A Brighter Future for Our Children

Dear KACCAD Supporters,

KACCAD is pleased to announce that we have better organized our student sponsorship program so as to best meet the needs of our students and be accountable to our sponsors. Our Real Uganda volunteers have helped us get our sponsorship program on track interviewing and photographing students who we have sponsored in the past and who we are prioritizing for future sponsorship. Now we can provide each sponsor with a photo, the career dreams and tuition costs of their student. This sponsorship program is founded on the belief that education is a way out of poverty. These children will shape the country in years to come. Your support can give them the best chance to bring about positive change in their communities and families. Our list of students, their tuition costs and photos are available to you on request. Please, see below an introduction the program. Email us for more information or check out our flickr account for photos and some brief sponsorship information.

In Wakiso District, Uganda, approximately 50,000 children are living in single parent homes and 20,000 children are orphans due to HIV/AIDS or other sickness. The KACCAD Student Sponsorship Program was started to connect some of these needy children to international sponsors- individuals, families or group. We are presently looking for sponsorship for about 60 students who we have identified as being at high need. Many of these students have lost one or more parents to HIV/AIDS and other sickness, are being raised by single mother or are living with siblings. Sponsorship is their only opportunity to attend school.

There is no such thing as free education in Uganda. Public education in Uganda is limited as there are more students then spots in school and even public schools require students/families to pay a fee. Most schools are private requiring higher tuition then the public schools but offering smaller class size and better educational materials. As result of school fees many children are unable to go to school. Even the fees for public education are simply out of reach for many households.

Students we sponsor attend two different kinds of school, day school and boarding school. Day school is straight tuition, and boarding school includes lodging and food during the term. Boarding school has many advantages for children who have lost both parents providing them a stable place to live, food security and a good environment for study. The exchange rate is approximately Ush 1650 for every US $1.00. As with any currency however, this rate can be expected to fluctuate. With such a range of sponsorships people of all budgets can get involved in changing the life of a student. Fees for each student in Ugandan shillings are listed below along with information about the student. On top of this, a small administration fee of $15.00 for donations made through the KACCAD bank account and $7.00 for donations made through PayPal per term is required for the personal care of your sponsorship and our transportation to visit schools and students. Additional money is required for donations made through the KACCAD bank account because we are charged a bank fee of $6-$10 per donation received.

Each school year includes three terms, starting February, June and September. Prior to each term KACCAD will send out an e-mail to the sponsors to encourage them to pay tuition. The tuition payment can easily be made by wiring to the official bank account of KACCAD (see below for details), or through Global Volunteer Network, through PayPal (Commencing in March). Throughout the school year, each sponsor will receive a receipt of tuition and reports regarding their sponsor child. For the sake of the administration, please e-mail your e-mail and home address to kyosigacommunity@myway.com . (Photo of one of the OVCs seeking sponsorship)

Finally, sponsorship is the only chance for these children to be able to complete school. Once you have chosen to sponsor an orphan or underprivileged child, please try to be consistent with your payment of tuition. The lives of these children are very difficult. School may be the only thing that is consistent and safe in their lives. Therefore it is important for the children to know that they won’t once again be abandoned. Of course extenuating circumstances may mean that your sponsorship is cancelled, we would however encourage communication and if it becomes impossible to continue with your sponsorship, we will always work towards finding alternative sponsors to help these kids reach a level of education which can provide a job and security for their futures.

Many of the volunteers, who have met these children, are willing to help with advice or information concerning this program, please feel free to contact them.

From Australia: Clementine Johnson, email: clembon@hotmail.com
From Sweden: Sofia Graflund, email: sofiagraflund@gmail.com
From USA: Amanda Milholland, email: Amanda.milholland@gmail.com
Also, photos of each child are on line at http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandainuganda.

Your contribution to support a child’s education is a gift that will keep giving as it gives each child and their family hope and the skills to make a better life. If you decide to become a sponsor please e-mail kyosigacommunity@myway.com with the name of “your” child and we will contact you shortly. Thank you very much for helping a child to get a better future!

Best regards,

KACCAD team