Current and Future Projects

Comparable to most Sub-Saharan African countries, Uganda still faces a lot of challenges in the education sector despite the strides made by the Government and its development partners. According to a report released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO, 2010), Uganda has the highest school dropout rate in East Africa. Kenya has a lower dropout rate compared to Uganda, but higher than that of Tanzania. Hence, Uganda still has the lowest proportion of children staying in school up to Primary Seven compared to other countries in East Africa.

Recent studies show that multiple socio-economic factors in the community and the schools are responsible for dropouts. At one Primary School in Lango sub-region, hungry, barefoot pupils in old uniforms squeeze together on the concrete floor, sitting hip to hip, jostling for space. Some of the pupils use their laps as desks. Lack of interest, pregnancy, early marriages, hidden costs at school and family responsibilities have driven thousands of children out of school. Although there has been improved growth in economic activities in the sub-region after the 20 year insurgency, significant regional disparities in poverty still persist in Uganda.

The purpose of this project is to continue promote education and retention of girls and boys of vulnerable age (under 21 years of age from Lango Sub-region). Past projects are as listed below:

    • With more regular contributions to the educational fund by the UK community and with the support of a donation from Allan & Nesta Ferguson Trust and Panasonic to LCT, 20 more orphans out of over 60 applicants were offered scholarships to progress to Senior Secondary, “O” level, “A” level and Tertiary education as indicated by model examples on Case Studies page.

    • From 2016 – till to date, one of the Trustees visited Kwania and found there was need to absorb young under 6 years orphaned children in the area to prevent hard labour and vulnerability to poverty. Kwania Orphans Education Centre was formed with the help of people who are passionate to see these children start a nursery education. Thirty children were admitted with help of fund raised locally and empowerment of leaders. The board has worked with heads of families and teachers to keep these children and the number increased to 50 orphans. These children managed to progress to primary education and are about to join secondary schools. However, LCT now faces new financial challenge to raise £10,000 in order to retain the 150 orphans/girls under KOEC project, in Aboko, Kwania, Akororo and Gwakabbo site in Dokolo district. The project includes topping up school fees, funding or building a new vocational college to train beneficiaries in the areas of tailoring, catering, IT, Agro fishing, and mechanical work.

However, there are still more orphans dropping out of education or not starting secondary education because there is no one to pay school fees for them. Hence retention is very crucial as we are keen to see potential beneficiaries gain skills or qualifications to curb extreme poverty.

The major impact envisaged of this project is as follows:-

    • Increased quality education for girl children.

    • Increased female skilled labour force in the country.

    • Poverty reduction among community members of Ocukuru Ogora, Bako and 132 remaining clans in Lango Sub-region.

    • Reduction in early child marriages.

    • Reduction in sexually transmitted diseases.

    • Improved quality of standard of living of human beings in the long run.

It takes only £1 a day to sponsor a child through secondary school for a year. If you would like to make a contribution to the educational fund please see the donation page.

Curbing child labour – KOEC nursery education project Kwania District.

Upon a visit by one of the Trustees to Uganda in 2016, it was found that there were 30 vulnerable orphans in Aboko, Kwania due to extreme poverty and ill health amongst parents. Kwania Orphans Education centre was set up to absorb 50 vulnerable under 5 years old. The community in Aboko Kwania County were empowered to raise money in order to set up this initiative to reduce both girls and boys from child labour.

Kwania education project (Aboko and Akororo sites) – 150 beneficiaries from 2016- till todate

    • KOEC – primary education project is hiring a site at Akororo to continue to train 150 pupils at at primary school. The schools have farms to produce food and cash crops to raise income.

This project was set up to take education closer to vulnerable young boys and girls to remain in education.

Ngetta orphans relief – Lira district

    • In September 2019, we provided food relief support to Ngetta Orphanage supporting 18 beneficiaries to due climatic problems affecting food production and escalating food prices.

Current Problems and challenges at hand

It is estimated that over 70% of the youths that attend schools are not able to complete tertiary and university education due to poverty and cultural discrimination against girl children. Statistics show that for every 10 drop out cases, 8 are girls; reflecting an awesome 80% of drop outs rate for girls. This situation is likely to continue in the future despite the government’s emphasis on girl child education largely because most good schools in the country are privately owned. As noted above, the majority of them, particularly girls, drop out of schools prematurely and end up in early marriages and other vices.

Drop out rate

According to a report released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO, 2010), Uganda has the highest school dropout rate in East Africa. Kenya has a lower drop outs rate compared to Uganda, but higher than that of Tanzania. Hence, Uganda still has the lowest proportion of children staying in school up to Primary 7.

Projects in the pipeline

We shall continue with this poverty reduction projects as we continue to work with Kwania Orphans Education Centre (KOEC) with 150 orphans at primary school level for continuity to secondary, technical and vocational education. Also LCT is working with GWAKABBO to mount a new project to take education nearer to potential young people in Dokolo Districts to realise their potential in the near future as listed below:

    • Working with Kwania Orphans education centre, to ensure 150 orphans between the age of 13 -20 continue to secondary and vocational training levels. KOEC requires £10,000.00 to construct vocational training centre in Aboko, Kwania Lango Sub-region.

    • Also working with Gwakabbo to construct a school in Dokolo District, Lango Sub-region in order to increase educational opportunity to younger generation who are under 20 years old from Lango Sub-region as well as Uganda as whole. This project cost requires £10.000.00

    • YAWODI youth development project. The proposal is to start with 30 youth (between 16-21 years) old from Ibuje. The project will be expanded to cover Otwal, Aduku, Atura, Alebtong, Otuke, Ayer, Akalo, Ojwina, Amac and Boroboro and self-help groups working with heads of families. The youth development project approach is to plant trees in order to raise income but also to combat the negative effects of cutting trees and drought problems. This project also includes planting food crops for short term solutions. Project costs to be confirmed.