Real Stories & Children
See the real conditions children face in Uganda, East Africa — and meet some of the real children whose lives change when a sponsor steps in.
The Reality
In Uganda, many people compete for a limited number of good jobs, and without a decent education it is very hard to get one — or to have the confidence to start a business. Just getting into school can be a huge challenge.
Universal primary education arrived in 1997 and universal secondary education in 2007, but demand far outstrips the places available. It's not uncommon for a free government classroom to hold well over one hundred students, with very few facilities and demotivated, over-worked teachers. Families who want a quality education are left with only one option: private school — and the fees are beyond reach for families in extreme poverty.
Even where school is "free," every child must arrive with books, a uniform, and smart shoes — or be sent straight back home. From school books to fees, each requirement is another reason a child ends up sitting at home instead of learning.
The school year runs February to December. Classes aren't grouped by age, because children constantly drop out and re-enter depending on whether their family can pay. A child might sit beside classmates much older or younger — and it makes no difference, because the one thing they all share is that they want to learn.
The Children
Real children in OIGOK's program in Uganda. For $55 a month, you provide one of them education, health care and nutrition — and a relationship that says, "You matter."
It says to a child living in extreme poverty: you are an important person. That message — backed by education, health and nutrition — is what releases children from poverty for good.
Become a sponsorYour sponsorship keeps a child in school, fed, and cared for — for about $1.80 a day.
