Saturday, September 10, 2011

Opportunities through Education



Every year when I travel to Uganda, I visit Living Hope Childrens' Centre - a school in the slums of Nateete. Some of the students are orphans and live at the school, others are living in very poor conditions.

When a child has completed grade 7, his options for secondary school are limited. This year I will sponsor one child from Living Hope to attend Kawanda Secondary School, a private school on the outskirts of Kampala. I have worked with the teachers at Kawanda and the level of education is excellent. It is a credited secondary school so students can write government exams and can graduate with a high school diploma (not all high schools can offer this). Each year the government pays for the top students from around the country to attend university and each year several students come from Kawanda.

The cost of the first year of attending Kawanda Secondary and having the chance to be educated fully? $600.00 and that includes room and board and pocket money! Subsequent years cost about $300 because many of the items are used for all 5 years.

School Requirements for Vincent in Ugandan Shillings and Canadian Dollars

School Fees(tuition) 500,000 - $180
In class Uniform 70,000 - $25
Outside class Uniform 70,000 - $25
School Sweater 20,000 - $7
School identity card and Photos 6,000 - $2
Admission fee and forms 20,000 - $7
Development fee 100,000 - $36
Religion fee per year 10,000 - $3.60
House fee per year 10,000 - $3.60
Library fee (text books) 25,000 - $9
Sports wear 60,000 - $22
Scrubbing brush 10,000 - $3.60
Blanket 50,000 - $18
Suit case 70,000 - $25
Bed sheet 50,000 - $18
Shoes 2 pairs 60,000 - $22
Stockings 60,000 - $22
Towel 20,000 - $7
Flat shoes 20,000 - $7
personal effects (Soap / Books / Pens/ Pencils) 200,000 - $72
School bag 30,000 - $11
Pocket money 100,000 - $36 (for 10 months total!!)
Track suit 50,000 - $18
Canvas (sports shoes) 30,000 - $11
Total 1,641,000

If you would like to sponsor a specific item for a child to attend secondary school, I would be happy to arrange this for you. For example, if you want to buy a suitcase, you can send a cheque to me made out to Niteo Africa (you'll get a tax receipt for anything over $20 if you live in Canada) and put on the subject line that it's for a suitcase. I am already committed to fully sponsoring Vincent so I am hoping to get enough donations to sponsor another child to offer him or her the same opportunities through education at Kawanda.



Any help is greatly appreciated!

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