Talking to our reporter, Atukwase said that her mother, a single parent, struggling to provide for her family, simply could not afford the school fees, let alone enough food to eat.
At the start of the second term in 2024, Haticah Atukwase, a 14-year-old girl, was sent home from school due to unpaid fees. What was meant to be a brief absence turned into months, leaving her unable to return. Talking to our reporter, Atukwase said that her mother, a single parent, struggling to provide for her family, simply could not afford the school fees, let alone enough food to eat.
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Moreen Kyamidde, Atukwase's mother, an orphan from Kabale, faced challenges when her boyfriend disappeared after fathering two daughters with her. In search of work, she relocated to Kampala, taking on a variety of odd jobs—from selling potatoes to serving as a conductor at Namayiba bus park—all with the aim of providing her daughters the education she never received.
“All my hope was in my girls, and they were doing well in school. I would do anything to keep them there. But after I suffered an accident that injured my collarbone in 2020. The accident left the left side of my body partly paralyzed, everything changed,” she shared, tears streaming down her face.
To make matters worse, Kyamidde was involved in another accident in 2021 that further limited her ability to work, making it impossible for her girls to continue their education.
Before her incapacitation, Kyamidde worked hard to enroll her children in an affordable school in their neighborhood in Bujuuko, Nansana Municipality. However, as her situation deteriorated, even the modest school fees became overwhelming.
While staying home, the girl took on the responsibility of caring for her mother and also contributed to the family’s income by selling charcoal to make ends meet. There seemed to be little hope that she would ever return to school.
Kyamidde recalled that when one of her former managers at the bus park saw the bright girl, who had scored an impressive aggregate of 12 in her PLE in 2023, he felt saddened by her situation. Although he couldn't provide much assistance himself, he advised them to seek bursary opportunities and referred them to FAWE Uganda.
For years, FAWE Uganda has been dedicated to supporting vulnerable girls and a few boys, primarily focusing on higher education and vocational training. Fortunately for Atukwase, this year FAWE launched a new initiative specifically aimed at helping girls at risk of dropping out of secondary school due to financial constraints.
The program was designed to raise funds through a national crowdfunding campaign called "20kforTransformation," which encouraged individuals to donate UGX 20,000 to support girls who would otherwise face the prospect of dropping out of school. Launched in May 2024, the initiative targeted girls in transitioning classes (S.4 and S.6), helping them at least complete that level of education.
Although the initiative focuses on girls in candidate classes, Atukwase’s circumstances deeply resonated with FAWE. They chose to include her among the first 15 girls selected from various districts to receive funding for their third term fees, enabling her to continue her O-level education.
Suzan Opok Tumusiime, FAWE's Executive Director, noted that while the initial response to the campaign was modest, contributions have steadily increased over the months, bringing the total fund to 12 million shillings. She emphasized the urgency of the situation, recognizing that many girls were in immediate need of support and that they couldn't afford to wait for the new academic year to disburse the funds.
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Tumusiime added they have started with fifteen girls but they are pretty sure that with more collections, the "20kforTransformation” will be supporting far more children in the near future giving each one of them a chance to stay in school.
To support more girls, FAWE is actively running the campaign, encouraging individuals and companies to contribute a minimum of UGX 20,000. While this amount may seem small to many, and might not feel significant when given to a single individual, collectively it can create a meaningful impact.
Tumusiime pointed out that communities often look to foreign donors for support, but through initiatives like this, they have the power to uplift the most vulnerable among them and provide education opportunities. She believes education is the great equalizer in society, helping everyone reach their full potential.
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Brian Arinitwe, a pastor and director of the Katanga Children Initiative, who is dedicated to supporting girls, commended the initiative and emphasized the power of collective effort. However, he pointed out that the significance of such contributions has not yet been deeply rooted in many communities.
According to Arinitwe many people still hesitate to donate to these causes, thereby missing opportunities to provide hope to those in need.
