overview
Quite simply, we provide scholarships and educational supplies to secondary school girls in rural Uganda so that they may continue their education. Some key aspects of the program:
Family Support: Families pay a small portion of the school fees, so as to remain committed to the progress of their student.
Renewed Annually: A student must show adequate academic progress in order to maintain her scholarship.
Mentoring: Building confidence and life skills are just as important as academics. Girls are monitored and coached throughout the school year by a Teacher Liaison at the school.
Community Service: Students will be exposed to the concepts of volunteerism and giving back by performing community service projects.
our approach
How we identify suitable students for the program and enroll them is also very straightforward.
In mid-late January each year, the results of the national Primary School Leaving Exam (PLE) are published. We sort them by district and by aggregate score (to identify highest performers).
Focusing on the rural district of Otuke in Northern Uganda, AGC volunteers determine if the highest performing girls are financially able to attend secondary school. Teachers and heads of primary schools generally have insight into a family’s capacity to pay for school and the necessary supplies (uniform etc.)
We want to hear the girls’ stories from their own perspective. Prospective students and families are interviewed, and an application and selection survey is completed.
- The young women who will most thrive in secondary school are already very motivated and resilient. They understand what is at stake if their schooling stops at this young age. We ask why they want to attend school, what their hopes and dreams are and how an education will help them reach those goals.
- The home environment is evaluated to determine if the family can pay their portion (at least 20% of tuition).
A contract is signed by the student (agreeing to conduct and maintaining good grades) and the parent or guardian (agreeing to pay their portion of the school fees.)
Supplies are purchased and the girl is delivered to school in early February. All the students attend just one school, St. Katherine Secondary School for Girls in Lira, Uganda. We are pleased to have formed a strong relationship with the administration there. School fees are paid directly to the institution.
It is our intent to provide a partial scholarship, renewed annually if in good standing, at least through the 4th year of secondary school (this is considered Ordinary Level, after which the student receives a S4 certificate, a well regarded level of education in Ugandan rural society). After this point, a stellar student may continue to be supported two more years through S6 (Advanced Level, high school graduation).
We focus on girls who have just finished primary level and most vulnerable for dropping out of school (about age 13, but could be older as it is not uncommon for their education to have been interrupted). Starting in 2017, we made a commitment to add one bright girl each year who is already enrolled at St. Katherine (typically 3rd year or higher), but whose family has been unable to keep up with school fees. We’d like to assist them in reaching graduation day!
I’d like to get involved!
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