uganda village project scholarship fund
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Introduction:
The Uganda Village Project Scholarship Fund was founded in 2004. This scholarship fund was begun in partnership with Alpha Childcare and Community Development (ACCOD). Every year when we travel to Uganda, we are inundated with pleas from children for "school fees". Uganda, in line with other developing African countries, has recently implemented UPE: universal primary education. However, students are still struggling to complete secondary school, the Ugandan equivalent of high school. Orphans are particularly hard-hit by the school fee requirement, a mere $35 per term. Many students have come to us for help, explaining that they have been "chased out" of school following an inability to cover their fees. Some students even resort to 'sugar daddies' to help them pay for their fees in exchange for sexual relationships, which contributes to the rise in HIV and syphilis infections in the adolescent population.
Uganda Village Project has recognized the need for scholarship funding in Uganda and throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In partnership with Alpha Childcare (ACCOD), we have identified orphans who will benefit particularly from scholarships. ACCOD's community-based workers help provide the families, which are often headed by orphans or grannies, with bedding and home visit health care.
In 2005, our scholarship fund provided scholarships for secondary school to 99 orphans. In 2007, we increased this number to 128! These scholarships include not only tuition, but also materials for students who need them. In this way, the scholarships provide a more complete coverage of costs to those living in poverty.
We also plan to expand our scholarship program to cover school repairs and specific school needs for education through our partnership with ChooseANeed. Visit ChooseANeed.org to browse current projects:
View video footage of one of our scholarship recipients, Sangala Faizo
Goals:
* Provide secondary education to students in greatest need in the Iganga District of Uganda, to help increase the skills and knowledge of the young people in the district and to improve their health and well-being
* Fund all students through graduation from secondary school
* Increase the extent of the funding such that exam fees, uniforms, and rising tuition costs will not be a problem for scholarship recipients
* Support the Millennium Development Goal established by the United Nations - to eradicate gender disparity in secondary school education completely by 2015
Mission of the UVP Scholarship Fund:
To encourage young people living in poverty in the Iganga District of Uganda to attain higher education, avoid child marriage and sexually transmitted infections, increase participation in community service, and improve their capacity to achieve higher income and improved health.
Vision:
All children in Iganga District will be free to attend and graduate from secondary school, as well as to attend university if they desire to continue their education.
Values of the Scholarship Fund
* The right to health of every child
* The right to a high-quality education
* Gender equality in education
* Academic achievement as well as academic integrity
* Need and merit based provision of aid
* Participation by adolescents in community service activities
Development Analysis:
We believe that lack of school fees is a major factor preventing adolescents in the Iganga District of Uganda from being enrolled in and graduating from secondary school. We also believe that lack of school fees drives adolescents in the Iganga District to engage in sexual activities with 'sugar daddies' and others in an attempt to earn school fees and other gifts, increasing their exposure to sexually transmitted infections including HIV. We believe that this phenomenon may play a significant role in the transmission of HIV amongst young people in the Iganga District. In addition, orphans who do not attend school have a greatly increased risk of becoming child brides and experiencing teen pregnancies, which are dangerous to their health and well-being. Finally, we believe that lack of enrollment in and graduation from secondary school and university plays a major role in continuing the cycle of poverty for families in the Iganga District.
Questions? Want to learn more? E-mail info@ugandavillageproject.org
