary leaving examinations in November 2010.

Atali Sandra is in Primary six at Lira P7 School is one of the girls visited during this period.

She has one sister aged 18years old in senior three and a brother aged 15years in primary five. She lost her father while in the camp in 2005 and is currently under the care of her paternal uncle.

Sandra’s dream is to become a doctor after she completes school but she is not sure that she will make it since she faces a number of difficulties where she stays.

I thank Platform for Labour Action for enabling to remain in school. I would like Platform for Labour Action to contribute to my stay in the boarding section of school so that I can concentrate on my studies and realize my dream of becoming a doctor.

I would also love for the donors to come and visit my school so that I can be able to personally thank them’.

  “I would like to join boarding section because life at home with my uncle and his wife is not good,  I have to carry out household chores which include preparing breakfast, cleaning the house, washing dishes and  helping my auntie’s children bathe  as well as take them to school’ After this I prepare to  go to school’.  It is a long distance from home’.

‘My aunt tells me that it is very useless for me to go to school, but I have not given up’. One day my auntie took away my books and tore my school uniform and I missed school for one week’.

 According to the teachers at Sandra’s school she has all the potential of performing better although she seems to be facing a problem at home. Her late coming to school has been noted. Sandra’s teacher said, “Atai Sandra comes to school late usually after the first lesson has ended and does not concentrate in class. “    

 Challenges

• A good number of the orphaned and formerly displaced children live with relatives such as Sandra and this interferes with their education.  Most of our beneficiaries are not in the boarding section because the funding is not enough to support them in boarding section.  
• PLA has provided counseling to the children and their guardians to enable them appreciate the importance of their cooperation in supporting these children. The response from some of the guardians has so far been positive. Guardians now show concern for the children’s well being.  
• Some of the children are faced with the problem of the discrimination since they are infected with HIV/AIDS and Awor Faith who studies at V.H primary school faces this challenge and  she  and below is her message to everyone; 

• GLOBAL GIVING PHOTOS (DOC)