FOR $10 HELP A VULNERABLE CHILD BACK TO SCHOOL

56 hildren have been mobilized from the marginalized pygmy communities locally known as the Batwa. Batwa people are indigenous Ugandan pygmy community originally leaving in the rain forest belt of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest that is home to the famous mountain gorillas in the south Western region of Uganda.They were primarily surviving on hunting, gathering fruits, roots and honey. They were forcefully removed from the forest in 1990/91 to protect mountain gorillas.  Batwa children face bullying, isolation, and mockery in schools, often due to their ethnicity and poverty, leading some to drop out.

 Research suggests that over 40% of Batwa children encounter psychological abuse at school and home, affecting their ability to commit to education. Many Batwa families cannot afford school fees, uniforms, scholastic materials, and even food, which are all essential for continued schooling. Even with free primary education programs, other associated costs act as significant barriers.

 Some Batwa parents may not fully comprehend the long-term benefits of education or may be too impoverished to provide adequate support and motivation for their children to attend school. The distance to schools and the frequent movement of Batwa families due to lack of land ownership make it difficult for children to consistently attend and progress in their studies. Batwa girls are particularly vulnerable to dropping out due to early marriages and pregnancies, which endanger their lives and the well-being of their children. 

 the Batwa community's displacement and subsequent marginalization have created a cycle of poverty and limited opportunities, with severe consequences for their children's education and overall well-being. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach involving government intervention, community sensitization, and sustained support from all stakeholders to ensure the Batwa can access education, enjoy their rights, and preserve their cultural heritage. Kigezi Healthacre Foundation has embarked on mobilizing the children by actively involving the parents and community leaders to send the children to school. So far 56 children have been identified. Most of them have never gone to school with many of them having dropped out.

Over 200 children displaced by floods get support from Kigezi Healthcare Foundation  to get back to school. They were screened for dental care, nutrition skin diseases and provided with scholastic materials.

As the world grapples with the escalating threats of climate change, the urgent need for immediate action is underscored by the impact of these changing weather patterns on education, disrupting learning in poorly constructed schools in rural areas of Uganda

During increased rainy season , with above-average rainfall and floods, damage to school infrastructure, including the loss of textbooks, exercise books, desks, and other educational materials, and the displacement of students, has left a lasting impact on learning outcomes.

There is an urgent need to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment to ensure learning can continue in times of crisis. Most of the rural schools are constructed with the efforts of parents using local materials that are semi permanent. Many of these children are relocated to highland areas that are less prone to flooding and are hosted in Church buildings and other community centres.