Education is key for Ugandan youths in order to keep themselves safe, reach their full potential, have a positive impact on their local area, and, realize their dreams.
Where is Uganda located in Africa?
The average Ugandan family has six children.
The majority of these children will not receive a secondary education.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates the number of children living in orphanages in Uganda to be over 2.5 million in 2018. The AIDS epidemic, and more recently, civil unrest, have contributed to approximately half of these cases, while the balance is the result of issues such as preventable diseases, access to food, and severe poverty.
Education is often the first casualty of becoming an orphan, leaving little hope for those suffering the fate to realize their potential and become impactful members of society. Primary school is available to all Ugandans for free. Secondary school is a privilege accessible to those who can afford it.
Secondary School/High School in Uganda
Uganda’s secondary school or high school education consists of six distinct grades designated as Senior One through Senior Six.
These six grades are divided into two academic achievement levels, Lower Secondary School, normally referred to as Ordinary Level or O-Level consisting of grades Senior One through Senior Four and Upper Secondary School, commonly referred to as Advanced Level or A-Level made up of Senior Five and Senior Six.
70%
of orphans in Uganda
do not attend
secondary school
Promotion from Ordinary Level to Advanced Level is through a rigorous national examination system.
Advanced Level high school education is required for Ugandan students to advance into University or college for further post-secondary academic studies.
Typically, orphaned children do not have the funds to attend secondary school.
What happens to Ugandan children who cannot attend secondary school?
Youths who do not receive the higher education and training that a secondary school provides are in jeopardy of not fulfilling their highest potential, may never accomplish their dreams, may live a life in poverty, may be forced into a life of servitude or …
How females and males experience the opportunities differently….
The only thing stopping some of the orphans from excelling and living to their full potential is the lack of opportunity for higher education, and that lack can be eliminated with dollars. That is where UUOEF comes into the picture.
Since its inception in 2004, UUOEF has enabled over two hundred orphaned children to complete their secondary school education. Our ability to open the future for hundreds of other Ugandan orphans is limited by the donations we receive.
How the work we do changes life for a select few
Students who benefit from our program go on to university or college and ultimately live more fulfilled lives. Some stories from our students.