Uganda: Empowerment through Education

How much money do you spend on school supplies each year? Fifty dollars, maybe one hundred? Probably a lot more if you are sending someone to college. But what if you can’t afford supplies? Schools in the United States usually make sure each student has what they need for the year, even if the family can’t afford the fees.

It’s not the same in Uganda. Many families struggle just to afford school tuition, let alone purchase supplies. In classrooms throughout Uganda posters and diagrams adorn the walls. These aren’t just cute decorations either. The posters contain notes and information students need, because books are expensive and scarce.

Thanks to the kindness of our donors, things are looking up for one school in Uganda. At Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Ocodri Parish, the school children now have enough exercise books, pens, and pencils to last at least two years.

In June 2018, Comboni Missionary Fr. Chris Aleti took eight people on a mission experience to Uganda. Before leaving, they collected $700 in donations to purchase supplies for IHM School in Ocodri. It’s remarkable how far one donation can go in Uganda.

3 notebooks = $1.
18 pencils = $1.
7 pens = $1.
1 soccer ball = $18.

We were able to supply the school with 1,440 exercise books, 720 pens, 1,000 pencils and two soccer balls. Three more soccer balls were donated to other schools.

Fr. Richard Buni, parish priest, said we “extend the sincere thanks to you from the staff members, the parents of the children, the management, and the entire nearby local community and myself. The gifts have helped the school a lot and shall continue to use them the next two or three years.”

Even after all that, there was still $92 left from the donations. That money will not go to purchase 10 textbooks for high school students.

Thank you for helping support the education of young people around the world. When a person is educated they are empowered to make their life, home, and community a better place. [Comboni Missionaries]