More than 38 million children in sub-Saharan Africa
are without a school to attend. Many countries have
initiated programs guaranteeing a free education to
every child, yet are plagued with chronic classroom
shortages as they lack the means to construct enough
schools to meet the demand. This often results in
students walking miles to get to a "school" in a
neighboring community, scribbling their lessons
in the dirt for lack of proper learning materials
or even gathering under a tree to learn.
Poverty is the key issue contributing to
a significant number of orphaned children
and adolescent youth that are not able to
complete a quality education, gain proper
healthcare to treat common illness like HIV and Malaria,
or gain access to clean water.
Uganda lacks adequate support or
structures to address such problems.
Families in rural Eastern Uganda struggle
to survive and find it more valuable to
have their children work in the fields-or
their young girls to marry-than attend rundown,
over-crowed public schools. When children do attend these schools,
they have little hope for real learning
Children aged 6 -14 can attend the government
school in a class of 100 or more but all resources
and uniform must be paid for by the parents.
There is no free education for children under 6.
Those who can afford a little for their children
to be educated, pay unqualified teachers who are
working without resources in difficult conditions.
Many children do not attend school and are malnourished.
Children born into poverty, ignorance and malnutrition have fewer
chances to finish their Education Levels.
If we add up to their emotional load, abuse and abandon, their chances to
finish school without a personalized attention are very low.