Keep HIV+ Children in School-Give them a Future

Project Implemented by Mase Foundation Uganda

The Keep HIV+ Children in School project was established to ensure that children living with HIV continue accessing education despite social, economic, and health-related challenges. Education remains a critical pathway for breaking cycles of poverty, stigma, and vulnerability among HIV-positive children and their families.

Despite a challenging funding environment, the project has continued to make meaningful progress. Supported children have remained enrolled in school, with improved attendance and retention rates. Through school fees support and scholastic materials Mase Foundation Uganda is striving to reduce school dropouts among HIV+ children under its care.

This continuity has been especially significant during a period marked by the withdrawal and reduction of funding from major donors, including USAID funding cuts and similar decisions by several European partners. In the face of these setbacks, the resilience of the project has been sustained largely through committed donors and well-wishers.

We at Mase Foundation Uganda extend our sincere gratitude to all donors and partners who have stood with these children during this trying moment. Your unwavering support has ensured that education was not interrupted, even as global funding priorities shifted. At a time when many programs were forced to scale down or close, your commitment has been a lifeline.

While school attendance has been maintained, it is increasingly clear that education alone is not enough. Many HIV+ children face structural challenges such as food insecurity, inadequate housing, limited access to healthcare, and lack of family income. These factors directly affect school performance, health outcomes, and long-term wellbeing. There is a growing need to move beyond short-term educational support and invest in more holistic, structural interventions that address the root causes of vulnerability. Without such support, the risk of absenteeism, poor performance, and eventual dropout remains high.

To ensure long-term sustainability, Mase Foundation Uganda recognizes the urgent need to establish self-sustaining initiatives. These initiatives would enable children and their households to meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, and school-related expenses independently.

Potential approaches include income-generating activities, vocational skills development for older children and caregivers, and community-based social enterprises. Such initiatives would reduce dependency on external aid, strengthen household resilience, and ensure that education support is backed by stable livelihoods.

The Keep HIV+ Children in School project continues to make a meaningful impact under difficult circumstances. However, sustaining and expanding this impact will require renewed commitment, structural support, and innovative, self-sustaining solutions. Mase Foundation Uganda remains dedicated to walking this journey with the children and calls upon partners and supporters to continue standing with them—so that no child’s education is cut short due to illness, poverty, or shifting global priorities.

Links:

• Website Mase Foundation

• Progress_Report_keep_HIv_children_in_school_2026.pdf (PDF)
  

We at MaSe Foundation Uganda extend our sincere gratitude for your continued support of our “Keep HIV/AIDS+ Children in School” program. Your generosity and compassion remain a constant source of hope and strength for the children we serve.

Despite the many challenges we continue to face, your unwavering contributions have enabled us to provide essential care and education to children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Your donations have been instrumental in ensuring that vulnerable children remain in school and continue to receive the emotional and medical assistance they need to thrive.

Over the past few months, however, we have observed some concerning trends within the communities we serve. An increasing number of parents—both of sponsored and non-sponsored children—are struggling to cope with the daily realities of living with HIV/AIDS while caring for their families. Unfortunately, some have turned to substance abuse and sex work as a means of survival. This underscores the urgent need for enhanced psychosocial interventions, access to consistent medication, and sustainable livelihood opportunities which we cannot at the moment provide due to our meagre funding.

While our current support primarily targets children, it has become evident that a multi-dimensional approach—addressing the needs of both children and their caregivers—is essential for lasting impact. Supporting parents through counseling, skill development, and income-generating initiatives will, in turn, strengthen the stability and well-being of the children under our care.

The lack of consistent access to treatment remains a serious concern. Interruptions in medication have led to increased viral loads among some individuals, raising the risk of further transmission and deteriorating health. Economic hardships have also contributed to instances of child abandonment. In some cases, infected children have been left at schools supported by our program, where our dedicated volunteers have intervened to ensure they receive immediate care and protection.

The situation is indeed challenging, but thanks to your steadfast support through GlobalGiving, we continue to make a meaningful difference. Every meal provided, every school fees paid, and every life sustained is a reflection of your compassion and shared commitment to restoring hope and dignity.

You donations are helping us bring lasting change to the lives of children affected by HIV/AIDS in Uganda. Together, we are building resilience, restoring dignity, and giving vulnerable children the opportunity for a brighter and healthier future.

We extend our deepest appreciation to all our donors for your unwavering support. Despite the significant challenges, your continued engagement ensures that no child living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda is left behind.

• The_MaSe_Foundation_Uganda_team_extend_our_sincere_gratitude_for_your_continued_support_of_our.pdf (PDF)