Education Uganda Project #20218

U-TOUCH Uganda Education Project

by U-TOUCH

Project Report | Jul 10, 2017
Meet Gloria, a U-TOUCH Sponsored Student

By Deborah Plotkin | Founder/ Executive Director

First day meeting Gloria 5-years-old

Meet Gloria

Hello, My name is Gloria and I would like to send my heartfelt appreciation to U-TOUCH and all the donors. From a helpless little girl you picked me and now I can say I am becoming someone because of your kindness. Thank you for supporting my education in all ways that you have both for school and the technology camp I attend during school holidays.

I am a 15-year-old girl from an extended family consisting of our Grandmother, Uncle, Aunt and my younger siblings (cousins). We have 8 grass thatched huts, and 4 permanent houses with many fruits like oranges, mangoes and lemons. I live in Gulu district, in northern Uganda and went to Bright Valley Primary School from where I later joined a high performing Senior Secondary School. We experience two climatic seasons, that is, dry and rainy seasons. Currently, we are in the dry season and the weather is most of the time hot be it day or nighttime with a lot of wind during the day. Our kind of buildings however provide some kind of insulation from extremes of temperatures and the many trees provide wind breaks even though many are being cut down. Life generally is fantastic here in our home district.

I enjoy being at school and making friends. My favorite subjects are English, Computer and Literature. I would like to be a civil engineer in the future and also open up a computer center to reduce technology illiteracy. I enjoy making friends, and playing, and my favorite sporting activities are football, netball and handball. I am hoping to join a netball or football club at school and even join the Uganda Cranes netball team one day. Thank you very much for the wonderful support you have provided me academically.

I also appreciate the opportunity to attend the technology training camp during school holidays. Most of the things I learnt at camp this year were similar to what I learnt last year only that they were different stages of the same project. It was so interesting because unlike in 2016 when our projects consisted of terrain, third person controller and many others, in 2017, we also did audacity and FL studio which we produced music for our game. During leisure time, I enjoyed meeting new faces from different districts and I made new friends which I thought wouldn’t even happen. More so, they were kind as if we had all met before. I learnt more computer skills because of the camp, like how to produce sound using audacity and FL studio. My project was fun with many interesting things in the surrounding e.g. yellow ground, a female character with well-shaped body and many others. I wish you could even get time and go over my project called Gloria and Kevin (female cousin). Hope you will enjoy the game when you get time with it. Thank you a lot for your support and time.

With appreciation,

GLORIA

Gloria became a Sponsored Student at age five and U-TOUCH staff met her in Uganda July 2007. Gloria is one of eight cousins living with their grandmother after losing their parents in the LRA War. Now 15 years old, Gloria is attending S2 in Senior Secondary School, equivalent to the US 8^th grade. As a young child Gloria was often sick as a result of the harsh living conditions during the war. For years there was little food. Gloria, her cousins and grandmother often hid in the grass day and night to escape the rebels. Her health has improved significantly since U-TOUCH has sponsored her education giving her opportunity to be in school. When Gloria was in primary school equivalent to the US third grade she asked the U-TOUCH staff for permission to enroll in boarding school. She shared with the staff that she wished to be able to read at night and continue learning when the sun goes down because at home in their village huts there was no electricity. With the support of U-TOUCH donors Gloria was able to attend a primary and then secondary school with electricity where she has been able to read and study after dark and is a hard working excellent student.

Additionally, through U-TOUCH technology training in Gulu, Gloria is learning computer skills including Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum and programing. By staying in school Gloria is looking toward a bright future and wishing to help her community in need. “As I will keep on studying, I will pay you back by passing my examinations. The love you have for me has made me to have a dream and given me the confidence to continue for a better future… I thank U-TOUCH so much for the continued support towards my education.”

Thank you for your kind generous donation and please tell your family and friends about U-TOUCH and the impact we are making together transforming the lives of children in extreme need! Together we are helping support Gloria to continue in school this year!

Brilliance is equally distributed, opportunity is not. U-TOUCH brings OPPORTUNITY!

Many thanks for your support of Gloria and all the sponsored students whose lives you have forever changes through education and technology!

The lives you change are the lives U-TOUCH!

U-TOUCH gave Gloria her first backpack, age 6

Gloria 7-years-old wearing her school uniform

Gloria & cousin, first experience with a computer

Gloria enjoys futbol -soccer

Gloria 15-years-old in Senior Secondary School

Group of students incl Gloria share appreciation

Permalink

Apr 10, 2017
U-TOUCH Uganda Education Project: Meet Sponsored Student Stephen

By Deb Plotkin | Founder

Stephen proud upon his university graduation

We are very proud of Stephen’s progress from the time we met him in 2007 until now 10 years later. U-TOUCH began sponsoring Stephen’s education and delighted to meet him in Gulu at his high school. He was then a tall, thin shy boy who barely pulled his chin from his chest to look at anyone. Unremarkable for the war-torn region though most unfortunate for the students, the school had no running water, electricity, textbooks, computers, a library or any books. It was void of writing tools other than some chalk for the teacher to write lessons on the pitted blackboard. Students walked barefoot though all wore uniforms. The teachers and headmasters cried for help. It was the moment the seeds were planted for the expansion of U-TOUCH, to dig in deeper and help thousands in need.

Stephen performed very well in high school and then at Gulu University. It was a terrific challenge for a reserved student in an environment that was war-torn with a bleak future at the time. However, Stephen was determined to succeed. His drive and motivation helped him rise up to become a successful professional earning a healthy income for his family. Being the eldest child in the family it was of paramount importance that he earn an income to put his siblings through school. Stephen was the first in his family to graduate high school and then from a university achieving a Bachelor’s Degree. Shortly after graduating he was offered a position with an excellent salary as a grant writer. However, Stephen did not want to end his education there. After working a two years he yearned to continue and to achieve a graduate degree in Human Resource Management, which will again improve his profile significantly.

Meeting his family in a far off village was an honor for the U-TOUCH team. The humble family survives, as do most, off the land. They welcomed us warmly, gave us a tour of their land including huts, and fed the group a delicious Ugandan meal of beans, posho and bo before the long ride back to Gulu. There was certainly a peaceful existence however, education was a bare minimum in the far off village.

My success story and appreciation to U-TOUCH!

My name is Stephen. I live in Gulu town, Northern Uganda. I am so grateful to U-TOUCH for contributing immensely towards achieving my career goal. I must admit that it would have not been possible for me to complete my studies up to the University without the great support from U-TOUCH who raised the funds to sponsor my education. At 14 years of age, I was in my first year of high school at Alliance High School Gulu. However, that was not my first choice of school after completing my primary education as I dreamt of studying in one of the best schools in my country. Because of my excellent performance in the primary exit exams where I emerged the best pupil from my school with a first grade, I was admitted to study at St. Josephs’ College Layibi, one of the most prestigious government owned high schools in Uganda with excellent academic track record. However, my dream of studying in this school did not come to pass as my family could not afford the high tuition and costs of requirements at this school. I ended up joining Alliance High School, a privately owned school in my town, Gulu. Joining this school did not guarantee smooth learning for me either. I was from time to time disturbed by the school for failure to meet the fees requirements. Sometimes I could be sent out of school by the authorities because of this and often missed many classes as would stay out of school for some time. Despite all the hard times I was going through, I still remained focus and determined to succeed academically and in life. However, all this changed when I was admitted by U-TOUCH into the school sponsorship programme. With all the tuition fees and scholastic materials catered by U-TOUCH I remained focused in school. Through the programme, I managed to successfully complete my six years of high school and passed with high grades. As a result, I was admitted to Gulu University to pursue an undergraduate degree programme leading to the award of a Bachelor Degree in Public Administration. This was a three-year programme, which I successfully completed, scoring a second-class upper division and I was awarded a Degree in Public Administration. Through my studies, I volunteered a lot with U-TOUCH at the Digital Library Centre in Gulu where I supported the ICT facilitators to conduct training in computer skills for youths at the center. This gave me the opportunity to interact a lot with my fellow youths where I gained strong computer and transcription skills as well as confidence as a public speaker. Through U-TOUCH I also volunteered as a team leader for the Peaceconferencing program, an online problem solving technique that applies gaming simulation to solve world and community issues. I coordinated this programme with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in the US, which gave me the opportunity to lead the Uganda team in communication with high school students in the US. My volunteering work at the U-TOUCH Technology Innovation Hub, Gulu enabled me to acquire a lot of skills including typing and keyboarding, report and resume’ writing, interpersonal and communication skills among others. All of these experiences and skills enabled me to be accepted for a job with a rights and governance based civil society organization where I was offered a position as a Field Officer for the organization. As a result of this job, I have been able to support my family and afford my basic needs. Currently, I’m pursuing a one-year Postgraduate Diploma course in Human Resource Management. However, I am unable to adequately meet the tuition requirements for the course. This graduate programme will enable me to enrich my career in management and administration. Once again, I appreciate U-TOUCH for contributing towards my academic success. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Apwoyo Matek! Thank you!

Stephen

With your kind and generous donations, U-TOUCH supports Stephen and all their sponsored students to achieve their greatest educational dreams. They are highly successful students in school and becoming successful wage earning adults advancing their livelihoods and improving the economic standards of their families and communities. With your kind and generous support, We are sincerely most grateful for your contribution! Please share your caring with your friends and family as together we are making a difference for all those U-TOUCH!

With deepest gratitude,

Deb and the U-TOUCH Team

Stephen & family celebrating his graduation

Stephen volunteers with U-TOUCH Digital Center

Stephen instructs three other sponsored students

Stephen with three family members in their village

Sponsored Students incl Stephen appreciate U-TOUCH

Permalink

Dec 28, 2016
U-TOUCH Sponsored Students: Meet Julius

By Deborah Plotkin | Project Leader

Julius reading next to Sebastian outside their reading hut.JPG

U-TOUCH is about to begin its 10^th year sponsoring students in northern Uganda who were identified as orphans resulting from the 20-year LRA War. After Pauline, selected as a Woman Peacemaker in San Diego, shared horrific atrocities of the war, the staff of U-TOUCH asked how they could help. Pauline immediately responded that children, now orphans were pleading at her feet for an education. She asked that U-TOUCH sponsor their education, to which they immediately responded affirmatively. The rest is history and students have successfully graduated from high school and universities, becoming teachers, lawyers, grant writers, entrepreneurs, etc., while others are yet to complete their education. Please meet Julius, one of the students, who is a highly motivated young man, eager to make an impact on his world.

I am called Julius. I was born in 1998 to my late parents, who were killed during the time of the Lord Resistance Army’s activities in northern Uganda. My parents died when I was a young child, helpless in the village. Thereafter, my aunt took us, me and my cousins, to town because of the hard situation in the village, where there was no food, no clothing, and no proper medical care. Then we went to live with our grandmother when I was nine years old. When I was ten years old, U-TOUCH came into my life and started paying my school fees, providing scholastic materials and helping me to learn computer skills. I am writing with great joy and pleasure just to say a word of appreciation to U-TOUCH and the GlobalGiving program for your support and continuously paying my school fees. Because of your help I can now nurse my dreams of becoming a doctor in the future. After studying advanced level sciences, I can work in a hospital to save other people. I also thank you for helping the African families with students who have the need for a quality education. In the future, I would also like to pay school fees for other kids as U-TOUCH is doing for me. My wish is that I may complete my schooling and help others. May you be blessed abundantly during your daily life. Thank you so very much for helping my goal.Thanks,Julius

The U-TOUCH staff met Julius in 2009 at his grandmother’s village of thatched huts in Gulu District. By then he and his seven cousins lived with their aging grandmother, who lost their parents in the war. They all helped maintain the village and worked in the garden daily producing food for the family’s nutrition. The staff noted that Julius loved to read. In fact, when he was just 10 years old, he and his cousin Sebastian built a reading hut where they could become proficient readers and scholars. Without parents to fund his school tuition fees, Julius read daily in the hut though yearned for a formal education. Upon meeting the U-TOUCH staff Julius pleaded for an education sponsorship, to have the opportunity to attend school. Recognizing his fervor to learn Julius was welcomed into the U-TOUCH sponsorship program along with his cousins, and was immediately enrolled in primary school. He excelled academically and maintained excellent behavior in school. He performed well on the primary leaving national exam and was accepted into a top “O” level school, equivalent to middle school. In fact, Julius has been so focused on his education that during U-TOUCH sponsored student’s celebration days he joins the activities for a few hours and then eagerly returns to study at school.

Julius is highly motivated to learn, is attentive and focused in class, finishes his assignments promptly and always does a “quality job”. He is a wonderful writer, is well-liked and respected by both his peers and his teachers. He is performing well in school and takes his education very seriously. Following the Uganda Certificate of Education exams in the equivalent of the US 10^th grade, Julius was accepted in a prestigious “A” level school to complete his final two years in high school. He has been an excellent student having completed Senior 5 (S-5), the US equivalent of 11^th grade and in a good position to begin Senior - 6 (S-6), his final year in high school. He will read and study for his final year exams throughout S-6 to perform as best as possible to be accepted into a university to study medicine. Julius has shared that he is truly grateful for the continuation of his revered education so that he can reach his dream of becoming a doctor and help his family, community and country advance. He is most appreciative of the generosity of the GlobalGiving donors who make his education possible!

Thank you to the donors who have made this GlobalGiving project possible. U-TOUCH is deeply appreciative of the generous support. Please continue supporting the Uganda Education Project helping these orphans reach their dreams of completing their education to make an impact upon their families, communities and ultimately the country.

The lives you change are the lives U-TOUCH!

With deepest gratitude,

The U-TOUCH Team

Julius happy to be enrolled in school.jpg

Julius elated receiving his first backpack .jpg

Julius in high school is grateful for his education!.JPG

Julius left of Sebastian in their reading hut .JPG

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.