With an estimated 2 million orphans in Uganda, the issue is inescapable no matter which part of the country you travel to. In the Iganga district where we work, it is common to find families opening up their homes to orphans of their relatives, or even orphans of complete strangers. Numerous generous individuals in the district have opened up small orphanages for children who have no homes or live under terrible conditions. These orphans may be subjected to abuse in their homes or may spend their days doing household chores and manual labor because the households in which they live cannot afford to send them to school. Despite the fact that these orphans walk miles to school, often without any shoes, and must do their homework by lantern-light after finishing evening chores or putting their siblings to bed, there are many who are desperate to attend school, because they know that it is the only path to a better life.

Visit our NEW Orphan Profiles section to find and “adopt” students in need of scholarship support

Because orphans and other vulnerable children are such a prevalent issue in the Iganga district, Uganda Village Project has endeavored to support them for over 5 years through the following programs:

• The district’s only secondary school scholarship program, which has provided support for over 130 secondary school students since inception
• Support through purchase of food for a vocational school for orphans, and sales of products handmade by orphans via our office and website
• Provision of supplies to resource-limited schools such as desks and chairs