Educate and Empower Girls and Women of Acholi

Secondary Education Support for Vulnerable Girls
www.riverfund.org

Report compiled by Aloyo Innocent Jessie, Project Leader: River Fund HIV/AIDs Family Support Women Association, Kitgum.

Background.

The River Fund HIV/AIDs Family Support Association is a Community Based Organization (CBO) founded in 2007 by committed and motivated women to contribute towards improving the quality of life of persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, through educating and empowering the women and girls on HIV/AIDs Long Term Survival Skills and sponsorship and mentorship of girls in schools, economic empowerment and livelihood food security enhancement for a sustainable development for self-reliance through seeds provision, training in kitchen gardening and support to malnourished children through provision of trainings in provision of nutritious meals, and provision of basic items like soap, sugar, cooking oil, salt.
The organisation envisions a just and caring society where people yearn to help one another and realize that every human being is connected to one another for a change in the world with values such as: sharing, Love, Non-Discrimination, Humility, Peace, Non Violence, Justice, Inclusiveness, Service, Dedication, Honesty, Transparency, and Compassion.
Activities carried out this quarter.
1. Meeting with parents of supported students
2. Provision of sanitary towels to the beneficiaries.
3. Payment of Fees for the beneficiaries.

Achievements.

• Of the 11 students who sat for Uganda certificate of education (UCE), last year, four have joined Primary Teachers’ College, one is to join Nursing School this April and 6 have joined A’ Level to pursue Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE)
• 9 students are now in S.4 waiting to sit for their UCE this year and 1 student is in S.3.
• 21 girls supported with Sanitary towels; 3 packets each for term I.
• Conducted a meeting with parents of the beneficiaries. The meeting streamlined on what the sponsorship covers and what parents of the students should do in-order to enable the girls concentrate on their education. It further highlighted on the roles and responsibilities of the school, parents, the students and the River Fund in supporting the students’ education. Parents agreed to contribute towards their children’s education.

Challenges.

• Transport to and from the project sites is yet another of the challenges being faced. River Fund does not have a reliable means of transport and hence relies majorly on hiring motorcycles to facilitate field activities.
• Increase in School Dues that can’t be supported by the limited fund for the project.
• Some parents are unable to provide for scholastic materials and some basic items like soap, sugar for their children leaving them to always go without to school. This to some extent keeps them going in and out of school to ask parents to provide them.

Lessons learnt.

• Close involvement of the teachers is key in project success as they help in the beneficiaries’ career guidance and mentoring.
• Close involvement and work with the parents and or guardians of the girls to help provide moral support and encouragement.
• Close monitoring and follow up at school by project leader is key in fostering mentorship of the girls
• Mentorship of the students is a key factor to their performance and moral education which should continue.

Conclusion.

Term 1 begun well with all the supported students returning to school within the first week of new school term. The project leader made and executive members made a number of school visits to meet with the students and mentors in their respective school.

We are so thankful to GlobalGiving and the River Fund for this support. We could not have done this without all of your help!